View Full Version : Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia
Watched this for the first time last night after recording it off FilmFour a while back - I seem to remember ages ago someone recommending it on this forum. What a remarkable film - for the first half hour or so I was close to switching it off - it just seemed dull and cliche-ridden - but then suddenly it just got better and better. Warren Oates' dark portrayal of the protagonist's descent into madness was truly gripping - and the film has some great fight scenes. Some excellent 'dialogue' between Oates and 'Al' too! I can't believe that it has a score of only 6.6 on IMDB (http://us.imdb.com/Title?0071249) - I guess it really is a cult film. No sign of it on DVD though. I must confess Alfredo Garcia was my first Sam Peckinpah film - I'm keen to check out the Wild Bunch too, but have discovered that the current Warner disk is a flipper - not sure if I can cope with that!
Arch Stanton
13-03-2002, 15:17
The Warners disc is excellent though and can be bought for only a few earth pounds.. The wild Bunch is a very long film so the flip actually comes at a good time for a toilet brake.
good doc on the disc too.
Anyone heard the news that 'Bring me the head...' is going to be remade to star Benico Del Toro. :rolleyes:
Hear, Hear!
This was one of the first films I watched that I disliked until the last few minutes and then loved! :p
It made me rewatch and evaluate a lot of those 'classics' that I didn't gel with on first viewing!
Plus it helped that I knew who Warren Oates was afterwards - on first viewing I assumed Oates was Robert Webber (don't ask!) - thus switch off my brain when Webber vanished off screen 10 minutes into the movie!
I sat waiting ( :zzz: ) for him to return thinking the real Warren Oates was enjoying an extended cameo! :brickwall :nuts: :o
And if you enjoyed "Bring me the head.." check out Anchor Bay's superb releases of Two Lane Blacktop and Cockfighter. two of the finest films of the seventies - the latter comes wih an excellent hour long documentary on Warren Oates.
Oh, Uncut magazine also has a feature on him this month.
Well, I may well check out the Wild Bunch R2 as it's only 8 quid from Play. I've got a thimble bladder anyway so I guess a convenient break in a long film could be tolerable.
Thanks for the suggestions, Ben. I'll check out those films at some point.
One thing I read in an Alfredo Garcia comment on IMDB is that there is a supposed missing scene: where Oates' character makes love with the corpse of his recently deceased lover (in the grave) Has anyone seen this missing scene? Maybe it will make it onto a DVD version sometime in the future.
A remarkable, extraordinary film. It's due on DVD this year from MGM, but I imagine it will be an extras-lite release. Peckinpah has received appalling treatment on DVD in the USA and it's about time the oversight was rectified. He's the greatest director of the 20th Century for my money and it's about time more people were aware of the fact.
If you can get hold of it, watch the 1991 BBC documentary "Man Of Iron" - it's wonderful, funny and deeply moving.
Originally posted by Mike
He's the greatest director of the 20th Century for my money and it's about time more people were aware of the fact.
I'd have to agree with that. Along with John Woo (who Peckinpah influenced - even Woo says this himself and it is quite obvious anyway) he has made some stunning films with my personal favourites being The Wild Bunch and The Getaway.
The Getaway in particular is a film i have re-watched so many times - Steve McQueen is so goddamn cool in that film it defies description.
Poor Sam must have been turning in his grave when one of the Baldwin brothers got his mits on a fine film and made a truly ***** remake :mad: :mad: :mad:
Also, anyone know if a Wild Bunch re-release is coming out this year ?
Being as the film is quite long flipping the disk over doesnt really bother me too much, but if there was going to be a one sided re-release this year i would wait for it
Also whilst we're on the topic of Peckinpah i've got a question to ask to you Peckinpah fan, especially you Mike :D
In Cross Of Iron my dad swears that there is a part cut of the film everytime he sees it nowadays. He says that at the part in the small village with the girls, after one of them:
bites a soldiers dick off James Coburn shoots a few of them with his machine gun and then turns round and says to the rest of them 'Now we're even'. Now i have no clue if its cut or not but my dad says that it definitely is and that he remembered that part pretty clearly. So is he loopy or is there a chance that he could be correct ? :D :D
Pike Bishop
14-03-2002, 08:07
Did someone mention Sam Peckinpah?
BMTHOAG is an excellent film, Warren Oates is one of my favourite actors of the 70's/80's. Every film he is in he seems to illuminate the screen with his presence. The film can be a bit rambling and pretentious at times but all in all it is one os Peckinpah's best.
Phlebas - can't believe you havent seen the Wild Bunch yet! Any self resepecting film fan would have it as part of their collection. It ranks as one of the best films ever made (not just my opinion). Get it, at £8 its well worth it, the disk is a good one with the interesting documentary on it, the flipper is a bit annoying but like someone else said, its at just the right moment for a toilet break so doesn't really spoil your enjoyment much.
thespook
14-03-2002, 08:28
Originally posted by mr_woo
In Cross Of Iron my dad swears that there is a part cut of the film everytime he sees it nowadays. He says that at the part in the small village with the girls, after one of them:
bites a soldiers dick off James Coburn shoots a few of them with his machine gun and then turns round and says to the rest of them 'Now we're even'. Now i have no clue if its cut or not but my dad says that it definitely is and that he remembered that part pretty clearly. So is he loopy or is there a chance that he could be correct ? :D :D
I only caught a bit of this film in a while back when it was last on tv, or at least I presume it was this film because this scene is the only bit I remember :) .
Mr_woo
That scene you mention is definetly present in the R2 DVD
John Hodson
15-03-2002, 20:27
Originally posted by BenH
And if you enjoyed "Bring me the head.." check out Anchor Bay's superb releases of Two Lane Blacktop and Cockfighter. two of the finest films of the seventies - the latter comes wih an excellent hour long documentary on Warren Oates.
Oh, Uncut magazine also has a feature on him this month.
Thanks for the heads up on that one; I didn't even realise Two-lane Blacktop was available on DVD, never mind such a superb release; managed to nab a Limited Edition Tin too; nice!
Shamed to say that while I love Blacktop , I've never seen Cockfighter ; I'll have to check it out.
---
So many films, so little time...
The Warners disc is excellent though and can be bought for only a few earth pounds
ARchStanton would u happen to be a Fry and Laurie fan?:D
Anyone received this yet? I preordered (from dvdsoon) but its still showing as 'on order'.
Has there been an official delay to anyone's knowledge?
:)
John Hodson
16-04-2005, 20:57
Yes, cancelled mine (it had been on order since Dec 17; and they've screwed up the refund). No delay elsewhere as far as I'm aware.
stefmcd I've merged your thread with this one.
Mr_woo
That scene you mention is definetly present in the R2 DVD
The scene is partly there but Coburn doesn't shoot any of the girls which my father swears blind happened when he seen it a few times years ago when it came out. I wouldn't have a clue but it doesnt seem cut to me.
I have the R1 and a review is coming this week.
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