Sydney Pollack directs this comic Western in which fur trapper Joe Bass (Burt Lancaster), following a successful expedition, is ambushed by a small group of Indians. The Indians force Joe to trade his pelts for an educated, runaway slave, played brilliantly by Ossie Davis. Things get flipped again when the Indians themselves are ambushed by a gang of scalphunters. This band of outlaws, led by Jim Howie, once again take Bass's pelts, after murdering the tribe.

Sydney Pollack directs this amiable comic Western in which fur trapper Joe Bass (Burt Lancaster) is returning from a successful expedition only to find himself ambushed by a small group of Indians. The Indians force Joe to trade his pelts for Joseph, an educated runaway slave, played brilliantly by Ossie Davis. The two then set off in an uneasy alliance in pursuit of Bass's pelts. The ironic narrative gets turned around again when the Indians are themselves ambushed by a gang of scalphunters. This band of outlaws, led by Jim Howie (Telly Savalas), once again takes Bass's pelts, after murdering the entire tribe. Joe and Joseph then embark on a mission to retrieve Bass's furs from Howie and his vicious sidekicks. Any potential racial antagonism and interdependence issues are handled deftly by William Norton's screenplay. The solid comedic ensemble includes a raucous turn by Shelley Winters as Kate.

Theatrical release: April 2, 1968.

DVD Features:

Region 1
Keep Case
Full Frame - 1.33
Widescreen - 2.35
Audio:
Mono - English
Mono - Spanish
Subtitles - English - Optional
Subtitles - French - Optional
Subtitles - Spanish - Optional
Additional Release Material:
Trailers - 1. Original Theatrical Trailer

Burt Lancaster: American Actor
Shelley Winters: Oscar winning actress, THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK (1959)
Ossie Davis: Actor/Director/Screenwriter, husband of actress Ruby Dee
Telly Savalas: TV's Kojak
Armando Silvestre: 
Nick Cravat: Actor/Gymnast
Dabney Coleman: American Actor

Sydney Pollack: American Director, producer, actor