After filming was completed, a shake-up at MGM saw Peckinpah supporter Sol Siegel ousted and replaced by Joseph R. Vogel, who "barred the director from the studio, forcing him to consult with editors and sound mixers by phone." (Incredible) Word has it that he thought the film was terrible. (RE: this dolt's taste & understanding of films...see below)
The film was dumped onto the bottom half of double bills, but "proved an astounding popular and critical success in Europe, winning First Prize at the Cannes Film Festival, the Grand Prize at the Brussels Film Festival (beating out Federico Fellini's 8 1/2), and the Silver Goddess from the Mexican Film Festival for Best Foreign Film". It was added to the National Film Registry in 1992. Not available on DVD (Consider the dreck that IS).......only on VHS P & S........if it weren't for TCM and Film Societies (I was fortunate enough to see this film in its big screen glory in a Church basement!!)........no one could see this film as they should. Dreadful treatment ....not only of a wonderful movie...but also of the movie loving public.
The film was dumped onto the bottom half of double bills, but "proved an astounding popular and critical success in Europe, winning First Prize at the Cannes Film Festival, the Grand Prize at the Brussels Film Festival (beating out Federico Fellini's 8 1/2), and the Silver Goddess from the Mexican Film Festival for Best Foreign Film". It was added to the National Film Registry in 1992. Not available on DVD (Consider the dreck that IS).......only on VHS P & S........if it weren't for TCM and Film Societies (I was fortunate enough to see this film in its big screen glory in a Church basement!!)........no one could see this film as they should. Dreadful treatment ....not only of a wonderful movie...but also of the movie loving public.