A 1975 American Western film written, produced, and directed by Richard Brooks that has a group of people participating in a horse race for a $2,000 prize.
The cast includes Gene Hackman, Candice Bergen, James Coburn, Ben Johnson, Ian Bannen, Jan-Michael Vincent, Robert Donner, Jean Willes, Dabney Coleman, John McLiam, Robert Hoy, Sally Kirkland, Mario Arteaga, and Jerry Gatlin.
It was released on April 20, 1975.
Tropes for the film:
- The Big Race: The movie is about a 700-mile horse race in the latter years of The Wild West.
- Cartridges in Flight: Averted. In a bit of frontier dentistry, Sam Clayton removes the projectile and ignites the gun powder so they can use the casing as a makeshift cap. The film's title is slightly inaccurate, but Bite the Casing isn't as cool.
- Disappearing Bullets: The Young Gun tosses a bottle of whiskey to the British racer and then shoots the bottle, shattering it. The horse behind the bottle is just fine.
- Epic Race: The movie tells of a 1906 horse race running 700 miles and a prize of two thousand dollars (in 1906 money).
- Somewhere, an Equestrian Is Crying: In an aversion, the plot includes several scenes showing the toll the 700 mile race has on the horses. One inexperienced rookie runs his horse to death in the desert. Another comes up lame and has to be shot by its rider. In the end, Sam dismounts and removes the saddle from his horse and along with his friend, walks across the finish line.
- A subtle example is at the desert water stop. The experienced riders all take the saddles off and tend to their horses before getting themselves a drink, while the inexperienced go straight to the water.
- Tagline: "In the tradition of Shane and High Noon, a new Western Classic is born!".
- Twilight of the Old West: The movie takes place in 1908 and features a 700-mile horse race. The reporter for the newspaper sponsoring the race drives in an automobile, which the heroes borrow to pursue escaped convicts who stole their horses. It's clear that the old west is seen more as the stuff of novels than a way of life for most outside of the cowboy protagonist.
