The Hunting Party (1971)

Save your money for something good and enjoyable

Powerful

Entertaining from beginning to end, it maintains the spirit of the franchise while establishing it's own seal with a fun cast

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

I literally fell in love with this western in the late seventies. A true masterpiece for me. Such a shame that this kind of topic doesn't exist anymore. But maybe that's actually the reason why this very same kind of films remains so good to taste, because of its rarity. I think of MAN WHO LOVED CAT DANCING when I watch it again and again. Same scheme, well almost: the tale of an abducted wife who finally prefers to be with her abductor instead of her husband. As another user said, we can see here a sort of metaphor about the US interventionism in Vietnam, as I already told about THE PROFESSIONALS, starring Burt Lancaster. Gene Hackman gives here an outstanding performance who is not so far from the one he will give us in 92, for UNFORGIVEN. A seemingly good abiding citizen, at first sight, but who suddenly appears to be different. What could I say more about it?I prefer watch it another time, probably the 675th one !!!

A straight off the 'French Connection pre- Poseidon Adventure Gene Hackman is the wealthy and salacious Rancher Brandt Ruger who departs on a hunting party leaving his beautiful trophy teacher wife a post 'Soldier Blue' Candice Bergan she's abducted by the famous outlaw Frank Calder a superb Oliver Reed who is looking to be taught how to read by Bergan. Reed is joined by LQ Jones who is better known from being one of the blundering pursuers from 'The Wild Bunch' plays a sleazy role here. Mitchell Ryan 'the General from 'Lethal Weapon' is Reed's close friend. pursuing them is Hackman, and the late GD Spradlin' Godfather Part II' 'The Hunting Party' is nothing short of excellent, it is also incredibly violent.

Advertisements for "The Hunting Party" misleadingly portrayed the scenario as a western riff on the old "Most Dangerous Game" ploy: man hunting man for sport. Instead, this William Norton-Gilbert Alexander-Lou Morheim script is an old-fashioned revenge tale studded with new-fangled blood and sex. Gene Hackman plays land baron Brandt Ruger, an amoral sadist living in the rural town that bears his surname, who leads a somewhat-leery pack of well-wrought gentleman friends on a hunt to kill the gunslingers responsible for kidnapping his wife (he also appears to want his wife killed as well, since she's obviously been raped and now may be carrying a bastard child!). Taking his cue from Sam Peckinpah's "The Wild Bunch", director Don Medford takes great delight in blasting his supporting cast away to Kingdom Come in a hail of gunfire, blood-packs spurting in slow motion. Medford hasn't much originality (or versatility), and several of his scenes are downright sloppy. However, Ruger's unmitigated relish for treating humans as cattle allows Hackman to revel in some mangy, dastardly deeds--he's a marvelous villain. As the head of the kidnappers, Oliver Reed disguises his British accent fairly well and is surprisingly tender with captive Candice Bergen (as sort of a Sweet Hostage). Opening scene juxtaposing the knifing of a cow with Hackman forcing himself on his wife in the bedroom is heavy-handed at best, distasteful at worst. But the picture improves from there and gives us a brutal, fairly realistic look at the lawless West. Very good performances from all three stars, excellent work as well from Mitchell Ryan as Reed's faithful friend Doc. *** from ****

I'm a big fan of early 70's sadistic westerns and "The Hunting Party" has the special place in my grimy heart. It's among the nastiest, bloodiest and most misanthropic western movies ever made. Obviously influenced by Peckinpah's masterful "The Wild Bunch" it has its share of brutal violence and blown off heads. Even the cow gets its throat slit in the beginning of this nasty spectacle. Gene Hackman plays wealthy town owner filled with rage and misogynistic hatred. When the outlaw named Frank (Oliver Reed) kidnaps his wife (Candice Bergen) for teaching him to read, Hackman forms the hunting group. The bloodbath ensues... Highly cynical western, superbly acted and shot. The shocking finale filled my eyes with tears. A must-see.