major dundee is a 1965 western film directed by sam peckinpah and starring charlton heston, richard harris, jim hutton, and james coburn. written by harry julian fink, the film is about a union cavalry officer who leads a contentious troop of army regulars, confederate prisoners, and indian scouts on an expedition into mexico during the american civil war in order to destroy a band of apaches who have been raiding united states bases and settlements in the new mexico territory. "major dundee" was filmed in various locations in mexico. the movie was filmed in eastman color by pathécolor, print by technicolor.