Retro Movie: Flynn's "Rolling Thunder"

There have been many films which examine the experiences of the returning Vietnam veteran, from introspective stories such as Coming Home and Born on the Fourth of July, to dark and surreal tales like Platoon and Apocalypse Now. On the other end of the spectrum are movies like Sylvester Stallone’s Rambo films, and Chuck Norris’ Missing in Action series, which tend to be straightforward action stories, though First Blood, the initial entry in the Rambo series, tried to be a little something more than just another shoot ‘em up flick. Somewhere in between these types of movies is Rolling Thunder (1977), directed by John Flynn. The film stars William Devane as Major Charles Rane, who returns home to San Antonio after several years as a POW in Vietnam. He learns that his wife has taken up with another man, and also finds that his young son barely remembers him. Rane is haunted by memories of the torture he suffered during the war, but he tries to adjust to civilian life in a world that feels much different than the one he left behind. 

Rane’s hometown hosts a celebration honoring his return. They award him a brand new Cadillac, as well a set of silver dollars, one for every day he was a captive. Linda Forchet, a local woman who wore his ID bracelet in his honor while he was held prisoner, presents him with the car and the money. She offers to buy him a drink at the bar where she works as a waitress. She makes a pass at him, but he initially rejects her advances. He also has a tense meeting with Cliff, the man who’s taken up with his wife. Cliff is a local deputy, and has become something of a surrogate father to Rane's son. While Rane becomes resigned to the fact that his marriage is over, he makes a real effort to build a relationship with his son.

One day, after returning home from having a drink with Linda, a group of men are waiting for Rane. They’re bandits who want the silver dollars that were given to him. Rane attempts to fight them off, but they brutally beat him, and kill his wife and son. He survives, but his hand is mangled as a result of it being pushed into a garbage disposal by the thieves. While Rane is recuperating in the hospital, he’s visited by both Linda and Johnny Vohden, a fellow soldier who is also having trouble adjusting to life as a civilian. Johnny tells him he’s signed up again, and will be leaving soon. After Rane is released, he picks up Linda, telling her he wants to take a trip to Mexico. However, this is no romantic getaway. He plans to exact revenge on the men who wounded him and killed his family, and enlists Johnny's help.

 

Rolling Thunder is part drama, part revenge thriller and part action film. The movie has a more thoughtful vibe than most B movies or exploitation movies. Devane is excellent in the lead role. He does a fine job conveying the character’s emotional struggle. Rane can’t shake the memories of what he went through in Vietnam, and feels uncomfortable in his “normal” life. When his family is killed, he uses the skills he learned in the war to punish the men responsible. The fine supporting cast features a lot of familiar faces, including Dabney Coleman, James Best, Cassie Yates and Luke Askew. Linda Haynes, a veteran of several 1970s B movies, gives an excellent performance as Linda, turning what could have been a standard female role of the period into a full-bodied character. Her scenes with Devane are touching and well-acted. Director John Flynn really gives Devane and Haynes room to build their characters throughout the film. We get a real sense of these two lost souls slowly opening up to one another.

 

The script for the film is by Paul Schrader and Heywood Gould, from Schrader's original story. Schrader, who also wrote Taxi Driver, has noted in interviews that his original draft was significantly altered by the time it reached the screen. But his trademark mix of well-drawn characters and violent action is very much in evidence. Director John Flynn does a nice job of balancing the character oriented aspects of the film with its action scenes. Flynn had a solid career as a director, helming tough-minded action films like The Outfit and Best Seller. Rolling Thunder is a favorite of Quentin Tarantino, who named a company he founded, which specialized in re-releasing noteworthy B movies of the 1970s, after the film. Rolling Thunder is a solid thriller with strong performances. It's an interesting and offbeat entry in the cycle of Vietnam films. Heres a link to the trailer for the movie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwAcWb5K3HM.

"Start Walkin" Honors Nancy Sinatra

Nancy Sinatra is one of the most iconic performers to come out of the 1960s pop music scene. She was (and is) an independent-minded artist and a strong woman who forged her own path in an often male-dominated industry. As part of a year-long celebration of Nancy’s career, Light in the Attic Records has released Nancy Sinatra: Start Walkin’ 1965-1976, a new collection featuring 23 of her best songs. She made her television debut on Welcome Home Elvis, a variety show hosted by her famous father Frank, which marked the King of Rock and Roll's return to the United States after his military service in Germany. She also appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show, and released several singles. But her early releases didn't reflect the kind of music she really wanted to make. It was time for a change.

Fast forward a bit, and Nancy's label hooks her up with Lee Hazlewood, a songwriter and producer who had found success penning songs for artists like Duane Eddy. Hazlewood introduced Nancy to some of his music, including a tune called “These Boots Are Made For Walkin.” Nancy took the song, which Hazlewood had originally intended to record himself, and turned it into a powerful rallying cry for women everywhere. Instead of commenting on a relationship from the male perspective, “These Boots Are Made For Walkin” became a statement of female empowerment. Along with the other terrific pop songs on her debut album, the Hazlewood produced Boots, her music showcased a smart, sassy, and confident performer at the top of her game. Boots was the beginning of a fruitful professional partnership with Hazlewood, which produced several more albums, including the bona fide classic Nancy & Lee. 

Hazlewood's offbeat lyrics and unique production style, paired with Nancy's warm, sensual voice, are fully evident on a string of hits, including "Sugar Town," "Bang Bang" and their duets "Summer Wine," "Some Velvet Morning," and "Jackson." Nancy also performed the title song to the James Bond film "You Only Live Twice." Her collaborations with Hazlewood continued into the 1970s, when the duo released Nancy & Lee Again. Nancy wasn't just a musical force of nature, she also became a fashion icon, thanks to her distinctive fashion sense and cool ensemble, which included a mix of sweaters, miniskirts, and of course, boots. She also appeared in films such as Speedway, where she co-starred with Elvis, and television shows like The Man From U.N.C.L.E, as well as her own variety specials, including Movin' With Nancy.

Start Walkin’ is an outstanding collection. It's a great way to start exploring Nancy's music if you haven't heard it before. Once you listen you'll quickly discover why she has many famous fans, including U2 and Lana Del Rey. If you're already a convert, you'll appreciate these lovingly remastered versions of her most memorable songs. The anthology also includes a 64 page booklet, featuring an essay by Amanda Petrusich, an interview with Nancy conducted by co-producer Hunter Lea, and many never before seen photos. As part of their year-long tribute to Nancy's work, Light In The Attic Records will also be releasing expanded editions of Boots and Nancy & Lee. For more information on Start Walkin' 1965-1976, follow this link to the page on the Light In The Attic site: https://lightintheattic.net/releases/7266-start-walkin-1965-1976.

Inside the Mind and Movies of "De Palma"

Brian De Palma has directed some of the most memorable (and controversial) movies of the last 50 years. His films include Carrie, Dressed To Kill, Scarface, The Untouchables and the disastrous big-screen adaptation of Tom Wolfe's novel The Bonfire of the Vanities. De Palma is a truly visual storyteller and his stylish, twist-laden and violent thrillers often feature Hitchcockian elements, as in Dressed To Kill, Body Double and Raising Cain. Filmmakers Noah Baumbach and Jake Paltrow sat down with De Palma to have a wide ranging conversation about his life in movies, and the highs and lows of working in the Hollywood system. The result of the many hours of footage shot by Baumbach and Paltrow is the compelling, in-depth documentary De Palma (2015).

 

De Palma discusses his family, his younger days and how he got his start making movies. He was part of a group of talented young filmmakers who rose to prominence in the 1970s, including Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, and Francis Ford Coppola. It's fascinating to hear his stories about the movie business in the 1970s, when films like Taxi Driver, American Graffitti and The Godfather were changing the ways movies were made. De Palma discusses his early films, including Greetings, Hi, Mom! and Get To Know Your Rabbit, which co-starred Orson Welles. His breakthrough movie, Sisters, a dark thriller which starred Margot Kidder, was not only influenced by De Palma's hero, Alfred Hitchcock, the film's score was provided by Bernard Herrmann, who worked on a number of films with the Master of Suspense.

De Palma talks about the casting and production of Carrie, his landmark adaptation of the Stephen King novel, and how the film became a hit despite the fact that the studio cut the budget right from the start, and gave little support to the project. In fact, many of De Palma's stories are about how some of his films succeeded in spite of the interference of studio management, and others failed as a result of it, including The Bonfire of the Vanities, which became a notorious flop. He also frankly discusses the controversy regarding the amount of violence and sex contained in his films, like Scarface and Carlito's Way, and how he is often (undeservedly) tagged as a mere Hitchcock imitator, and not a talented director in his own right..

Throughout the documentary, De Palma gives a well-balanced and honest assessment of the movies in his filmography, including the cult musical Phantom of the Paradise, the underrated thrillers Blow Out and Body Double, and the darkly themed Vietnam drama, Casualties of War. He also tells some frank and entertaining anecdotes about the making of his films, and the stars he's worked with, including Cliff Robertson, John Travolta, Melanie Griffith, Al Pacino and Sean Penn. De Palma openly discusses how, after some big budget failures, including Mission To Mars, that he won't make films in Hollywood these days, and prefers to work outside the confines of the studio system. He comes across as intelligent, sharp, thoughtful and also possesses a good sense of (often self-deprecating) humor.

De Palma is a thought-provoking and insightful look at a filmmaker who has directed some of the most offbeat and intriguing thrillers of all time. Despite being knocked as a Hitchcock copycat, De Palma's films are more homage than imitation. He is a master craftsman who has directed some unforgettable sequences, such as the terror-filled prom in Carrie, and the train station shoot-out in The Untouchables. If you're a fan of behind the scenes documentaries, or have enjoyed his films, De Palma is a must see. The film is currently available to stream on multiple platforms, including Amazon Prime. Here's a look at the trailer for the film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97XoMjwoZ5w.