Watch Major Dundee

Major Dundee is a 1965 Western film directed by Sam Peckinpah and starring Charlton Heston, Richard Harris, and Jim Hutton. The movie tells the story of a Union cavalry officer, Major Amos Dundee (Heston), who is obsessed with capturing a group of Apaches who have been conducting raids on both Union and Confederate settlements in New Mexico during the Civil War.

As Major Dundee leads his men on a dangerous mission into Apache territory, he is forced to rely on the help of Confederate prisoners led by Captain Benjamin Tyreen (Harris). The two men are constantly at odds with each other and their conflicting loyalties add an additional layer of tension to the already perilous situation.

Along the way, the group encounters a variety of challenges including hostile Apaches, treacherous terrain, and internal conflicts between the soldiers themselves. As the mission progresses, the group begins to unravel and it becomes clear that not everyone will make it out alive.

At its core, Major Dundee is a movie about the cost of war and the toll it takes on those who wage it. Both Major Dundee and Captain Tyreen are complex characters who struggle with their own demons as they grapple with the realities of war. Heston and Harris both give strong performances, bringing depth and nuance to their roles.

In addition to the performances, the movie is also notable for its visuals. Peckinpah was known for his use of slow motion, rapid cuts, and unconventional camera angles, and Major Dundee is no exception. The movie is visually striking, with sweeping desert landscapes and intense battle scenes that are both exciting and brutal.

Despite its many strengths, Major Dundee was not a critical or commercial success upon its initial release. The movie was plagued by production problems, including conflicts between Peckinpah and the studio over the final cut of the film. Ultimately, the movie was heavily edited and restructured without Peckinpah's input.

Despite its troubled history, Major Dundee has gone on to become a cult classic and is now recognized as one of Peckinpah's most underrated films. The movie's themes of loyalty, sacrifice, and the human cost of war continue to resonate with audiences today, making it a must-watch for fans of Westerns and war movies alike.

Major Dundee is a 1974 western with a runtime of 2 hours and 3 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.7 and a MetaScore of 62.