I have to agree with the statement made by some critics* that the films of Sam Peckinpah get better over repeated viewings.
Dustin Hoffman comforts? his wife Susan George
in Straw Dogs
You missed a spot: Jason Robards bathes Stella Stevens
in The Ballad of Cable Hogue
Male bonding: Robert Preston and Steve McQueen
in Junior Bonner
Junior Bonner seems in line with many of the character studies in American film released around this time (Early 70's). Junior is a 40ish rodeo rider who wants to ride that rascally demon bull named Sunshine. Junior (Steve McQueen) is doing it for personal pride, but he's also doing it for a little scratch, too. Junior's relationship with his roustabout father (The always engaging Robert Preston), his long suffering mother (Ida Lupino), and entrepreneurial brother (Joe Don Baker) are at the heart of the film. We also see glimpses of rodeo life and maybe more importantly, the post rodeo bonding rituals at the neighborhood bar. It's certainly a nice addition to Peckinpah cannon.
*All the films I saw were enhanced with contributions from Peckinpah scholars Paul Seydor, Garner Simmons, David Weddle or Stephen Prince. They are indeed the masters of Peckinpah scholarship.
Now where is that DVD copy of The Killer Elite with the commentary track?
Now where is that DVD copy of The Killer Elite with the commentary track?
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