WILD ROVERS

US, 1971, 132 minutes, Colour.
William Holden, Ryan O'Neal, Karl Malden, Lynn Carlin, Tom Skerritt, Joe Don Baker, Rachel Roberts, Moses Gunn.
Directed by Blake Edwards.

Wild Rover is a big-budget western written and directed by Blake Edwards at the beginning of the '70s. However, it was little seen, was cut for theatrical release and only made a comeback via video.

It was made in the aftermath of Sam Peckinpah's Wild Bunch - and, in fact, has the same star, William Holden. The film covers some of the same ground, uses some of the techniques of slow motion and the presentation of violence initiated by Peckinpah. However, it is a very leisurely western, focusing on cowboys, their camaraderie and work, the older man becoming the friend of the younger. It shows the ranchers and their clash with the sheep men. It also shows the ordinary life of the West, the sheds with the men, gambling, the brothels.

William Holden is sturdy as the elderly cowboy who befriends the brash younger man played by Ryan O'Neal (between Love Story and What's Up, Doc?). The film has a good supporting cast led by Karl Malden. A number of featured players were to make significant careers for themselves in Hollywood after this: Tom Skerritt, Joe Don Baker.

The film is spectacularly photographed, uses its authentic locations very well, has good action sequences, has some thoughtful dialogue by Edwards himself.

Blake Edwards was to have difficulties with MGM and the studios in the '70s making such films as The Carey Treatment and The Tamarind Seed. He started to make a comeback with more Pink Panther films but really emerged once again in the early '80s with 10, SOB, Victor/Victoria.

1.Entertaining western? Lavish scale? The stars? The western themes? The pessimism of the westerns of the '70s?
2.Panavision photography, Montana and Texas locations? Authentic atmosphere? The stunt work? The sweep of the West? Musical score?

3.The title, the focus on Ross and Frank, the focus on the cowboys and their way of life? Wild, wandering?

4.The atmosphere of the West: the credits sequence, the mythic elements of the cowboys in their environment, sunsets, the open spaces? The film as an exercise in mythologising the cowboy, the friendships between cowboys, the codes of the West, law and justice, the individuals and their heroism, their integrity, crime and punishment, vengeance, the foolish range wars and the consequent massacres?

5.The portrayal of the ranch, Buckman and his style? The activities, the round-up, the accidental death and its effect on the men, the shooting of the horse? The clash with the sheep men? The ranch-owner and his family, the meals? The contrast with the men in the sheds?

6.Ross and Frank in this environment, the older man and the younger, Ross's final words about their meeting, his misjudging Frank, their becoming friends, their enterprise together, suffering and death? Ross and William Holden's screen persona? The older man, leadership, his word for Buckman? Frank as the young cowboy, inexperienced, genial, the good shot? Their friendship, shared interests, the talk about Mexico and a spread? Going into town? The decision to rob the bank, holding the manager and his family to ransom? Ross and the actual robbery, handling the manager well? Escaping, riding calmly through the streets, the encounter with Johnny Buckman? Frank and his holding the women? Concern about the baby, the dogs, even taking a dog? The money and their making their escape?

7.Buckman and his sons, his disdain of his son's behaviour, his attitude towards his wife and condemnation of her? A hard man? The round-up? The taking of the money, his enmity? His instilling this in his sons? The sheriff, the posse, the pursuit? The relentless tracking down of the robbers? The encounter with the sheep men, the violence of the shoot-out, the deaths, Buckman's death? The effect on the sons? Johnny and his temper, at the brothel, his relentless pursuit? Paul and his being more restrained? The sheriff, the decision about the pursuit, Johnny's motives, living his father's wishes, the confrontation with Ross, the shooting? Johnny wanting to take his corpse back? Their riding off? The vengeance - but what else had they achieved?

8.The bank manager, nervousness, his wife and child, the mother? Being held to ransom? Refusing the money? Reporting to the sheriff? The wife and her temptation to keep the money?

9.Ross and Frank and their adventures together, riding along, meeting Ben and getting the pony from him, the memories of the war, Frank and his shooting? Getting the milk for the dog? The cat? Riding through the landscapes, the changes of terrain, seasons, dust and snow? The arrival in the town, going to the brothel, the gambling? Frank playing cards, the shoot-out? His being wounded? Ross and Frank and their riding together, Frank delirious, his wound, the getting out of the bullet, the infected leg? His decision to go on? The blood in the snow? Frank's collapse, Ross's speech - the memorial, their meeting, the age difference, the friendship, the shared experiences? The burial? Frank as inexperienced, young, naive? Ross as harder, experienced, worldly-wise and weary?

10.Sheriffs, authorities, pursuit, shoot-outs?

11.The world of the brothels, Maybelle and the brothel in town? The cantina and Ross and Frank going? Relationship with the girls?

12.The ethos of the West, the individuals, the camaraderie? The hard life? Power and money? Work? Gambling? Relationships? The American heritage?