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The Hunting Party

Play trailer Poster for The Hunting Party R 1971 1h 48m Western Play Trailer Watchlist
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20% Tomatometer 10 Reviews 55% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
Brandt Ruger (Gene Hackman) is a rich cattle rancher. He has a bad relationship with his wife, Melissa (Candice Bergen), whom he treats like a possession. While Brandt is away from home on a hunting trip, Frank Calder (Oliver Reed), a brazen outlaw, kidnaps Melissa and holds her for ransom. Frank, however, treats Melissa better than her own husband does, and before long she begins to develop feelings for him. When Brandt returns, he's enraged and vows to take violent revenge against Frank.
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The Hunting Party

Critics Reviews

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Derek Malcolm Guardian 03/20/2020
A savage and silly Western, wildly overcooked by Don Medford and glazedly played by Oliver Reed, Candice Bergen and Gene Hackman. Go to Full Review Margaret Hinxman Daily Telegraph (UK) 03/11/2020
Relentlessly gruesome (not a body left intact by the end), but quite stylishly directed by Don Medford with good, strong performances from the two leads. Go to Full Review Roger Greenspun New York Times 11/19/2018
Miss Bergen, mostly without tricks and without reservations, plainly succeeds with a part that is not so much a character as a test of character. Go to Full Review Nicholas Bell IONCINEMA.com 09/08/2020
3/5
Instead of the corrosive claustrophobia of rural rednecks, this blazingly violent revisionist Western bleeds out across the American frontier. Go to Full Review Tom Hutchinson Radio Times 11/19/2018
1/5
Not just tripe, but a production that is also lewd and crude. Go to Full Review TV Guide Staff TV Guide 11/19/2018
1/5
A very poor British attempt to imitate an Italian western by shooting it in Spain and splattering blood all over the countryside. A fine cast is totally wasted in this film. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Scary S @RT60943778 Aug 17 Still a better love story than Twilight The subtle mania is lost on most. See more Karl P @RT99799845 07/19/2025 As others have remarked, a waste of a good cast. To say that Oliver Reed's character treats Candice Bergen's better than the brute husband is merely by degrees - they both abuse her as a sexual plaything. Don't waste your time. See more Robert H @RT67230581 07/28/2023 A vile story with vile characters and a vile director. See more Laurie S @Karlwinters 04/17/2022 It was a good movie but with an unsatisfactory ending. I gave it a five to balance out the ridiculous one star rating. And to top it all the score was composed by probably one of the best - Ennio Morricone. See more delysid d @RT67044741 08/12/2019 this movie is awesome. this just shows how dumb these critics are See more 05/03/2019 Sub par Peckinpah Clone with only Riz Ortalanis score to recommend it. See more Read all reviews
The Hunting Party

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Cast & Crew

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Don Medford

Director

Oliver Reed

Frank Calder

Candice Bergen

Melissa Ruger

Gene Hackman

Brandt Ruger

Simon Oakland

Matthew Gunn

Ronald Howard

Watt Nelson

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The Hunting Party

The Hunting Party (1971) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Brandt Ruger (Gene Hackman) is a rich cattle rancher. He has a bad relationship with his wife, Melissa (Candice Bergen), whom he treats like a possession. While Brandt is away from home on a hunting trip, Frank Calder (Oliver Reed), a brazen outlaw, kidnaps Melissa and holds her for ransom. Frank, however, treats Melissa better than her own husband does, and before long she begins to develop feelings for him. When Brandt returns, he's enraged and vows to take violent revenge against Frank.
Director
Don Medford
Producer
Lou Morheim
Screenwriter
William W. Norton, Gilbert Ralston, Lou Morheim
Production Co
Levy-Gardner-Laven
Rating
R
Genre
Western
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 30, 2016
Runtime
1h 48m