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)

Difficult, complex existential western that is ultimately enthralling

Most casual film viewers will find Monte Hellman's "The Shooting" to be slow, boring, and pretentious. But serious fans of cinema will be amazed at how terrific this existential morality play really is. Hellman's version of the old West is at once depressing and beautiful, and the rickety production values on display actually enhance the atmosphere. And of course, who can forget that inscrutable ending with echoes to the Zapruder film? This is fascinating stuff for the patient, thoughtful film student.