The Missouri Breaks (1976 Arthur Penn)

Michael Butler's super-dark Western, which pits horse rustler Jack Nicholson against 'Regulator' (i.e. hired killer) Marlon Brando, who's extremely dangerous (in a somewhat dodgy accent). Nicholson falls for Kathleen Lloyd, his colleagues fail to rustle horses from Canada, Nicholson cannot bring himself to murder Brando in cold blood, and as a result all the gang are killed. Then...

The script could have done with some pruning. Otherowise - otherowise? Why not? - it's a successful, gritty, Western with a memorable train robbery, and some bizarre stuff with horses.

With Harry Dean Stanton, Randy Quaid (one of his more restrained performances), Frederic Forrest, John McLiam.

Written by Thomas McGuane (and, apparently, Robert Towne). Dede Allen's name features in the editing credits.