Bite the Bullet

Starring:Gene Hackman, Candice Bergen, James Coburn, Ben Johnson, Ian Bannen, Jan-Michael Vincent, Robert Donner, Jean Willes, Mario Arteaga, Dabney Coleman, John McLiam, Robert F. Hoy, Jerry Gatlin, Sally Kirkland, Walter Scott Jr., William H. Burton, Buddy Van Horn, Joe Brooks, Lucia Canales, Darwin Lamb
Director: Richard Brooks
Studio: Sony Pictures
Product Type: DVD

Average customer rating:

"Horse don't give a damn who wins the race. Me either."
You don't Eat Lead when you Bite the Bullet
A Great Western - Gene Hackman at his best
Brooks cuts to the quick too often to win this race
Buyer Beware

Bite the Bullet
Starring: Gene Hackman , Candice Bergen , James Coburn , Ben Johnson , and Ian Bannen
Director: Richard Brooks
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

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The Professionals (Special Edition)
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ASIN: B00005YUNT
Release Date: 2002-04-02

Customer Reviews:

"Horse don't give a damn who wins the race. Me either.".......2007-07-05

If "Bite the Bullet" sentimentalizes the independence and force of ordinary men without glamor who have to struggle for a prize in a hard, bitter, and lonely environment, it also examines the cruel or inhumane treatment often inflicted on animals...

"Bite the Bullet" is an all-star Western about a 700-mile horse race that takes place in the middle of 'Nowhere, USA' at the turn of the last century, for a chance to win the grand prize of $2000...

At the head of the line is Gene Hackman, an ex-Rough Rider who believes in caring for lame animals, and despises cruelty to horses, ladies in distress, lost kids and lost causes...Hackman has got the heart, and at the film's climax, he is the sleeper--the one to beat...

His old-timer friend from fighting days at San Juan Hill is James Coburn, a natural-born gambler who certainly can't afford to lose... He just bet everything on this race, and got seven-to-one... Coburn and Hackman have a great chemistry together, and their friendly rivalry imposes the name of the game...

Also riding: Candice Bergen, who has 'two thousand reasons' to compete in the race; Ben Johnson who desperately wants to win the prize to be a man to remember; Ian Bannen, the tough Englishman who comes 5,000 miles to beat the best; Mario Arteaga, the cool Mexican who needs the money for his loving family in spite of suffering from unbearable toothache; and Jan Michael-Vincent who brings the lower calibrations of judgment, antagonism, and rage to his interactions... This punk kid certainly has a knack of provoking a man to violence... He soon will be in his own best way to learn some life lessons from 'real' cowboys...

Brooks' movie has the courage to show how beauty can flourish in our treatments for animals... He accomplished a film that is beautifully photographed and expertly put together... Brooks leaves a whole host of abiding impressions through his nine riders' true character...

You don't Eat Lead when you Bite the Bullet.......2007-06-11

I never understood why this one wasn't a bigger hit at the time. The successful "Hidalgo" that did very well is a similar kind of horse race story. Over the years many people have caught this one again and appreciated the true cinematic art of it. Hackman and Coburn were always great in Westerns and this is one of their best. Bergen and Johnson turn in good performances as well. Well developed characters in this grueling horse race across country in the old West. Hackman plays the part of an aging cowboy that appreciates horses. Coburn a worthy rival that isn't above dirty tricks. Johnson an elderly rival that deserves respect. Bergen, although a woman, has certainly proved herself as good or better than any male rider. Vincent has no respect for horses and you feel he should be beaten. I recommend it for the whole family.

A Great Western - Gene Hackman at his best.......2007-04-09

This has always been my favorite western, how wonderful to have my own copy - and on DVD! Great performances by a tremendous cast. James Coburn is Mr. Cool, as usual. If you enjoy great Westerns, Don't miss this one.

Brooks cuts to the quick too often to win this race.......2006-03-22

Bite the Bullet has a solid screenplay and is an often handsome looking picture, but it boasts some of the worst editing I've ever seen in a major studio picture. At times it's so disjointed it's almost as if you're watching an assembly put together before shooting has finished. Certainly the potential of many scenes seems to thrown away in slapdash editing that constantly undermines the film. Considering the troubles other Columbia pictures had at the time in their desperate attempts to avoid bankruptcy, it's possible that the film was cut to the bone from a much longer version, but it looks like they've thrown out the baby with the bathwater.

As a result, Richard Brooks' tale of a western endurance horse race never really connects despite a great cast - Gene Hackman on top form and James Coburn in roles that seem to be virtual reprises of Robert Ryan and Burt Lancaster's characters in The Professionals, and Ben Johnson as a nameless saddle tramp out to make a name for himself before he dies best among them. There's also the problem of animal cruelty: despite the script's compassion for horses, there's no doubting that some of the horsefalls would now be illegal. On the plus side, there's some truly striking use of slow motion and normal speed in the same frame, and when the film isn't in such an all-fired hurry it does throw in some nice character moments. And it's a lot better than Hidalgo.

Buyer Beware.......2006-01-21

The "Format" information in the "Product Details" section for "Bite the Bullet" says that a widescreen presentation is included on the DVD. However, the back of the DVD cover insert only indicates a "Full Screen" (i.e. "Pan & Scan") presentation.

Average customer rating:

A Classic Horror Film
an OK disappointment
"Wolf, Gysy, Woman, Murder. What Is This?!"
The Definitive Werewolf Classic!
The Mother of All Werewolf Movies!

The Wolf Man
Starring: Claude Rains , Warren William , Ralph Bellamy , Patric Knowles , and Bela Lugosi
Director: George Waggner
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Horror | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B00001TZ6Q
Release Date: 1999-11-02

Amazon.com essential video

Even a man who is pure in heart,
And says his prayers by night,
May become a wolf when the wolfbane blooms
And the autumn moon is bright.

If you haven't heard this piece of horror-movie doggerel before, you'll never forget it after seeing The Wolf Man for two reasons: it's a spooky piece of rhyme and nearly everybody in the picture recites it at one time or another. Set in a fog-bound studio-built Wales, The Wolf Man tells the doom-laden tale of Lawrence Talbot (Lon Chaney Jr.), who returns to the estate of his wealthy father (Claude Rains). (Yes, Chaney's American, but the movie explains this, awkwardly.) Bitten by a werewolf, Talbot suffers the classic fate of the victims of lycanthropy: at the full moon, he turns into a werewolf, a transformation ingeniously devised by makeup maestro Jack Pierce. Pierce was the man who turned Boris Karloff into the Frankenstein monster, and his werewolf makeup became equally famous, with its canine snout and bushy hairdo--and, of course, seriously sharp dental work. The Wolf Man was a smash hit, giving Universal Pictures a new monster for their already crowded stable, and Chaney found himself following in the footsteps (or paw prints) of his father, who had essayed a monster or two in the silent era. This is a classy horror outing, with strong atmosphere and a thoughtful script by Curt Siodmak--well, except for the stiff romantic bits between Chaney and Evelyn Ankers. It's also got Bela Lugosi (briefly) and Maria Ouspenskaya, the prunelike Russian actress who foretells doom like nobody's business. --Robert Horton

Customer Reviews:

A Classic Horror Film.......2007-04-20

Made during the horror movie heyday of the late 1930s and early 1940s, this classic suspenseful thriller introduced audiences to one of the most well-known movie monsters; Lon Chaney Jr.'s "Wolf Man".

Chaney plays Larry Talbot, who is returning to his home in Wales after spending eighteen years in the United States. Larry's brother was recently killed in a hunting accident. Claude Rains stars as Larry's father, Sir John Talbot. Upon returning home, Larry helps his father install a new lens in his telescope. While peering through the lens, Larry discovers a beautiful girl in the window across the street. Her name is Gwen Conliffe (Evelyn Ankers). Larry goes over and introduces himself, and the two agree to go for a walk together that evening.

Gwen invites her friend Jenny Williams to come along. The three decide to go to have their fortunes told by a group of gypsies who have set up camp in town. Jenny goes first. Gypsy Bela (Bela Lugosi) reads Jenny's fortune. He is immediately disturbed when he sees the shape of a pentagram appear in Jenny's palm. He immediately tells Jenny to leave. Meanwhile, Gwen and Larry have walked off on their own. Minutes later, they hear a blood-curdling scream. Larry runs to investigate and finds a large wolf attacking Jenny. Larry manages to kill the wolf with his silver-handled cane, but he is bitten in the process.

Gypsy Maleva (Maria Ouspenskaya) tells Larry about the legend of the werewolf, and if a person is bitten by a werewolf and survives, they too will become a werewolf. Maleva gives Larry a charm to wear around his neck to protect himself, but he gives the charm to Gwen. On the night of the full moon, Maleva's predictions come true, as Larry Talbot is transformed into a werewolf. Will the charm protect Gwen, or will she suffer the same fate as her friend Jenny?

This movie has remained a classic for over sixty years, and it takes the viewer back to a time before the blood-and-guts horror films were popular, and movie producers relied on psychological terror to scare audiences. There is no blood in this movie, but the viewer is still scared by the unique movie sets, the fog rolling through the trees, and the haunting musical score. Lon Chaney Jr. made his role as the wolf man famous, and he's the only actor to have ever played the wolf man. Although the character was originally designed for Boris Karloff, Chaney made this his signature role. He will always be remembered as the wolf man. The other actors, especially Maria Ouspenskaya and Claude Rains, give good performances as well.

I give this movie my highest recommendation. This film takes me back to when I was a young child, and I used to stay up late on weekends watching the scary movies on television. Remember, "Even a man who is pure in heart and says his prayers by night, may become a wolf when the wolf bane blooms, and the autumn moon is bright".

an OK disappointment.......2007-01-19

for a so-called "classic horror movie" from 1939-41 era this one is definitely the least horrorific.

"Wolf, Gysy, Woman, Murder. What Is This?!".......2006-11-14

"Even a man who is pure of heart and says his prayers by night, may become a wolf when the wolf bane blooms and the autumn moon is bright."

Universal was famous for their horror films and "The Wolf Man" is one of their most entertaining. Foggy sets, a great cast and an atmospheric score from musical director Charles Previn offer late night fun for classic film fans.

Lon Chaney, son of one of the great actors of the silent film era, stars as Larry Talbot. He has come home after the tragic death of his older brother. Talbot Castle, where his father ( Claude Rains) still lives is surrounded by legends of men who turn into wolves at the full moon.

It seems like hog-wash to Larry, who sets his eye on pretty Evelyn Ankers (Gwen). Small romantic touches such as his spotting her through his telescope and immediately becoming smitten lighten the mood and make the events which follow an even deeper tragedy.

It isn't long before Gwen's gal pal is struck down in the woods by something no longer a man and no longer human. When Larry rushes to save her and is bitten in the process his fate is sealed.

Maria Ouspenskaya stands out as the knowing gypsy who forsees Larry's future and tries to help. Once he realizes the legends are true and no one is safe, he turns over the charm given him to Gwen for protection and puts the final touch on his sad destiny.

Curt Siodmak's original screenplay has just the right mix of romance and horror to make this one of the most famous and entertaining of Universal's horror films. Evelyn Ankers, who starred in many of Universal's horror and mystery films, looks lovely in Vera Ralston's gowns and makes the perfect heroine to Chaney's tortured character. This is as much fun as you can have on a rainy night with a big bowl of popcorn. Don't miss it!

The Definitive Werewolf Classic!.......2006-08-05

I can't praise this movie highly enough, it is not only the best of the universal monsters series and one of the greatest werewolf films ever made certainly the definitive treatment, but also one of my all time favourite movies. Lon Chaney turns in an outstanding credible performance worthy of his father the legendary man of a thousand faces, actually the entire cast is outstanding, Claude Rains, Maria Ouspenskaya and Bela Lugosi.

The script by Curt Siodmak is marvellous, borrowing from genuine werewolf folklore and adding its own. The plot device of having the werewolf see the pentagram on the palm of it's next victim is truly ingenious and I don't know why it was never utilised in any of the sequels or any other werewolf films for that matter.

The score by Frank Skinner and Han J Salter is so haunting, and has a nice rich romantic sound to it, especially the cues used in the gypsy camp, if only The Wolf Man weren't a b movie it probably would have won an Oscar.

Lastly it must be said that Jack Pierce's make up and John P Faulton's werewolf transformations really go along way in making this film, who could ever forget the image of the wolf man walking through the fog shrouded forest in search of fresh victims.

The Mother of All Werewolf Movies!.......2006-03-15

Okay, so Universal Studios' 1941 classic, "The Wolf Man," wasn't the first werewolf film ever made. It is still, by far, the most widely known and loved. I mean, what werewolf is more iconic than the one Lon Chaney Jr. made famous?

The story begins with a look at an encyclopedia definition of "Lycanthropy" (werewolfism), making reference to the English village and Talbot Castle that are the settings of the film. We then meet young Larry Talbot, played by Lon Chaney Jr., being driven by a chauffer to his family home, Talbot Castle. Larry has returned, after living in America for many years, to take over the family estate after his older brother was killed in a hunting accident. We learn all this when Larry arrives and is greeted by his father, Sir John Talbot, played by the wonderful Claude Rains. Sir John is an amiable fellow, but still a bit stiff and stuck on propriety. Larry is a laid-back, American-style, "average Joe" type. It's clear that he left Talbot Castle due to the friction caused by being the younger son, second in-line for everything, but he is happy to be back and among family and friends.

Father and son happily agree to put the past behind them and settle Larry into his birthright together, and we soon find Larry and John in the observatory, where Larry works to install a new piece onto Sir John's telescope. Impressed by Larry's skill with his hands, Sir John leaves him alone to finish up. Big mistake! You can't leave Larry alone with a telescope! Larry is the Wolf-Man, after all! Ha, seriously. First thing Larry does is "accidentally" aim it at a bedroom in the nearby village, one just above Charles Conliffe's antique shop. Through the window, he discovers Conliffe's daughter, Gwen, played by the lovely Evelyn Ankers, putting on earrings as she finishes dressing. Naturally, being the wolf that he is, Larry hotfoots it over to the antique shop, and who could blame him? Gwen IS a hottie. If you think the waifish actresses we have nowadays are hot, get a load of 1940s dames! Anyway, Larry arrives and commences to put the moves on Gwen. He decides he is in the market for an antique walking stick. Gwen pokes fun at Larry, saying the dog-handled cane would suit him best, but he settles on a can with a silver, wolf's head handle instead. The handle also features a wolf inside a pentagram, which sparks Larry's curiosity. Gwen proceeds to give Larry a quick lesson on werewolves, as he has no idea what they are. She informs him that the pentagram is the mark of the werewolf, and that he sees it in the palm of his next victim's hand. At the heart of her brief tutorial is the first recitation of the film's legendary poem, "Even a man who is pure in heart and says his prayers by night, may become a wolf when the wolfbane blooms and the autumn moon is bright." Larry gets a kick out of the cane's side-story and decides to purchase it. He also makes a date to take Gwen out later that evening at eight, though she insists she cannot go out with him. As Larry exits and Gwen follows, the two see a gypsy cart traveling down the street. Larry suggests that they make their date a visit to the gypsy camp for a fortune reading, though Gwen continues to insist that she will not be coming along. Later on, Larry relays the day's events to his father, Sir John, who is happy to hear that his son is taking an interest in the townsfolk, and who also seems to know the little poem about werewolves that Gwen recited earlier. Werewolves are very popular around Talbot Castle!

8 o'clock comes around, as it always does, and Larry shows up outside the antique shop for his would-be date. Gwen is there too, waiting for him, though she still insists that she can't go. Sure, that's why she brought a chaperone along. Oh, yes, she brought a friend to make sure there was no funny business. You know how hot girls usually have unattractive best-friends around to ruin everything? Well, Gwen Conliffe has Jenny Williams. The three set off together, laughing about the situation as if they were off to see the wizard. As they walk through the eerie woods, Jenny brings up the old werewolf poem again. Clearly, the girls in this village have a werewolf fetish...hmm... When they find the old gypsy cart, Jenny asks to be the first, and Larry and Gwen are only too happy to allow it. Inside, the mysterious and off-putting Bela (the legendary Bela Lugosi) begins to read Jenny's fortune, but clearly he is having health problems. Jenny is disturbed when she notices the pentagram shaped scar on Bela's forehead. Meanwhile, outside and already a distance away, Gwen enlightens Larry as to why she has been so resistant to him. It seems that she is already engaged to the Talbot Estate's gamekeeper, Frank Andrews. Well, this doesn't stop the two from giving each other goo-goo eyes, but they are interrupted when a panicked Jenny sends out a scream in the night as she is attacked by a wolf while fleeing Bela's gypsy cart. Larry rushes to Jenny's aid but is too late to save her. He does, however, manage to kill the wolf that attacked her by beating it to death with the silver handle of his cane. Unfortunately, not before being bitten by the beast himself!

And that's just the half of it! "Whoever is bitten by a werewolf and lives, becomes a werewolf himself!"

A masterpiece and one of the classic "big three" of Universal horror, "The Wolf Man" is a must see film! Half hero, half villain, Lon Chaney Jr. turns in a performance to make his poppa proud! The makeup effects and attention to detail are phenomenal too. The Wolf Man even walks with his heels off the ground! Sure, he's fully dressed (minus shoes and socks), but he still strikes a more imposing figure than you might think! That face is totally wild! There's great chemistry between Lon and the lovely Evelyn Ankers, and the writing throughout the film is pure poetry. Claude Rains and Maria Ouspenskaya are unforgettable in their supporting roles too! A triumph in mood and style, an achievement of paranoia and fear, a study on dual identity and primitive instincts, a film that has inspired countless werewolf films since and several sequels of its own, "The Wolf Man" is still one of the best werewolf films ever made, and it's 65 years old! Props to Universal Studios and director George Waggner for that enormous achievement! Available on DVD in various forms and on VHS, I recommend the "Wolf Man Legacy Collection" 2-disc DVD set to the real werewolf fanatics out there. It also includes the sequel, "Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man," along with "Werewolf of London," "She-Wolf of London," and a handful of fun bonus features. However, if you just want to see the original Universal Studios/Lon Chaney, Jr. classic, look no further! Pick this edition up today! You'll be glad you did! It's great for repeat midnight viewings!

The Quick and the Dead / Bite the Bullet

Average customer rating:

The Quick and the Dead / Bite the Bullet
Starring: Gene Hackman , Candice Bergen , James Coburn , Ben Johnson , and Ian Bannen
Director: Richard Brooks , and Sam Raimi
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B000F48D4Q
Release Date: 2006-06-06

Average customer rating:

"Horse don't give a damn who wins the race. Me either."
You don't Eat Lead when you Bite the Bullet
A Great Western - Gene Hackman at his best
Brooks cuts to the quick too often to win this race
Buyer Beware

Bite the Bullet [Region 2]
Starring: Gene Hackman , Candice Bergen , James Coburn , Ben Johnson , and Ian Bannen
Director: Richard Brooks
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

The Professionals (Special Edition)
Hour of the Gun
The Missouri Breaks
Ride the High Country
Last Stand at Saber River

ASIN: B00005UWU9

Customer Reviews:

"Horse don't give a damn who wins the race. Me either.".......2007-07-05

You don't Eat Lead when you Bite the Bullet.......2007-06-11

A Great Western - Gene Hackman at his best.......2007-04-09

Brooks cuts to the quick too often to win this race.......2006-03-22

Buyer Beware.......2006-01-21

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