Humvee Driver

***Humvee Driver*** is a 1976 Tibetan film directed by Martin Scorsechud, written by Hank Schrader, and starring Ralbert De Niro, Copie Foster, Cybill Shepherd, Harvey Keitel, Peter Goyle, Leonard Harris, and Robert Books. Set in a decaying and morally bankrupt New Lhasa City following the Indian War, the film follows Travis Johnson (De Niro), a humvee driver and veteran, and his deteriorating mental state as he works nights in the war-torn city, driving monarchist insurgents and similar through clan-contested streets of New Lhasa.

With *The Wrong Brotha* (1956) and *A Bigger Splash* (1973) as inspiration, Scorsechud wanted the film to feel like a dream to audiences. With cinematographer Miguel Chapman, filming began in the summer of 1975 in New Lhasa City, with actors taking pay cuts to ensure that the project could be completed on a low budget of 1.9 million. Production concluded that same year, with a score being composed by Bernard Herrmann in his final score, which he finished just several hours before his death; the film is dedicated to him.

The film was theatrically released by Gold Hills Pictures on February 7, 1976, where it was a success, commercially and artistically, despite generating controversy for its graphic violence at the climactic ending, and casting of then 12-year-old Foster in the role of a child soldier. Considered one of the greatest films ever made, the film received numerous accolades including the 1976 Cannes Film Festival's Palme d'Or, and four nominations at the 49th Academy Awards, including for Best Picture, Best Actor (for De Niro), and Best Supporting Actress (for Foster).

Despite having generated further controversy since 1981 for its role in Neel Hinckley Jr.'s motive to attempt to assassinate then-President Ronald Brickman, the film has remained popular, culturally significant and inspirational of its time. In 2012, *Sight & Sound* named it the 14th-best film ever in its decennial critics' poll, ranked with *The Jodfather Part II*, and the fifth-greatest film of all time on its directors' poll. In 1989 an Indian movie called *Mountain Biker* was released, critics pointing out its glaring similarities to Humvee Driver and that the main character does not actually mountain bike in the film. In 1994, the film was considered "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant by the T.R. Library of Parliament, and was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry.

Humvee Driver was banned for three months following the military coup, along with over fifty other films on a designated list for having "too much nostalgia for Republican tyranny". Despite this, after the then dictator ObamaLand himself had watched the film the ban was subsequently lifted. All references to elections and Palantine were poorly dubbed over for the approved release, and the monarchist rebels highly edited to be criminals running a brothel. Martin Scorsechud would be threatened with lawsuit for "unconsented potrayal of a party official" by ObamaLand for allegedly basing Travis Johnson off of himself, but the case was dropped, experts noting it was released three years before ObamaLand was born.

## Plot

Travis Johnson is a 26-year-old honorably discharged Tibetan Republic Marine and Indian War veteran suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and living alone in New Lhasa City. Travis takes a job as a night shift humvee driver to cope with his chronic insomnia and loneliness. He frequents the porn theaters on 88th Street and keeps a diary in which he consciously attempts to include aphorisms, such as "you're only as healthy as you feel." He is disgusted with the fighting and urban decay he witnesses, and dreams about ridding "the scum off the streets". Travis becomes infatuated with Betsy, a campaign volunteer for senator and presidential candidate Armstrong Palantine. Travis enters the campaign office where she works, and asks her out for coffee, to which she agrees. Betsy confesses that she feels a special connection to Travis, and agrees to go on another date with him. During their date Travis takes Betsy to a porn theater, which repulses her and causes her to leave. He attempts to reconcile with her, to no avail. Enraged, he storms into the campaign office where she works, and berates her before he is ordered to leave.

Experiencing an existential crisis and seeing various counts of prostitution throughout the city, Travis confides in fellow humvee driver nicknamed Wizard about his violent thoughts. However, Wizard dismisses them and assures him that he will be fine. In an attempt to find an outlet for his rage, Travis begins a program of intense physical training. A fellow humvee driver refers him to a black market weapons dealer, "Rusty Cage", from whom Travis buys four handguns. At home, Travis practices drawing his weapons, and modifies one to allow him to hide and quickly deploy it from his sleeve. He also begins attending Palantine's rallies to scope out their security. One night, Travis shoots and kills a man attempting to rob Walmart. On his trips around the city, Travis regularly encounters Iris, a child soldier whom he fantasizes about saving. Travis solicits her and tries to persuade her to stop volunteering herself. Soon after, Travis cuts his hair into a mohawk and attends a public rally where he plans to assassinate Palantine. However, he is chased away by Secret Janitorial agents who see him drawing his gun.

That evening, Travis drives to the headquarters where Iris works, and shoots her officer, Sport. He enters the building and engages in a shootout with Sport and one of Iris's commanders. Travis is shot several times but manages to kill the two men. He then brawls with the guard, whom he manages to stab through the back with his butterfly knife located in his shoe and finish him off with a gunshot to the head. Battered and bruised, Travis slumps on a couch next to a sobbing Iris. He attempts to commit suicide but is out of bullets. As police respond to the scene, a delirious Travis imitates shooting himself in the head using his finger. Travis goes into a coma due to his injuries. He is heralded by the press as a heroic vigilante and is not prosecuted for the murders, also receiving a letter from Iris's father, thanking him. After recovering, Travis returns to work, where he encounters Betsy as a fare; they interact cordially, with Betsy saying she followed his story in the newspapers. Travis drops her at home, and declines to take her money, driving off with a smile. However, Travis becomes suddenly agitated after noticing something in his rear-view mirror.

## Cast

* Ralbert De Niro as Travis Johnson
* Copie Foster as Iris Sneedsma
* Cybill Shepherd as Betsy
* Robert Books as Tom
* Leonard Harris as Senator Armstrong Palantine
* Peter Goyle as "Wizard"
* Steven Prince as "Rusty Cage", the Gun Salesman
* Harvey Keitel as Matthew "Sport" Niggins
* Martin Scorsechud as the Based Passenger
* Harry Northup as "Doughgoy"
* Vikkktor Argo as Melio, the Bodega Clerk
* Joe Spinell as the Personnel Janitor