Bite the Bullet

Rating:
Summary: A Race Of Personal Best
Review:
I watched this film the other night- I hadn't seen it since I was a teenager. I loved it.

It's a western that's much more than that. While it's premise is about a horse race- it's really about life's race; about games that seem bought and paid for, age vs youth, friendships and whether we let things come between them, and about why people run the race and how one man's reaction to it can influence others to change the dynamic(in a good way).

Hackman and Coburn make a good combination in this as former Rough Riders. Jan Michael Vincent had a role where he really had to shine and I think he gave the performance of his career, here. Ben Johnson breaks your heart in what is one of the most real roles he has ever offered (and probably a real testament to how the real cowboy lived). Candice Bergman is terrific, too.

This story handles a full range of issues (racial, sexual and animal rights) in a fair and real sense. Some have remarked about some of the cruelty depicted here, and the point Richard Brooks was making (I think) is, there are some real swine in this world. They view anything- be it animal or their fellow human beings, merely as a means to an end. They're either too stupid or too insensitive to know how dark they are. It's also an example of how we set examples for one another. If you allow stupid to do as stupid does- stupid will!

I won't spoil the ending- let's just say that it makes a point about what's really important, in a very effective, emotion filled way. I think you leave this film not only satisfied- but feeling uplifted.

My personal favorite of Richard Brooks and time extrememly well spent.

Rating:
Summary: Little conversation, long time in the saddle
Review: "Bite the Bullet" is an entertaining movie that came out in 1975. It chronicles a 700 mile horse race around 1900 and the competitors who take part in it. Each of the racers has a story, and they gradually reveal their personalities and reasons for entering the race. The movie is interesting and reminded me more than a bit of "Stagecoach." Unfortunately, it becomes rather hokey toward the end and starts to feel more and more like a mediocre 70's action TV show. Great cast, though, with the likes of Gene Hackman, Candice Bergman, James Coburn, and Ben Johnson.

Rating:
Summary: Entertaining but hokey
Review: "Bite the Bullet" is an entertaining movie that came out in 1975. It chronicles a 700 mile horse race around 1900 and the competitors who take part in it. Each of the racers has a story, and they gradually reveal their personalities and reasons for entering the race. The movie is interesting and reminded me more than a bit of "Stagecoach." Unfortunately, it becomes rather hokey toward the end and starts to feel more and more like a mediocre 70's action TV show. Great cast, though, with the likes of Gene Hackman, Candice Bergman, James Coburn, and Ben Johnson.

Rating:
Summary: Unusual Western, Typical of the 70s Style of Filmmaking
Review: A grueling 700 mile horse race attracts a motley crew of competitors, including a cowboy (Gene Hackman), a gambler (James Coburn), a greenhorn (Jan Michael Vincent), a former Pony Express Rider (Ben Johnson) and an ex-prostitute (Candice Bergen). While the riders are all given character arcs, their horses aren't even given personalities.

Staci Layne Wilson
Author of Staci's Guide to Animal Movies


Rating:
Summary: Bite The Bullet
Review: Bite the Bullet assembles some of the best talent in Hollywood. Gene Hackman, James Coburn and Ben Johnson are each at their finest. And who knew Candice Bergen could sit a horse so well? This grueling endurance race, based very loosely on a true story, pits Thoroughbred against Mustang, Arabian against Quarter Horse. The riders are no less a mixed bag than their mounts. The savage terrain takes its toll on man and beast, creating enemies and reluctant allies. The brutality depicted in this race was not unknown at that time and one hopes that the Special Effects Department was responsible for bringing it to the screen. Making that optimistic assumption, I recommend the movie to action lovers and those who study human nature. And I smile, knowing that my grandfather would have called it a "humdinger" of a tale!

Rating:
Summary: They beat horses -don't they ?
Review: Distirbing movie about a horserace and how cruel and abusive some of the characters are or become. I saw this movie when I was 11 years old and have never forgotten it. Anyone who loves animals and horses will be deeply moved. The movie encompasses all the human vices with the sheer unconditional loyality of the horses that they harm or kill. The "desert scene" of the horse running to it's death still haunts me. I hate westerns and loved this movie. Unconfortable to watch for animal lovers but worth it.

Rating:
Summary: Loved this!!
Review: Forget all the rambling connecting this flick to the "ultra left", "revisionists" and "analyzing".
*This is a great Western*
Horse owners will enjoy it.
'Nuff said.

Rating:
Summary: One Kicked the Bucket, One Won the Race, All Bit the Bullet
Review: Good concept for a story, but somewhat shallow plot. I am a Ben Johnson fan. In my opinion, he did not have a big enuf part in this film. Ben was a tall man who spent his whole life on horseback and eventually walked as tho he had back problems and was in constant pain. His character,(a former pony express rider), also had back pain and he gets a linament rubdown from a compassionate compatriot. Loved seeing Ben's Hiney !! The horsemanship was wonderful all around. Who would believe Murphy Brown (Candace Bergen) was such a marvelous horsewoman. On and on they went. Don't even remember who won the race.

Rating:
Summary: Based on Fact (?)
Review: I haven't seen this movie yet, but I just ordered it today.
The movie, "Bite the Bullet" was based on a true story. My great-great grandfather was the real winner of the race and while I'm sure the movie fabricates most of the storyline, including the cruelty to animals part, it brings to light one of the most stories of the late 1800s. I'm just learning about the facts and events surrounding the race.


Rating:
Summary: Excellent!
Review: I saw this movie for the first time, 26 years after it was made. I thought it was fabulous. Gene Hackman & James Coburn were at their best here. Ben Johnson, was great depicting the old nobody with a bad heart, who wanted to be a somebody at least once in his life. Candice Bergman did a nice job, and was certainly nice to look at. Dispite the obvious pain inflicted on and to the horses in this film,I believe their was a message to the madness. Hopefully there was a lot of soap lather being used. But this movie epitomises the American Way, to win at all cost. Not to say that the American Way, is the right way, just to say thats the way it is. This movie is definately a must see!