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"The Wild Bunch" 2-Disc Special Edition, Sam Peckinpah's original director's cut stars William Holden, Ernest Borgnine, Robert Ryan, Edmond O'Brien and Ben Johnson. The story is a forceful tale of desperados bound together by the same greed. The men exist by a code of honor, but in their own violent and dishonest world.
Aging outlaw Pike Bishop (William Holden) and his bunch of hooligans - Ernest Borgnine, Warren Oates, Ben Johnson - arrive in a Texas town in 1913 in disguise before they plan to rob the bank. Unbeknownst to them, Pike's former friend, Deke Thornton (Robert Ryan), has been hired by the railroad to end Pike's run. Thus begins a long and vicious chase with lot's of bloodletting.
The opening scene is very violent, and during the initial showing, there were many fans uprising against the violence, which only made Peckinpah more excited.
Even the critics were widely divided about liking or disliking the movie.
The digitally remastered film is beautiful and pays homage to Lucien Ballard's extraordinary eye behind the camera. Part of the unique opening sequences move from black and white title sequences that intersperse with the color images. Credit also goes to the art direction by Edward Carrere - who made every location seem real and a bearer of its past.
The characters are richly drawn and quite intriguing, and it's often hard to tell the good guys from the bad guys. Edward O'Brien is truly unique as Freddie Sykes, an oldster who joins the wild bunch after they find out their moneybags are filled with washers and not gold. Sykes has a riot laughing at the men and O'Brien nails the scene. Dutch Engstrom, Pike's right-hand man, is played brilliantly by Ernest Borgnine.
Also joining the group at this time is Angel (Jaime Sánchez), a somewhat unlikely character to be hanging with these guys. He takes them back to his village where they enjoy some downtown with the villagers. or as some may say, the peace before the storm.
Pike's wild bunch © Warner Home Video
Meanwhile Deke's group doesn't seem to want to cross the border to pursue Pike's men, but Deke can't let them leave. He's been threatened by the railroad. The Mexican Revolution is just beginning and soon both sides are embroiled in three different fights. Nothing is predictable, and you can only imagine what happens by watching. By you learn there are good and bad men in both of the groups.
"The Wild Bunch" was nominated for two Oscars, Best Music, Original Score for a Motion Picture (not a Musical)- Jerry Fielding and Best Writing, Story and Screenplay based on material not previously published or produced, Walon Green, Roy N. Sickner and Sam Peckinpah.
"The Wild Bunch" is part of Warner Home Video's Sam Peckinpah's Legendary Westerns Collection that also includes three new-to-DVD films: "Pat Garrett and Billy The Kid" Two-Disc Special Edition - which offers both the 1988 Turner Preview version of the film and a newly-edited 2005 version based on the director's notes and insights from his colleagues. The collection also features the acting debut of musical legend Bob Dylan, who also composed the film's score. Also included in the collection are "The Ballad of Cable Hogue" and "Ride the High Country."
Whether you find Peckinpah's work enjoyable is a matter of taste, but no one can deny his mark on filmmaking and the Western film as Americans know it.
Special Features Disc 1:
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Commentary by Peckinpah biographers/documentarians Nick Redman, Paul Seydor, Garner Simmons and David Weddle. Any fan of Peckinpah must at one time watch the film with the commentary on as all four experts on Peckinpah agree this is the top of the bunch in regards to Westerns. They acknowledge that shots are part of the filmmaker's incredible work. Listening to the documentary while watching the film it's difficult to tell who is who, but their pooled insight into what's really happening and the surprise elements that Peckinpah uses throughout The Wild Bunch are enlighening.
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Peckinpah trailer gallery
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Languages: English and French
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Subtitles: English, French and Spanish
Special Features Disc 2:
Divided into 13 segments, the reels feature rare film clips, interviews with family and colleagues, and narration by Kris Kristofferson with comments from stars, filmmakers and friends. Everything you ever wanted to know about Sam Peckinpah is included in this feature. Kristofferson sounds more like he's reading than a man with passion about the director, but the content is great.
"The Wild Bunch: An Album in Montage" - describes the filming in Paris, Mexico. Scenes from the actual filmmaking are shown as is footage of Mexicans hired as extras. Paul Seydor and Nick Redman offer historical facts and some interesting insider tidbits about the film and Sam Peckinpah.
"A Simple Adventure Story: Sam Peckinpah, Mexico and the Wild Bunch" - An excerpt from a documentary by Nick Redman. Details Redman's journey in 2004 along with Pepinpah's daughter Lupita, in discovering the where and why of the film.
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