The Wild Bunch

The American Classic That Changed Westerns Forever

Bill Mesce author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:McFarland & Co Inc

Published:22nd Oct '19

Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back

The Wild Bunch cover

One of the most controversial films of its time, The Wild Bunch is the epitome of the no-holds-barred filmmaking of the 1960s and 1970s. Since its 1969 release, it has come to be recognized not only as an iconic Western, but as one of the most important films in the American cinematic canon.

Over the years a parade of filmmakers have tried to imitate its gut-punch effects but none have equaled it. The Wild Bunch revived the floundering career of volatile, self-destructive director Sam Peckinpah--it also hung on him the label "Bloody Sam." This book tells the complete story of the film's production, reception and legacy.

“Mesce succinctly views Peckinpah as the ‘right man in the right place and the right time’ to make this classic, perfectly analyzing the core of what made ‘The Wild Bunch’ a moving classic.”—Western Clippings
“A breezy, intensely-researched celebration of Peckinpah’s landmark movie...valuable... Mesce provides some interesting new insights. Additionally, he does not limit himself to only this specific movie. Rather, he discusses how it fits into Peckinpah’s overall career and analyzes his previous and subsequent works in an honest manner that neither vilifies or idolizes the mercurial filmmaker...highly recommended.”—Cinema Retro.

ISBN: 9781476677460

Dimensions: 229mm x 152mm x 11mm

Weight: 295g

213 pages