Dead Men Walking

THEY'RE all gone now, with Ernest Borgnine the last of The Wild Bunch to join the heavenly choir. First it was William Holden, then Strother Martin Warren Oates and Ben Johnson, the Gorch brothers. And finally, at 95, Borgnine as well. Here's the most famous stroll in cinema history:

All very slow and meticulously paced, which makes what follows all the more striking:

If you haven't seen The Wild Bunch, or haven't seen it lately, get a copy and settle down for a treat. More than 40 years after its release, director Sam Peckinpah's mad genius still shines. Two years ago, Borgnine spoke about one of the five greatest flicks ever made:

The sad thing is that most people will think of Borgnine as McHale. He was a great actor and The Wild Bunch would not have been half so good without him.

(Thanks to commenters who noted that Strother Martin is not Warren Oates, and also that the Professor is a dill.)