This, the world’s “First Electric Western,” hails from 1971. Originally titled ZACHARIAH AND THE SEVEN COWBOYS, it was conceived as a satiric western-oriented adaptation of Herman Hesse’s 1922 novel SIDDHARTHA by the Firesign Theatre (whose four members are given writing credits, even though they’ve disowned the film). The script went through several iterations—according to Bob Dylan, who in 1968 was approached to score the film, “Every line in it was taken out of the Bible. And just thrown together”—before taking the form it eventually assumed.
ZACHARIAH’S theatrical premiere was on January 24, 1971, a little over a month after EL TOPO, the ultimate Weird Western, had its NYC debut. One critic called ZACHARIAH a “Disneyfied EL TOPO,” which did nothing to help its chances financially.
The film opens in Baja California’s Laguna Salada dry lake, where the title character, a young man played by the baby-faced John Rubinstein, opens a package and finds a pistol. Zachariah quickly becomes a proficient shooter as a rock band (the James Gang) performs an acid rock tune (“Laguna Salada”) with their amps plugged into sand. Zachariah decides to become a gunslinger, and enlists his pal Matthew (a very young Don Johnson).
These two have a relationship that appears to stretch far beyond mere friendliness (the primary reason the film is routinely called the “first gay western”). They join the Crackers, a ragtag band of outlaws, and then decide to go their separate ways. Zachariah becomes embroiled in a Wild West show held in a weird pop art enclosure whose main attraction is a whore (Patricia Quinn) who dubs herself Belle Starr. Zachariah comes to sport a snazzy all-white outfit, while Matthew dons an all-black garb. Their rivalry eventually comes to a head in a climactic GREED-like desert confrontation.
In the retinue of late 1960s-early 70s “Head Films” ZACHARIAH is quite subdued, lacking the drugginess of EL TOPO and HEX, and also the gritty revisionism of McCABE AND MRS. MILLER and DIRTY LITTLE BILLY. ZACHARIAH, by contrast, is low key and unassuming, treating western movie lore in a respectful manner while also gently spoofing it.
That explains the neither-here-nor there air. The film looks good, certainly, with scenic rocky exteriors lit, more often than not, by flaming sunsets, but doesn’t satisfy as a comedic western or a psychedelic one. It is, however, probably best viewed under the influence of your favorite illegal substance.
Vital Statistics
ZACHARIAH
ABC Pictures
Director/Producer: George Englund
Screenplay: Joe Massot, Philip Austin, Peter Bergman, David Ossman, Philip Proctor
Cinematography: Jorge Stahl
Editing: Gary Griffen
Cast: John Rubinstein, Pat Quinn, Don Johnson, Elvin Jones, Doug Kershaw, William Challee, Dick Van Patten, Robert Ball