A Hole in the Forehead / Un buco in fronte (Giuseppe Vari, 1968)

Reverend_Danite · January 26, 2008, 7:59pm

This seems to be one of those titles which doesn’t crop up much in conversation and I was, having just watched it for the first time , going to recommend it on one of the other threads - recommended/lesser known, or are these spags worth seeing… BUT, in my view, it is so deserving of praise, that I believe that it should have a thread of it’s own. This way any views don’t get too lost in obscurity - even tho’ apparently, the film is. (Imdb have 12 votes but no reviews and give it 4.6/10 - which frankly is bollocks.)

I hadn’t watched this film even tho I’ve had a dvdr copied from a vid, for a coupl’a years or more, because the overall quality - fullscreen, burnholes, (no subs tho’ and in English), etc. was pretty damnably poor.
But, going thru’ some stuff today this popped up so I stuck it on and was immediately captivated by the music (by ‘Forgotten Pistolero’ man - Roberto Pregadio) … this started out with a sorta organy/Procul Harem-y vibe and delved into beautiful Spanish guitar as it deemed necessary. It sounded familiar, I thought initially from another movie, but maybe more probably, from a compilation I’ve recently played.

As testament to how good this film is, the music disolved into action and I was hooked. Never mind the poor quality of the print, the charismatic performance by the great Anthony Ghidra as the gunman John Blood, won me over. Just a bit of a homage to FAFDM as well, as Blood is commented on as being left-handed with a questionably damaged right-hand, which it turns out is primarily used for shooting - and very proficiently he does it as well.
And then he’s pitted against an equally charismatic adversary Manguja (Robert Hundar) who’s gang of Mexican bandits are happiest when massacreing priests and shooting old ladies in the back.
This film has, if not all, then pretty close to it. Spaghetti-violence … there’s arm-wrestling over spikes - so not just holes in the forehead (altho’ there’s a few of those as well), a plethora of religious imagery (oh joy), a drowning, whipping the ‘love-interest’, torture and beatings - as you’d expect, a gatling gun, and clues to a treasure written on 3 playing cards (3 Silver Dollars was made the same year). If it all sounds a bit cliched then maybe so … but this film has a style and panache of it’s own.
The only slight let-down was the finale, which had the real potential to do more. But overall this was an enjoyable ride, not played for laughs and quite brutal at times, fabulous music and an on-screen presence.
If this ever comes out as a cleaned up version in wide-screen, it’ll outdo Yankee anyday!
Highly Recommended - anybody got a decent print out there?? ??? ;D

For more info visit:
Database Page: Buco in fronte, Un - The Spaghetti Western Database

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SARTANA_DJANGO_BALLA · January 26, 2008, 8:24pm

UN BUCO IN FRONTE / A HOLE IN THE FOREHEAD 1968

I have not got a decent print or DVD but after reading your enthusiastic review Reverend
I am urgently seeking a good DVD in Italian or English of this very exciting class SW.
Anthony Ghidra and Robert Hundar are 2 SW leading men that always deliver good films.
Rosy Zichel the leading lady is not too bad either :-*

Reverend_Danite · January 26, 2008, 8:33pm

[quote=“SARTANA DJANGO, post:2, topic:846”]UN BUCO IN FRONTE / A HOLE IN THE FOREHEAD 1968

I have not got a decent print or DVD but after reading your enthusiastic review Reverend
I am urgently seeking a good DVD in Italian or English of this very exciting class SW.
Anthony Ghidra and Robert Hundar are 2 SW leading men that always deliver good films.
Rosy Zichel the leading lady is not too bad either :-[/quote]
I’m hoping that there is a good print out there to be had ???.
Yeah, the ladies play a good supporting role in this :-.
I’m filing away, in my new leather-clad cd boxes and am putting to one side any Ghidra stuff that I ain’t seen. Reckon Tequila Joe (good print and widescreen) could be next!! ;D

scherpschutter · January 26, 2008, 8:37pm

Seems hard to get
Cine city doesn’t even have a DVDr

It’s not well-known either, probably it’s too (if I may use the word) derivative to most experts’ taste

Sounds OK, Ghidra really is a type, you should check out ‘Pistoleros’, if you haven’t done so already. It’s much more indebted to For a few dollars more, even seems a remake (sort of) at first, but turns out to be a comment on it (more or less - thing were always done in an approxamative way in those days)

Reverend_Danite · January 26, 2008, 8:47pm

Yeah, could do with watching this again - mind you that’s pretty much the story with most sws I ain’t seen for a coupl’a years. Jus’ checked out the Wild East dvd … and got excited about the Ghidra trailers ‘extras’, no ’ a Hole …’ trailer tho’. :’(
[edit, seem to have got the “quote” and comment the wrong way round … d’ya know, I think that apple - flavoured (soft drink) is going to my head ;D :P][quote=“scherpschutter, post:4, topic:846”]… you should check out ‘Pistoleros’, if you haven’t done so already. It’s much more indebted to For a few dollars more, even seems a remake (sort of) at first, but turns out to be a comment on it (more or less - thing were always done in an approxamative way in those days)[/quote]

scherpschutter · January 26, 2008, 9:08pm

Yeah, that was Adam’s excuse in paradise too …

Phil_H · January 26, 2008, 9:50pm

I know Atlas Visuals have a DVD-R of this one but they rate the quality as B/B- which they say is good to average. presumably that means not very good really.

Reverend_Danite · January 26, 2008, 11:19pm

Yeah, just checked the opening start to the dvd - and it has the same title/menu as some other atlas visuals dvds so it probably/almost certainly originated (in this incarnation) there. I’ve compared some A-/B films from them , which are ok, but B/B- is a bit painful. I watched this on the computer at about 5"x4" screensize and it was passable. Like I said, the quality of the movie thankfully distracted me from the quality of the print. But Hell would be a lifetime of ‘Man from the East’ at B/B-. I wouldn’t wanna go there too much!

ENNIOO · January 26, 2008, 11:23pm

Great title this one!

Silver_Wolf · January 28, 2008, 3:23pm

[quote=“scherpschutter, post:4, topic:846”]Seems hard to get
Cine city doesn’t even have a DVDr[/quote]
Yes they do, as “Hole in the Forehead” I have it. Looks as if it was taken from 3rd generation VHS copy, so don’t expect much. Here’s what Rene has to say (taken from Cine City’s site):

“as picture source a South African videotape was used.
Quality is fair but not outstanding.”

Very boring film in my opinion. I seem to have some problem with these “atmospheric” SWs with very little action, since I don’t like Texas Adios, Forgotten Pistolero or Execution, either. If one doen’t catch this “atmosphere” these films have very little to offer.

SARTANA_DJANGO_BALLA · January 28, 2008, 3:47pm

I STRONGLY DISAGREE !!

A HOLE IN THE FOREHEAD 68 TEXAS ADIOS 66
FORGOTTEN PISTOLERO 69 EXECUTION 68

These above are outstanding, beautifully paced, excitingly plotted , strong casted
TOP SW that are as good as any SW in anybody’s TOP 20.
JOHN RICHARDSON FRANCO NERO LUCIANA PALUZZI LEONARD MANN
Anthony Ghidra and more. Who needs tedious “action” when you have such TALENT
Plot developement , screen presence and character interaction is what makes a film
NOT any “action” or “bar room brawls” if you want action go for a war film :’(

stanton · January 28, 2008, 9:36pm

The german TV version was in widescreen and probably uncut.

And yes Rev, this is another good and atmospheric one by Giuseppe Vari, Ghidra is great like in all his SWs. Underestimated in my eyes.

Maybe I’ll write something more when I’ve watched it again.

Reverend_Danite · February 2, 2008, 5:47pm

[quote=“stanton, post:12, topic:846”]The german TV version was in widescreen and probably uncut.

And yes Rev, this is another good and atmospheric one by Giuseppe Vari, Ghidra is great like in all his SWs. Underestimated in my eyes.

Maybe I’ll write something more when I’ve watched it again.[/quote]
Can somebody in Germany get this taped and traded this way ??? ;D please, cos this hombre would like to see this again in a better condition!
Look forward to reading your review of this Brother stanton.

Bluntwolf · February 2, 2008, 11:55pm

Let us know what you think about the movie as soon as you’ve watched it !!! I’m curious !

ENNIOO · February 3, 2008, 1:05am

Yes, would be good to see in a nice print ;D.

Reverend_Danite · February 3, 2008, 9:34am

Re: Tequila Joe … I’ll make some time to watch it today. For some reason I had it in my head that it’s a comedy-ish one, but think I’d got it mixed up with Tequila with Steffen. But, I gather even this is played reasonably straight as well.
Anyway watch this space (or one nearby) for my thoughts on this matter.

;D

stanton · February 3, 2008, 9:46am

Only on VHS, my version, and for now I’m not able to copy it on DVD-R.

But there was a DVD announced for Germany, this year I think. I’ll check.

scherpschutter · February 3, 2008, 10:23am

[quote=“stanton, post:17, topic:846”]Only on VHS, my version, and for now I’m not able to copy it on DVD-R.

But there was a DVD announced for Germany, this year I think. I’ll check.[/quote]

I hope they use another master than the Italians
There was an Italian release last year, only available at the newspaper stands you see in every Italian city and town.
I checked: it’s fullscreen and has totally washed out colours (and only Italian audio) so I didn’t even ask if somebody overthere was willing to make me a copy.
They probably used the same master that was used for the DVDr Cine City offers

stanton · February 3, 2008, 2:37pm

It’s announced from New.

If this comes true, it will be in all probability an uncut, high quality release.

ENNIOO · February 3, 2008, 5:01pm

I hope it does get released :).