A Hate Story
I haven't found confirmation online yet, but a poster on the DVD Maniacs forum has announced the death of filmmaker William Allen Castleman, who directed three exploitation movies during the 1970's and produced and scored several more. I've seen two of his three films as a director: THE EROTIC ADVENTURES OF ZORRO, which is an overlong but fun softcore sex adventure, and JOHNNY FIRECLOUD (he also made BUMMER!, which is paired with FIRECLOUD on the Something Weird DVD).

JOHNNY FIRECLOUD is a good movie, co-produced by exploitation legend David F. Friedman, shot at 2.35:1, and released by 20th Century Fox (the only Friedman film to get a major studio release?). Native American 'Nam vet Johnny Firecloud (Puerto Rican actor Victor Mohica) returns to the small desert town where he grew up, only to find that his people are being ridiculed and beaten by the bigoted white thugs on the payroll of town boss Colby (Ralph Meeker). Firecloud is particularly a sore subject with Colby, since the Indian was dating his daughter June (Christina Hart) prior to joining the Army. In fact, he went so far as to intercept the letters the young lovers sent to each other, causing June, now an alcoholic, to believe Johnny had dumped her and vice versa. After Colby takes his hazing too far, the film switches from ripping off BILLY JACK to cribbing DEATH WISH, and Johnny begins meting out his own brand of vigilante justice, much to the chagrin of weak sheriff Jesse (David Canary), a basically good man who feels disgraced by a personal secret known only to Colby, who uses it to keep the law under his thumb.

What was a very obscure action movie that played briefly in drive-ins in the mid-1970s and has hardly been seen since is revealed by Something Weird Video's DVD to be a thoughtful, absorbing drama with action overtures. Directing a screenplay by Wilton Denmark, whose credits range from the sleazy low-budget western CAIN'S CUTTHROATS to teleplays for THE SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN, Castleman crafts a surprisingly mature morality play that goes bounds beyond what was surely called for. Sure, the exploitative elements are there, such as gory revenge, nudity, and rape, like you'd expect in a Friedman film, but in between are some heady characterization and fine performances. Canary in particular is marvelous as the complex sheriff, torn between doing what he believes is right and following Colby's orders in order to protect his secret. He was a recognizable TV actor at the time, due to his supporting role as Candy on BONANZA, and has since played twins on ALL MY CHILDREN to great acclaim. His performance in JOHNNY FIRECLOUD is very strong and provides the somewhat talky finale with some power.

Hart, a familiar TV face who started her career disrobing in drive-in flicks like THE STEWARDESSES and THE MAD BOMBER, is the cast's only misfire, playing her drunk role too far over the top, but she does appear topless, as does Sacheen Littlefeather (best known for accepting Brando's 1973 GODFATHER Oscar), the recipient of obvious breast augmentation.

Crisply lensed in Southern California by co-producer Peter B. Goode, JOHNNY FIRECLOUD slightly transcends its drive-in origins, adding social commentary and solid performances while still delivering the bloody goods. It's too bad Castleman didn't make another film after this, because he worked wonders with the $225,000 he had to work with here.

Castleman apparently died at the age of 83.