MovieChat Forums > Major Dundee (1965) Discussion > A Few Kind Words for Suits and Hacks

A Few Kind Words for Suits and Hacks

posted 19 years ago by piepenbrinkr
7 replies | jump to latest

I've read much criticism of the suits at Columbia. As I understand the complaints, they sent the Young Genius Director off on a location shoot with less money than he wished and an incomplete script. After a time, he had spent more money than they had alloted, so they wouldn't let him spend more. When he turned in a cut so long it would have been very difficult to market, they cut it to a more customary length, and then made further cuts after showing the film to preview audiences and distributors. They hired a classically-trained veteran composer to produce a soundtrack and a popular singing group of the day to sing a theme song, as was done with a number of other westerns of the period, from HIGH NOON through THE WAR WAGON.
So far, no one has written that the money Columbia alloted was less than what was needed to shoot the movie Columbia wanted. I would suggest a comparison with the budgets of RIO GRANDE and THE UNDEFEATED, adjusting for inflation, might be informative. But I'd also like to point out that a few years later, instead of the Evil Suits of Columbia, another group--call them the Virtuous Suits--sent a Young Genius Director out to do a medium-budget western on location. When he ran out of money they gave him more. They let him cut the film and pick the soundtrack. Does anyone think that the Virtuous Suits did better for their stockholders, themselves, the movie-going public or even the Young Genius Director by producing HEAVEN'S GATE than the Evil Suits did by producing MAJOR DUNDEE?
As for the soundtrack, it's true Pekinpah complained, and it's certainly not the Gang's best work. But Amphitheotroff exceeded himself. The "Major Dundee March" was a staple of marching bands for years. I recently bought the soundtrack reissue on CD. I was happy to do so, and would happily pay more for a purely instrumental version of the March.
The lesson? When you're playing with other people's money, agree on a script, and finish on time and in budget.

[–] madbandit20002000 19 years ago

"When you're playing with other people's money, agree on a script, and finish on time and in budget."

True, to a point. The money-holders don't have to be jerks because they run the shots. If you want a film to succeed, have a solid, unified vision. If Bressler and the then-suits wanted a different type of film than Peckinpah wanted, they shouldn't have hire him. In fact, they wanted John Ford, one of Peckinpah's cinematic influences, but he was working on CHEYENNE AUTUMN, and was not interested.

[–] piepenbrinkr 19 years ago

"If you want a film to succeed, have a solid, unified vision."

True enough, and the warning about agreeing on a script applies to the suits as well. But while they certainly shouldn't have hired the director of THE WILD BUNCH to make a more conventional western, hiring the director of RIDE THE HIGH COUNTRY doesn't sound like such a bad idea. Nor did artistic differences give Peckinpah the right to spend more money than the studio had agreed to. If you want to portray a sole and unique vision, write a novel or paint. Making a film is a collective endeavor.

[–] madbandit20002000 18 years ago

Good point. Still, an unified group helps too.

[–] Hancock_the_Superb 19 years ago

Also, from what I read Fink's original treatment was Godawful, and would've made for a five hour long movie. Oscar Saul and of course Peckinpah himself probably deserve most of the credit for the script, and also Heston and Harris contributed some of their own dialogue at Peckinpah's request.

"That scarf belonged to Lieutenant Brannin." "It's for you, Major!"

[–] Samoan Bob 19 years ago

...Heaven's Gate to the emasculated version of Major Dundee...and lets not forget that this sentence, "But I'd also like to point out that a few years later, instead of the Evil Suits of Columbia, another group--call them the Virtuous Suits--sent a Young Genius Director out to do a medium-budget western on location. When he ran out of money they gave him more. They let him cut the film and pick the soundtrack." could easily apply to The Wild Bunch. Does anyone think that the Virtuous Suits did better for their stockholders, themselves, the movie-going public or even the Young Genius Director by producing The Wild Bunch than the Evil Suits did by producing Major Dundee?

I like pie.

[–] Captain_Augustus_McCrae 16 years ago

Excellent point. Film making is a for-profit venture, as well as an artistic one. Heston believed so strongly in this film that he gave back his salary to try and help solve the budget problems. Sometimes I wish Ford had been available for this film.

[–] Hancock_the_Superb 16 years ago

Very true. Though you won't hear about it from some of Peckinpah's partisans, Jerry Bresler went to bat for the film too. He was reportedly very impressed by the 136-minute cut and put aside his disagreements with Peckinpah to argue his case to Columbia. Unfortunately, they wouldn't listen to him any more than Sam. Don't know how much any of you would credit this, but I thought it worthy of note.

Let us drink, gentlemen, till we roll under the table in vomit and oblivion!