Director Sam Peckinpah’s eclectic western film tells the story of a group of aging gunfighters trying to make their way in the increasingly modern world of 1913. Although the film was well written by Peckinpah, Walon Green, and Roy N. Sickner, many criticized the graphic violence and low moral values of the main characters, and with good reason. This movie stands in stark contrast to traditional westerns where stars like John Wayne typically take the high road.
“The Wild Bunch” has some splendid performances by veteran actors including William Holden, Ernest Borgnine, Robert Ryan, Edmond O’Brien, Ben Johnson, Strother Martin, and Dub Taylor. The cast also includes Warren Oates, Bo Hopkins, Albert Dekker, Emilio Fernandez, Jorge Russek, Alfonso Arau. It was modestly successful at the box office for Warner Bros.-Seven Arts, garnering two Oscar nominations for Best Screenplay and Best Original Score (Jerry Fielding). Honorable mention goes to Lucien Ballard for the outstanding cinematography.
The Wild Bunch (1969)
cinema
My Review
Director Sam Peckinpah’s eclectic western film tells the story of a group of aging gunfighters trying to make their way in the increasingly modern world of 1913. Although the film was well written by Peckinpah, Walon Green, and Roy N. Sickner, many criticized the graphic violence and low moral values of the main characters, and with good reason. This movie stands in stark contrast to traditional westerns where stars like John Wayne typically take the high road.
“The Wild Bunch” has some splendid performances by veteran actors including William Holden, Ernest Borgnine, Robert Ryan, Edmond O’Brien, Ben Johnson, Strother Martin, and Dub Taylor. The cast also includes Warren Oates, Bo Hopkins, Albert Dekker, Emilio Fernandez, Jorge Russek, Alfonso Arau. It was modestly successful at the box office for Warner Bros.-Seven Arts, garnering two Oscar nominations for Best Screenplay and Best Original Score (Jerry Fielding). Honorable mention goes to Lucien Ballard for the outstanding cinematography.