Culture news This western is an unbeatable film: we haven't done better in half a century!
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If it has ever happened that a film leaves a mark in its genre, being among the best films in the history of a country is an even more exceptional achievement. This is the case with the Wild Horde, since 55 years after its release it remains an unbeatable classic.
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The Wild Horde, a film anchored in cinematographic heritage
The Wild Horde was once controversial for its violence. Today he is one of essential western films. Next to 55 years laterthe film directed by Sam Peckinpah is part of the ranking of the best films in the history of cinema. The film features a band of plunderers ready to do anything to find a place in a changing world. The story takes place in a small town in Texas near the Mexican border. The band of looters is led by Pike Bishop played by William Holden. They are preparing to attack the offices of the Railway Company. However, bounty hunters await them there, and ambush them. Only 5 members of the group survive, they join Mexico then devastated by a civil war…
Sam Peckinpah's film explores the theme of survival in a changing world. The film is also known for its dynamic and complex staging. The particularity of this film is that the director uses “multi-angle” effects, short shots and especially slow motion, never before seen at the time. According to the director, this film echoes the Vietnam War which is dividing America at the same time. Peckinpah depicts an immoral and sad world that prioritizes progress over security. Violence spares nothing and no one.
I made a film about America's guilty conscience -Sam Peckinpah
For this feature film, the American director was nominated for Directors Guild of America Awards. The Wild Horde also received several nominations including at the Oscars in 1970. But the film's biggest symbolic success was when, in 1990, it was registered in the United States National Film Registry to be preserved in the Library of Congress.
The Wild Horde: a film made to fight against “spaghetti westerns”
The Wild Horde was made right during the golden age of films “spaghetti western”. This term refers to all Italian western films made in Italy. Between 1963 and 1978, 450 films of this type have been released. The term “spaghetti” western originated in the United States and initially had a pejorative connotation. However, thanks to a few works that have become legendary, the “Italian western” genre is now recognized. The best known director of this genre is Sergio Leone who knew how to give a breath of fresh air.
Sam Peckinpah's film was seen as a model to combat this type of feature film with very different codes. Italian westerns stand out on a few distinct points. First, the films do not glorify traditional American values unlike American productions. Secondly, individualism is one of the main values of this genre which puts the revolver before everything else. Distrust towards women, the quest for money, sex are also very present in the different Italian productions. Third, his films are often marked by humor and a violence that is certainly rarer but very intense!
In short, Pike Bishop and his gang can be proud of the cultural imprint they have left. Even after 55 years, The Wild Horde remains an unbeatable classic.