I'm certainly in the minority in not really liking this film. It is in the AFI's Top 100 list at #80. Why? The editing and color make it appealing to the eye, and the brutal violence was shocking for the time (due to Hays code being lifted in 1968). I can see why others find it fascinating. Just not me. I really like William Holden, Ernie Borg-9 (that's how he signed an autograph for me), and slow drawlin' Ben Johnson. But their talents were wasted. I kept getting the impression that Holden was trying to make the best of poor lines, and doing poorly. I usually don't like Robert Ryan, but he was almost likable. I wish he'd a shot the "gutter trash" early in the movie. If I had a gun, I'd a got Mr. "Black Liar" while he was happily running from corpse to corpse claiming guns, boots and other loots.
Throughout the movie, I struggled to figure out what was going on and why. Why are they together? Why are they being pursued by the "gutter trash"? Why don't they mourn their own dead? Why are they in this town? How can they stay put for so long without Thornton catching up, yet when their out in the brush, Thornton's right on their trail? Ugh. I could go on... I've heard there is a version of this film with scenes deleted. I must have seen this version.
I'm a huge fan of classic films. I find many movies made these days are splashy, flashy, "fresh", edgy, action-packed, and a big waste of 2 hrs. The Wild Bunch reminds me of a movie made these days, lots of flash and "style", but no substance, coherence, continuity, or reasonableness.
If you want to see a high quality Western, try "Once Upon a Time in the West". If you want to see Holden's best, watch "Stalag 17". Rating 5/10
Throughout the movie, I struggled to figure out what was going on and why. Why are they together? Why are they being pursued by the "gutter trash"? Why don't they mourn their own dead? Why are they in this town? How can they stay put for so long without Thornton catching up, yet when their out in the brush, Thornton's right on their trail? Ugh. I could go on... I've heard there is a version of this film with scenes deleted. I must have seen this version.
I'm a huge fan of classic films. I find many movies made these days are splashy, flashy, "fresh", edgy, action-packed, and a big waste of 2 hrs. The Wild Bunch reminds me of a movie made these days, lots of flash and "style", but no substance, coherence, continuity, or reasonableness.
If you want to see a high quality Western, try "Once Upon a Time in the West". If you want to see Holden's best, watch "Stalag 17". Rating 5/10