The Shooting (1967)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Monte Hellman

Writer:

Carole Eastman (writer)

Genre:

Western

Plot:

A mysterious woman persuades two cowboys to help her in a revenge scheme. |

Plot Keywords:

Revenge | Persuasion | Murder | Bounty | Allegory

Cast

Will Hutchins	...	Coley Boyard
Millie Perkins	...	Woman
Jack Nicholson	...	Billy Spear
Warren Oates	...	Willett Gashade
Charles Eastman	...	Bearded man
Guy El Tsosie	...	Indian at Cross Tree
Brandon Carroll	...	Sheriff
B.J. Merholz	...	Leland Drum
Wally Moon	...	Deputy
William Mackleprang	...	Cross Tree townsman
James Campbell	...	Cross Tree townsman

Runtime:

82 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | UK:A (original rating) | UK:PG (video rating) (1994) | USA:G

Filming Locations:

Kanab, Utah, USA

Company:

Proteus Films

Trivia:

"The Epitaph" was the unfilmed script that Jack Nicholson wrote with Monte Hellman. Reputedly based partly on Nicholson's relationship with his wife Sandra Knight, the script dealt with theme of abortion, which producer Roger Corman felt was a no-no at that time.

Quotes:

Coley Boyard: I don't give a curly hair, yellow bear, double dog damn if ya did!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in A Decade Under the Influence (2003)

Absolutely fascinating viewing. A difficult movie but an unforgettable one!

Monte Hellman has my vote for the most underrated and overlooked American director of all time. Like so many excellent film makers he got his first big break from legendary b-grade producer/director Roger Corman, and he co-directed (uncredited) Corman's 'The Terror' and edited his biker classic 'The Wild Angels'. Jack Nicholson starred in 'The Terror' and he an Hellman soon bonded together personally and professionally. Their greatest collaborations were the two 1960s westerns 'Ride In The Whirlwind' and 'The Shooting', filmed simultaneously, but released separately. Both are great movies but 'The Shooting' is the more interesting of the two, and along with Hellman's classic road movie 'Two-Lane Blacktop' his finest achievement. Both movies are close to being masterpieces, but rarely get mentioned except by other film makers, like Quentin Tarantino, who is a major fan, and enlisted Hellman's help in getting his debut 'Reservoir Dogs' to the big screen. 'The Shooting' is difficult viewing for most people. It requires you to pay close attention and fill in the blanks yourself. It isn't exactly a puzzle movie, but not everything is blatantly spelled out. The viewer has to work a little, but it's really worth it! The four main actors are all excellent. Not just Nicholson, and the legendary Warren Oates, but also Will Hutchins (of 50s TV western 'Sugarfoot'), and the beautiful Millie Perkins, who also appeared with Nicholson in 'Ride In The Whirlwind', though her role here is much more substantial and impressive. 'The Shooting' is one of the most original westerns I've ever seen, and easily one of the most underrated movies of the 1960s. I highly recommend it!