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Aug 1, 2020 · More specifically, the opening scene of The Wild Bunch demonstrates an alteration of the structures of the classic western genre by undermining the use of violence as a force for good, alluding to the brutality of the U.S. military presence in Vietnam.
The Wild Bunch is a 1969 American epic revisionist Western film directed by Sam Peckinpah and starring William Holden, Ernest Borgnine, Robert Ryan, Edmond O'Brien, Ben Johnson and Warren Oates. The plot concerns an aging outlaw gang on the Mexico–United States border trying to adapt to the changing modern world of 1913.
- Overall Story
- Main Character
- Influence Character
- Relationship Story
Understanding
1. Overall Story Signpost 1The railroad clerks understand what they’re up against when Pike tells Crazy Lee: PIKE: If they move, kill ‘em. The Wild Bunch understand how determined Harrigan’s bounty hunters are when they shoot into the townspeople. Pike understands the pursuit is personal for Thornton, the partner he abandoned. 2. Overall Story Journey 1 from Understanding to DoingThe Wild Bunch escape Thornton’s ambush, only to realize they’ve been tricked with washers. They flee across th...
Doing
1. Overall Story Signpost 2The Wild Bunch spend time in Angel’s village, singing, dancing, feasting, and playing like children, as: DON JOSE: We all dream of being a child again—even the worst of us—perhaps the worst most of all. (Green and Peckinpah, p. 37) Thornton and his men follow the Bunch’s trail. 2. Overall Story Journey 2 from Doing to ObtainingFeted by the villagers, the Wild Bunch look for opportunities in Agua Verde, where they’re hired to obtain guns for Mapache. The angry Ange...
Obtaining
1. Overall Story Signpost 3The Wild Bunch hijack the train and steal the arms shipment. Thornton, his bounty hunters, and the untrained soldiers try to stop them. 2. Overall Story Journey 3 from Obtaining to LearningWhile pleased to receive the guns from the Wild Bunch, Mapache’s displeased to learn of Angel’s theft and captures him. Thornton ambushes Sykes, but runs when he learns Mapache’s men are after him.
Present
1. Main Character Signpost 1The resourceful Pike turns the current situation to his advantage: pinned down in the railroad office, he finds cover in the Temperance marchers: ANGEL: People marching and singing coming down the street—going to pass near the horses. PIKE (grinning): We’ll join in… (Green and Peckinpah, p. 7) Pike leaves Crazy Lee in place to delay his pursuers. 2. Main Character Journey 1 from Present to PastSurprised at being stalked by an old friend he deserted, Pike repeats...
Past
1. Main Character Signpost 2Faced with mutinous rumblings among the Wild Bunch he leads, Pike lays down the law by letting the Gorches know he’s going to run things the way he has in the past: LYLE: About the sharing up… PIKE (wearily): The sharing up’s going to be the same as always. (Green and Peckinpah, p. 22) 2. Main Character Journey 2 from Past to ProgressFeeling guilt over abandoning Thornton in the past, Pike vows with his bunch to “stick together.” He robs the train, gets the gold...
Progress
1. Main Character Signpost 3Watching the Mexican woman and her baby, the post-coital Pike seems to reflect on his Mexican fiancee and others he’s let down. Unhappy with the way his life’s been going, and with what’s happening to Angel, Pike makes steps toward living up to his credo by jumping up and deciding to confront Mapache over Angel. 2. Main Character Journey 3 from Progress to FutureUnhappy with Angel’s torture getting more severe, Pike leaves his gold behind and confronts Mapache. P...
Memory
1. Influence Character Signpost 1After the massacre in Starbuck, Harrigan questions whether Thornton’s getting sentimental, and Thornton’s reminded of why he took this job: HARRIGAN: I am wondering why you shot the paymaster and let your ‘old friend’ get away. [...] PIKE: Nobody’s an old friend when he’s worth a bounty…and that bounty will keep me out of jail. [...] I don’t want to go back to jail, Mr. Harrigan…not ever. (Green and Peckinpah, pp. 19-20) 2. influence Character Journey 1 f...
Preconscious
1. Influence Character Signpost 2Thornton thinks back to what got him into this mess—that time in the whorehouse when he ignored his impulses and listened instead to the reassurances of Pike, whose own impulse was to run out the back door. 2. Influence Character Journey 2 from Preconscious to SubconsciousPained by his misplaced trust in Pike, Thornton struggles to keep his men motivated in the face of dynamited bridges and U.S. troops with poor aim.
Subconscious
1. Influence Character Signpost 3After Pike’s men rob the train and escape, Thornton’s drive to go after them is raised a notch when his bounty hunters shoot some of the U.S. Army soldiers: COFFER: Are we going after— THORNTON: Unless you’d like to go back and face a firing squad. (Green and Peckinpah, p. 71) 2. Influence Character Journey 3 from Subconscious to ConsciousThornton shows no interest in finishing Sykes off, instead staying on Pike’s trail at a distance until he sees Mapache do...
Conceptualizing
1. Relationship Story Signpost 1Thornton carries out Harrigan’s plan to ambush Pike and his men, including the idea to catch them coming out red-handed. When the tuba player stops Thornton’s bullet meant for Pike, Pike doesn’t like the idea of killing his old buddy and shoots a bounty hunter instead. 2. Relationship Story Journey 1 from Conceptualizing to BecomingFeeling pressure from Harrigan to get Pike or return to jail, Thornton contemplates how Pike never got caught.
Becoming
1. Relationship Story Signpost 2Pike thinks back (and so does Thornton) to the defining moment in their relationship, when Thornton got shot and became a prisoner, while Pike ran out on him and became a lesser man. 2. Relationship Story Journey 2 from Becoming to BeingDetermined to become the one to catch Pike, Thornton and his men ambush the Wild Bunch on the train, but it’s Pike who sends Thornton down river with the help of dynamite.
Being
1. Relationship Story Signpost 3Thornton leads his men past where Pike’s hiding the wagon of guns, pretending to have lost the trail: THORNTON: We didn’t lose them—I could point to them now. (Green and Peckinpah, p. 79) But Pike isn’t able to figure out Thornton’s moves: PIKE: Are they bluffing or did they really miss it? (Green and Peckinpah, p. 76) 2. Relationship Story Journey 3 from Being to ConceivingThornton’s deception pays off when he ambushes Sykes. Pike’s admiration for Thornton’...
The Wild Bunch: An Album in Montage, a 32-minute documentary by Paul Seydor and Nick Redman, comprised on-set footage of the finale discovered in 16mm canisters in the Warner Brothers vaults in 1995. “Whoever it was behind the camera,” acknowledges Seydor, “picked the right three days to shoot.
Feb 19, 2020 · Summary: Set in 1913 during the Mexican Revolution, along the Mexican-Texan border, The Wild Bunch tells the story of an aging gang of outlaws led by Pike, and chased by bounty hunters led by a former gang member, Deke Thornton. They rob a bank, which turns out to be a set-up by the railroad company.
Dec 4, 2016 · The realism and revision that The Wild Bunch displayed in blood-spattered spades effectively reclaimed the Western back from the Italians. Peckinpah could certainly hemorrhage more plasma than Sergio Leone or Sergio Corbucci combined while providing a doleful and defiled lyricism absent from many horse operas, too.
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Sep 29, 2002 · 145 minutes ‧ R ‧ 1969. Roger Ebert. September 29, 2002. 7 min read. In an early scene of “The Wild Bunch,” the bunch rides into town past a crowd of children who are gathered with excitement around their game. They have trapped some scorpions and are watching them being tortured by ants.
