The Scalphunters (1968)

Director:

Sydney Pollack

Writer:

William W. Norton (written by)

Release Date:

2 April 1968 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Western

Tagline:

He'll stop at nothing to take back what's his.

Plot:

Forced to trade his valuable furs for a well-educated escaped slave, a rugged trapper vows to recover the pelts from the Indians and later the renegades that killed them.

Plot Keywords:

Slave | Escaped Slave | Outlaw Gang | Buddy | Native American

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Burt Lancaster	...	Joe Bass
Shelley Winters	...	Kate
Telly Savalas	...	Jim Howie
Ossie Davis	...	Joseph Lee
Dabney Coleman	...	Jed
Paul Picerni	...	Frank
Dan Vadis	...	Yuma
Armando Silvestre	...	Two Crows
Nick Cravat	...	Yancy
Tony Epper	...	Scalphunter
Chuck Roberson	...	Scalphunter
John Epper	...	Scalphunter
Jack Williams	...	Scalphunter

Runtime:

102 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Iceland:12 | West Germany:12 (f) | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 (1976) | Sweden:15 | UK:A (original rating) | UK:PG (video rating) (1986) | Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

Durango, Mexico

Company:

Bristol Films

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: During the fight scene between Joe and Joseph, the white wire used to pull Joe out of the ditch is clearly visible.

Quotes:

Joe Bass: What the hell are you standin' there for? Can't you speak English?
Joseph Lee: No, sir!
Joe Bass: Whattaya mean, 'No, sir'?
Joseph Lee: I mean I wish I didn't.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "The Directors: The Films of Sydney Pollack (#2.4)" (????)

The art of good entertainment.

I guess we have to look at these films from a generation view point in what the great Shirley Mclain has recently stated in that they should start to make films for the over 50s age groups.

The film of today certainly seem to be targeted for a ' a different generation" as often I have to switch the box over to see if there is something wrong with the stereo settings as all I can hear is music and a very muffled speech.

I find the older films, as in this case, to be irreplaceable and standing in support of the old saying "they don't make 'em like that anymore" With taking anything away from the modern ladies of the screen, were can you find another Shelly, warm, funny, voluptuous with a distinctive class she retained to the end. Ossie Davis, irreplaceable and a gutsy person to play his part with the obvious dedication with which he did.(no wonder he won over hearts and minds) I doubt if the is a black actor with such dedication to that role today as Ossie was then.

Burt and Telly. as usual, delivered first rate parts in what proved to be good all round entertainment value. Amazingly enough my 13 year old son sat through it and thoroughly enjoyed it. Which cant be a bad achievement from our generation of old timers.