Yeah, the book does have spoilers, but most of them are in the plot synosis section. I’d buy it, as it not only gives indepth reviews of Spaghetti’s, it also gives a good overview and history of the genre.
Yes, definitely recommended. It’s full of good stuff but, beware, it is also full of opinions and not everyone will agree.
A good book for relative newbies to the genre is also Howard Hughes’ Essential Guide. More of a beginner’s guide which may be a better place to start.
Check it out here.
http://www.spaghetti-western.net/index.php/Spaghetti_Westerns_-_Howard_Hughes_Book_Review
Looks like Alex Cox has a new book out (not on SWs specifically, but film in general):
I generally enjoy Alex Cox’s take on things. Opinionated passion is far preferable to mediocre banality in my book…
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My problem with him is the amount of ludicrous and frankly lazy inaccuracies he offers without seemingly giving the matter a second thought … As I mentioned earlier, his commentary on the ‘Shalako’ BD is chock full of bullshit.
During the scenes where the hunting party are dining at the old fort, when they all meet ‘Shalako’ for the first time. Cox tells us that it’s the set from ‘Death Rides a Horse’ !!! … NO way buster! not even close … it’s a completely different set near the Almeria coast, with a very different landscape, not to mention architecture.
For someone who claims to have lived in Tabernas for a time, and proclaims himself as an authority, this, for me, as a dedicated location fan is quite unacceptable. But who’s there to challenge these comments? … he’s the frigging expert! 
I wouldn’t offer to commentate on a sporting event, because I know damn all about it - and anyone offered the job of giving expert opinion should at least do a little homework, or just shut the fuck up! There’s dozens of other gaffs on this track, but I think I’ve made the point.
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His biggest asset seems to be stating his very esoteric opinions as facts.
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Well, that’s critics for ya! … same BS when it comes to Art programmes on TV … you never hear, "This is only my opinion, but what I feel the artist was saying 400 years ago may have been … " It’s always pure conjecture presented as fact. Cunts! LOL 
I’ve always thought Cox acted more like a critic than a director. His SW book just makes me laugh, and not in a good way.
He does have a lot of time on his hands! 
… and I have a special dislike for persons who set themselves up as ‘experts’, particularly when their factual info is crap.
There must be all the ego of a film director, but from what I can remember little of the talent.
At least with someone like Christopher Frayling, you know he’s worked his ass off, and is genuinely passionate on the subject - But even Sir Chris gets it wrong on occasion too.
The problem with people publishing books on this specialist genre, is that there’s never going to be an editor or assistant to say, “Actually that’s incorrect!” His biggest gaff for me was stating that Gian Maria Volonte dubbed his own English dialogue in ‘For a Few Dollars More’ when in fact it was the same American voice actor, Bernie Grant, who also did Volonte’s dub in ‘Fistful’, and seemingly 100s of other SWs.
Why come out on record (literally, on the audio commentary track) with something completely unverified ??? Perhaps he meant that Leone wanted him to learn the English dialogue phonetically … ?
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Yeah I would love to ask Frayling who the hell told him that.
It’s clearly the exact same voice in both dollars films, & Quien Sabe. Bernard Grant is always instantly recognisable… Vee in Navajo Joe, and the drunk captain in GBU etc.
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Perhaps Frayling is tone deaf, or thinks that Gian Maria Volonte stepped in to voice Gabriele Ferzetti as Mister Morton in OUTW ???
Alex Cox has not made a decent film in years, and when he did he had to many ideas in his head and referencing other peoples work. So as you can gather not to much time for the man.
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Yeah … he does act rather superior - a hard man to love ! 
Haha, sounds like another director I know of.
Stating that Leone had a cameo in Hossein’s “Cemetery without Crosses” was a pretty big gaffe too
I’ve only seen his earlier stuff, but I’d imagine that if you gave Alex Cox a decent budget and a top notch cinematographer and editor then the results would probably be good.
I like Alex Cox, I like all of his films I’ve seen, and I thoroughly enjoyed 10,000 Ways to Die. I readily concede that the factual info he dispenses can be inaccurate an alarming amount of the time for someone writing books and recording commentaries, introductions etc. and I don’t want to downplay the importance of that, it’s very important and to that end I absolutely respect @aldo’s take on people setting themselves up as ‘experts’ when their factual info is crap, it’s a pertinent and important point; it’s just not especially important to me. I have the world’s most enthusiastic and knowledgeable Spag lovers right here upon whom I can draw for the facts. 
But I enjoy hearing Alex’s opinions and take on this movie or that. I like a strong opinion, whether it’s one with which I agree or not.
(btw guys, you are more than welcome to be as critical as you like about anybody’s professional output but please try not to let it slide into personal abuse. I’m not saying it has but I’m concerned it might, and we’re better than that. Cheers, fellas! 
)
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Ok … fair point well made. But just to wrap up, from me anyway … the aforementioned British director is himself not above slanderous statements. For those interested, check out his commentary on his own film ‘Straight to Hell’ … the comments he makes about Charles Bronson and his supposed reaction to the news of Bobby Kennedy’s assassination, during the filming of OUTW … plus his further unsubstantiated statement that the film sets built for ‘Chino’/Valdez’ Horses, were built at a reduced scale to give the impression that the height conscious Bronson was taller than actuality, is complete nonsense.
Charles Bronson may well have been a complete narcissist (and I have personal first hand accounts of his bad behaviour from a former SW western actor, which I won’t be disclosing) but Cox almost certainly never met the notoriously private man, and yet has no problem spouting these fatuous tales, presumably to make himself appear more important and ‘in the know’ than he really is.
Sergio Leone, by many accounts was a very difficult (selfish and unfeeling) director, but we as film fans don’t dwell on these aspects - We admire the art. So why should Cox be exempt from warranted criticism? Especially as he’s talking about films which he had no part in.
Here endeth the rant
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Cox has never been very mindful of what he says about people and their work but I suppose that’s why I secretly enjoy his ramblings.
I quite enjoyed his Introduction to Film book, although most of it was basic stuff I already knew.
He’s not, mate. Not at all. 
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