WINDS OF AUTUMN

US, 1976, 100 minutes, Colour.
Jack Elam, Jeanette Nolan, Andrew Prine, Dub Taylor, Chuck Pierce.
Directed by Charles B. Pierce.

Winds of Autumn is a vengeance western directed by Charles B. Pierce, director of small-budget actioners including Bootleg, The Town That Dreaded Sundown, The Evictors, The Norsemen. Pierce himself appears in the very unsympathetic role of Ferd. The writer of the film, Earle Smith, appears as Mr Pepperdine. Pierce's son Chuck Pierce Jnr is the young hero Joel.

The film has beautiful Montana settings, uses the location photography well, has some violent action sequences in the Sam Peckinpah style. The film also portrays the Quakers in the West, the non-violence and their being brutalised - and the young boy, from the Quaker family being forced to look at justice and vengeance.

The film is typical of many westerns of the '70s, both in its lyrical style as well as in its stylised violence.

1. An interesting and entertaining western? Quaker pioneers? Outlaws and violence? Vengeance themes?

2. The beauty of the location photography, the contribution to the atmosphere of the film and its impact? The seasons? The farms, the towns? Action sequences, uses of slow motion? Special effects for the violence? The musical score?

3. The basic situation of the Quaker family, the young boy noticing the outlaws riding past, the escape from the prison farm, the deaths of the family and the quest for vengeance? Joel and his place in the family, devotion to the family, his being absent during the killings, the pain of the discovery? The funeral and the community's decision as to his care? Pepperdine and his bond, to look after the boy? His warning him against violence? The boy knowing the killers, taking the guns and going in pursuit of them? The long trek, the town, the seasons, the Indians? His finally catching up with the group, the violent confrontation, his being taken, Pepperdine rescuing him? The use of violence - vengeance, its futility? A young boy's growing up in the American West?

4. The portrait of the family, hard work, religious ideals, non-violence, the brutal rape of the daughter and her death, the killing of the mother and father? Audience feeling for the family, for Joel sharing the attitudes of vengeance?

5. Pepperdine and his past reputation, his belonging to the community, his realisation that Joel had gone, his tracking him, rescuing him, the deaths of the family?

6. The picture of the family - scruffy and dirty, the strategy of their releasing the brother from the prison farm, the violence, the deaths in the fields? Their escape, the woundings? The calling into the house, the hospitality? Ferd and his release from prison, tracking Katherine, the rape and death? The consequent killings? on the run, the towns, the need for robberies, the visit to the saloon; Ferd and the prostitutes, the robbing of the saloon? Joel and Pepperdine catching up, the tracking throughout the countryside, the killings, the deaths and burials, the extinction of the family - justice being done?

7. The portrait of the individuals in the family: J.P. and his leadership, love for his family, outlaws, letting Ferd escape, the killings? Mae and her control, plans, death? The other sons and their participation in the plot, the clashes amongst themselves, the robbery of the saloon, deaths?,

8. A grim picture of the Montana frontier? The precarious settlers and their being victims of violence? The need for law and order? The 19th century American heritage and its impact on the 20th century?