Review of Major Dundee (1965) by Riley H — 19 Jun 2010
What can be said about this movie? It seems contrived (though other westerns have also attempted the 'yankees and confederates uniting for a dangerous mission' line, it still doesn't make it believable); the acting is almost Johnny Guitar cartoonish in some spots; the love interest stuff is totally unnecessary and serves to make it longer than it should be; sometimes they get away with things way too easily; even though the film was restored to Peckinpah's version it still feels incomplete; the ending is a sort of successful (therefore half-baked) version of the Wild Bunch, as if Peckinpah wasn't quite willing to go there just yet.
On the other hand, the vast majority of the film was shot (beautifully) on location (including some stuff that was actually shot at night, a real rarity for the 60s); the cutting, particularly in the final battle scene, is pretty out there for the era; it is more violent than the vast majority of American westerns before it; it is unlike any other American western up until this point; the ending is so abrupt it's actually shocking in a way.
Even though there are many, many things wrong with this film I am still very tempted to say that it is at least good. It defies explanation in a way (especially given that Bonnie and Clyde had yet to start the whole American Film Renaissance).
It is unique.
This review of Major Dundee (1965) was written by Riley H on 19 Jun 2010.
Major Dundee has generally received positive reviews.
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