I know only the VCI disc
I called it a poor release in my review; there’s a lot of grain and it’s rather dark
Sundances has some screenshots:
I’ve got the VCI one - not a particularly good print, agreed. But I rate this film 4 (and a bit) stars. Maybe i’m just a sucker for the hero who’s looking at the world thru the bottom of a glass, but I think Jeffrey Hunter is magnificent in this - sweaty, nasty, bitter and a twinkle in his eye as well. I’m sure i wrote summat to that effect somewhere … but I can’t find it at the mo. It’s a winner in my book and crying out for a decent release.
There appears to be 2 separate threads … cos this is what I wrote on t’other …
“Watched this last night, for the second time of viewing and thoroughly enjoyed it. Every li’l bit of it!
I have been criticized previously for being mean to dear ol’ Jeff (but I don’t really want to bring up the ghost of Christmas past) but I thought he was brilliant in this. After me giving In a Colt’s Shadow a slating for being too wordy, this was a breath of fresh spaghetti air. Well for me anyway - Jeff and the boys looked as sweaty a bunch of bastards (their words) as I’ve seen. This is a grimy and nasty film with a lot of implied rather than explicit violence. We don’t see Chato or the Reverend (oh my ) do any of the torturing - just see the results or hear the cries.
Instead of all the talk - Jeff looks sideways or has a wry grin to convey his thoughts at times, and when he does explain stuff it has a world-weariness that suits him well. Indeed scherp, him tunelessly groaning along to the song (and sweating into his whisky) was well done - it’s a great song. There’s also (God forbid) a bit of tantilisingly mild nudity in this from both of the lead ladies. I liked the shootout as well scherp and wasn’t bothered by the plot holes - gotta say it again - I loved it!
So another one for my top 25 (which actually holds about 50 at the moment) .
On a trivial note -I did see Jeff as similar in style, and sounding like James Garner in this … which means I need to see Sledge yet again.
And I reckon there’s one for the lookalikee thread … for Nello Pazzafini - see what you think on the appropriate thread?”
Agreed…this one earned a solid 3 stars for me. I thought it really picked up once they formed the gang. I liked the preacher’s character, it had a lot of potential. A womanizing, torturing preacher, very interesting!
A bit of sex appeal too which didn’t go unnoticed by this gringo…nice bathing scene.
This one fit the bill tonight for sure.
A nice little movie, above average for sure. I give this 3 stars.
I thought this one was pretty decent especially considering the Looney Tunes styled western films Carnimeo would end up directing in the 70’s. I liked this one maybe a slight bit more than MOMENT TO KILL.
As others have mentioned, I love that song the girl sings… even recorded it to my computer for possible use in some sampling work. I think that song increases the value of this movie for me quite a bit.
The movie itself drags a bit towards the mid-section, and I think it had potential to be a lot better than it was. Its probably been years since I’ve watched FAPTOD though, so my opinion could change on another viewing- my taste has evolved and I’m much more forgiving than I used to be
I realluy find it strange that Fregonese was involved in this one. For a director who almost worked exclusively in South America to suddenly show up in a Spaghetti Western I find a little odd.
Fregonese also worked in Hollywood, and had shot one of the german Karl May westerns.
Not half bad, but towards the lower end of the Guiliano Carnimeo spectrum… I know it’s also available on Millcreek Spaghetti Western 20 movie pack… with the expected poor quality.
Just finished rewatching this movie
I watched a copy of a recent German TV-showing, which has far better picture quality than the VCI disc I have.
VCI:
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TV:
[URL=http://img826.imageshack.us/i/vlcsnap2011020922h32m36.png/][url]http://img140.imageshack.us/i/vlcsnap2011020921h19m07.png/[/url]
![http://img140.imageshack.us/i/vlcsnap2011020921h19m07.png/[/url]](http://img140.imageshack.us/i/vlcsnap2011020921h19m07.png/%5B/url%5D){kind=link}
A torrent of this tV-showing can be found on Cinemageddon, but it has only German audio and seems to be cropped a little top and bottom
It’s also a bit shorter (1:24:25) than the DVD (1:27:43); it could be the NTSC-PAL conversion (I think the VCI disc is in NTSC), but I had the idea something was missing (I’ll have to check this in order to be sure)
The improved picture quality helps the film a little, I noticed now it was well-shot
It otherwise remains a mediocre movie with some good scenes (and beautiful women); I gave it 2 stars, I would give it 3 stars now (3 minus maybe)
I’ll be reworking my review a little
Patience
Details here on the difference between the prints:
Thanks, the ‘kicking’ scene was the one I missed.
It doesn’t really alter the film, but it’s one of the nastier scenes and that’s obviously the reason it was cut
EDIT:
I just noticed someone put English audio under the TV print
Okay, there’s a violent scene missing, but otherwise this TV print is a pleasure to watch, a major improvement over the VCI disc
(And it’s after all not a bad movie)
Great review, scherpschutter…this was one of the ones that stuck out for me that are in the mill creek 20 DVD set…and the scene in the tavern did stand out for me as well.
Nice review scherpy - of one of my favorite lesser spags. Nice to see that ‘song’ in a better quality pic.
This film surely needs a decent release. A fandub, even, would be good - that tv print with the other bit stuck in would do. I can wish… :
…or pray I suppose.
Leave your prayers on the bottom of the glass
It’s been over 10 years since I saw this so it was a time to rewatch. A bit better than I remembered but still a little disappointment. The beginning of a film is so good, scene with Lulli, song in the saloon, the gathering of the rescue party with all the interesting characters. And then somewhere in the middle the whole plot takes a turn and they all just have a big gunfight against bandits in long and pretty boring shoot-out scene. With all the characters they spend time to introduce there was a potential to make a much better film, something like Ruthless Four.
The melancholic soundtrack is maybe the best thing in the film.
My rating: 4/10
I somehow like the movie, but yes, mainly for the first half hour.
I’d give 6-7/10 to first half hour.