Major Dundee (1965, dir. Sam Peckinpah)

Major Dundee (1965, dir. Sam Peckinpah) (Special Edition, 2005)

What Is It?: An epic Western, set during the last days of the Civil War about a flawed calvery Major and his mad quest to fight a war against the Apaches with a small fighting force made up of Confederate prisoners of war.

What About It?: A sprawling, engaging mess starring a steely-jawed Charlton Heston, chewing on most of the scenery in sight with a studied deliberation. His rival officer, plucked from the ranks of the Confederate prisoners, is played with a similar verve by a young Richard Harris, who inexplicably wears eye make-up for the duration of the film. It suits his acting style and his character, however, so perhaps we shouldn't complain. The cast is rounded out with bit parts played by Warren Oates, James Coburn (who, as a one-armed scout, has a fantastic fight scene with his Apache scout partner) and Slim Pickens.

Why Should I See It?: Saved from a savage studio cut after the film was taken from Peckinpah's hands, it was re-released in 2005 in something close to what the director intended. The (re)finished product this is well worth the time for any fans of this era's Western, before the revisionist period – where Peckinpah was a major force – and the death of the Big Studio Picture precluded most epic-size flicks.

What Else Is It Like?: Rio Lobo, The Outlaw Josey Wales, The Professionals.

When Is It Playing Until ON DEMAND?: 1/o4/07

Watch It ON DEMAND On Comcast Cable.

-- ddt/pdx

What's New This Week (That's Worth Watching to One Degree or Another)?: Four Weddings and a Funeral, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Fiddler on the Roof, Gun Shy, Man of the Century, Marked for Death, Road House, Single White Female, Three Amigos, Tombstone (Special Edition), The Usual Suspects, Weekend at Bernies.