Unusual, big budget western concerning horse race to deathly finish.
Bite the Bullet (1975)
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work ![]()
Reviews Counted:14
Fresh:10
Rotten:4
Average Rating:6.6/10
Synopsis: Filmed in the classic Western tradition, this tale of a 700-mile horse race in the early 1900s takes its stalwart competitors over some rough western terrain and through various inclement... Filmed in the classic Western tradition, this tale of a 700-mile horse race in the early 1900s takes its stalwart competitors over some rough western terrain and through various inclement conditions. The wide variety of contestants has differing reasons for entering the grueling race, but each and every one of them has their eyes on the prize: $2,000. The rivals include an honorable Rough Rider (Gene Hackman), a plucky young woman (Candice Bergen), a drifting ex-cowboy (James Coburn), a reckless young bad boy (Jan-Michael Vincent), a wealthy British sportsman (Ian Bannen), and a Pony Express rider (Ben Johnson). As the disparate band of competitors sets out on the harsh and grueling desert ride, each person is forced to respect one another and work together as they endure a wide variety of dangerous conditions. This episodic tale features gorgeous cinematography of miles of barren and lone wasteland shot in contrast to the live-wire pageantry of the race, teeming with gritty scenes of the rough wild West full of hucksters, hustlers, and bawdy barmaids whooping it up until dawn. [More]
Starring: Gene Hackman, Candice Bergen, James Coburn, Ben Johnson
Starring: Gene Hackman, Candice Bergen, James Coburn, Ben Johnson, Ian Bannen, Jan-Michael Vincent, Paul Stewart
Director: Richard Brooks
Director: Richard Brooks
Producer: Richard Brooks
Composer: Alex North
Reviews for Bite the Bullet
An excellent, literate action drama probing the diverse motivations of participants in an endurance horse race.
I wish I had a bullet to chew down on to kill the pain this pic gave me.
Any random thought ever committed to paper about the intrinsic 'messages' of the Western genre here turns up as a line of speechifying dialogue: the result is a folly stultified by its own seriousness.
In spite of all the care, the money and the hardships that apparently went into its production, the movie looks prefabricated, like something assembled from other people's earlier, better inspirations.
A finely crafted, epic Western about a cross-country horseback endurance race.
Offers a fresh twist on winning out and gives us pause to think about our way of being in the world
The result is that the film's message about sportsmanship decency becomes thoroughly anodyne. Entertaining nevertheless.
More Movies
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 50% 50% | It's Complicated | 07/1 |
What’s Hot On RT
Other News
Sponsored Links
Around The Network
- Bite the Bullet at Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh Links
Featured

Last week, Moviefone offered us their worst films of the 2000s. Now see their 40 best!
Competitions

Tickets and more to win for the forthcoming Wes Anderson film



Top Critic


