The Wild Bunch (1969)

Director:

Sam Peckinpah

Writers:

Walon Green (screenplay) and
Sam Peckinpah (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

18 June 1969 (USA)

Genre:

Western

Tagline:

The land had changed. They hadn't. The earth had cooled. They couldn't.

Plot:

An aging group of outlaws look for one last big score as the "traditional" American West is disappearing around them.

Plot Keywords:

Outlaw | Bounty | Mexico | Mexican | Texas

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 5 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

William Holden	...	Pike Bishop
Ernest Borgnine	...	Dutch Engstrom
Robert Ryan	...	Deke Thornton
Edmond O'Brien	...	Freddie Sykes
Warren Oates	...	Lyle Gorch
Jaime Sánchez	...	Angel (as Jaime Sanchez)
Ben Johnson	...	Tector Gorch
Emilio Fernández	...	Gen. Mapache (as Emilio Fernandez)
Strother Martin	...	Coffer
L.Q. Jones	...	T.C
Albert Dekker	...	Pat Harrigan
Bo Hopkins	...	Clarence 'Crazy' Lee
Dub Taylor	...	Rev. Wainscoat
Paul Harper	...	Ross
Jorge Russek	...	Maj. Zamorra
Alfonso Arau	...	Lt. Herrera
Chano Urueta	...	Don Jose
Elsa Cárdenas	...	Elsa (as Elsa Cardenas)
Bill Hart	...	Jess
Rayford Barnes	...	Buck
Stephen Ferry	...	Sgt. McHale (as Steve Ferry)
Sonia Amelio	...	Teresa
Aurora Clavel	...	Aurora
Enrique Lucero	...	Ignacio
Elizabeth Dupeyrón	...	Rocio (as Elizabeth Dupeyron)
Yolanda Ponce	...	Yolis
José Chávez	...	Juan Jose (as Jose Chavez)
René Dupeyrón	...	Juan (as Rene Dupeyron)
Pedro Galván	...	Mr. Benson (as Pedro Galvan)
Graciela Doring	...	Emma
Major Perez	...	Perez
Fernando Wagner	...	Cmdr. Frederick Mohr
Jorge Rado	...	Ernst
Ivan Scott	...	Paymaster
Señora Madero	...	Margaret (as Sra. Madero)
Margarito Luna	...	Luna
Chalo González	...	Gonzalez (as Chalo Gonzalez)
Lilia Castillo	...	Lilia
Elizabeth Unda	...	Carmen
Julio Corona	...	Julio
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Gordon T. Dawson	...	Pinkerton Man (uncredited)
'Chico' Hernandez	...	Boy on Town (uncredited)
Buck Holland	...	Thornton Posse Rider (uncredited)
Matthew Peckinpah	...	Boy Watching Robber Scoop Up Moneybag (uncredited)

Directed by
Sam Peckinpah

Writing credits
Walon Green		(screenplay) and
Sam Peckinpah		(screenplay)
Walon Green		(story) and
Roy N. Sickner		(story)

Produced by
Phil Feldman	....	producer
Roy N. Sickner	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Jerry Fielding

Cinematography by
Lucien Ballard		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Lou Lombardo		(as Louis Lombardo)

Art Direction by
Edward Carrere

Costume Design by
James R. Silke		(uncredited)

Makeup Department
Al Greenway	....	makeup artist
Keester Sweeney	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
William D. Faralla	....	production manager (as William Faralla)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Clifford C. Coleman	....	assistant director (as Cliff Coleman)
Fred Gammon	....	assistant director
Robert 'Buzz' Henry	....	second unit director (as Buzz Henry)
John 'Bud' Cardos	....	second unit director (uncredited)
Howard G. Kazanjian	....	second assistant director (uncredited)
Phil Rawlins	....	first assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Phil A. Ankrom	....	property master (uncredited)
John Barton	....	assistant property master (uncredited)
Arnold Losey	....	props (uncredited)

Sound Department
Robert J. Miller	....	sound
Joe Kavigan	....	sound effects editor (uncredited)
Stanley Martin	....	sound effects editor (uncredited)
Billy Mauch	....	sound effects editor (uncredited)
Bill Rivol	....	sound effects editor (uncredited)
Ed Scheid	....	supervising sound effects editor (uncredited)
Dan Wallin	....	sound re-recording mixer (uncredited)
John O. Young	....	sound effects editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Bud Hulburd	....	special effects
Ralph Ayres	....	special effects (uncredited)
James Rugg	....	special effects (uncredited)

Stunts
Denny Arnold	....	stunts (uncredited)
Norman Bishop	....	stunts (uncredited)
Steven Burnett	....	stunts (uncredited)
Archie Butler	....	stunt coordinator (uncredited)
Joe Canutt	....	stunt double: "Lyle" (uncredited)
Tap Canutt	....	stunts (uncredited)
John 'Bud' Cardos	....	stunts (uncredited)
Gary Combs	....	stunts (uncredited)
Louie Elias	....	stunts (uncredited)
Tony Epper	....	stunts (uncredited)
Chad Evans	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jim Feazell	....	stunts (uncredited)
Joe Finnegan	....	stunts (uncredited)
Mickey Gilbert	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bill Hart	....	stunts (uncredited)
Robert 'Buzz' Henry	....	stunts (uncredited)
'Chema' Hernandez	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bob Herron	....	stunt double: "Dutch" (uncredited)
Billy E. Hughes	....	stunts (uncredited)
Whitey Hughes	....	stunts (uncredited)
Gary McLarty	....	stunts (uncredited)
Erwin Neal	....	stunt double: "Pike" (uncredited)
Bob Orrison	....	stunts (uncredited)
Danny Sands	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bill Shannon	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jim Sheppard	....	stunts (uncredited)
Roy N. Sickner	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jack Williams	....	stunts (uncredited)
Joe Yrigoyen	....	stunt double: "Angel" and "Sykes" (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Bud Gaunt	....	key grip
Bernie Abramson	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Dave Friedman	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Reggie Jones	....	grip (uncredited)
Thomas Laughridge	....	camera operator (uncredited)
James F. Reber	....	generator operator (uncredited)
Don Stott	....	gaffer (uncredited)
Richard Tim Vanik	....	first assistant camera (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Gordon T. Dawson	....	wardrobe supervisor (as Gordon Dawson)

Editorial Department
Robert L. Wolfe	....	associate film editor
Joel Cox	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Sonny Burke	....	music supervisor
Donald Harris	....	music film editor (uncredited)
Richard C. Harris	....	supervising music film editor (uncredited)
Dan Wallin	....	scoring mixer (uncredited)
Jimmy Wyble	....	musician: guitarist (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Bud Dawson	....	transportation gaffer (uncredited)
Joe Lessner	....	driver (uncredited)
Charles Misere	....	driver (uncredited)
Frank Olmstead	....	driver (uncredited)
Earl Pierson	....	driver (uncredited)
Rex Schroetter	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Crayton Smith	....	script supervisor
Elizabeth Burnette	....	voice-over (uncredited)
Tony Faehnle	....	ramrod (uncredited)
Stanley Feldman	....	production coordinator (uncredited)
Anthony Goldschmidt	....	assistant to producer (uncredited)
Gay Hayden	....	secretary (uncredited)
'Chema' Hernandez	....	head wrangler (uncredited)
Robert Joseph	....	unit publicist (uncredited)
Alyce S. Miller	....	secretary (uncredited)
Morrie Nierenberg	....	location auditor (uncredited)
Greta Shepherd	....	secretary to executive producer (uncredited)
Branko Wohlfahrt	....	weapon specialist (uncredited)

Thanks
General de Brigada E.E. Procopio Ortiz R.	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Warner Brothers/Seven Arts (as Warner Bros.- Seven Arts presents)

Distributors

• Warner Brothers/Seven Arts (1969) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1969) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1969) (France) (theatrical)
• Warner-Tonefilm (1969) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1973) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Warner Home Video (1986) (USA) (VHS) (pan/scan)
• Lucernafilm - Alfa (1991) (Czechoslovakia) (theatrical)
• Warner Home Video (1995) (USA) (VHS) (pan and scan)
• Warner Home Video (1995) (USA) (VHS) (widescreen director's cut)
• Warner Home Video (1997) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Warner Home Video (1998) (Sweden) (VHS)
• Argentina Video Home (1999) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (1999) (Argentina) (VHS) (re-edited)
• Warner Bros. (1999) (Argentina) (all media) (re-release)
• Warner Home Video (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Bros. Entertainment Finland Oy (2006) (Finland) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (Germany) (DVD) (special edition)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (USA) (DVD) (special edition)
• Warner Home Video (2007) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Warner Home Video (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray) (original director's cut)
• Warner Home Video (2008) (Sweden) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Prem'er Video Fil'm (????) (Russia) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (????) (West Germany) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (1980) (UK) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Vídeo (????) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Warner Home Vídeo (????) (Brazil) (VHS)

Also Known As:

"Wild Bunch" - Japan (English title) (imdb display title)

Runtime:

USA:145 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish | German

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | DTS (1995 re-release) | Dolby Digital (1995 re-release) | Mono (35 mm prints) | SDDS (1995 re-release)

Certification:

Australia:MA (director's cut) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | France:-12 (director's cut) | Netherlands:12 | New Zealand:R16 (director's cut) | Norway:16 (cut) | Norway:18 | Singapore:NC-16 | Sweden:15 | USA:R (original rating) | West Germany:18 (original rating, cut version) | Ireland:18 | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) (re-rating) (1995) | Canada:AA (Ontario) (re-rating) (1995) | Canada:R (Manitoba) | Canada:R (Nova Scotia/Ontario) (original rating) | UK:18 (re-rating) (1988) (also director's cut) | UK:X (original rating) (cut) | France:-18 (original rating) | Brazil:14 | Finland:K-16 (1988) (cut) | Finland:K-16 (1998) (uncut) (director's cut) | Finland:K-18 (1969) (uncut) | South Korea:18 | Iceland:16 | Malaysia:U (director's cut) | USA:R (re-rating on appeal) | Germany:16 (DVD rating) | Canada:18A (British Columbia) (1999) | Portugal:M/12 | Spain:13 | Japan:G (2009) | Argentina:18 | Peru:18 | Italy:T (DVD release) | Italy:VM14 | Germany:12 (2006, single DVD rating) | USA:NC-17 (1993) | South Africa:16LV

Filming Locations:

Durango, Mexico

Company:

Warner Brothers/Seven Arts

Trivia:

The name "The Wild Bunch" originally came from real-life western outlaw Butch Cassidy. At age 30 he started his own gang of outlaws, who were quickly christened "The Wild Bunch" by the press.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: When Lyle and Tector are shooting at the wine casks, the slide on Lyle's gun is locked indicating the gun is empty. However, shots are still heard. In the 1995 re-release version this has been corrected. Only one shot is heard after the slide locks on Lyle's .45, and that shot comes from Tector's revolver.

Quotes:

[first lines]
[indistinct voices]
Rev. Wainscoat:Do not drink wine or strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, least ye shall die. Look not though upon the wine when it is red, and when it bringeth his color in the cup, when it moveth itself aright at the last, it biteth like a serpent and stingeth like an adder. Now folks, that's from the Good Book, but in this here town it's five cents a glass. Five cents a glass, now does anyone think that that is a price of a drink?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex, Drugs and Rock 'N' Roll Generation Saved Hollywood (2003)

Soundtrack:

Shall We Gather at the River?

The Wild Cinema of Peckinpah

Peckinpah has a rep and this is the film which provided most of it. I had the privilege of actually seeing this on the big screen once, in the late seventies. As the beginning credits end, Pike (Holden) tells his bunch "If they move, Kill 'em!" Then Peckinpah's credit appears. A woman seated behind me gasped, whispering "oh, no..." Oh, my. It sounded like the lady didn't know she'd wandered into a Peckinpah film and she knew what she was in for. When you enter Peckinpah-land, you need to be prepared. There are no punches pulled, no sidestepping the unpleasant aspects of life. Peckinpah's characters are tough men; I mean, really tough, not phony-Hollywood tough. In this case, they are coarsened by what seems to be years on the trail, blasted by the sun, snapped at by rattlesnakes, and harassed by bandits. And at this point, they've pretty much had it.

Not that they're complaining, mind you. They've lived their lives how they saw fit, this bunch, and they make no apologies for any of it. I believe the actual year is around 1913, just before World War I begins. Most of the action takes place in Mexico, where the Bunch becomes involved with a local general (Fernandez) with the usual delusions of grandeur. If you go by the name of the character Angel, the general can be viewed as a version of the devil. That would make the Bunch avenging angels at the end. But heroes? No, not at all. They have their own code, they know instinctively they're stronger together than on each own, but they reason this concept out also - Peckinpah wants to make sure it's clear these are not unthinking savages. They're just men, who've reached a point in history where they must make a crucial turn. History, it seems, has no real use for them anymore. It's quite simple - they either fade slowly or go out quickly. In a film such as this, with its now insurmountable rep, you tend to wait for those big set pieces, especially the climactic battle. Wait for it, wait for it... here it is. Bam! - you're in Peckinpah territory. You're a part of history.