Mark Lambert

Clint Eastwood's story is usually thought of as a western, but in reality it is a ghost story in a western setting. One of Eastwood's first directorial efforts, the plot is razor tight with every line and scene critical to the plot. You must see it twice to catch all of the foreshadowing and fully understand the story. The plot is finely crafted and interlinked with each line and scene dovetailed together. Film school students this is a must. Evil does good, good does evil, and all is set right by the end of this ghostly morality play. To give more examples would spoil the plot. If you've not seen it, watch it twice and reread this review and you'll understand. Although a ghost story, it has it's funny moments: "maybe she was upset you didn't come back for more" and the running sight gag of how The Man With No Name never does get his quiet smoke.