Ride in the Whirlwind *** (1966, Jack Nicholson, Cameron Mitchell, Millie Perkins) – Classic Movie Review 6211

The enigmatic 1966 existential Western film Ride in the Whirlwind reunites screen-writer / star Jack Nicholson and director Monte Hellman, the duo responsible for The Shooting.

Nicholson, Cameron Mitchell and Tom Filer play Wes, Vern and Otis, cowhand drifters who help out some outlaws. They shelter in a cabin, and are attacked by an avenging vigilante posse, branded as members of the outlaw gang. But Wes and Vern escape, and end up being chased by the posse, who target them indiscriminately.

The usual, unsurprising Western plot that pits bandits against vigilantes and stirs in mistaken identities is at the centre of this particular whirlwind. That said, Nicholson’s script is serviceable. But it is the iconic cast, the dark, dour and dangerous mood and European-influenced, downbeat tone that raise the movie well above the average B-movie Western. It defies its low budget of only $70,000 and fast shooting in just three weeks.

Also notable in the cast are Millie Perkins, Rupert Crosse, Katherine Squire, Harry Dean Stanton, George Mitchell, Brandon Carroll and Peter Cannon.

Hellman recalled Roger Corman agreed to put up funds for a Hellman-directed Western at a lunch meeting at the old Brown Derby on Vine Street, south of Hollywood Boulevard. Corman decided that since Hellman was making one Western, he might as well make two, and Ride in the Whirlwind was shot back-to-back after The Shooting.

Ride in the Whirlwind runs 82 minutes, is made by Proteus Films and Santa Clara Productions, is released by Favorite Films, is shot by Gregory Sandor, produced by Jack H Harris, Monte Hellman and Jack Nicholson, and scored by Robert Drasnin.

The cast are Cameron Mitchell as Vern, Jack Nicholson as Wes, Tom Filer as Otis, Millie Perkins as Abigail, Katherine Squire as Catherine, George Mitchell as Evan, Harry Dean Stanton as Blind Dick, Rupert Crosse as Indian Joe, B.J. Merholz as Edgar, Peter Cannon as Hagerman, Brandon Carroll as Quint Mapes, John Hackett as Winslow, William A. Keller as Roy, and Charles Eastman as Drummer.

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 6211

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com