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The Wild Bunch (Widescreen Director's Cut) | 
| Director: Sam Peckinpah
Actors: William Holden, Ernest Borgnine, Robert Ryan, Edmond O'brien, Warren Oates
Studio: Warner Home Video
Category: DVD
List Price: CDN$ 16.20
Buy New: CDN$ 4.30
You Save: CDN$ 11.90 (73%)
New (8) Used (4) from CDN$ 4.30
Rating:  98 reviews
Sales Rank: 2944
Format: Director's Cut, Ntsc, Widescreen
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), French (Subtitled)
Rating: R (Restricted)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
DVD Layers: 1
DVD Sides: 2
Picture Format: Letterbox
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.9 x 0.7
MPN: WARD14034D
ISBN: 0790731037
UPC: 085391403425
EAN: 9780790731032
ASIN: 0790731037
Theatrical Release Date: 1969
Release Date: August 22, 1997
Availability: Usually ships within 1 - 2 business days
Condition: Brand New! Factory Sealed 100%Satisfaction Guaranteed!
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From Amazon.co.uk
Here's how director Sam Peckinpah described his motivation behind IThe Wild Bunch/I at the time of the film's 1969 release: "I was trying to tell a simple story about bad men in changing times. IThe Wild Bunch/I is simply what happens when killers go to Mexico. The strange thing is you feel a great sense of loss when these killers reach the end of the line." All of these statements are true, but they don't begin to cover the impact that Peckinpah's film had on the evolution of American movies. Now the film is most widely recognized as a milestone event in the escalation of screen violence, but that's a label of limited perspective. Of course, Peckinpah's bloody climactic gunfight became a masterfully directed, photographed, and edited ballet of graphic violence that transcended the conventional Western and moved into a slow-motion realm of pure cinematic intensity. But the film--surely one of the greatest Westerns ever made--is also a richly thematic tale of, as Peckinpah said, "bad men in changing times." The year is 1913 and the fading band of thieves known as the Wild Bunch (led by William Holden as Pike) decide to pull one last job before retirement. But an ambush foils their plans, and Peckinpah's film becomes an epic yet intimate tale of betrayed loyalties, tenacious rivalry, and the bunch's dogged determination to maintain their fading code of honor among thieves. The 144-minute director's cut enhances the theme of male bonding that recurs in many of Peckinpah's films, restoring deleted scenes to deepen the viewer's understanding of the friendship turned rivalry between Pike and his former friend Deke Thornton (Robert Ryan), who now leads a posse in pursuit of the bunch, a dimension that adds resonance to an already classic American film. IThe Wild Bunch/I is a masterpiece that should not be defined strictly in terms of its violence, but as a story of mythic proportion, brimming with rich characters and dialogue and the bittersweet irony of outlaw traditions on the wane. i--Jeff Shannon/i
Additional Features
Paul Seydor's excellent Oscar-nominated documentary short from 1996, IThe Wild Bunch: An Album in Montage/I, is included on the 30th Anniversary video. Seydor--a noted film historian and editor, as well as the author of IPeckinpah: The Western Films--A Reconsideration/I--used previously unseen behind-the-scenes footage as the basis for this expertly crafted short. The silent, black and white film is accompanied by reminiscences from principal members of Peckinpah's cast and crew, in addition to voice-over quotations from the late director himself (as read by actor Ed Harris). Filled with anecdotes about the production and Peckinpah's inspired use of improvisation (including the film's climactic scene known as "the long walk"), this 34-minute film offers a rare glimpse of Peckinpah's creative process, his driven personality, and the technical challenges of creating the most infamous shootout in the history of film. Imagine a shortage of costumes and an excess of fake blood and bullet holes, and you'll gain a greater appreciation of IThe Wild Bunch/I and the effort that went into its creation. I--Jeff Shannon/I
Amazon.com Essential Video
Here's how director Sam Peckinpah described his motivation behind IThe Wild Bunch/I at the time of the film's 1969 release: "I was trying to tell a simple story about bad men in changing times. IThe Wild Bunch/I is simply what happens when killers go to Mexico. The strange thing is you feel a great sense of loss when these killers reach the end of the line." All of these statements are true, but they don't begin to cover the impact that Peckinpah's film had on the evolution of American movies. Now the film is most widely recognized as a milestone event in the escalation of screen violence, but that's a label of limited perspective. Of course, Peckinpah's bloody climactic gunfight became a masterfully directed, photographed, and edited ballet of graphic violence that transcended the conventional Western and moved into a slow-motion realm of pure cinematic intensity. But the film--surely one of the greatest Westerns ever made--is also a richly thematic tale of, as Peckinpah said, "bad men in changing times." The year is 1913 and the fading band of thieves known as the Wild Bunch (led by William Holden as Pike) decide to pull one last job before retirement. But an ambush foils their plans, and Peckinpah's film becomes an epic yet intimate tale of betrayed loyalties, tenacious rivalry, and the bunch's dogged determination to maintain their fading code of honor among thieves. The 144-minute director's cut enhances the theme of male bonding that recurs in many of Peckinpah's films, restoring deleted scenes to deepen the viewer's understanding of the friendship turned rivalry between Pike and his former friend Deke Thornton (Robert Ryan), who now leads a posse in pursuit of the bunch, a dimension that adds resonance to an already classic American film. IThe Wild Bunch/I is a masterpiece that should not be defined strictly in terms of its violence, but as a story of mythic proportion, brimming with rich characters and dialogue and the bittersweet irony of outlaw traditions on the wane. i--Jeff Shannon/i
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| Customer Reviews: Read 93 more reviews...
 One of the best western and I daresay the best American made western ever!!!!! September 24, 2008
Terence Tan Co (Vancouver)
Technically some western movie fans do not consider it a western since it happened at the very tail end of what is known as the Cowboy genre. but anyways Sam creates a great western movie not only with great characterizaton but also great action(especially the ending)....Very Highly recomended.
The best western of all time... January 20, 2008
Kathleen YO! (Montreal, Quebec Canada)
tied with The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly. Two totally different movies but its impossible to distinguish which one is better. Peckinpah had enough guts to put what should be the climatic shootout right at the start of the movie, and not only that, he topped it with the shootout at the end. This is probably one of the last great westerns and what I like about that is that its about the end of the wild west. The outlaws in the movie are getting older and they clash with the times. A great ensemble but the criminally underrated William Holden steals every scene that he's in, just the look in his eyes when he says the final "let's go" is more perfect than any five minute speech a character like that would normally make in a lesser film. I've recommended this film to several non-believers (either people who hate westerns or people who think the Good, the Bad and the Ugly can't be topped) and they've all been won over with flying colours.
One of the best westerns of all-time July 16, 2004
T O'Brien (Chicago, Il United States)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
The Wild Bunch-Restored Director's Cut is one of the best westerns ever made and also one of the best movies ever. In 1913 during the Mexican Revolution, times are changing as the Old West disappears into oblivion. After a botched robbery in the town of Starbuck, the Wild Bunch, a gang of aging outlaws must decide what their next move is. The remaining members of the gang decide to head south into Mexico where their services may be needed. The bunch robs a gun shipment for a Mexican general, hoping this will be their last job. At the same time, a posse is hunting them down with a former gang member at the posse's head. While this movie is most well known for its violence, it is ultimately a story about honor among men in a changing time. Knowing that the world they knew is changing, the bunch has to try and survive as their end closes in. Nonetheless, director Sam Peckinpah knows how to construct an action sequence. The Battle of Bloody Porch is a balletic, slow-motion, masterpiece of blood and guts as the Wild Bunch meets their end. Just as good is their final march through the streets knowing what awaits them. One of the best westerns, if not the best, ever made and highly recommended.p What makes this movie special, along with the groundbreaking filmmaking of Sam Peckinpah, is the cast. The whole cast gives excellent performances. William Holden stars as Pike Bishop, the leader of the Wild Bunch who knows time is running out for the bunch. His right hand man, Dutch Engstrom, is played by Ernest Borgnine in a perfect part for him. Robert Ryan plays Deke Thornton, a former member of the Wild Bunch and the unwilling leader of the posses following the gang. The rest of the gang includes Edmond O'Brien as Freddie Sykes, Warren Oates and Ben Johnson as brothers Lyle and Tector Gorch, and Jaime Sanchez as Angel. Emilio Fernandez plays Mapache, the Mexican general who pays the bunch to steal a shipment of guns. Strother Martin and L.Q. Jones are great as Coffer and TC, members of the posse. What is surprising about these characters is that as despicable as they are, they are still likable. The Restored Director's Cut DVD includes about ten minutes cut from the original version, a theatrical trailer, production notes, an excellent making of documentary, The Wild Bunch: An Album in Montage, and a great-looking widescreen presentation. For a great western with incredible gunfights, a terrific cast, and a great story, check out the truly classic western, The Wild Bunch!
 NOT ONE OF YOUR GRANDPA'S WESTERNS. July 6, 2004
Alejandro Cortes (Mexico)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
The Wild Bunch is not the typical western that tells the story of a bunch of good ol' cowboys versus the mean ol' Indians, this movie goes beyond the cliches of the earlier westerns, so in some way The Wild Bunch resembles more to a Spaghetti Western than a John Wayne-versus-the-indians western.pSam Peckinpah took two steps forward the use of violence in the movies, he show the world how to use violence in a movie to produce visual art. Of course, some might complain about the cruel scenes in The Wild Bunch, but open minded people know that the violence in the movies is not even close to the cruelty of the real world violence, plus, the violence in a movie can produce visual art if it's used in the right way, like Sam Peckinpah or Sergio Leone did in their movies.pThe Wild Bunch has an excellent cast: the always efficient William Holden and Ernest Borgnine plus a great supporting cast that includes names like Robert Ryan, Warren Oates and Emilio Fernandez. Also, the director Sam Peckinpah gave importance to each character, and that contributed to form a solid story. The cinematography is spectacular, The Wild Bunch has a lot of impressive camera angles that show the cruelty of the bullets and explosions, and the movie has some of the most impressive scenes ever put to film.pThe Wild Bunch is in a very selected group of westerns. That list includes movies like High Noon. The Searchers, Stagecoach, The Good, The Bad And The Ugly and Once Upon A Time In The West, among few others. That list includes the best westerns, and The Wild Bunch belongs in the list.
A Grand Finale to the Old West - An American Classic June 27, 2004
Jeffrey E Ellis (Naperville, IL USA)
This is simply a rich, masterful, nostalgic story of the Old West, in all of its fading glory.pThe charaters too, are fading in their own time - pursued relentlessly by forces reshaping the country, lives and landscape they ravaged, shared, and loved.pA long-in-the-tooth band of outlaws set out on one last job - to lighten the rich railroad barons of a few sacks of gold. Doublecross meets disaster and they're thrown back on their heels in a narrow escape. Then on to Mexico to trade a stolen shipment of rifles, stolen from under the government's nose, to a Mexican general who is a ruthless hombre in his own right.pGood guys and bad guys change roles and the moral lines of right and wrong shift beneath their feet as they make a last stand for honor among men.pThis is a fun, exciting, warm movie which is excellent in every respect. Beautifully filmed, extraordinarily acted, and a terrific story, wonderfully told.pFive stars for a truly American Classic.
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