Major Dundee 'Survivor' Style
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bullit2513 — 20 years ago(October 03, 2005 09:09 PM)
I went back and watched that scene, but I don't think that is Priam. To me, it looks like one of Tyreen's few remaining Confederates.
I think Priam is killed during the ambush of Sierra Charriba. At one point, you see him fighting, firing his rifle and swinging it around. Then, he's gone during the scenes when the command is riding toward the river.
Too bad the supporting cast couldn't have received more attention or at least show they're death scene. Pickens, Jones, Priam, and Peters death scenes are too quick and its hard to tell who is who.
"Well, Major, it looks like you have found yourself a real war after all." Captain Ben Tyreen -
mausermike63 — 20 years ago(October 03, 2005 10:31 PM)
I think that there were a total of 11 survivors:
Major Dundee
Lieutenant Graham
Sgt. Gomez
Trooper Ryan
Sam Potts
Sgt Chillum
Jimmy Lee
one from Aesop's black troop
one Union cavalryman from the Fort Benlin command
two confederates who rode last
I thought that the fight with the French was well done. It was done hurridly, but that sort of illuminates how quickly the casualties rose. -
Hancock_the_Superb — 20 years ago(October 20, 2005 03:23 PM)
Okay, I think you're right, it's just a Confederate who looked a lot like him.
Massive spoilers for those who haven't seen the film
The real question is: just how many men does Dundee have? I tried to count up all of his guys, and this is what I got (I'm probably off by a few):- Dundee
- Ryan
- Priam
- Lt. Graham
- Wiley
- Dahlstrom
- Eight other civilians not mentioned by name (after recruiting Wiley, Dundee or Ryan says there have been thirteen recruits)
- Aesop and his six black soldiers
- Tyreen
- Twenty Confederate troopers (including the Hadleys, Benteen, and Chillum)
- Potts, Riago, and the other scout
- Nine or ten other Union troopers
So, that gives us a composite total of 54 or 55 men. We'll assume the latter for now.
Casualties: - Apache river ambush. 14 killed (including Apache scout #2). (41)
- Two others are mentioned as having died of wounds or sickness after the battle. (39)
- O.W. Hadley (38)
- One trooper is killed during the rescue of Dundee (37)
- Riago (36)
- Unclear number (let's say five) during the ambush of Charriba (31)
- 20 (based on the number of 11 survivors reached in another post) killed in the battle with the French, leaving us with 11.
Does that cover it?
"It is recognized that you have a funny sense of fun." - Claude Rains, "Lawrence of Arabia"
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bullit2513 — 20 years ago(October 20, 2005 04:01 PM)
Hancock, your number of 54 or 55 men sounds about right. During Trooper Ryan's narration early in the movie after Lt. Graham and C Company return to Fort Brenlin, he mentions that Graham brought back "50 new Henry repeating rifles" along with his baby howitzer. Since Aesop and the other black troops have regular, Civil War muskets, I'd say your estimation is pretty dead on.
"Congratulations, Major. It appears that at last you have found yourself a real war." Ben Tyreen -
wohara1 — 20 years ago(October 28, 2005 05:54 PM)
Somewhere along the line, Priam picked up a new, distinctive, highcrowned hat according to a still I have. I'm pretty sure that it's him holding the horses on the skyline way in the background when Graham's howitzer crew is blasting away at the French. But, to quote Cole Younger in Long Riders, "Every once and awhile, I'm wrong".
We deal in lead, friend. -
Hancock_the_Superb — 20 years ago(December 30, 2005 06:44 AM)
He lived to the last battle, at least. When the troop comes to halt after finding the French lancers across the river, he can be seen behind Dundee to the left. I'm pretty sure he got killed somewhere along the line, but he lived at least that long.
"That scarf belonged to Lieutenant Brannin." "It's for you, Major!" -
bullit2513 — 19 years ago(December 03, 2006 05:40 PM)
Hancock's right about Priam (Dub Taylor). In that shot of Dundee's troop slowing up as they reach the river, Priam is seen behind Dundee. If I've got the right guy, he's wearing a somewhat floppy hat and a reddish vest.
Then again, if it is Priam, you see him down the line right around Tyreen's "Well, Major, I shall see you in Texas" line. So I guess he gets killed sometime during that last melee in the river with the French lancers cause he's certainly alive before the fight. Maybe Priam's death was lost in the shuffle of all the editing.
Because all the other supporting characters, Sgt. Chillum, Aesop, Gomez, Potts, Graham, Arthur Hadley, Dahlstrom, Ryan, Jimmy Lee Benteen, Wiley, all get their moment that shows whether they live or die. It doesn't seem like Peckinpah would just leave something like Priam's death scene out.
"Congratulations, Major. It appears that at last you have found yourself a real war." Ben Tyreen