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22 out of 23 people found the following review useful:
On My List of "Top 10" Westerns, 27 March 2005
9/10
Author: aimless-46 from Kentucky

Although a small movie, "The Culpepper Cattle Company" is arguably one of the top ten westerns of all time. It takes a fairly basic but relevant coming of age story and sets it in the American West. But the "been there-done that" stuff gives way to something that has extremely heavy Peckinpah influences. Like "The Wild Bunch" (and Bo Hopkins gets to reprise his Clarence "Crazy" Lee role) this becomes a violent anti-violence film with blurred lines between "good guy" and "bad guy". As with Peckinpah's "Straw Dogs", moral ambiguity is the theme and it is not until near the end that the four drovers, pressed to finally take a moral stand, redeem themselves with a final act of personal responsibility.

In addition to a good characterization from Hopkins, Geoffry Lewis plays the wrapped a little too tight "Russ" with an over-the-top Gary Oldham-like flare, and Luke Askew does a masterful job as the drover who provides early clues that these are four guys who have had to subordinate their basic goodness in order to survive in this environment. Billy Green Bush plays "Frank Culpepper" who remains focused on business to the exclusion of any lost causes. Bush played the likable "Elton" in "Five Easy Pieces" who was responsible for the classic Nicholson line: "don't tell me about the good life Elton, the good life makes me want to puke".

Also exceptional is the cinematography and the production design. Back in the ancient 1970's, only the high budget pictures had production designers. The others had to rely on the cinematographer to make sure the art director, the set designer, and the make-up/costume people were all on the same page; so that the picture had a consistent look. Ralph Woolsey was one of the better cinematographers at keeping all these elements under control.

It became popular after Robert Altman's "McCabe and Mrs. Miller" (1971) to replace the well-scrubbed Roy Rogers look and portray the west as dirty, dusty, gritty, unshaven, and tattered. Woolsey eagerly embraced this realism in 1972 and gave us two of the grimiest features we are likely to see; the excellent "Culpepper Cattle Company" and the somewhat lame "Dirty Little Billy".

The shootout scene in the saloon (midway into the film) is more climatic than the final scene. Not until "The Unforgiven" has there been so much action-so fast-on such a tiny set; yet Woolsey captured it all and the post-production people assembled it into a neat and logically sequenced package. So you can follow the whole thing with very little confusion.

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17 out of 18 people found the following review useful:
A western classic!!!!, 25 July 2003
10/10
Author: 12Charlie

This is easily one of the best westerns made. So overlooked and no real good reason why. It was so well done and the cast is some of the best western actors you can get!!!! Everybody connected with the making of this film did an outstanding job and Billy Green Bush was the stand out performance as the trail boss. The realism was unmistakeable! A very well done film and highly reccomended to all. This film MUST be released onto DVD soon!

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14 out of 15 people found the following review useful:
True look at the Old West, 26 November 1998
10/10
Author: TonyMan from Berwyn, IL

I feel this is possibly the best Western I have ever seen. It portrays gritty people with simple outlooks to life. I believe this must truly show what the west was like - simple, rough, dirty, bad fitting clothes, etc. I was raised on Disney movies and when you compare this to them you get a real feel for what happens when a kid decides to chase a dream in the world of adults. My favorite line is when the kid tells one of the cowboys that being a cowboy is the greatest job in the world. The guy responds, " Kid, being a cowboy is what you do when you can't do anything else".

I suggest this as required viewing for anyone with an interest in the Old West.

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15 out of 19 people found the following review useful:
A Great Film That Has Jerry Bruckheimer In The Credits !, 21 November 2002
9/10
Author: Theo Robertson from Isle Of Bute, Scotland

I normally hate westerns but I could watch THE CULPEPPER CATTLE COMPANY over and over again . This a bleak nihilistic extremely well written western that`s also understated . Don`t you get a feeling that Frank Culpepper built his cattle business through illegal activities ? This is never disclosed but the signs are there . Best of all is the characterisation , man there`s some really nasty people here , imagine the school bullies from hell riding about on horses and you`ve got the idea and the cast make the most of their roles , special mention goes to Geoffrey Lewis and Bo Hopkins . The only reason I can think off why IMDB members have given this film a relatively low vote is because they`re turned off by the violence and amorality of this film . Well I guess if you were brought up on the all American values of John Wayne`s wild west THE CULPEPPER CATTLE COMPANY may very well shock you.

Perhaps the most shocking thing is the fact that the associate producer is one Jerry Bruckheimer ! Yes it`s that Jerry Bruckheimer the man who produced shallow popcorn blockbusters like BEVERLY HILLS COP , TOP GUN , ARMAGEDDON and PEARL HARBOR and who is probably the most powerful figure in Hollywood today

But don`t let the name of Bruckheimer put you off this great film , this is every bit as great as THE WILD BUNCH which also featured Bo Hopkins in a similar role

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9 out of 10 people found the following review useful:
Wish I'd Seen This as a Young Man, 2 October 2006
8/10
Author: Bob-45 from Savannah, GA

Had I seen "The Culpepper Cattle Company" when it was released (I was 23), my life would have been a lot different; at least, if I'd understood and accepted the message. For, "The Culpepper Cattle Company" is about as bleak and realistic as any movie ever made. Gary Grimes plays a teenager with romantic, adventuresome ideas about cowboys. He learns, tragically, something completely different, after working for a short time on a cattle drive. Grimes doesn't just learn the usual lessons; that is, the work is exhausting, dirty, always dangerous and frequently unrewarding. He learns that most causes and people are treacherous, deceitful, selfish and certainly not worth dieing or killing for. Grimes also learns a lot about himself; some of which he probably didn't want to know.

There are a lot of fine performances in "The Culpepper Cattle Company," but Geoffrey Lewis makes the strongest impression. Lewis has such crazy blue eyes, it's no surprising producer Sergio Leone tapped him for head villain in "My name is Nobody" and Eastwood did the same for "High Plains Drifter." Here, Lewis plays a man who, under different circumstances, was probably quite decent. Now, he's just mean spirited and dangerous.

"The Culpepper Cattle Company" also boasts excellent production design, gritty photography and classic, memorable score by the beloved Jerry Goldsmith. Just don't expect to leave this movie feeling upbeat, inspired or even sad. You're more likely to feel slightly depressed. That being said, I give "The Culpepper Cattle Company" an "8".

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6 out of 6 people found the following review useful:
this is the west that really was, 30 June 2006
10/10
Author: partee-boyee from Canada

Long before Clint Eastwood made "Unforgiven", "The Culpepper Cattle Company" was THE standout film for a glimpse into the lives of people trying to survive in a tough, unsympathetic old West. Gary Grimes played the part of a youngster itching to become a man on the drive. Like the audience members, Grimes is full of romantic vision, which is almost immediately dashed when he gets himself hired by Frank Culpepper (Billy Green Bush). What happens thereafter is that Grimes and the audience must cope with the fact that (in those days) there was no law, and often no justice. The meek suffered, and the sentimental get run over by the ruthless and bitter.

The quality of the camera work and the sparse sets create the sense of stepping into a time bottle. The story and characterizations are utterly believable and often haunting. Make no mistake, this is the west that was, and credit goes to the film's makers for this sleeper of a classic.

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6 out of 6 people found the following review useful:
very well done and largely unheralded, 30 January 2005
8/10
Author: bjguilfoyle from United States

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

I first saw this film in the 70s, and ranked it as one of the best westerns I'd ever seen. Watching it again 25 years later, it's as good as ever. The performances are great across the board, and the story, characters, and photography have a hard edge that gives the whole thing an air of authenticity. This is how I imagine the real west must have been: a tough life, with quick and often violent justice and retribution. It hardly ever shows up on TV, which I can't understand.

The performances of Geoffrey Lewis and Billy Green Bush are spot-on. I couldn't believe this was one of Lewis' first movies; he portrays the semi-psychotic Russ Caldwell perfectly.

As mentioned in other reviews, the climax is slightly flawed, abrupt and stretches credibility a bit, but it's still effective. I would have liked one more final scene with the Kid and Frank, though.

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9 out of 13 people found the following review useful:
A Very Different WESTERN !, 12 March 2005
10/10
Author: whpratt1 from United States

If you want to see a very unusual Western Film which has a story very much down to earth about how the Wild West handled situations that did not please them. Cattlemen found out the hard way that they had better keep their cows off of other Cowboys property. Some of these Cattlemen had their guns taken away from them and were fined Two-hundred Dollars for damages done to their grazing land. There is a very real battle that continues between the Cattlemen and Ranchers and this picture clearly shows that taking the law in your own hands was never a solution to any problem. This film kept me guessing just how the picture would ever end and I was quite surprised at the various twists and turns. All the actors gave great performances and this is definitely a great unusual Western.

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4 out of 4 people found the following review useful:
One of THE Best Westerns EVER, 20 September 2003
10/10
Author: druhoh from USA

This movie has not been on DVD but needs to be. I have not seen it in so long I have forgotten details to give enough to make your heart pound and your eyes bulge. If you want a good western this is it bar none. The rustic setting, clothing, attitudes, and general demeanor make the film. I was so impressed with this movie I have waited for it on DVD for years and have never seen it come to DVD. I have even looked for it on Laserdisc I never saw it. If someone is listening that can get it on DVD please do ORIGINAL FORMAT WIDESCREEN PLEASE. This is one of the most realistic rough and tumble westerns it almost makes you feel you are in the 1800's. If it comes out on DVD I will be glad to give a fresh review. It has been 10-20 years since I have seen it last but I still remember it as one of the greatest, if not the greatest western ever. I love the Duke and his movies but this may even surpass his movies.

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4 out of 4 people found the following review useful:
A Classic, 19 January 2003
Author: Art La Cues from Independence, CA USA

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

"The Culpepper Cattle Company" is a classic. There is no romantization of the living and working conditions. The acting is very realistic with no false heroics. The grime, sweat, and physical toughness are displayed realistically. Mr. Culpepper has a job to do and he expects that those who ride with him to do their part. When Geoffrey Lewis challenges Matt Clark, it is up to Clark to stand up for himself. No one steps in to defend him Clark, who is not, unlike Lewis, a gunman. But when Clark leaves the drive, Culpepper gives Lewis "What All" and also admonishes the kid for causing him to lose one of his best drivers.

At the end the kid returns to help the religious settlers and Lewis, Bo Hopkins, and their other seemingly uncaring compatriots, also returned to help the settlers. But not Culpepper, he had cattle to deliver and he was going to "finish the job". This is a fast paced, realistic, and wonderfully acted and directed film. It is not only a classic Western but a classic film, period. I am going to purchase the video. It is one of those films to be appreciated over and over.

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