Bite the Bullet (1975)
Grade: 67
"Bite the Bullet" is a Western drama with a good cast and good cinematography. However, the characters aren't completely credible, and the dialogue is only perfunctory, keeping the film from the greatness that some have assigned to it.
"Bite the Bullet" takes place in the west, around the turn of the century. A lengthy horse race, with a prize of $2,000, attracts disparate entries. Gene Hackman and James Coburn are the big names. Other contestants include Candice Bergen with a bad husband, Jan-Michael Vincent with a bad attitude, Mario Arteaga with a bad toothache, Ben Johnson with a bad heart, and Ian Bannen who is merely present.
The story should provide suspense, since the audience doesn't know who will win the race. But the suspense never happens. All the contestants except Vincent are bland and likeable, and one has a strong suspicion that first-billed Hackman, whose character is essentially perfect, is going to cross the finish line first.
The competitors bring new meaning to the word "sportsmanship", helping each other as if they were on the same team. The friendliness leads to a pleasant but passionless film, with only Vincent to throw in bad vibes. Even Vincent's character, however, suddenly becomes a nice guy after he meets his comeuppance.
Bergen's designer jeans fit well, but don't fit in with the late Victorian era of the film.
Richard Brooks was both Producer and Director, and wrote the screenplay as well.
kollers@mpsi.net http://members.tripod.com/~Brian_Koller/movies.html
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