A Uniquely American Epic: Intimacy and Action, Tenderness and Violence in Sam Peckinpah's The Wild Bunch (Screen Classics)

"The life of most films is astoundingly short, sometimes lasting only a month, but Sam Peckinpah's The Wild Bunch endures as a canonical film to this day, half a century after its release in 1969. Due to its powerful, direct depiction of violence, regret, and the challenge of acting ethically in the face of what seems to be an almost universal meaninglessness, a return to The Wild Bunch with today's context in mind could not be more timely. As violence challenges us with its senselessness, leaving many people confused and hopeless, this influential film holds the promise of a redemptive moment. The implications of the film's investigation of violent behavior and our potential complicity with it are perhaps even more significant today than when the film was first released. To confront these notions, and to mark the occasion of the film's forthcoming 50th anniversary, Sam Peckinpah scholar Michael Bliss brings together some of the most well-known Peckinpah scholars and critics to examine the director's greatest film. The issues presented in the film-violence, morality, male codes of honor and friendship, the legacy of American ambition and compromise-are relevant to the current moment, which underscores Bliss's intent for this edited volume. The contributors come from a variety of backgrounds and include Peckinpah scholars Michael Sragow and Paul Seydor, Western aficionado and author W. K. Stratton, television writer/producer/editor Garner Simmons, and Peckinpah's close friend Don Hyde, among others. The ten original essays cover an array of topics, including: how violence functions in the film and how it differs from depiction in other films; time's dual function as a source not only of pain and regret resulting from past mistakes, but also of the elusive promise of a better future; the reaction moviegoers had to the film in 1969 based on audience accounts and contemporary media; and Peckinpah's personal response to the firestorm of controversy the film ignited upon its initial release. Written for a broad audience, A Uniquely American Epic seeks to appeal to the average moviegoer, fans of Peckinpah and The Wild Bunch, as well as general readers interested in the toll that repeated acts of violence take on the American psyche. It will also be a valuable addition to film classes focused on trends in world cinema, the American western, or the problematic nature of screen violence. For those interested in further reading, the volume will also include an annotated bibliography of major critical works on The Wild Bunch, cementing this volume as a significant contribution to Peckinpah scholarship"-- Provided by publisher

One of the most innovative films ever made, Sam Peckinpah's motion picture The Wild Bunch was released in 1969. From the outset, the film was considered controversial because of its powerful, graphic, and direct depiction of violence, but it was also praised for its lush photography, intricate camera work, and cutting-edge editing. Peckinpah's tale of an ill-fated, aging outlaw gang bound by a code of honor is often regarded as one of the most complex and impactful Westerns in American cinematic history. The issues dealt with in this groundbreaking film—violence, morality, friendship, and the legacy of American ambition and compromise—are just as relevant today as when the film first opened.

To acknowledge the significance of The Wild Bunch, this collection brings together some of the leading Peckinpah scholars and critics to examine what many consider to be the director's greatest work. The book's nine essays cover an array of topics. Explored are the function of violence in the film and how its depiction is radically different from what is seen in other movies, the background of the film's production, the European response to the film's view of human nature, and the strong sense of the Texas/Mexico milieu surrounding the film's action.

One of the most innovative films ever made, Sam Peckinpah's motion picture The Wild Bunch was released in 1969. From the outset, the film was considered controversial because of its powerful, graphic, and direct depiction of violence, but it was also praised for its lush photography, intricate camera work, and cutting-edge editing. Peckinpah's tale of an ill-fated, aging outlaw gang bound by a code of honor is often regarded as one of the most complex and impactful Westerns in American cinematic history. The issues dealt with in this groundbreaking film -- violence, morality, friendship, and the legacy of American ambition and compromise -- are just as relevant today as when the film first opened. To acknowledge the significance of The Wild Bunch , this collection brings together some of the leading Peckinpah scholars and critics to examine what many consider to be the director's greatest work. The book's nine essays cover an array of topics. Explored are the function of violence in the film and how its depiction is radically different from what is seen in other movies, the background of the film's production, the European response to the film's view of human nature, and the strong sense of the Texas/Mexico milieu surrounding the film's action. Widely acknowledged as a highly innovative film, Sam Peckinpah's The Wild Bunch was released in 1969. From the outset, the movie was considered controversial because of its powerful, graphic, and direct depiction of violence, but it was also praised for its lush photography, intricate camera work, and cutting-edge editing. To honor the significance of The Wild Bunch, this collection brings together leading Peckinpah scholars and critics to examine what many consider to be the director's greatest work. The book's nine essays explore the function of violence in the film and how its depiction is radically different from what is seen in other movies; the background of the film's production; the European response to the film's view of human nature; and the role of Texas/Mexico milieu in the narrative.