I had very high expectations for the copy broadcast on Rai Movie this past February, but it was a disaster: incorrect aspect ratio, rather disappointing picture quality and, if that wasnāt enough, unjustified absence of the first two minutes after the opening credits with the arrival of the bride and the first appearance of the title character!
1,97 : 1
2,20 : 1
Old file with Italian credits, Spanish audio and 1:39:42 runtime, including the above-mentioned scene but with small cuts here and there.
I think John The Bastard is more entertaining as an adaption of Don Juan than the Carmen adaption in the not straight SW Man, Pride And Vengeance with Franco Nero. At least John The Bastard is a true SW. I think John Richardson is better suited for his character than Franco Nero was for his.
The music could have been much better.
There were some interesting locations which I didnāt recognise to 100 %, partly because of not so sharp image quality, but at least Colmenar Viejo, Tabernas Desert, near Guadix and Albaricoques were seen and probably Ciempozuelos.
I will probably rate it 6/10, not a great film but good enough to watch it again.
After having watched John The Bastard at least around 4-5 times in little more than a year it now moves higher up on my SW Top list but still only a 6/10 though a strong such rating.
To some degree the structure of the in itself unusual story with a more lighthearted earlier part moving towards a serious deadly end of revenge reminds me of my higher (7/10-)rated Awkward Hands (Rafael Romero Marchent) and also regarding the rather clearly different episodes. The atypical music actually fits or sets the mood rather well. Some riding scenes are accompanied by a jolly musical theme by Nico Fidenco which strongly reminds of a Morricone riding theme in A Pistol For Ringo.
It is a pity that around 17 minutes are supposed to be missing from my DVD-R but on the other hand I usually prefer SWs that are around 1 h 20 m - 1 h 30 m long. But this film is so varied and entertaining and it would have been interesting to watch an uncut version with likely a more smooth editing.
53 Mannaja/A Man Called Blade (Sergio Martino) 1977
54 Face To Face (Sergio Sollima) music Ennio Morricone 1967 x55 John The Bastard (Armando Crispino) 1967
56 Taste Of Killing/Lanky Fellow/The Moment To Kill (Tonino Valerii) music Nico Fidenco 1966
57 Django The Bastard/The Strangerās Gundown (Sergio Garrone) 1969
John the Bastard has been updated to the new layout (3.0). Let us know if you can add anything: pictures, posters, trivia, facts, figures, links, etcā¦
Have written to Arrow asking that they release this following the Savage Guns box. Vague answer saying itāll be Raised with the Relevant Person. Any and all support welcome.
