Sam Peckinpah: A Retrospective

Sam Peckinpah – Ein harter Knochen – German title

Sam Peckinpah: Man of Iron – British title

Sam Peckinpah: A Retrospective – U.S.A. title

A 1992 British, U.S.A. television co-production [BBC, Lucida (London), A&E Television Networks, Inc. (Hollywood)]

Producer: Chris Rodley, Katherine Haber

Director: Paul Joyce

Screenplay:

Photography: Bill Bracht [black & white, color]

Music: Kris Kristofferson (Kristoffer Kristofferson)

Running time: 92 minutes

Cast: 

Sam Peckinpah (David Peckinpah) [archive footage], Ali MacGraw, Alan Sharp, Katherine Haber, Kris Kristofferson (Kristoffer Kristofferson), Jim Silke (James Silke), R. G. Armstrong (Robert Golden Armstrong), Bob Peckinpah (Robert Peckinpah), Jason Robards (Jason Robards Jr.), Monte Hellman, Mort Sahl (Morton Sahl), James Coburn, Daniel Melnick, L.Q. Jones (Justice McQueen), Bob Visciglia Sr. (Robert Visciglia), Gart Craven, Ali MacGraw (Alice MacGraw), Gordon Dawson, Michel Deeley, Ernest Borgnine (Ermes Borgnine)

A straight-talking documentary that seeks to understand the enigmatic and controversial Sam Peckinpah, whose violent films such as “The Wild Bunch” and “Straw Dogs” had a telling effect on the cinema of the 1970s and 80s. Those who knew and worked with him, including actor James Coburn, actress Ali MacGraw, his associate Katherine Haber, his cousin Bob Peckinpah, and several screenwriters and producers, examine his life in an attempt to separate the man from the persona. Clips from key films reinforce this detailed discussion of Peckinpah's art and a fixation on violence that still permeates Hollywood today.