Zachariah (5 of 10)

Zachariah (1971)

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.
The film is loosely based on Herman Hesse's novel Siddhartha, surrealistically adapted as a musical Western by Joe Massot and the members of the comedy troupe The Firesign Theatre.
This film is defined as being part of the Acid Western genre. More precisely, in its own publicity releases, it was called, "This film is defined as being part of the Acid Western genre. More precisely, in its own publicity releases, it was called, "The first electric western." This was, in no small part, due to the fact that this film featured several appearances and music supplied by successful rock bands from the era, including the James Gang and Country Joe and the Fish. Fiddler Doug Kershaw has a musical cameo that advances the plot of the film. The movie also features a former John Coltrane sideman as Elvin Jones plays a part as a gunslinging drummer named "Job Cain."." This was, in no small part, due to the fact that this film featured several appearances and music supplied by successful rock bands from the era, including the James Gang and Country Joe and the Fish. Fiddler Doug Kershaw has a musical cameo that advances the plot of the film. The movie also features a former John Coltrane sideman as Elvin Jones plays a part as a gunslinging drummer named "Job Cain."
Cast Includes :
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

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Zachariah
• Acid
• Electric
• Western
• Firesign
• Theatre
• John
• Rubinstein
• Don
• Johnson
• Country
• Joe
• and
• the
• Fish
• Patricia
• Quinn
• Elvin
• Jones
• Dick
• Van
• Patten
• James
• Gang
• The
• New
• York
• Rock
• Ensemble
• Doug
• Kershaw
• William
• Challee
• Walsh

[MrLiberty1972]

great line by Elvin at 39 seconds!