Zachariah (1971)

Labeled the "first and last Electric Western", "Zachariah" was the next in my long line of Z-beginning films that would both excite, confuse, and slowly inch closer towards disappointment than respect. There is no question that for 1971, this film took chances. It introduced 70s bands; very hippie - very non-acting; like Country Joe and the Fish coupled with The James Gang and placed them in a spaghetti western setting. Adding to the mix a rampant retelling of Hesse's "Siddhartha" and a relationship not unlike that reused in "Brokeback Mountain", and the film "Zachariah" begins to take shape. With avid drug use, ill-fated comedy, and mixed tones - the excitement for this film quickly begins to sift through your fingers, giving one the impression that our creators weren't sure the direction to take with this avanate-guard slice of cinema. Boasting a young John Rubinstein and a 19-year young Don Johnson, as two friends obviously in love with each other, the ability to make this into a further cult classic was there, but missed opportunity plagued this film.

To begin, director George Englund processed this as a buddy-western philosophy film, a la "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid", where those not eager to see a pioneering gay-cowboy flick would instead feel comfortable with the on-screen male comradery. BUT, this was obviously about two gay men. This was a film about their passions, their desire to be together, the entire ending solidifies this notion by pitting our two together. "Siddhartha's" idea of self-discovery with our lead, Zachariah, confirms that he is looking for a life un-welcomed in modern times. Bringing in further music, the entire Belle Star scenes, and the zen of the Old Man just muddies this concept, and we are forced to laugh at crummy jokes with early 70s style. Was this film a comedy, social commentary of sexuality, an honest retelling of Herman Hesse's work, or merely just another drone in the Hollywood machine? Obviously it wasn't the latter, but confusion is the result of this film - forcing one to realize that due to "Zachariah" there would be no further endeavors into the world of "Electric Westerns".

That isn't to say this film was a complete failure. Personally, I enjoyed the idea of what this film could have been. I enjoyed the concept of adding popular music to an old genre. The cinematic landscape was gorgeous, having just watched "Zabrinskie Point", this film does quite a bit better of creating a Death Valley scene than the latter. It was beautiful to see, just visually painful to watch. While I argued that the Belle Star scene seemed out of place, it was again, beautifully created. The contrast of the colors between the desert and her saloon was 1) classic 70s and 2) impressively imaginative. There is one scene in particular that stands out - the scene in which Zachariah has sex with Belle Star. What could have been cheesy 70s porn, despite the PG rating, it quickly transforms into a level of art - with our music happening in the background, the musicians become a level of this that - for the first time in this film - correctly blends the music and human element together. This scene shows what the entire film should have been. Instead of a disconnect between the music and the actors, they would come together. I just wish the rest of the film would have been as strong.

Found in my "Halliwell's 2007 Film Guide", I am happy to have seen "Zachariah", but don't think I could watch it again. I am proud to have it within the Cinema Underground collection, but would be hesitant (with our without drugs) to watch Rubenstein's depiction of Hesse's Buddha. With a heaviness, I am giving this a pink mark. Average film, should have been better with the pioneering sexual topic and music, but overall just fell to the belt.