At regular intervals throughout this film you can't help but be reminded of 'Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid' and unfortunately, for this film's sake, you're reminded of how inferior 'Wild Rovers' is.
One of the film's biggest problems is that it's so disjointed as the section involving Holden and O'Neal seems to belong to a different film to the bits involving Malden, Skeritt and Don Baker. Also, the reason why Malden sends his sons off to go after the two outlaws is unconvincing and as this is one of the key plot points, it hurts the film badly.
The film, in typical 1970's fashion, seems to be wanting to make a "realistic" Western so we're treated to a totally unnecessary scene where Holden and O'Neal vomit, mild but gratuitous swearing and a scene where the two central characters are smothered in urine (quite adroitly done, it must be said). The slow-motion sequences, a la 'The Wild Bunch', add nothing to the film and Rachel Roberts has a small role unworthy of her talents where every line she utters is at the top of her lungs.
Despite all this, the film isn't without some notable qualities, as you'd expect from a film by Blake Edwards. A poker scene towards the end involving O'Neal is very well-handled and Holden's character is impressively written and acted.
But in the end, while 'Wild Rovers' is trying to be a film of significance (note how long it takes to get to the opening credits despite nothing happening), it has to be counted as an honourable failure.
One of the film's biggest problems is that it's so disjointed as the section involving Holden and O'Neal seems to belong to a different film to the bits involving Malden, Skeritt and Don Baker. Also, the reason why Malden sends his sons off to go after the two outlaws is unconvincing and as this is one of the key plot points, it hurts the film badly.
The film, in typical 1970's fashion, seems to be wanting to make a "realistic" Western so we're treated to a totally unnecessary scene where Holden and O'Neal vomit, mild but gratuitous swearing and a scene where the two central characters are smothered in urine (quite adroitly done, it must be said). The slow-motion sequences, a la 'The Wild Bunch', add nothing to the film and Rachel Roberts has a small role unworthy of her talents where every line she utters is at the top of her lungs.
Despite all this, the film isn't without some notable qualities, as you'd expect from a film by Blake Edwards. A poker scene towards the end involving O'Neal is very well-handled and Holden's character is impressively written and acted.
But in the end, while 'Wild Rovers' is trying to be a film of significance (note how long it takes to get to the opening credits despite nothing happening), it has to be counted as an honourable failure.