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Bite the Bullet (1975)

5/25/2012

 
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Where would the movies be without horses?

There have been thousands of movies with horses in them, including tons of westerns. Many fine films have also been made spotlighting a particular horse (National Velvet, The Black Stallion, Seabiscuit). Bite the Bullet stands out from most westerns - and indeed, most films - as one of its main themes is how man relates to, treats - and mistreats - horses.

Written and directed by Richard Brooks, it’s a sweeping, epic adventure tale about a grueling, 700-mile endurance horse race. The movie is full of action and incident, but it’s really a character piece. Brooks is less concerned with the race itself than he is with the kind of people who are crazy enough to take part in it.
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Horse lovers reading this should be forewarned: the film doesn’t shy away from depicting the occasional cruel treatment of these fine animals by human hands (Rest assured: apparently no animals were harmed in making the film). One of the messages of the movie is how you can measure a person’s character by the way they treat their animals.  The film is set around the turn-of-the-century, when a horse still held enormous value to its owner, especially out west, and its theft or injury might mean the loss of the owner's life or livelihood. Watching the epic race unfold is exciting, sure, but at all times we’re shown the toll it takes not only on man, but on the animal he rides and relies upon.

The film opens with ex-Rough Rider and cowboy Sam Clayton (Gene Hackman) escorting the wealthy Parker family’s prize racehorse, Tripoli, to the rendezvous point where his anxious owner awaits. Sam is compelled to stop along the way when he sees three horses left for dead in the desert, next to an abandoned glue factory wagon. The adult horses have been hobbled, one mare still cruelly attached to the wagon by a wire through her nose, her foal milling restlessly nearby. Sam sets the other horse free, but it’s too late to do anything for the mare. Disgust and anger plain upon his face, Sam removes the wire from her nose, gathers the colt up in his arms and slings it over his saddle. In this brief scene, we learn much about Sam Clayton. He has a strong love for horses and a low tolerance for human cruelty.

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Even though the detour is costing him precious time, Sam's priority is to take care of the colt. He stops off at a nearby farm, where a young boy is milking a cow. “Can you spare some milk for a hungry orphan?” he asks the boy.

The boy brings over some milk for the foal. “You like horses?” Sam asks.

The boy shyly shakes his head. “Got one of your own?" Another head shake.  "You want one?" The boy's eyes light up. "Well, you got one.” Sam pushes the colt into the boy's arms. The boy hugs the colt tightly, and as Sam remounts and prepares to ride away, finally speaks.

“Do I gotta pay somethin’?”

“Yep,” Sam replies. “Don’t ever treat him bad.”


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Meanwhile, the various racers assemble around the starting point. They’re an colorful bunch, all out for the $2,000 (eventually $3,000) prize, sponsored by the Western Star newspaper. There’s the gambler and adventurer Luke Matthews (James Coburn), looking to make a big score by betting 7-to-1 odds on himself to win. There’s the Englishman, Sir Harry Norfolk (Ian Bannen), who has come from thousands of miles overseas with his expensive steeplechase steed, just for the sheer sport of it. There’s the surly young hothead, Carbo (Jan-Michael Vincent); the plainspoken professional rider hired by the Parker family to ride Tripoli; and an old-timer only known as Mister (Ben Johnson) who’s out for one last shot at glory. There’s also a Mexican (Mario Arteaga) with a bad toothache who needs the prize money for his family, and Miss Jones (Candice Bergen), the lone woman racer. She has the grit to hang with the men, but her precise motives are at first unclear.
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Sam arrives late to the starting point, but with Parker’s horse in good condition. He's just in time to give the troublemaker Carbo a good beating, for punching a mule. Turns out Matthews is an old friend - and fellow Rough Rider - of Sam’s, and joins the fight. “You don’t know Sam Clayton?” Matthews asks the young punk. “Champion of dumb animals, ladies in distress, lost kids and lost causes.” Together, the two give Carbo and his rowdy friends a good, old-fashioned thrashing.

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Humiliated, Carbo scrambles for his gun but Matthews shows some fancy gunplay skills and fires off several shots that miss him by mere inches.

Shocked, Carbo backs off. The old-timer,   Mister (Johnson), steps in at the end, pistol at the ready and with some friendly advice, in case Carbo should try anything in retaliation.

“My eyes ain’t as good as his and I might miss, and then you’d be dead...and I’d be out of the race for shooting a dumb animal.”

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Jack Parker (Dabney Coleman) angrily fires Sam for being late. At loose ends, and despite not thinking much of the whole endeavor, Sam decides on a whim to join the race.

The next morning the race begins, and over the next 7 days (at a 100 mile-a-day pace), the contestants combat nature, bandits, thirst, exhaustion, and themselves, gradually forging a strong respect for one another. Again and again, the behavior they demonstrate during the race is shown to be more important than who wins in the end.

As Douglass K. Daniel relates in his book, Tough as Nails: The Life and Films of Richard Brooks:

(Brooks’) story questions the American fascination with being the best. “There are no bad guys in this story. There are only people according to their nature. I wanted to tell their story and say that we have our heritage in them, that they had a code of honor and sense of ethics that had nothing to do with winning,” (Brooks) said. “Back then there was the doing. That was what was important. And I wanted to make a picture about that.”
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The characters display this code of honor throughout the film. Sam constantly shows more care for his fellow racers and their mounts than he does with his own progress in the race. Matthews is quick to come to the aid of the Englishman when he gets thrown from his horse and tumbles down a rocky hill. When the Mexican becomes too sick from his damaged tooth, both Sam and Miss Jones take hours out of their precious rest time between legs in the race to help him. Sam fashions a bullet shell as a cap for the exposed nerve, giving a literal meaning to the film's title, as well as the figurative one, of doing what needs to be done, to knuckle down and deal with hard choices.

After a night-time river crossing, Mister’s horse rides into camp without him. While Sam goes back to help the injured old cowboy, the others hang around, despite the urgency to move on and get back in the race. Only when Mister makes it back to camp do they take off again. Even young, undisciplined Carbo eventually mends his ways, coming to look up to the principled but taciturn Sam as a mentor, and beginning to learn what it means to be a real cowboy, and a real man.

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Gene Hackman (45 years old at the time of filming) may not be the sort of actor one would immediately associate with westerns, but he’s terrific in the part (as he would be later as a very different sort of character in Unforgiven). It’s clearly him and not a stuntman in most of the riding scenes, and he handles horses and all the assorted paraphernalia like a pro. It’s a tightly-contained, physical yet deeply-felt performance.

Coburn is in his element as the charming, good-hearted gambler with the mile-wide grin. Typically, Ben Johnson steals every scene he’s in. Candice Bergen dials down her beauty and fits in well enough with the male-dominated cast to make a convincing cowgirl. Mario Arteaga is immediately sympathetic as the gentle Mexican, and Jan-Michael Vincent, Ian Bannen, Dabney Coleman, Sally Kirkland, and familiar character actor Robert Donner all play their roles with authenticity and skill.

Bite the Bullet marked veteran Brooks’ first western since the rousing The Professionals back in 1966. Brooks, whose eclectic resume includes such films as The Blackboard Jungle, Elmer Gantry, Lord Jim and In Cold Blood, was at this point in his career notoriously secretive.

“The actors worked from a twenty-page treatment. Often they learned their lines the night before, “ (Brooks) said. "OK, I admit they trusted me. But then, they had no choice.”  (1)

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The actors' faith in Brooks was well-placed, as he gave them a great script full of memorable lines and speeches. One highlight is Hackman’s monologue to Bergen about the famed charge up San Juan Hill. Questioned by Miss Jones, Sam tells her about the brave sacrifice of his dead wife, Paula, a Cuban prostitute turned insurrecto, with whom he met and fell in love during the Spanish-American War. “The people some people marry,” he finishes. “I wasn’t worth her spit.” As with The Professionals, Brooks' screenplay for Bite the Bullet is a marvel of naturalistic, tough-talking poetry.

Brooks’ secrecy in making the film even extended to the recording of Alex North’s jaunty score. Brooks wouldn’t allow North and his orchestra to see any film playback while they laid down the tracks.
According to North: "He didn't want anyone to get an idea of what he was doing." (2)

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The film looks great, with a variety of striking locales (including Nevada, White Sands, New Mexico and Colorado) beautifully lensed by DP Harry Stradling, Jr. It shares the naturalistic, earthy look common in so many early and mid-70s films, but seems to have one foot planted firmly back in the 60s in its upbeat tone and straightforward narrative. It’s a very different type of movie than the few grimy, downbeat and de-glamorized westerns more characteristic of that era, such as McCabe and Mrs. Miller.

Bite the Bullet wasn’t a box-office success, coming as it did after the waning of the western's popularity in the late 60s, and as a result isn’t nearly as well known as it should be. It’s truly an excellent film, a grand adventure tale replete with an ensemble of memorable characters. It also happens to be a damn good film about horses.

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DVD Note: Screen captures taken from the Sony DVD release. Twilight Time have recently released the film on what is an expensive, but by all accounts pristine Blu-Ray edition.

(1) and (2) excerpted from Tough As Nails: The Life and Films of Richard Brooks, by Douglass K. Daniel


This post is my contribution to the Horseathon, sponsored by Page at My Love of Old Hollywood. Mosey on over there for a list of the other fine blog authors taking part.
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flickchick link
5/24/2012 11:13:24 pm

I really enjoyed your entry into the horseathon. I remember when this movie came out and not being able to look at the screen (except when Candace Bergen was there - how dare she look so awesome in the wild west!). Great choice!

Jeff
5/25/2012 08:20:28 am

Thanks for the kind words, flickchick! I can understand how some parts of the movie might make you wince, especially if you're a horse lover. It's not always pretty, but I think Brooks included it very deliberately.

Page link
5/25/2012 01:39:48 am

Jeff,
I have to admit that I haven't seen Bite the Bullet, most likely because I've never been a fan of Gene Hackman an Coburn. Of course that was years ago but now I've come around to Gene's talent, screen presence so I no longer avoid films due to a certain cast member.

When you first described the plot I was reminded of Cannonball Run. Of course I'm not into racing either but using beautiful horses peaked my curiosity. After describing the very first scene with the colt I knew this movie was going to be a 'feel good adventure'.

This was such an interesting read. I can't imagine anyone not wanting to run out and find this film after the way you've described it.

Thanks so much for signing on for my Horseathon. It's been a great way to meet talented bloggers.
Page

Jeff
5/25/2012 08:25:18 am

Hi Page! Thanks very much for the nice comments! And thanks also for putting together this fun blogathon event! I enjoyed participating and am looking forward to reading everyone else's posts. The ones I've checked out so far have been really good reads, and about a wide variety of "horsey" films, many of which I'm unfamiliar with.

Patricia Nolan-Hall (Caftan Woman) link
5/25/2012 03:58:04 am

Excellent spotlight turned on a most worthy film.

Jeff
5/25/2012 08:26:14 am

Thank you, Caftan Woman! I appreciate you stopping by and taking the time to read it...I know it's a long post!

Jacqueline T Lynch link
5/25/2012 04:10:19 am

Terrific post. I've not seen the movie, but it sounds like a vividly photopgraphed character study. Your description is evocative and interesting.

Jeff
5/25/2012 08:28:41 am

That's very kind of you to say, Jacqueline! I hope you get a chance to check the movie out sometime - I doubt you'll be disappointed!

Yvette link
5/25/2012 06:26:21 am

An excellent post about an excellent film, Jeff. Thank you. I saw this up on the big screen once upon a time and thought it was wonderful. Then recently I re-watched it and wrote about it on my blog and again I thought: jeez, what a good movie this is. It should, definitely be more well known.

Your post is much better than mine was since it gives more insight and details, especially about Brooks' method of work. I do like Gene Hackman an awful lot and he is splendid in this. The only drawback for me is Jan Michael Vincent whom I could never tolerate. But that's not enough to keep me from recommending this film highly.

Jeff
5/25/2012 08:35:50 am

Thank you very much for the kind comments, Yvette! I envy you seeing this movie on a big screen. I'll have a look for your post on it, as I'm curious to see what you have to say about the film.

I see where you're coming from about Jan-Michael Vincent. Luckily, his character in BITE THE BULLET is unlikeable for most of the film, and he's very believable as an unlikeable punk, so it works for me. I also think he's good in the Charles Bronson assassin flick, THE MECHANIC.

whistlingypsy
5/25/2012 08:36:16 am

Hi Jeff, may I begin by saying how nice it is to see you are part of the horseathon. I would follow by saying: Gene Hackman, Candice Bergen and James Coburn in a western, certainly new to me. This is a gorgeous looking film, in the same way “True Grit” was as much about the landscape as about the narrative. I also find myself wondering, based on the description of Sam Clayton’s code of honor, how much the storytelling element of “Bite the Bullet” influenced “Hidalgo”, another film about a long distance horse race. An excellent review of a film I would like to see; thank you for bringing it to my attention.

Jeff
5/25/2012 05:23:16 pm

Thank you for the welcome and kind words, whistling gypsy! You raise an interesting point re: HIDALGO...I'm not sure if BITE THE BULLET had any influence on the Viggo Mortensen film, but I wouldn't be surprised!

Apparently, Richard Brooks collected newspaper clippings on the subject and read a nonfiction book by SHANE author Jack Shaeffer, called THE GREAT ENDURANCE HORSE RACE.

Thanks for stopping by!

Yvette link
5/25/2012 10:42:13 am

Don't know how to do live links, Jeff. (No matter how hard I try.) Anyway, here's the link to my post of BITE THE BULLET.

http://yvettecandraw.blogspot.com/2011/11/tuesdays-overlooked-or-forgotten-films_29.html

Jeff
5/25/2012 05:31:09 pm

Thanks for the link, Yvette! I really enjoyed your take on the film. You did a very thorough job and covered some aspects I didn't get around to in my review (which is already far too long as it is!), such as the train of prostitutes and liquor that follows the racers around, and the refreshing fact that Brooks' script doesn't go for any obvious double-dealing between the racers (he does include that nice fake-out when Hackman gets suddenly sick).

R.A. Kerr link
5/25/2012 01:59:57 pm

This is a thoughtful review. I'm looking forward to seeing this movie!

Jeff
5/25/2012 05:33:15 pm

Thank you for stopping by and taking the time to read and comment, R.A.! I hope you do seek the film out sometime - it's very good.

Neil
5/25/2012 02:04:58 pm

You had me at Jan-Michael Vincent Jeff... ; ) What did you think of `Hidalgo?`

Has there been a `Helicopterathon` yet? And if not, why not?! Even if the sole movie was `Blue Thunder` it would be worth it. Only a matter of time until Hollywood comes out with a movie version of `Airwolf` starring Vin Diesel...

Jeff
5/25/2012 05:40:04 pm

Thanks, Neil! Hey, we Jan-Michael Vincent fans have to stick together... ;)

I remember liking HIDALGO for its old-fashioned tone and of course I think Viggo M. is great in almost anything. I don't think it holds a candle to BITE THE BULLET, though...

Hmm...Helicopterthon. Sounds interesting. BLUE THUNDER might be fun to write about, if such a thing ever came to pass. I bought the Blu-Ray of it not so long ago and found it wasn't as quite good a movie as I remembered.

And I'm surprised Hollywood hasn't already green-lit that Vin Diesel AIRWOLF movie. I'm sure there are a bunch of executives out there that wish they had thought of that first.

Barry P. link
5/26/2012 03:40:12 am

Nice review, Jeff! I'm glad I got the chance to stop by and check out your fascinating blog. I've been aware of Bite the Bullet for a long time, but somehow it's always evaded my attention... until now. I guess that's another one for my Netflix queue.

Jeff
5/26/2012 05:16:56 pm

Thanks a bunch, Barry P.! I appreciate you giving the place a look-over. I think you'll find BITE THE BULLET worth checking out!

DorianTB link
5/26/2012 06:33:44 am

Jeff, I first saw and enjoyed BITE THE BULLET during its original 1975 theatrical run. Since my family loved Westerns and adventure films, we all loved it, but I haven't seen it since then, I'm afraid. Your stirring, detailed review really grabbed me, so now I'm looking forward to seeing it again! I've seen in on TCM's schedule, but haven't had a chance to re-watch it. I'll be sure to give it another look sooner rather than later. Excellent post!

Jeff
5/26/2012 05:20:05 pm

I really appreciate the kind words, DorianTB! Nice to know your family raised you up right, going to see westerns and adventure films on the big screen. I very much envy you lucky souls who get TCM...we have no such beast here in Japan. Oh, well - it means more DVDs for the collection!

Colin link
5/27/2012 07:34:12 am

You know Jeff, I'm embarrassed to have to admit I've never seen this movie, but your wonderful piece has convinced me I need to do so.

It's actually a beautifully written review and I'd be amazed if you're not a horse lover too. Having grown up around my grandfather's horses in Ireland, and having first been put in the saddle at four years old, I've retained a lifelong affection for the wonderful creatures.

I don't know if you're familiar with Brooks' The Last Hunt, but it's subject matter and this movie suggest he was deeply respectful of animals and their place in the world. Of course, westerns in general made a point of emphasising the importance of the horse to those living on the frontier, and this movie sounds like it follows the well-established tradition.

Excellent stuff, well done!

Jeff
5/27/2012 10:56:39 pm

Thanks so much for the kind words, Colin! They mean a whole lot coming from such a fine writer as yourself.

You might be amused to note that I haven't ridden a horse since the time I was thrown off the back of one at age 6 (not the horse's fault, as its hoof got caught in a molehole.) I do have a deep fondness for animals in general, and hate to see them mistreated in any way, so I responded strongly to that aspect of Brooks' film.

I haven't seen THE LAST HUNT yet but have the Warner Archive disc on order now. I've heard nothing but good things about it. Taking Robert Ryan's horse-loving character in THE PROFESSIONALS into account, I think you're right about Brooks' respect for animals.

I hope you get around to seeing BITE THE BULLET someday; I'd love to read your take on it.

Rick29
5/28/2012 06:20:13 am

Jeff, I saw this on the big screen in 1975 and it has been a favorite since (love the ending!). You're right that BITE THE BULLET is sadly overlooked. I think the performances from Hackman and Coburn rank with their very best work. I'm also a big fan of Brooks' THE PROFESSIONALS (with, yes, another great ending).

Jeff
5/28/2012 07:08:20 am

Hey Rick! Yes, Coburn is very good and Hackman especially gives a wonderful performance in BITE THE BULLET. Agreed re: the ending of THE PROFESSIONALS (which is just about my all-time favorite movie, actually). It has one of my favorite final lines from any film:

Ralph Bellamy (as the rich ass who hired the Professionals under false pretenses): You bastard!

Lee Marvin: Yessir. In my case, an accident of birth. You, sir, are a self-made man.

Thanks for checking out my post!

ruth link
5/28/2012 11:33:00 am

Hey Jeff, firstly thanks for letting me know about this blog-a-thon, my entry should be up tomorrow :)

I haven't seen this one but your post makes me want to see it. Sounds like a perfect film for this horse-a-thon, those are some great shots you included here. I do like Gene Hackman, and I used to watch Jan Michael Vincent in the TV show Airwolf. Great post!

Jeff
5/28/2012 08:11:33 pm

Your welcome, Ruth...and thanks for coming back to comment on my post! I do heartily recommend this film and think there's much to enjoy in it, as well as it being about something in addition to all the surface action.

Ivan G. Shreve, Jr. link
5/28/2012 03:28:22 pm

I still remember the first time I saw this movie -- it cropped up on HBO back in the 80s, and since I am somewhat of a western fan I watched it. It's one hell of a film, and it deserves to be better known. The acting is superb all around but you are right about Johnson -- he walks off with parts of this movie, and should have been arrested fro grand larceny. Great review, Jeff!

Jeff
5/28/2012 08:16:16 pm

Thanks for the kind words, Ivan! Yes, the acting in this film is top-notch, especially Hackman, but there's just something about Johnson. He's a sneaky feller. He stole several later John Wayne westerns (like CHISUM and THE UNDEFEATED) right out from under the Duke's nose. He just seems so authentic, which is only right, him being an actual cowboy.

Thanks a bunch for stopping by!

dawn link
5/29/2012 02:14:15 am

Wonderful performances by Gene Hackman and James Coburn as best friends from their Rough Riders days. The friendship between their characters is what makes the movie special to me. Awesome review..

Jeff
5/29/2012 09:12:09 pm

Greetings, Dawn! Yes, the friendship between Hackman and Coburn's characters is really well-handled. They do a great job of making us feel their strong ties to each other without belaboring the point or shoehorning in too much exposition. In fact, all the interpersonal relationships in the movie are deftly done.They way most of the racers quietly show solidarity with the Mexican, for example, is effective and nicely downplayed.

Thanks a lot for taking the time to stop by! Take good care and best wishes to you!

Doug Daniel
6/3/2012 05:43:01 am

Hi Jeff,

Doug Daniel here. Thanks for referencing my Brooks biography, 'Tough as Nails,' in your interesting and thought-provoking essay. I had seen 'Bite the Bullet' in 1975 too and welcomed watching it again as part of my research into Brooks and his movies.

Of the three Brooks westerns, 'The Professionals' remains my favorite. It might be interesting to compare the character played in that film by Robert Ryan to Hackman's in 'Bite the Bullet.' Ryan's character also doesn't tolerate violence toward horses and serves as the film's moral conscience. I could imagine that Ryan's character could have been Hackman's character a few years earlier.

Brooks made just three westerns among the 24 films he directed. He saw the genre as a good vehicle for making a popular film that could also carry a message, as you'll see in 'The Last Hunt.' Apparently he hoped to make one more, a modern western based on the Robert Day novel 'The Last Cattle Drive.' It was to star Jack Nicholson and Timothy Hutton -- this was back in the early 1980s. Alas, the project fell apart. The three westerns Brooks did make are worthy contributions to the genre.

-- Doug Daniel

Jeff
6/3/2012 10:58:31 pm

Greetings Mr. Daniel! Thank you so much for your comments!

I loved your book! You obviously went to a great deal of effort in researching, doing interviews, etc., but besides all the fascinating info and background your book provides, you also went to the trouble to make it a very entertaining read.

I'm with you all the way re: THE PROFESSIONALS. As much as I enjoy BITE THE BULLET, it's the former film that first brought Brooks' name to my attention. As I might have mentioned before, it's probably my all-time favorite film. I can definitely see what you're talking about, there is a clear through line connecting the Robert Ryan and Gene Hackman characters. Your chapter on the making of the film was crammed with lots of great info. I especially loved the anecdote about Lee Marvin and the boys goading Woody Strode into shooting the neon cowboy sign with his bow and arrows.

I'm very much looking forward to checking out THE LAST HUNT, and plan to do a post about it as soon as I get my grubby little paws on my copy of the Warner Archives disc.

Thank you for the additional info re: Brooks' unfilmed western project. I'm thrilled that you took the time to check out my post.

Best regards!

Mae murphy link
10/6/2014 01:14:25 pm

I love the hell out of Bite the Bullet. Great movie . Great acting and the horses too !

Jeff
10/7/2014 07:55:11 am

Thanks for the comment, Mae!

Jan Fink
12/15/2014 10:02:54 am

Tuned into Bite the bullet at the time Gene Hackman came upon the colt and mare that had the wire in her nose. Why do people do this to a horse.


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    Val Lewton
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