RIDE IN THE WHIRLWIND

US, 1965, 82 minutes, Colour.
Cameron Mitchell, Jack Nicholson, Millie Perkins, Harry Dean Stanton.
Directed by Monte Hellman.

Ride the Whirlwind is a small-budget western directed by Monte Hellman. It was written by Jack Nicholson who also co-stars. Nicholson and Hellman had worked together in a number of small-budget films. In the mid-60s, Nicholson appeared in a number of supporting roles and collaborated with a number of screenplays, especially for Roger Corman. He was to continue to do this until his opportunity for making an impression in Easy Rider. The film. was made back-to-back with Monte Hellman's The Shooting.

The film uses the conventions of the West, but the intentions of the filmmakers was to make a more direct, less glossy style of western. Hellman's films have achieved something of cult status (especially his road film, Two Lane Black-Top).

1. Interesting and enjoyable western? Use of conventions? Differences? A piece of Americana - a '60s interpretation of the West?

2. Small-budget, the work of a group of friends, their collaboration on writing, acting, directing? Their intended anti-glossy western style?

3. The use of western locations, a harsh and tough West? Musical score?

4. The title and its tone?

5. A strong western, the atmosphere of violence? Law and justice?

6. The focus on the three cowboys: Vern, Wes, Otis? The bonds between them? How well delineated as characters? Their moving through the West? The prospect of work? Their coming across the hanging? Its impact? The atmosphere of posses and vigilantes? Their riding, their taking shelter, the cabin, the encounter with the outlaws, reaction? The posse and the attack? Otis's death? The burning of the cabin? Wes and Vern and the escape? Pursuit?

7. At the ranch, a hideaway, the rancher and his attitude, the clash, Wes killing him? Abby as hostage? The relationship between Wes and Abby? Pursuit and escape?

8. The characters of Vern and Wes, their friendship, experiences, desperate? Vern and his final desperate escape?

9. The minor characters and their contribution to plot and atmosphere: Blind Dick, Indian Joe, Hageman?

10. The posse, the motivation, vengeance, violence? Hangings, the burning of the cabin?

11. The picture of the outlaws? American justice in the West?

12. The film in the light of changing attitudes of the '60s? The move against the traditional western? The presentation of the West as it was?