TheCulpepperCattleCo.isaworthyexampleofacertainkindofearly-1970sWestern:deglamorized,unromantic,andfranklyviolent.Thisonebeginsinfamiliarterms,asagreenhornladjoinsacattledrive,surrenderinghimselftotheextremelyfocusedleadershipofbossFrankCulpepper.Theepisodesthatfollowareengrossingandcolorful,andthedrivegetsmoreinterestingwhenaquartetoflethalhombresjointheride.Thebusinessoffrontierjustice--whichhereusuallymeansshootingstrangersjusttobeonthesafeside--isworkedoutinrefreshinglyunheroicways.ClearlydirectorDickRichards(makinghisdebutinarelativelybriefdirectingcareer)isrespondingtotherevisionistera,andspecificallytothefilmsofthegreatSamPeckinpah.
