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The Scalphunters

1968, Movie, NR, 103 mins

The Scalphunters: Review

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A comical western with more than a hint of social satire starring Lancaster as an illiterate trapper who has a run-in with a band of Kiowa Indians. They force him to "trade" his year's cache of pelts for an educated slave, Davis. Lancaster follows the Kiowas, only to see them get ambushed by a gang of scalphunters led by Savalas. Later Savalas captures Davis, giving Lancaster another reason to continue his pursuit. Traveling with Savalas is Winters, a weathered sexpot whose wagon is decorated with a brass bed. She takes a liking to Davis and convinces Savalas to free him. Since the gang is heading for Mexico, where slavery has been outlawed, there is no reason for Davis to leave. Lancaster refuses to give up his possessions, and little by little he wages war on Savalas' men. The sneaky Savalas tries to make peace, but Lancaster isn't fooled and kills the scalphunter. By now the Kiowas have regrouped and ambush Savalas' band of marauders. Only Lancaster, Davis, and Winters and the other women are spared, with Winters offering herself to the Kiowa chieftan. While the movie is a bit dated and suffers from the cultural climate of the 1960s, it remains watchable thanks to some shining performances, especially from Winters and Davis, who steal the picture whenever they're on the screen. In response to the racial tension of the time, THE SCALPHUNTERS contains one truly memorable scene in which a quarreling Lancaster and Davis wrestle each other to the ground in a mud pond. Covered head to toe with mud, the racial lines are blurred and both men are placed on an equal plane. Filmed in Mexico, THE SCALPHUNTERS was constantly the subject of blistering rumors about fights and tension on the set between Lancaster and former flame Winters, and between Lancaster and director Pollack. Whatever the truth, any possible hard feelings were resolved by the time Pollack and Lancaster began work on their next picture, CASTLE KEEP. leave a comment
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