THE SHOOTING

US, 1967, 71 minutes, Colour.
Jack Nicholson, Millie Perkins, Warren Oates.
Directed by Monte Hellman.

The Shooting is a small-budget cult western of the mid-'60s directed by Monte Hellman (Two-Lane Black Top, completion of Avalanche Express). The film was made for $75,000 and starred Hellman's friends Warren Oates and Jack Nicholson (before his starring roles). There is effective use of desert locations, highlighting the isolation of individuals in the old west. The film uses the format of the journey as well as the conventions of the vengeance western. There is a blend of realism and stylised action, especially in the ambiguity of the ending. It is not clear who kills whom - although a reviewer in the Monthly Film Bulletin points out that no-one can escape from the desert hell in which all the characters are trapped. There is interesting characterisation, use of conventions and a moving against the accepted use of them for a thoughtful and ironic western.

1. The status of the film, a cult western, the reasons for its reputation? Entertainment? Use of western conventions and genre, the insights into the conventions? The film as a piece of Americana - and the sardonic and critical tones of the mid-'60s.

2. Location photography, colour? Mining locations, towns, the desert and the mountains - dry, harsh, plains and mountains, the sun and heat? The contrast of beauty and harshness? The authentic, dirty and dusty west? Characters in such a western environment?

3. The offbeat nature of the film, the work of Monte Hellman, Jack Nicholson? An art-house western?

4. The quality of the screenplay, delineation of character, setting of scene, mystery, vengeance western? The stylised dialogue - with archaic usage? The cryptic filming of the ending, editing, ambiguity for audiences to decide what happened?

5. A portrait of the real west - hard, grim, violent, harsh relationships, lack of trust, justice, hatred and murder? An American heritage?

6. The basic situation: the mining and the deaths, the mysterious violence, Willett Gashade as a bounty hunter, his skill in covering his tracks and evading pursuit? The arrival, the shooting? The relationship with Coigne and Coigne's disappearance? Coley and his reliance on Gashade? The flashback? The mystery, the grave? The story of the deaths, the guns, fear? A journey beginning in uncertainty? The initial shooting, its consequences, the final shooting?

7. The town, the story of the shooting in the town, Gashade's response, the explanation? The reaction of the people in the town? mistrust? Violence?

8. The anonymous woman? The shooting, the horse, grime? Work, her bargain? The horse and the money? The journey, the donkey? Her shooting and signals? Her attitude towards Gashade, towards Coley - her violent reaction to Coley's behaviour? His attraction to her? Her purpose, vengeance, motives? Billy Spear catching up? Her reliance on him? Her vengeance keeping her going? The mountain-climb and the fulfilment of vengeance - and her death?

9. The journey, the difficulties, the terrain, the desert, the uncertainties? The lack of water? Billy Spear catching up? Coley left behind, finding the old man in the desert? His kindness in offering sweets to the old man? The pathos of his death? The innocent victim of the American west?

10. Gashade and the woman, the meeting of their pursuits, the arrival at the mountain, Coigne and his guilt, violence?

11. Billy Spear and his place as a gunman, comparisons with Gashade? Payment by the woman? Taunting of Coley? The clash with Gashade and the breaking of his hand? The shooting at the end?

12. The violent and malevolent presence of Coigne? The motivation for the journey? The goal of the journey?

13. Themes of American survival, vengeance? A portrait of 19th century America?