Bandolero (1968) has Jerry Goldsmith aping Morricone and is a bit like a spaghetti western although directed by the hack Andrew McLaglen.
More Dead Than Alive (1968) starts off with an opening prison escape sequence just like a spaghetti western but the rest of the film is directed like a TV movie.
The Professionals (1966) is the American western most like a spaghetti western but was made before the Leone films were released in America so wasn’t influenced by them.
100 Rifles (1968) and Villa Rides (1968) both American films shot in Spain are almost indistinguishable from Italian films.
El Mariachi is such an amazing film, especially considering it was made for 7000 dollars. I have to say though, I was disappointed with Desperado. In recent times, however, it has grown on me, especially when listening to Rodriguez´s commentary (the extras in the 2-pack blu ray are fantastic). Is the third one worth watching, or should I watch other films instead?
Yep have to agree… Once Upon A Time in Mexico is my favourite of the trilogy… Love that opening prologue and the credit scene with Banderas trying the new guitar
This post and so much of my comments on here have aged really poorly lmao…
Simply put, every western inspired by Leone but not made by him is vastly inferior.
Be it the desolate desert atmosphere and aesthetic, the action, the writing, the casting, the pacing, the characters etc. Everything is inferior.
However, with that being said they’re still fun because of the influence Leone had on them and because they frequently use the same great actors from his movies like Eastwood and Van Cleef… and Hang 'Em High is one of the better ones.
this one especially… i basically hold none of these opinions anymore…
…and i still haven’t found anything like the spaghetti western outside of the genre, there are more american style westerns in the spaghetti west than spaghetti westerns in the american west.
I think the spaghetti western is too complex and multifacted to replicate really, especially those made by the 3 sergios. The american western is much simpler and straight forward, so it’s easier to ape.
Ok, but I don’t remember anything spaghettiesque in it, it is not even typical for a 70s US western. Very corny dialogues and an old fashihioned style.
Kennedy made some good westerns with comedy elements, but as an action director he was forgettable and The Train Robbers is very forgettable.
The only of his non comedy westerns which does not suck is The War Wagon, and that one should be much better, and could have been with a better director.
His best westerns are Support Your Local Sheriff, The Good Guys and the Bad Guys, The Rounders and The War Wagon, all others are beneath 6/10 imo.
