The Hunting Party (1971)

Another Western, this one better than its critical reception would suggest. It's definitely uneven and falls apart after Mitchell Ryan dies (the ending seems to be trying for profundity but just seems silly) but in its best moments it's tough-minded and compelling with a fine performance from Oliver Reed. Even with the mind-boggling violence quotient, this is one of the most anti-violence Westerns I've yet seen -- death in this film is not taken lightly, and Reed's outlaw ends up renouncing his violent ways. (No coincidence he's more sympathetic than Gene Hackman's brutal bank mogul.) Flawed but fairly watchable all the same; Candice Bergman really was a terrible actress in her younger years, though.

Grade: B-