Hunting Party (1971)

47% of users liked it
(1,256 ratings)

This infamously violent British Western stars Gene Hackman as Brandt Ruger, a wealthy rancher who goes away on a hunting trip with a group of friends. While he's gone, a thug named Frank Calder (Oliver Reed) kidnaps Melissa (Candice Bergen), Brandt's wife, under the mistaken impression that she's a… More This infamously violent British Western stars Gene Hackman as Brandt Ruger, a wealthy rancher who goes away on a hunting trip with a group of friends. While he's gone, a thug named Frank Calder (Oliver Reed) kidnaps Melissa (Candice Bergen), Brandt's wife, under the mistaken impression that she's a schoolteacher and will be able to teach him to read. Despite being taken against her will, in time Melissa begins to develop feelings for Calder, who in his way cares for her more than her husband, who treats her like a possession. Melissa has fallen in love with Calder by the time Brandt returns. However, Brandt is enraged over the abduction of his wife, and sets out on a new hunting trip, with Calder and his men as his prey. Noted character actors G.D. Spradlin and L.Q. Jones round out the supporting cast. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 48 min.
Directed By: Don Medford
Written By: William Norton
Genres: Western, Action & Adventure, Art House & International, Classics

In Theaters: May 26, 1971 Wide
On DVD: May 17, 2005
Studio: MGM

Critic Reviews

David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
The film's failure can be attributed primarily to the unreasonably slow pace and surfeit of ridiculous plot twists...

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Cast

            Oliver Reed as Frank Calder

            Candice Bergen as Melissa Ruger

            Gene Hackman as Brandt Ruger

            Simon Oakland as Matthew Gun

            Mitchell Ryan as Doc Harrison

            L.Q. Jones as Hog Warren

            Rayford Barnes as Crimp

            Carlos Bravo y Fernandez as Cowboy

            Marian Collier as Teacher

            Bernard Kay as Buford King

            Dean Selmier as Collins

            Francisca Tu as Chinese Girl

            Ron Howard as Watt Nelson

            Lorenzo Mans
            
            G.D. Spradlin as Sam Bayard

            William Watson as Loring

            Sarah Atkinson as Redhead

            Max Slaten as Telegrapher

            Richard Adams as Owney Clark

            Eugenio Escudero Garcia as Mario

            Rafael Escudero Garcia as Mexican

            Emilio Rodriques Guiar as Priest

            Christine Larroude
            
            Stephanie Pieritz as Other Girls

            Lilibeth Solison as Blonde

            Bud Strait as Cowboys

            Marisa Tovar as Mexican Girl

            Ralph Brown as Sheriff Johnson

            Mitch Ryan
            
            Ronald Howard
            
See full cast

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