The Shooting (1967)--Hellman, Nicholson, Oates etc.

Hmmm....I still don't know what to make of this one.

Saw it last night for the first time. Since it has Warren Oates starring, it
automatically gets some goodwill going in. And, I think, you can see
influences upon Peckinpah (among others) emanating from this film--which is
going to be another huge plus in the goodwill column.

This, basically, is AIP's version of an Antonioni Western. That is to be
admired, and a hell of a gutsy target. But no matter badly he was shafted by
Hollywood, I do think Hellman's reach can exceed his grasp, and I think that
is the case here. A huge casting error does not help. The male casting is
absolutely top notch (in retrospect, of course)--Oates and soon-to-be-star
Jack Nicholson. The female lead (the only female, for that matter), however,
is the uber-Aryan Anne Frank herself, Millie Perkins (my God, she will be 70
years old next year!). I know Hellman used her a few times, and she was on
the whole periphery of the AIP gang, but she just doesn't work for me, and
that is a major drag on the film, since her character is the catalyst for
what is happening (and not happening) in the film. She is just not good,
IMO. And while "not good" actors were generally never a hindrance to AIP
films, it is a problem (for me, at least) for a film with very lofty
aspirations like this one. Hellman, while not Antonioni, is a first rate
director; and Nicholson (who Antonioni used in The Passenger) and Oates are
deservedly legendary. But Perkins is about as long a drop from Monica Vitti
as I can imagine.

I think I may rewatch this one after I see Ride The Whirlwind (again, for
the first time) later this month.




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"[A] nothing will serve just as well as a something about which nothing can
be said."

"Kingo Gondo" wrote in message

> Hmmm....I still don't know what to make of this one.
>
> Saw it last night for the first time. Since it has Warren Oates starring,
> it automatically gets some goodwill going in. And, I think, you can see
> influences upon Peckinpah (among others) emanating from this film--which
> is going to be another huge plus in the goodwill column.
>
> This, basically, is AIP's version of an Antonioni Western.

Let me clarify one thing--this is NOT an AIP film; it was just done by some
AIPers, with Corman money.