Ride in the Whirlwind (1965)

Director:

Monte Hellman

Writer:

Jack Nicholson (writer)

Release Date:

24 March 1978 (Finland)

Genre:

Western

Plot:

Three cowboys, mistaken for members of an outlaw gang, are relentlessly pursued by a posse.

Plot Keywords:

Farm | Stagecoach Robbery | Chase | Pursuit | Robbery

Cast

Cameron Mitchell	...	Vern
Millie Perkins	...	Abigail
Jack Nicholson	...	Wes
Katherine Squire	...	Catherine
George Mitchell	...	Evan
Rupert Crosse	...	Indian Joe
Harry Dean Stanton	...	Blind Dick (as Dean Stanton)
John Hackett	...	Winslow
Tom Filer	...	Otis
B.J. Merholz	...	Edgar
Brandon Carroll	...	Quint Mapes
Peter Cannon	...	Hagerman
William A. Keller	...	Roy
Neil Summers		(as Neil Summer)
James Campbell

Runtime:

82 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:PG | Argentina:Atp | Finland:K-16 | UK:PG | USA:G

Filming Locations:

Kanab, Utah, USA

Company:

Proteus Films

Goofs:

Continuity: In the first shot of the film, Joe appears on the left side of the screen and Dick on the right, both seen from their back. The subsequent long shot, from the front, shows them switched.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Braccati (2001)

One of the 1960s most underrated Westerns.

Former Roger Corman collaborator Monte Hellman directed two of the most underrated American movies of the 1960s/70s 'The Shooting', a puzzling western starring Warren Oates and Jack Nicholson, and the existential road movie 'Two-Lane Blacktop'. 'Ride In The Whirlwind' was shot simultaneously with 'The Shooting', and while it isn't as impressive as that film it's still very good, and one of the most underrated Westerns of the 1960s. Jack Nicholson once again stars, and also scripted. He and Hellman made a great team, and it's just a pity that they didn't continue to collaborate. A few other actors from 'The Shooting' also appear, most notably the sultry Millie Perkins, though she has a much smaller role in this one. Nicholson is ably supported by legendary character actors Cameron Mitchell ('Hombre', 'The Klansman', 'The Toolbox Murders') and Harry Dean Stanton ('Cool Hand Luke', 'Repo Man', 'The Last Temptation Of Christ'). Watching these three guys work off each other is reason enough to see this. (Also hunt down the Bruce Dern biker obscurity 'The Rebel Rousers' which they all appear in, thought it's nowhere near as good) Hellman's westerns are minimalistic and a bit of an acquired taste, but I really like them a lot. 'Ride In The Whirlwind' is easier to get into than 'The Shooting'. It's more straightforward, but still a very subtle and interesting movie, and Nicholson and Mitchell's contrasting acting styles bounce off each other really well. Recommended.