gritty and dusty western from director richard brook and who seem thoroughly engross in the genre while keep all the usual clichés intact . early 1900s horse race attract a low key cowboy ( gene hackman ) and a suave gambler ( james coburn ) and a cocky kid ( jan michael vincent ) and and even a female ( a surprisingly game candice bergen ) . once the preliminary be out of the way ( with the predictable argument over whether or not a woman should take part ) and this become a fairly engrossing entry and though one which break no new ground ( it instead resemble something from gary cooper era ) . good look and if overlong piece have macho verve and a fine cast and yet the mechanism of the plot get tiresome rather quickly . from .