Hawmps!

I remember virtually nothing about this movie that I saw as a child in 76 or 77. But I thought I would share one of my funniest childhood memories that is associated with the film. I was living in Florida and my mother went up north to visit relatives for a week. My father undoubtedly thought that this would make a perfect time for some male bonding and decided to take me to a movie. I chose Hawmps and we came to a theatre that was packed ( I guess it had a solid opening weekend). We had arrived late (my father was perpetaully behind in time) and the movie was already playing. We walked down the rows and most were full, occasionally a row had a just one seat open, but never two. Finally my dad (who wore thick glasses and never could see too well in the dark) said "there's two seats", and pointed to the end of a row. As I made my way down I noticed that only one seat was vacant. I turned to my dad to try to explain but he said "keep going", so as a child I just figured my dad must know what he was doing, so I found a seat and sat down, noticing that beside me was a small boy, about 3 years old. Much to my shock my father proceeded to sit right on the kid! He let out a shreik that was audible throughout the theater and his father jumped up even faster than my embarassed dad did and asked him what he thought he was doing. My father quickly told me to remain in my seat and he'd meet me outside of the theater after the show. I laughed throughout the movie, but not at any of the gags--at the thought of my father nearly skwishing the kid next to me.

FOLLOWING THE UNEXPECTED success of his BENJI (Mulberry Square, 1974), Writer/Director/Producer Joe Camp came up with another brainstorm. Why not take a true, albeit little known story about the U.S. Cavalry and turn into a true "G" rated, family picture? THE STORY TO which refer concerned an experiment that the U.S. Army tried with the use of camels as transportation of troops. This occurred circa 1850 in the Southwest (Arizona or New Mexico*). We hear that the tryouts for "the Ship of the Desert" failed; but we can't fault Uncle Sam for trying.

WHEREAS CAMELS DIDN'T pass muster, their legacy has proved to be the perfect sort of fodder for Hollywood Producers; who are looking for something to put o the screen. After all, we've all seen Westerns featuring bank hold-ups, train robberies, cattle rusting, range wars, battles with hostile Indian tribes and so on.

BUT WE DON'T know of any one of these Horse Operas that featured camel bronk-riders, camel rodeos, camel stage coaches or camel stampedes. (Catch on?)

ALTHOUGH THE STORY is historical in origin and is proof of the old adage that: "Truth is stranger than fiction!"; the production team* decided to give it decidedly comic tone.

IT REALLY DIFDN'T take much to move it into the camp of Family Comedy, or really Farce; as the opening premise seemed to be so incredible. All that had to be done was to assemble a cast, dress 'em up Cavalry style and go out to the Mojave and film it.

ANDSWERING THE CALL to "humps" were a talented cast of mostly supporting people. James Hampton, a mostly TV actor (Hannibal Dobbs on F TROOP) headed up the list**. Following up Mr. Hampton's lead were: Christopher Connelly, Slim Pickens (from DR. STRANGELOVE), Denver Pyle (BONNIE & CLYDE), Gino Conforti, Mimi Maynard, and durable, versatile Herb Vigran. Even the trainer of "Benji" and the other four legged actors, Frank Inn, stepped before the cameras as Cavalry Camp Cook.

THE STORY ON screen, such s it was, gave plenty of opportunities for hamming, obvious humor and family friendly goings on. The writers' embellishment on what is so little known about the real occurrences of the 1850's incident gave them plenty of leeway to steer the movie in any direction that they wanted. That led us to Matinees, Family Fare and of course a "G" Rating.

HORRORS! TODAY THAT would be considered a Kiss of Death!

NOTE * We cannot lose out without mentioning how kind Writer/Producer/Director, Mr. Joe Camp, was to us so may years ago. After we had seen it with our older girl, Jennifer age 3, we dropped him a note of appreciation. He replied with a letter on official MULBERRY SQUARE PRODUCTIONS Letterhead and enclosed a BENJI Movie Poster for little Jen. Whenever a now production was coming out, he'd send her another poster; as he did for HAWMPS!

NOTE ** In all fairness, we aren't trying to relegate any of these fine thespians to a lower status. Remember, "There are no small parts, only small people!" In the case of Mr. Hampton, we remember him best for is role as prison inmate, "the Caretaker" in Burt Reynolds' starring vehicle, THE LONGEST YARD (Paramount, 1975).

HAWPS was produced by the creator of Benji, and it contains the same family-oriented take on a not so familiar subject, In the Mid-1800s the US military considered the use of Camels to transport Calvary troops on the Western plains. The project was not a success, but this fun family western details some of the chaos that might have ensued ! James Hampton(F-Troop) does a fine job as the lead, and Jack Elam nearly steals the film as a cantankerous and black-hearted villain. Slim Pickens is also on hand as a rival Sergeant. Denver Pyle is the bewildered Fort Commander amazed by the entire fiasco that takes place.The Camels are a sight to behold also,

A fun, lighthearted and pleasant western, with a number of genuine belly laughs! Enjoyed it !

I first saw this movie with my Mom and Dad and half the fun was watching them laugh at the movie. I would like to watch it again with my kids. Yes, the plot is silly, and the gags are somewhat slapstick, but it is just a fun movie to see on "family movie night". Don't worry about sex, violence, or language. Get the popcorn, kick back, and enjoy.

I love this movie. I know that it's not the greatest film ever made, but it's just so much fun. My older brother took me to see this when it came out in 1976. Ever since then, I've thought of this as "F Troop: The Movie." It even stars James Hampton, who was the bugler, Cpl. Dobbs, on "F Troop." It's a shame that Forrest Tucker, Larry Storch, and Ken Berry aren't in this film, but Christopher Connelly, Slim Pickens, Jack Elam, and Denver Pyle are always great...And when that band starts playing in the saloon, I laugh every time. This is of those movies like "The Apple Dumpling Gang" and (the original) "That Darn Cat" that entire families can watch together and get a good laugh.