The Scalphunters
The Scalphunters

The Scalphunters

1968Movie102 minEnglish

Forced to trade his valuable furs for a well-educated escaped slave, a rugged trapper vows to recover the pelts from the Indians and later the renegades that killed them.

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Insights

IMDb6.7/10
Director: Sydney PollackGenres: Western, Comedy

Plot Summary

A cynical white fur trapper and a runaway slave team up to retrieve a stolen cache of furs from a ruthless outlaw gang. Their unlikely partnership is tested by constant bickering, dangerous adversaries, and the prejudices of the time. Together, they navigate the treacherous landscape of the Old West, facing down multiple threats while developing a grudging respect for one another.

Critical Reception

The Scalphunters was generally well-received by critics and audiences alike for its unusual blend of Western action and comedy, its strong performances, and its surprisingly progressive themes for the era. While some found its tonal shifts jarring, many praised its wit and the chemistry between its leads.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its unconventional buddy-cop dynamic within a Western setting.
  • Noted for its successful blend of humor and action, despite occasional tonal inconsistencies.
  • Commended for strong performances, particularly from Lancaster and Davis.

Google audience: Information on specific Google user reviews is not readily available.

Fun Fact

Although the film deals with themes of racism and prejudice, it was notable for its attempts to address these issues with humor and a focus on the humanity of its characters, which was relatively uncommon for Westerns of the 1960s.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

3 reviews
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

If you are looking for an antithesis to so many broody and dialogue-light westerns, then this could well do the trick. “Joe” (Burt Lancaster) is a trapper who is robbed of his winter’s work by some local Indians and left with “Joseph Lee” (...
Wuchak

Wuchak

***Amusing late 60s Western with Lancaster, Ossie Davis and Savalas*** A rugged trapper (Burt Lancaster) is forced by a band of Kiowas to trade his valuable furs for an educated runaway slave (Ossie Davis). To get the furs back, they fol...
John Chard

John Chard

Throw you in a pigpen, and you'd come out vice-president of the hogs. The Scalphunters is directed by Sydney Pollack and adapted to screenplay by William W. Norton from the novel of the same name written by Ed Friend. It stars Burt Lanca...