Heads You Die, Tails I Kill You aka they calle me Halleluja (1971/Carnimeo)

Half_Soldier · November 2, 2005, 9:48pm

I’ve been a bit quiet of late, so I thought it was about time I unleashed my next write up on you all!

Database article linkhttp://www.spaghetti-western.net/index.php/Testa_t'ammazzo%2C_croce…_sei_morto…_Mi_chiamano_Alleluja

HEADS YOU DIE, TAILS I KILL YOU
Any film with a title as memorable and eye-catching as “Heads You Die, Tails I Kill You” has a lot to live up to. Luckily this one does… well, for the first half at least.

The story centres around George Hilton’s character named “Halleluyah” (thus the films alternative title “They Call Me Hallelujah”). He has been hired by Mexican general Ramirez (Roberto Camardiel) to steal jewels from the army, allegedly to help fund the revolution.

The beginning of the movie is very strong, as Ramirez is led to the firing line by the army, to Ciprani’s fantastic score. Some onlookers are already grieving, but proceedings are intervened when Halleluyah appears with his very novel machine gun. Great stuff.

The plot has more twists and turns than, ummmmm, a very twisty turney thing! It is not just Halleluyah searching for the jewels, but a secret agent disguised as a Nun (Agata Flori), the Russian Alexei (Charles Southwood) and a gang of arms dealers led by Fortune (Paulo Gozlino).

Whilst the movie is a real roller-coaster of a ride, it does reach new levels of stupidity with the introduction of Alexei. As I said at the beginning of this write up, the film doesn’t disappoint - it just (in my opinion) has one eccentric character too many. This makes the second half just a bit too farcical to me at times.

Most of the best scenes are based around Halleluyah’s interaction with the gang - particularly near the beginning where disguised as monks they successfully steal the jewels (and soon face a confrontation with “Brother” Hallelujah). There is also a hilarious scene in which our hero poisons the gang’s food, resulting in much belly ache and diarrhoea enforced swift exists! As far as the cast are concerned, Hilton makes a good leading man for the less serious westerns. Regular spaghetti stalwart Federico Boido is also well cast as the weasel like gang member Slocum.

I would definitely recommend this film (despite my reservations about the Russian!). It is a well plotted, good fun view, with enough double crosses and twists to keep you interested and entertained throughout.

Admin · December 13, 2005, 10:25pm

pretty entertaining comedy western, but that’s not the sort of spaghetti i dig

here’s my review of the DVD:
http://www.spaghetti-western.net/index.php/Halleluja_Italowestern_DVD_Box_review

Bill_san_Antonio · January 24, 2006, 2:47pm

Just finished watching the Koch Media dvd. What a great film, lots of action, lots of fun! George Hilton is amazingly cool as Hallelujah and Southwood is just hilarious. Reminds me much of Sartana’s here, Trade your Pistol for a Coffin which also has Hilton/Southwood pairing but Hallelujah works even better in my opinion. Oh, and Agata Flori is the sexiest nun I’ve ever seen!

Tigrero · August 19, 2008, 9:32pm

Yep…agree with all this. Lots of fun. This pairing of Hilton and Southwood really works and I enjoyed both films. Must get myself a copy of this one cos I am sure it will get well used. A film that would definitely bear a rewatch every so often. A good one for people who want to include the kids as well…my son will probably grow up with a nun fetish but that don’t seem to have done The Rev any harm

Pacificador · March 20, 2009, 10:59am

I’m not a big fan of the comedy SW but this one was OK. I had the right mindset tonight and didn’t expect a whole lot and wasn’t disappointed.

I agree wholeheartedly, that is one hell of a sexy nun. That catfight didn’t last near long enough!

Dillinger · March 20, 2009, 4:15pm

Seems to be the most memorable feature of the movie… Agata Flori…

Man, the picture of her inside the KOCH-box is chicken soup for the soul of an old gunslinger…

ENNIOO · March 20, 2009, 4:24pm

I do like sexy nuns ;).

Dillinger · March 20, 2009, 4:25pm

Unfortunately they are a quite uncommon visual feast in everyday’s street life…

ENNIOO · March 21, 2009, 2:50pm

This is a shame.

Dillinger · March 21, 2009, 4:29pm

Maybe we should move to Mexico, where things like that seem to happen…

Spaghetti_Monkey · March 21, 2009, 5:50pm

I’m in.

ENNIOO · March 21, 2009, 9:42pm

Sounds good to me.

Spaghetti_Monkey · March 21, 2009, 9:59pm

Perhaps the good Reverend could give us tips on some of the finer nunneries.

ENNIOO · March 22, 2009, 2:03am

Please Reverend we need your advice ;).

Reverend_Danite · March 22, 2009, 4:00pm

Sorry chaps - all the nuns around here are a wizened and dry as my beef jerky - and nowhere near as tasty.
Brother RF very kindly sent me an original special edition of Der Nonnenspiegle (1973) with Eleonora Giorgi, Catherine Spaak and Suzy Kendall as much juicer examples of the sisterhood :-*. This I would recommend and so far I’ve only looked at the pictures on the cover! Whipping… nudity… nuns… oh dear Lord … one for the vault I fear!

korano · March 22, 2009, 4:05pm

I love reading your posts out loud in an English/London accent. Beautiful.

ION_BRITTON · March 22, 2009, 9:37pm

Another superb sw from Carnimeo. This style of violent action with cartoonish feel always does it for me. 5/5 and easily among the 10 best spaghettis i’ve ever seen.

Dillinger · March 23, 2009, 1:06pm

IMO this is a good one, but Carnimeo made better stuff… Sartana, Cemetery… so it’s a top 10 Carnimeo for me

sartana1968 · May 21, 2011, 10:41am

hilton said in the interview that this film was one of his best roles
this and tempo di masacro

Hilts · December 31, 2012, 10:13am

[size=18pt][/size]just watched this movie, for the third time now I think. A comedy western so they say though the only thing funny thing about these so caled comedy westerns is that the are thought to be funny at all. anyway,that apart, it is an enjoyable film for all the reasons aready posted here but for me especially cos i like Hilton,and Southwood as it hapens. The score was bit off at times, some say it is a good score and inparts it is but I felt some sections seemed to have music plucked from some sort of ‘film score library’ for certain situations.
Anyway, if you like spag wests then this is wel worth a viewing. I am making my way through the ‘dead or alive western’ collection at the moment,the one with Kinski on the cover in a blue/purple ish waistcoat. The quality of alll the films is good. If you are familiar with a lot of these genre films you will understand what I am saying.[size=18pt][/size]