Sam Peckinpah's The Wild Bunch is the classic Western that destroyed the classic Western. Before Blazing Saddles spoofed the genre, Peckinpah blew it up. In this movie, the subject is violence itself, beautifully filmed and as well-choreographed as a Broadway musical. The Wild Bunch made realistic carnage an acceptable centerpiece. As you watch, you'll recognize the influence this film has had on directors such as Coppola, Scorsese, Tarantino, and Woo.

Chris Hodgdon