High Plains Drifter, with Eastwood as director as well as star, is part ghost story, part revenge Western, more than a little silly, and often quite entertaining in a way that may make you wonder if you have lost your good sense. The violence of the film (including a couple of murders by bull-whipping) is continual and explicit. It exalts and delights in a kind of pitiless Old Testament wrath.
However, it is also apparent that neither Ernest Tidyman, who wrote the screenplay, nor Eastwood are taking themselves too seriously. Eastwood's characterization of The Stranger, who settles God's score with Lago, is a high parody of the soft-featured, brutal Man With No Name he played in those bitter Sergio Leone Westerns.
High Plains Drifter quotes
Billy Borders
Flea-bitten range bums don't usually stop in Lago. Life here's a little too quick for them. Maybe you think you're fast enough to keep up with us, huh?
[suddenly grabbing his bottle of whiskey, startling everyone]
A lot faster than you'll ever live to be.
Lutie Naylor
[the stranger has bought a round for the house]
Let's see, one round for the house plus the smoke; that comes to about eight dollars and fifty cents.
Lutie Naylor
I didn't know that mean free whiskey!
Everybody's got to put something in the kitty.
[Reaches over a takes off Shaw's badge and pins it on Mordecai]
'Bout time this town had a new sheriff.
I'm the new sheriff! … I'm the new sheriff!
Mayor Jason Hobart
[laughing]
I'm sorry, Dan; but you should have seen the look on your face when he took off your badge and pinned it on the runt.
I'm not a runt anymore; I'm the new sheriff!
[reaches over and takes off the mayor's hat and puts it on Mordecai]
And the mayor. Any objections?
Mayor Jason Hobart
Uh, no.
I'm almost done here. … I never did know your name...
Yeah, you do. … See ya.
Yes, sir captain!
What did you say your name was again?
I didn't.
No. I guess you didn't at that, did you?
Preacher
See here, you can't turn all these people out into the night. It is inhuman, brother. Inhuman!
I'm not your brother.
Preacher
We are all brothers in the eyes of God.
All these people, are they your sisters and brothers?
Preacher
They most certainly are.
Then you won't mind if they come over and stay at your place, will ya?
Preacher
What's going on here?
Lewis Belding
What the hell does it look like is going on, Preacher? They're emptying my whole hotel. Throwing out paying guests, right into the street just to make room for our new guardian angel.
He likes to be by himself, more or less.
Sarah Belding
Be careful. You're a man who makes people afraid, and that's dangerous.
Well, it's what people know about themselves inside that makes 'em afraid.
Well, I been needin' to talk with you; now's as good a time as any.
What about?
Billy Borders.
Don't know the man.
Well, you missed your chance — you shot him yesterday.
Billy, he wasn't a loved man, no. And he didn't have much personality. What he did have was all bad, just bad.
Somebody left the door open and the wrong dogs came home.