Johnny Firecloud (1975)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

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:

Rancher | Racial Violence | Rape | Torture | Gun

Cast

Victor Mohica	...	Johnny Firecloud
Ralph Meeker	...	Colby
David Canary	...	Sheriff Jesse
Frank DeKova	...	White Eagle
Christina Hart	...	June
Sacheen Littlefeather	...	Nenya
Jason Ledger	...	J.B.
John F. Goff	...	Newt
Richard Kennedy	...	Ned
George 'Buck' Flower	...	Wade
Wayne Storm	...	Gus
Elliott Lindsey	...	Gordy
Sterling Franck	...	Preacher
Seamon Glass	...	Grissom
Barry Cooper	...	Hatcher

Also Known As:

Revenge of Johnny Firecloud (USA) (video title)

Runtime:

99 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

Filming Locations:

New Mexico, USA

Company:

20th Century Fox Studios

Quotes:

Johnny Firecloud: You have the balls of a Mouse!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Mau Mau Sex Sex (2001)

Actually rather effective revenge flick from exploitation legend David Friedman

I love just about anything David Friedman has produced, particularly "Space-Thing" and the H.G. Lewis gore flicks. However, I was surprised by "Johnny Firecloud", because this is the first Friedman flick I've seen thats legitimately well-made, opposed to just being extremely entertaining trash. And despite it being very much an exploitation flick, it tackles bigotry more effectively than most recent Hollywood pictures. This is because the politically correctness of the 70s was far different than it is today, and thank God. The film shows bigotry at its absolute worse and avoids pulling easy punches. Despite the serious subtext, it still offers plenty of graphic thrills, but oddly enough the final revenge seems rather disappointing because of how mature the story had been up to this point.

As with many low-budget films of the era, the actual technical quality varies. The acting is, for the most part, rather one note, with the exception of David Canary as the repressed homosexual sheriff. Its a strong portrayal in an era when gays in cinema were mostly shown as effeminate sissies (we haven't advanced too much since than either). As the title character, Victor Mohica is pretty wooden as is Ralph Meeker surprisingly. The notorious Sacheen Littlefeather is in here also, probably to capitalize on her recent Oscar appearance fame. The direction by William Allen Castleman is serviceable if nothing special. Still, despite any flaws due to low production values, the film ultimately works. (7/10)