Smoke in the Wind

Smoke in the Wind
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Andy Brennan (uncredited)
Joseph Kane
Produced by Bill Hughes
Rob "Whitey" Hughes
executive
Jack Horton
Written by Eric Allen
Based on story by Eric Allen
Starring John Ashley
Walter Brennan
Music by Jaime Mendoza-Nava
Cinematography Mario Tosi
Production
company
Frontier Productions
Release date
 1975
Running time
 98 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Budget $200,000[1] or $400,000[2]

Smoke in the Wind is a 1975 western film directed by Andy Brennan and Joseph Kane. It marked Walter Brennan's final film role.[3][4]

Plot

In 1865, the American Civil War has just ended as the action in this work begins, following five Union soldiers - Pa Mondier, his two sons, and Smoky - as they return to their homes in the Ozarks of northern Arkansas, matter-of-factly planning a resumption of their pre-War existences.

However, many residents from the village of Winslow and its surrounding region are averse to offering a helping hand to Yankees, Arkansas having been a member of the Confederacy.

Mort Fagan leads some ex-Confederate soldiers in an attack against the former Unionists, resulting in Pa Mondier being mortally wounded, triggering a feud.

Some Winslow citizens are working to close the nation's divisiveness and it is to them that the returning veterans must look for support.[5]

Cast

  • John Ashley as Whipple Mondier
  • John Russell as Cagle Mondier
  • Myron Healey as Mort Fagan
  • Walter Brennan as H. P. Kingman
  • Susan Huston as Laurie Cullen
  • Linda Weld as Sarah Kimbrough
  • Henry Kingi as Smoky Harjo
  • Adair Jameson as Hannah Mondier
  • Dan White as Col. Joab Cullen
  • Lorna as Ma Mondier
  • Billy Hughes, Jr. as Till Mondier
  • Bill Coontz as Stapp Huckaby
  • Jack Horton as Gib
  • Bill McKenzie as The Bartender

Production

Smoke in the Wind was filmed in Winslow, Arkansas, and local Strawberry Henson played a preacher. The General Store and most of the town was not modified for the film. The script was by Eric Allen, a journalist and Western author.[6]

The film was made by two stuntmen turned producers, Billy and White Hughes. They were from Arkansas and raised the money from turkey ranchers on the basis of Walter Brennan's involvement. Brennan agreed to make the film if his son Andy would direct. John Ashley knew the Hugheses and agreed to be in it because he wanted to work with Brennan.[2]

According to Ashley filming was difficult and Andy Brennan "had some personal problems". The Hughes brothers replaced him with Joe Kane. Walter Brennan stayed on the film even though he was ill with emphysema at the time. Ashley says the filmmakers ran out of money after filming was completed; Whitey Hughes eventually raised the money to complete it.[2]

Reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin called the film "lethargic".[7]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Lamont, John (1990). "The John Ashley Filmography". Trash Compactor (Volume 2 No. 5 ed.). p. 26.
  2. 1 2 3 Lamont, John (199). "The John Ashley Interview Part 2". Trash Compactor (Volume 2 No. 6 ed.).
  3. ↑ "Smoke in the Wind". FilmAffinity. filmaffinity.com. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  4. ↑ "Smoke in the Wind". allmovie.com. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  5. ↑ Brennan, Sandra. "Smoke in the Wind (1975)". The New York Times. nytimes.com. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  6. ↑ Cochran, Robert; McCray, Suzanne (Feb 2, 2015). Lights! Camera! Arkansas!: From Broncho Billy to Billy Bob Thornton. University of Arkansas Press. p. 49.
  7. ↑ SMOKE IN THE WIND. (1975, Monthly Film Bulletin, 42, 87. Retrieved from https://search-proquest-com.ezproxy.sl.nsw.gov.au/docview/1305844058?accountid=13902
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