[b]Some [size=8pt]minor[/size] Spoilers...[/b]
Kill Django… Kill First! is the final Garrone western for me to see. I absolutely loved No Graves on Boot Hill, and was hoping this might surprise me in a similar way… and though it did surprise at times, it ain’t as good as t’other I mentioned - I’m afraid to say.
Still – although a bit bored at some of the more lacklustre scenes, it still entertained me overall, and I’d rather sit through a proper low budget clichéd, but seriously toned, spag than any of the later comedic ones.
I have two versions of this (both called Tequila) – a newer English language one (that needs the subs put on for the first scene), and a Spanish language version… I was led to compare them this morning as there were a couple of things that needed checking.
Onto the film… and that first scene? Well, It ain’t on the Spanish version, and is a discreet stand-alone scene that isn’t really relevant to any story that may yet enfold, but it does set a welcome serious tone – brutal murders at a homestead and revenge on these mexi-banditos at night by some mysterious avenger/bounty killer type? I can only assume that this is the leather-clad camp looking Mario Novelli character (that appears later) doing these deeds, but as it is night and done a lot in silhouette I couldn’t be sure – and I’m not even sure that it even belonged to the film at all – maybe just grafted on as an extra?
The next scene in the English version is where the Spanish one starts – with a deranged looking George Wang and machete coming up against a couple of gold prospectors, and again here there’s a problem with the film – an obvious cut that leaves the scene unsatisfactorily concluded. A check of the Spanish and that scene is shown in full – machete coming down, screams, and the men being plundered of gold, boots and stuff. We also get a bit more development of Wang and his tormented soul.
It is obvious here that anybody putting together a ‘complete’ version of this film would need to trawl through any available versions to cobble the most coherent mongrel together.
The story itself…? Well, Jack Stewart/Giocomo Rossi is our hero as Johnny McGhee, but of course he ain’t no Django in this. He does his job well though, and reminded me of a young Ghidra in looks and physique and understatment. In a barroom brawl he gets some help from the Mario Novelli character who’s as near to a characterful camply dressed Django type as we’re gonna get, although more mexi-Sartana would be closer to the mark – all leather waistcoat, feather in hat, big moustache and dart-shooting flute/whistle!
We get Aldo Sambrell doing a good job as sleazy and corrupt buyer-upper of land – forcing people off or dispatching them with the aforementioned madman Wang – who’s holed up in an old Indian cave – all gothiky and stalactitey. A bit of ‘nailed-on’ weirdness for atmosphere’s sake here as it’s never fully explained why - although Burton has summat on him.
Burton ( Sambrell) has a hidden past as well, but in the meantime is playing hide the sausage with a fine looking Diana Lorys – the barroom gal, but also has the hots for town drunk gambler/loser doc’s sister played wholesomely by Krista Nell.
We got a colourful ol’ scrote gold miner who’s never struck yet but is sure he soon will, and won’t sell to Burton. He’s helped in his quest by Johnny and the whole thing revolves around these characters in a bit of a messy but enjoyable romp with not a lot of gunplay.
Phil’s favourite, Lorenzo Robledo, gets 6th billing on the English titles – but don’t get yer hopes up there Phil – I only saw him 4 times throughout. He does get a couple of lines though and seems to live through to the end!!! :o
There’s some quite nice music – what you’d want… guitars, trumpets and organ, and all in all not a bad film. It definitely needs a ‘definitive’ version putting together. I was pleasantly surprised but it ain’t no lost gem… unfortunately - and NGOBH remains the best Garrone by far in my book.
Well worth a look though - 3 stars.
