Wuchak Released in 1966 and directed by Monte Hellman from Jack Nicholson's script, "Ride in the Whirlwind" is about three traveling cowhands (Nicholson, Cameron Mitchell & Tom Filer) who are wrongly targeted by vigilantes out to apprehend a gang of murdering robbers. Cutie Millie Perkins has a peripheral role.The best thing about this barebones independent Western is its mundane realism where it comes across as a docudrama. While it's slow and sometimes dull, the subtext concerning vengeance and mistaken indictment is interesting. When the three protagonists come across a body hanging from a tree at the beginning it's a grim omen of things to come. Nicholson had a great grasp on lifelike Old West discourse. "Ride in the Whirlwind" is pretty much on par with its more surrealistic sister film "The Shooting," which was shot immediately after this one and at the same general locations.The film runs 82 minutes and was shot in Kanab & Paria, Utah.GRADE: B-

LeonLouisRicci A very Low-Budget, Alternative Western Penned by and Starring Jack Nicholson and Directed by the Minimalist and Philosophical Monte Hellman, this is Proof Positive that Quality, Engaging Movies can be Made by Thoughtful, Talented Movie Makers with just a Dab of Dollars.Along with its Sister Shoot "The Shooting" (1966), Neither Receiving an Initial American Release (Who was in charge of these things?), both Films are Now Considered Excellent B-Movies and have gained Cult Status.This one is more Bare-Bones in its Conceit than its Existential Other, it Works just as Well as "The Shooting", Just On a Different Plane of Existence. Jack Nicholson seems to Appreciate and Understand "Western Speak" and His Script, is Filled with Scant but Succinct, Spot On Dialog. When the Characters Talk it is from Experience and a Sort of Intellectual Insight. Their Words are Few but Meaningful Learned from the School of Hard Living.Cameron Mitchell is totally Believable as Nicholson's Riding Companion, and the other well Known Character Actor Harry Dean Stanton makes His Mark in a Small Role. But the whole Cast seems to be on the Film's Wavelength and All Contribute to the Experience and None Detract.Highly Recommended for Nicholson's Fine Script, Hellman's Sure Hand Direction, and a Cast of Truly Believable Actors Playing Truly Believable Characters. Everything Clicks and the Team of Independent Filmmakers Made a Western that has Stood the Test of Time and it would Not be Hyperbole to Call this a Minor Gem.

Michael_Elliott Ride in the Whirlwind (1967)** (out of 4)Low-budget Western was co-written by Jack Nicholson but I think overall it proves that we're very thankfully he didn't give up acting to concentrate solely on writing. In the film, three men (Cameron Mitchell, Nicholson, Tom Filer) end up spending the night with an outlaw gang and briefly considering riding with them but instead decide to go their separate ways. This doesn't pay off when an angry posse think they're involved with the gang and begin to hunt them down. This film was shot at the same time as Hellman's THE SHOOTING and both films seem to have gained a huge cult following over the years but I can't honestly say I'm one of the fans. There's a lot to admire in both films but in the end I think both fail to live up to their reputations. I think the biggest problem with this film is its screenplay that never really seems to know what it wants to be. The first half of the movie comes off as your typical Western of three men being mistaken for someone they're not. Fair enough. The second half of the film dives a bit deeper and tries to be more psychological but I think this is where things start to get watered down even though an interesting third party (played by Millie Perkins) enters the picture. I think the film tries way too hard to be deep and mysterious and this is where the thing starts to fall apart. I found a lot of the dialogue, which was meant to be deep and serious, to wonder on and never really go anywhere. Thankfully the movie never gets too dull as Mitchell and Nicholson make for an interesting duo and their personalities alone keep the film moving. Perkins is pretty good in her role and we have an early appearance by Harry Dean Stanton as a one-eyed member of the bad gang.

FightingWesterner Innocent cowboys, including Cameron Mitchell and Jack Nicholson, stop for food and rest at a cabin that unknown to them, is the hideout for a group of outlaws.Soon they find themselves on the run from a vicious hanging party and having to take teenage Millie Perkins and her family hostage in order to buy themselves some time.Good performances, direction by Monte Hellman, and an unbelievably tense script by Jack Nicholson help make this a thriller worth watching.The finale is absolutely heart-wrenching!A great independent western filmed simultaneously with The Shooting (also with Nicholson and Perkins), this is considered the lesser of the two, though not by much. Both films are fantastic.