Johnny Firecloud (1975)

Director:

William Allen Castleman

Writer:

Wilton Denmark (original story and screenplay)

Release Date:

August 1975 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

They taught him today's violence... He gave them yesterday's revenge!

Plot:

Young American Indian gets out of the army and returns home to find his tribe victimized by a white rancher. |

Plot Keywords:

Vietnam War Veteran | Love Letter | Native American Reservation | Grindhouse | Elementary School

Cast

Victor Mohica	...	Johnny Firecloud
Ralph Meeker	...	Colby
David Canary	...	Sheriff Jesse
Frank DeKova	...	White Eagle
Sacheen Littlefeather	...	Nenya
Christina Hart	...	June
Jason Ledger
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
George 'Buck' Flower	...	Wade
Richard Kennedy	...	Henchman

Also Known As:

Revenge of Johnny Firecloud (USA) (video title)

Runtime:

USA:94 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:(Banned) | Sweden:15 | USA:R | Iceland:16 | Australia:R

Quotes:

Johnny Firecloud: You have the balls of a Mouse!

Movie Connections:

Featured in Dusk to Dawn Drive-In Trash-o-Rama Show Vol. 1 (1996) (V)

Not bad, but could be better

Johnny Firecloud is one of the more interesting features from David F. Friedman and company, mainly due to its cast... chances are, you're not going to find names like Ralph Meeker, David Canary, Frank DeKova, Sacheen Littlefeather, etc. in this kind of exploitation film, let alone one produced by the self-proclaimed "Mighty Monarch of the Exploitation Film World".

This film is about the trials of the title character, a Native American who returns to his town, only to find it under siege by a controlling bigot portrayed by Mr. Meeker. Mr. Canary plays the sheriff sent by Meeker to capture Johnny, dead or alive (in Meeker's case, preferably dead. Johnny will have none of it, especially when his grandfather, played by Mr. DeKova, is a victim of the townspeople. Being the anti-hero, he takes the law in his own hands.

Ms. Littlefeather. who plays a doomed friend of Johnny's, is best known as the young actress who Marlon Brando sent to the Oscars to refuse his Academy Award in protest of the treatment of Native Americans.

The acting is adequate enough to keep this rather average "revenge film" from sinking. The conclusion is rather surprising given the weak script. I recommend it if you're into this kind of picture.