This is a very watchable Western that exhibits a high level of grotesque violence. I attribute the violence to the fact that this movie follows on the heels of “The Wild Bunch” which was a Western and which saw director Sam Peckinpah push the boundaries of on-screen gun play and graphically portrayed violence. “The Hunting Party” follows in the mold and shows a lot of bullet holes being made in some of the characters and there is generally sadistic bent to the character portrayed by Gene Hackman. Hackman is a cattle baron who treats his young wife like so much property. Oh, yes. And Hackman does not treat women well, in general, in this movie. Oliver Reed plays an outlaw who just wants to learn how to read. He mistakes Hackman’s wife, Candice Bergen, as being a schoolteacher who can assist him in his time of need. Bergen resists the kidnapping, at first, but grows fond of Reed and eventually sides with him as Hackman wages a bloody quest to recover his wife and put the outlaws to shame who abducted her. Therein, the violence ensues.
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Willian Friedkin, Dead at 87
Director William Friedkin cemented his legacy with two filmic masterpieces, The French Connection and The Exorcist. The French Connection excites with the kinetic pacing of this violent crime drama. It doesn’t hurt that this movie also features an iconic car chase scene that was repeatedly imitated. Also, features an Academy Award winning performance by Gene Hackman as hardboiled detective Popeye Doyle.
The Exorcist stills ranks, in my book, as one of the scariest movies ever made. The hackles will rise on the back of your neck as you witness a young girl being taken over by an evil presence and the ensuing chaos that commences in the process. Not a movie to be watched alone at night. It will give you the creeps.
Friedkin was a trailblazing filmmaker. His influence has been felt over the years. Watch these two cinematic gems and celebrate this great moviemaker.
POSEIDEN ADVENTURE – 1972 – WHEN DISASTER MOVIES REIGNED
Here is a disaster flick with an unhappy New Year’s theme. A luxury cruiser on its final voyage has the misfortune of confronting and ending up on the losing end of an earthquake generated massive tidal wave. The net effect is that the USS Poseiden is flipped upside down by the wave and as a result everything down is now up and vise versa. A group of survivors of the initial disaster then mount an effort to find a way to be saved by the eventual rescue crews. What proceeds from this point is a potboiler of clashing ideologies and personalities and unforeseen ship generated crises. What great fun! Gene Hackman leads this merry band as they make their way toward the engine room and meet up with disaster tacked upon disaster. Also features Ernest Borgnine, Stella Stevens, Red Buttons, Shelley Winters and Roddy McDowall. It will keep your attention. Nice special effects. I guess Airport started the disaster trend in movies in the early 1970’s and this one followed before being joined by Earthquake and more Airport flicks. Gritty goings on here to be sure.