Simply Perfect

Good story, Not enough for a whole film

This movie tries so hard to be funny, yet it falls flat every time. Just another example of recycled ideas repackaged with women in an attempt to appeal to a certain audience.

One of the film's great tricks is that, for a time, you think it will go down a rabbit hole of unrealistic glorification.

Way back in the summer of 1978, I was a member of a club, in my home town of Little Rock, Arkansas, known as 'Central Arkansas Filmmakers' – An organization of amateur filmmakers who produced home-made movies on super 8 film. The CAF was where I got my first experience as a film Actor.In September of that year, I got a call from Marvin Walker, President and Co-Founder of that organization. Marvin told me that we had been invited to appear in a movie being shot in southwest Arkansas, titled: 'Revenge Of Bigfoot'. It seems that Marvin knew somebody, who knew somebody, who knew somebody who knew Harry Thomason, and word had reached him that Harry was looking for talent, in the form of extras for his production.I, along with several other members of the CAF, made the trip to Texarkana, one Saturday, that September, and it was quite an interesting and fun experience for all of us, especially me, for I got to meet my first big Hollywood star – Rory Calhoun. Mr. Calhoun was quite an amiable and friendly guy, and even set aside some time for a kind of 'question and answer' session with our members. I even had my picture taken with him, and I have that framed, black-and-white 5x7 print sitting on my nightstand, to this day.We spent most of a day shooting 2 scenes: One where a hunting party was being assembled, to go and look for 'bigfoot', and another, later, in a country nightclub, where the monster was to make an appearance, and scare everybody half to death. I managed to sneak in a line, during the 'posse' scene, but I have no idea if it made it to the final cut, for I've never seen the finished product. I seem to remember that we weren't invited to the premiere, and it's theatrical release was so short, that I blinked my eyes, and missed it.Surely, there must be some videotape copies of this movie, somewhere, and I would really like to see it, if anyone knows how to get hold of one, especially now that I've heard and read some good things about it. Meanwhile, if you see it, look for the big guy in a camouflage hunting cap, wearing a Levi jacket, and carrying a double-barrel 12-gauge shotgun. I'm sure you'll be impressed with his imposing presence.

Although this movie will not keep you on the edge of your seat or get your adrenaline pumping, it is an entertaining way to spend 90 or so minutes. In fact, compared to what Hollywood has been cranking out for the last several years, this movie could be considered a breath of fresh air. We have to remember that it was a low budget film even for 1978, and it was filmed entirely in Texarkana, a border city on the state line of Texas and Arkansas. If it could be re-released as a "Kid's" movie, I think the younger generation and their parents who would accompany them would leave the theater with a smile on their faces. "Revenge of Bigfoot" has some really funny lines and situations. The "Hollywood" star is Rory Calhoun, but the real star of the movie is Mike Hackworth and his portrayal of his character, Rufus J. Pickle. Mr. Hackworth is a Texarkana native and a multi-talented guy. He also wrote and sung the theme song for the movie. I was an extra in the movie---in the hunt scene. It was amazing that people would stand in line for hours just for the opportunity of POSSIBLY being selected as an unpaid extra. It was a fun time, and I will always have fond memories.

I appeared as an uncredited extra in this movie. A journalism teacher at Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia called me in my capacity as editor of the college newspaper and invited me to cover the participation of one of his classes in filming a couple of scenes one weekend.A number of students drove over to Texarkana to spend the day performing as extras in a bar scene. We spent the majority of the day waiting for a fake glass window to be prepared for the "monster" to jump through. When filming began, we all sat around at tables pretending to drink and make merry. Then we were directed to scream, panic and stampede out of the place as the stuntman crashed through the window.I had my one moment of glory when the director decided to take a closeup of me screaming. I hollered my bloody lungs out, only to be told I was great, but the woman sitting behind me didn't realize she was in the scene and sat there smiling through the whole thing.Thus, my career as a B-movie scream queen bit the Texas dust.We attended the local premiere of the movie some months later. It was fun to see several classmates, such as David Wingfield and Becki Chandler, in their speaking roles. I was fuzzily visible in one scene sitting behind David in the bar. The movie itself? Heh. You don't get any more "B-movie" than this incredibly corny lost comic-horror classic. I'd love to dig up a copy, but I'm sure it's gone forever. Someone give Harry Thomason a call and see if he kept a copy, y'hear?

This film was shot in Texarkana, Ark/TEX in 1978 and released in 1979. After release it was re-titled "Rufus J. Pickle and the Indian". Starred Rory Calhoun, Mike Hackworth, T.Dan Hopkins and Patricia Kane. Produced by Harry Thomason and Joe Glass. Story about a friendly rancher who befriends an indian and the local bigot, Rufus Pickle, tries to run the indian out of town but is interrupted by a Bigfoot Creature. It was released and was shown in several states before it disappeared from the scene.