Zachariah (1971)

Two gunfighters separate and experience surreal visions on their journey through the west.

Director:

George Englund

Writers:

Philip Austin, Peter Bergman

Stars:

John Rubinstein, Patricia Quinn, Don Johnson

Cast

Cast overview:
John Rubinstein	...	Zachariah
Patricia Quinn	...	Belle Starr (as Pat Quinn)
Don Johnson	...	Matthew
Country Joe and the Fish	...	The Crackers
Elvin Jones	...	Job Cain
Doug Kershaw	...	The Fiddler
William Challee	...	Old Man
Robert Ball	...	Stage Manager
Dick Van Patten	...	The Dude
James Gang	...	Job Cain's Band (as The James Gang)
White Lightnin'	...	Old Man's Band
The New York Rock Ensemble	...	Belle Starr's Band

Storyline

Gunfights and electric guitars in the Old West? You bet! Zachariah gets a mail order gun, practices a little, and kills a man in the local saloon. He and his friend Matthew set out to become gunfighters, joining with the Crackers, a rock band who are also (pitifully inept) stage robbers. Having quickly outgrown that gang, Zachariah and Matthew set out to become bigtime gunslingers. Before long, they part company and a rivalry grows between them.

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Plot Keywords:

vision | acid western | arizona territory | arizona | territory | 

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Taglines:

A Head of His Time

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Musical | Western

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Certificate:

GP

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 June 1971 (West Germany)

Also Known As:

Zacarías

Filming Locations:

Laguna Salada, Mexicali, Baja California Norte, Mexico

Company Credits

Production Co:

ABC Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Referenced in Reanimator Academy (1992)

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Soundtracks

Down in the Willow Garden
Written by Byard Ray, Obray Ramsey, and Arthur Gorson
Performed by White Lightnin'

User Reviews

Silly but fun Rock'n'Roll western.

Oh, how I love late 60s/early 70s Hollywood! When the studios figured to capture the turned on youth market, but had NO CLUE what was really going on! Great era when almost anything could be passed off as psychedelic, and weirdos like the Firesign Theatre could co-write a movie and GET IT MADE. Grooovy!

'Zachariah' is a unique, rock'n'roll western, which is so lame brained and misguided it turns out to be one of the most entertaining movies of the period. Just check out the cast! Pretty boy Don Johnson, TVs John Rubenstein, Country Joe and The Fish, and DICK VAN PATTEN! Add to that a Who-inspired James Gang (with a young, clean shaven Joe Walsh) and Coltrane's legendary drummer Elvin Jones, and you've got a truly, er, UNIQUE proposition!

Make a great double-bill with 'Tommy'!