I first saw this film on its first run back in '71 or '72. Saw it on a date with a nurse from the hospital where I worked in Plantation, Florida. Had known very little about it beforehand. Was blown away. Spent the rest of the date (at restaurant) explaining Hesse's Siddhartha and all the points of congruency. Also recognized names of Firesign Theater. Was convinced they'd retold Siddhartha, which is Hesse's retelling of the Buddha story of spiritual enlightenment, mixing American West gunfighter myth and rock and roll--two key archetypes/myths of our generation: ingenious premise, well-executed. My conviction was confirmed absolutely when I saw it again later and recognized Zach's response to Belle as verbatim Siddhartha's response to the courtesan in Hesse--trying to avoid spoiler here.
Of course the movie is somewhat dated now, 30 years later. But it was clever and even profound in its day and still worth seeing. I'd recommend reading the book first in order to fully appreciate what they were doing.
One other comment: I see a parallel between Zachariah's pairing of Old West gunfighters and rock and roll and the Eagles' Desperado song story--especially apparent in the song "Certain Kind of Fool:"
"I saw it in a window, the mark of a new kind of man; I kinda liked the feeling, so shiny and smooth in my hand; I took it to the country and practiced for days without rest; And then one day I felt it: I knew I could stand with the best."
Is "it" a six-gun or a six-string? Yes. Whenever I heard this song I pictured Zachariah out in the desert practicing his shooting.
See the film if you can. Enjoy the music. Follow the story. It's worth it.
Of course the movie is somewhat dated now, 30 years later. But it was clever and even profound in its day and still worth seeing. I'd recommend reading the book first in order to fully appreciate what they were doing.
One other comment: I see a parallel between Zachariah's pairing of Old West gunfighters and rock and roll and the Eagles' Desperado song story--especially apparent in the song "Certain Kind of Fool:"
"I saw it in a window, the mark of a new kind of man; I kinda liked the feeling, so shiny and smooth in my hand; I took it to the country and practiced for days without rest; And then one day I felt it: I knew I could stand with the best."
Is "it" a six-gun or a six-string? Yes. Whenever I heard this song I pictured Zachariah out in the desert practicing his shooting.
See the film if you can. Enjoy the music. Follow the story. It's worth it.