Sam Peckinpah was born on February 21, 1925 and passed away from a stroke on December 28, 1984. Over the course of his career, Sam Peckinpah would create legendary films that live on long after he is gone. Some of his works, such as ‘The Ballad of Cable Hogue’ and ‘Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia’ did not get the reception they deserved at their release. Others like ‘Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid’ were never completely finished and now exist in multiple versions. Even ‘The Wild Bunch’, Peckinpah’s most well known work, was truncated in its initial release. I mentioned this elsewhere but the title ‘Earned in Blood’ was meant not as a reference to any onscreen violence but rather to the struggle that characters in Peckinpah’s films often endure. In some respects, the hard worn characters were a mirror reflection of Peckinpah's struggles. Out of the chaos surrounding Peckinpah came his films. |
Films directed by Sam peckinpah: |
The Deadly Companions
1961
*Peckinpah had little control during the production of 'The Deadly Companions' and consequently was not able to make the feature his own. |
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| Aspect ratio: 2.35:1 |
Runtime: 1:29:46 |
writer: |
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Albert Sidney Fleischman (who wrote the novel upon which the film was based.) |
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cinematographer: |
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William H. Clothier
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cast: |
| Yellowleg |
played by |
Brian Kieth |
| Kit |
played by |
Maureen O'Hara |
| Parson |
played by |
Strother Martin |
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| The Deadly Companions links: |
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Ride the High Country
1962 |
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| Aspect ratio: 2.35:1 |
Runtime: 1:34 |
writers: |
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N.B. Stone Jr. (with
uncredited writers: Sam Peckinpah and Robert Creighton Williams)
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cinematographer: |
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Lucien Ballard
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cast: |
| Gil Westrum |
played by |
Randolph Scott |
| Steve Judd |
played by |
Joel McCrea |
| Joshua Knudsen |
played by |
R.G. Armstrong |
| Elsa Knudsen |
played by |
Mariette Hartley |
| Henry Hammond |
played by |
Warren Oates |
| Sylvus Hammond |
played by |
L.Q. Jones |
| Jimmy Hammond |
played by |
John Davis Chandler |
| Elder Hammond |
played by |
John Anderson |
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| Ride the High Country links: |
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| |
| Aspect ratio: 2.35:1 |
Runtime: 2:16 (2005 extended cut) / 2:32 (lost director's cut) |
writers: |
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Harry Julian Fink (from his story,) Oscar Saul, and Sam Peckinpah |
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cinematographer: |
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Sam Leavitt |
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editors: |
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William Lyon, Howard Kunin, and Donald Starling
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score: |
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Daniele Amfitheatrof (Christopher Caliendo created additional music for the 2005 DVD release)
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cast:
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| Major Dundee |
played by |
Charlton Heston |
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Captain Tyreen |
played by |
Richard Harris |
| Samuel Potts |
played by |
James Coburn |
| Aesop |
played by |
Brock Peters |
| O.W. Hadley |
played by |
Warren Oates |
| Arthur Hadley |
played by |
L.Q. Jones |
| Sergeant Chillum |
played by |
Ben Johnson |
| Reverend Dahlstrom |
played by |
R.G. Armstrong |
| Wiley |
played by |
Slim Pickens |
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Noon Wine
1966
*This is a film made for television (first aired on November 23, 1966.) |
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| Aspect ratio: 4:3 |
Runtime: 0:50:16 (approximate, not including TV show introduction and closing. |
writer: |
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Sam Peckinpah (from a story by: Katherine Anne Porter)
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cast: |
| Royal Earle Thompson |
played by |
Jason Robards |
| Ellie Thompson |
played by |
Olivia de Havilland |
| Olaf Helton |
played by |
Per Oscarsson |
| Homer T. Hatch |
played by |
Theodore Bikel |
| Sheriff |
played by |
Ben Johnson |
| Neighbor |
played by |
L.Q. Jones |
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writers: |
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Sam Peckinpah and Walon Green from a story by: Walon Green and Roy N. Sickner |
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cinematographer: |
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Lucien Ballard |
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cast: |
| Pike Bishop |
played by |
William Holden |
| Dutch Engstrom |
played by |
Ernest Borgnine |
| Tector Gorch |
played by |
Ben Johnson |
| Lyle Gorch |
played by |
Warren Oates |
| Angel |
played by |
Jaime Sanchez |
| Freddie Sykes |
played by |
Edmond O'Brien |
| Clarence 'Crazy' Lee |
played by |
Bo Hopkins |
| Deke Thornton |
played by |
Robert Ryan |
| Coffer |
played by |
Strother Martin |
| T.C. |
played by |
L.Q. Jones |
| Mapache |
played by |
Emilio Fernandez |
| Pat Harrigan |
played by |
Albert Dekker |
| Lt. Herrera |
played by |
Alfonso Arau |
| Maj. Zamorra |
played by |
Jorge Russek |
| Reverand Wainscoat |
played by |
Dub Taylor |
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The Ballad of Cable Hogue
1970 |
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writers: |
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Edmund Penney and John Crawford with uncredited work by: Gordon T. Dawson |
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cinematographer: |
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Lucien Ballard
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editor: |
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Lou Lombardo and Frank Santillo
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cast: |
| Cable Hogue |
played by |
Jason Robards |
| Hildy |
played by |
Stella Stevens |
| Joshua |
played by |
David Warner |
| Bowen |
played by |
Strother Martin |
| Ben Fairchild |
played by |
Slim Pickens |
| Easy |
played by |
Easy Pickens |
| Taggart |
played by |
L.Q. Jones |
| Quittner |
played by |
R.G. Armstrong |
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| The Ballad of Cable Hogue links: |
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writers: |
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David Zelag Goodman and Sam Peckinpah from a novel by: Gordon Williams |
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cinematographer: |
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John Coquillon
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editor:
score: |
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Roger Spottiswoode, Paul Davies, and Tony Lawson
Jerry Fielding |
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cast:

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| David Sumner |
played by |
Dustin Hoffman |
| Amy Sumner |
played by |
Susan George |
| Tom Hedden |
played by |
Peter Vaughan |
| Major John Scott |
played by |
T.P. McKenna |
| Charlie Venner |
played by |
Del Henney |
| Chris Cawsey |
played by |
Jim Norton |
| Riddaway |
played by |
Donald Webster |
| Norman Scutt |
played by |
Ken Hutchison |
| Bobby Hedden |
played by |
Len Jones |
| Janice Hedden |
played by |
Sally Thomsett |
| John Niles |
played by |
Peter Arne |
| Henry Niles |
played by |
an uncredited David Warner |
| Rev. Barney Hood |
played by |
Colin Welland |
| Louise Hood |
played by |
Cherina Schaer |
| Harry Ware |
played by |
Robert Keegan |
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cinematographer: |
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Lucien Ballard |
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editors: |
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Robert Wolfe and Frank Santillo |
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cast: |
| Junior Bonner |
played by |
Steve McQueen |
| Curly Bonner |
played by |
Joe Don Baker |
| Elvira Bonner |
played by |
Ida Lupino |
| Ace Bonner |
played by |
Robert Preston |
| Ruth Bonner |
played by |
Mary Murphy |
| Buck Roan |
played by |
Ben Johnson |
| Charmagne |
played by |
Barbara Leigh |
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writer: |
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Walter Hill (loosely based on a novel by Jim Thompson) |
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cinematographer: |
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Lucien Ballard |
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score: |
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Quincy Jones (his score replaced an earlier score by Jerry Fielding that can be heard as a music only track on the Blu-ray) |
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cast: |
| Doc McCoy |
played by |
Steve McQueen |
| Carol McCoy |
played by |
Ali MacGraw |
| Jack Beynon |
played by |
Ben Johnson |
| Rudy Butler |
played by |
Al Lettieri |
| Fran Clinton |
played by |
Sally Struthers |
| Cowboy |
played by |
Slim Pickens |
| The Accountant |
played by |
John Bryson |
| Frank Jackson |
played by |
Bo Hopkins |
| Laughlin |
played by |
Dub Taylor |
| The Thief |
played by |
Richard Bright |
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Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid
1973 |
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cinematographer: |
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John Coquillon |
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editors: |
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Roger Spottiswoode, Robert L. Wolfe, David Berlatsky, Garth Craven, Tony De Zarraga, and Richard Halsey |
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cast:
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| Pat Garrett |
played by |
James Coburn |
| Billy The Kid |
played by |
Kris Kristofferson |
| Ollinger |
played by |
R.G. Armstrong |
| Alias |
played by |
Bob Dylan |
| Governor Wallace |
played by |
Jason Robards |
| Holly |
played by |
Richard Bright |
| Alamosa Bill |
played by |
Jack Elam |
| Black Harris |
played by |
L.Q. Jones |
| Sheriff Baker |
played by |
Slim Pickens |
| Bowdre |
played by |
Charlie Martin Smith |
| Luke |
played by |
Harry Dean Stanton |
| Cody |
played by |
Elisha Cook Jr. |
| Josh |
played by |
Dub Taylor |
| Paco |
played by |
Emilio Fernandez |
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| Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid links: |
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Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia
1974 |
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writers: |
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Sam Peckinpah and Gordon T. Dawson (from a story by Peckinpah and Frank Kowalski) |
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cinematographer: |
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Álex Phillips Jr. |
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editors: score: |
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Dennis E. Dolan, Sergio Ortega, and Robbe Roberts Jerry Fielding |
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cast:
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| Bennie |
played by |
Warren Oates |
| Elita |
played by |
Isela Vega |
| El Jefe |
played by |
Emilio Fernandez |
| Sappensly |
played by |
Robert Webber |
| Quill |
played by |
Gig Young |
| Biker |
played by |
Kris Kristofferson |
| Nun |
played by |
Sharon Peckinpah |
| a patron at the bar |
played by |
Richard Bright |
| a patron at the bar |
played by |
Whitey Hughes |
| a guard at El Jefe's |
played by |
Garner Simmons |
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| Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia links: |
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writers: |
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Marc Norman and Stirling Silliphant (from a novel by: Robert Rostand) |
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cinematographer: |
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Philip Lathrop |
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editors: |
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Monte Hellman and Tony De Zarraga |
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cast: |
| Mike Locken |
played by |
James Caan |
| George Hansen |
played by |
Robert Duvall |
| Jerome Miller |
played by |
Bo Hopkins |
| Mac |
played by |
Burt Young |
| Yuen Chung |
played by |
Mako |
| Lawrence Weyburn |
played by |
Gig Young |
| Cap Collis |
played by |
Arthur Hill |
| Bruce |
played by |
George Kee Cheung |
| Wei Chi |
played by |
Victor Sen Young |
| Mat |
played by |
Matthew Peckinpah |
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writers: |
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Julius Epstein, James Hamilton, and Walter Kelley from a novel by: Willi Heinrich |
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cinematographer: |
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John Coquillon |
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editors: |
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Michael Ellis, Murray Jordan, and Tony Lawson |
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cast: |
| Steiner |
played by |
James Coburn |
| Brandt |
played by |
James Mason |
| Kiesel |
played by |
David Warner |
| Stransky |
played by |
Maximilian Schell |
| Krüger |
played by |
Klaus Löwitsch |
| Private Mustache |
played by |
Fred Stillkraut |
| Kern |
played by |
Vadim Glowna |
| Triebig |
played by |
Roger Fritz |
| Maag |
played by |
Burkhard Driest |
| Anselm |
played by |
Dieter Schidor |
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cinematographer: |
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Harry Stradling Jr. |
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editors: |
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John Wright and Garth Craven |
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cast:
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| Rubber Duck |
played by |
Kris Kristofferson |
| Melissa |
played by |
Ali MacGraw |
| Cottonmouth |
played by |
Ernest Borgnine |
| Pig Pen, \ |
played by |
Burt Young |
| Governer Haskins |
played by |
Seymour Cassel |
| Chuck Arnoldi |
played by |
Brian Davies |
| Agent Hamilton |
played by |
Walter Kelley |
| Big Nasty |
played by |
Jackson D. Kane |
| Pack Rat |
played by |
Billy Hughes |
| White Rat |
played by |
Whitey Hughes |
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The Osterman Weekend
1983 |
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writers: |
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Alan Sharp and Ian Masters (from a novel by: Robert Ludlum) |
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cinematographer: |
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John Coquillon |
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editors: |
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Edward Abroms and David Rawlins |
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cast: |
| John Tanner |
played by |
Rutger Hauer |
| Bernard Osterman |
played by |
Craig T. Nelson |
| Lawrence Fassett |
played by |
John Hurt |
| Ali Tanner |
played by |
Meg Foster |
| Maxwell Danforth |
played by |
Burt Lancaster |
| Richard Tremayne |
played by |
Dennis Hopper |
| Virginia Tremayne |
played by |
Helen Shaver |
| Joseph Cardone |
played by |
Chris Sarandon |
| Betty Cardone |
played by |
Cassie Yates |
| Tremayne's Secretary |
played by |
Kristen Peckinpah |
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| The Osterman Weekend links: |
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Sam Peckinpah's work in TV
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