This Sam Peckinpah Western starring Charlton Heston, Richard Harris, and James Coburn feels quite severe and complex. A Major (Heston), marked by a misjudgment at Gettysburg, is put in charge of a rather unexciting prisoner-of-war camp located in the New Mexico Territory. Following the slaughter of some ranchers and a cavalry unit, Dundee (Heston) sees an opening to pursue glory by illegally entering Mexico to eliminate Native raiders. He assembles a questionable team for this mission—it includes Union soldiers, Confederate prisoners, hired civilian fighters, and a couple of scouts. Richard Harris appears in his first role portraying the charismatic leader of the Confederates, while James Coburn takes on the part of the lead scout. Brock Peters is present as the black sergeant, with Ben Johnson and Warren Oates playing Rebel soldiers. This film was Peckinpah’s third Western, following “The Deadly Companions” (1961) and “Ride the High Country” (1962), and would later be succeeded by the highly praised “The Wild Bunch” (1969). While not as strong as "Ride," I think it's better than either "Companions" or "Bunch." My main issue with "Bunch" is that it focuses on a group of unsavory criminals who just don’t engage me. In contrast, “Dundee” features several more compelling and worthwhile central characters. The screenplay draws inspiration from actual historical events—like the Dakota War of 1862—and blends in elements from "Moby-Dick," as well as influences from films starring John Wayne and directed by John Ford. The unusual group gathered to invade Mexico serves as a representation of the United States itself, showcasing tensions between Northern and Southern soldiers, the growing complications involving freed black people, civilians with firearms, and an AmerIndian scout. There's a certain depth to the story that makes the initial portion difficult to follow. However, if you pay attention, there’s a lot to discover, and the cast is outstanding; Heston and Harris are particularly noteworthy in their opposing roles. Senta Berger and Begoña Palacios also make an impression among the female characters. The movie portrays the brutal realities faced by military men on horseback during a mission in the Southwestern wilderness during the late 1800s. It was apparently a difficult production to film—as so many large-scale projects are. At one point, Peckinpah became overly assertive while shooting a scene and insulted Heston from a distance. Charlton, riding a horse, charged toward the director with a saber drawn, prompting the smaller director to flee from Heston’s reach. The original theatrical version ran for 2 hours and 3 minutes; the restored 2005 edition added 13 minutes and includes an optional new musical score—this is the one I watched. The movie was filmed entirely in Mexico. GRADE: B/B-

Source on TMDB