 Following the release of his first feature, _Dark Star (1974)_ (qv),  John Carpenter (I) (qv) was approached by a group of investors who  gave him carte blanche to make whatever kind of picture he wanted,  albeit with a very limited budget. Although Carpenter wanted to make  a Western, he knew he wouldnt have the resources to make a period  piece. He wrote this film as a highly stylized, modern