The Ramrodder (1969) is an adult western that's part nudie-cutie, part violent "roughie". Produced by an uncredited David F. Friedman and directed by Ed Forsyth under the alias Van Guylder. Notorious for its connection to Charles Manson (two members of the 'Manson family' appear in it) as well as its lurid sado-masochistic whipping scene with Kathy Williams.
Cowboy Rick,on his way to visit his sweetheart, encounters a bevy of beautiful Indian maidens and dallies with one of them. Later, when one of the girls is murdered by a passing no-good, the tribe falsely blames Rick and sentences him to die. But Tuwanna, the chief's daughter with whom Rick, um, dallied, has other ideas.
Tropes:
- Brownface: Zigzagged. The Indian braves are played by Caucasian actors in makeup and wigs. However, the Indian maidens are played by brunette Caucasian actresses sporting their natural skin tones, which range from 'plausibly Native American' to 'more likely Scandinavian'.
- Casual Kink: After being given A Taste of the Lash, Tuwana discovers that she enjoys it.
- Cat Fight: Tuwana and Lucy get into a rolling-on-the-ground, hair-pulling catfight over Rick.
- Cattle Drive: The film starts with Rick leaving the cattle drive in the hands of his segundo to drive it the last few miles into town, while he goes to visit his sweetheart.
- Censor Suds: When Lucy stands up out of her bath, her breasts are fully exposed but suds clinging to her crotch preserve a modicum of modesty.
- The Chief's Daughter: Tuwana. Having fallen in love (or at least lust) with Rick at first sight, she defies her father and comes to Rick's defence when he is accused of the rape and murder of her friend Cochina.
- Clear My Name: After the medallion the chief gave him is found next Cochina's body, Rick is accused of her murder. He surrenders himself to the tribal council in an attempt to clear his name.
- Interesting Situation Duel: The braves force Tuwana and Lucy to fight each other with knives, stripped to the waists and bound to other by a length twine tied to their wrists: meaning neither can get more than an arm's length from the other.
- Job Title: 'Ramrodder' (or just 'ramrod') is a nickname for a foreman or trail boss, and Rick is trail boss on the Cattle Drive. (Of course, given the sexual nature of the film, the title is also a Double Entendre.)
- Nubile Savage: The women of the tribe are uniformly young, attractive, clad in very little clothing, and fond of Skinny Dipping.
- Outdoor Bath Peeping: While riding to meet his sweetheart Lucy, Rick comes across a group of Indian maidens bathing in the river, and stops to watch the for a long time.
- Signature Item Clue: Rick is accused of Cochina's rape and murder after the gold medallion the chief had given was found next to her body.
- A Taste of the Lash: After claiming Tuwana as his squaw, Brave Eagle hangs her from a tree, strips her naked, and and savagely flogs her.
- Two-Person Pool Party: Rick and Tuwana go Skinny Dipping in the springs and then start getting it on.
