I’m sure this thread was already done before, but since the untimely passing of this icon lets pay tribute by naming our favorite films of this legend. This can include non SWs as well. Feel free to share your anecdotes and fond memories.
I love:
Day of Anger
Pistol for Ringo
Return of Ringo
I like:
Tenebre
One Silver Dollar
Alive or Preferably Dead
California
Silver Saddle
Man from Nowhere/Arizona Colt
Price of Power
Here is the profile I wrote for him on the SWDB Hall of Fame page:
Giuliano Gemma aka Montgomery Wood
September 22, 1938 (Rome, Italy)- October 1, 2013 (Civitavecchia)
“Il Pistolero Nazionale” started out as a stuntman in Peplum movies, but eventually became Italy’s most beloved star during the golden age of Spaghetti Westerns. Billed as Montgomery Wood in his early westerns, his lead roles in Duccio Tessari’s A Pistol for Ringo (1964) and Return of Ringo (1965) were box office smashes during the genre’s early years. Although he occasionally played the laconic, gritty tough guy typical of the genre, he more often played grinning, boyish, smart-mouthed heroes. The athletic “Angel Face” had exceptional gun twirling skills and always performed his own stunts and action sequences. In all, Gemma starred in 17 westerns over a 20 year period, almost all of which were box office bonanzas in Italy, including One Silver Dollar (1966), The White, the Yellow and the Black (1975) and The Price of Power’ (1969). Even genre heavyweights Franco Nero and Lee Van Cleef were hard pressed to match the commercial success of Gemma’s westerns in his homeland. Perhaps his most notable role in a western was playing Van Cleef’s Protégé in Day of Anger (1967). Outside of the Italian western genre, his most notable role was in Dario Argento’s giallo Tenebre (1982) and Even Angels Eat Beans (1973), Angelique (1964), The Leopard (1963) and Mad Love (2001). Still active in Television at the time of his death, he was also an accomplished sculptor.
Year of Induction: 2010
1 Apistol for ringo
2 The return of ringo
3 Day of anger
4 California
5 Arizona Colt
6 Silver Saddle
7 One silver dollar
8 Fort Yuma gold
9 Il gattopardo
10 Il deserto dei tartari
Of course all the others are highly enjoyable but these are my favourites.
Not exactly what was asked for there but I thought I’d give a quick run through my thoughts on the Gemma spaghetti westerns I have seen.
A Pistol For Ringo - For me a classic of the genre, one of my top ten and I think one of the spaghettis that is of a quality equal to the Leones and that can be enjoyed beyond the genre audience. A great cast in stylish mix that is often both lighthearted and violent.
The Return of Ringo - Another undoubted classic in my opinion. Not much like the first film at all but fascinating and as spaghetti westerns go, pretty deep! The only flaw I can find in this film is that it gets a little two lighthearted at the end which jarrs with the rest. The same great cast as the first film but used very differently.
One Silver Dollar - Solid and enjoyable western, above average though it is somewhat traditional. I have not seen it in many years though.
Fort Yuma Gold - Very slow to start and the first half of the film doesn’t relate very well to the second half but that second half is great! Some clever and fun scenes like the mysterious “accidents” at the bad guys hideout. I think Dan Vadis makes a great monster in this!
Arizona Colt - A Ringo film of sorts and a very good one. Classic Gemma.
Day of Anger - Very solid film teaming Gemma with another legend Lee Van Cleef. Some nice stylish flourishes.
The Price of Power - Fascinating on paper and the film sort of has everything but it does not 100% engage me I think I need to rewatch it. The director Valerii certainly pulls of some dynamic action and camerawork.
Ben & Charlie - A decent film but I don’t think it makes the most of some of its ideas. Again I have not seen it in a while and must give it another look.
California - I’m not sure that it is a great twilight western. I need to re-watch it. It certainly has some good scenes and echoes Arizona Colt with “Michael Random”.
Silver Saddle - With Fulci directing this is a strange mix of dynamic scenes of violence and cutesy kids stuff. I wish they could have made this as a more serious film.
I think these are all the Gemma westerns I have seen and reflecting on them I don’t think there is really a bad film in the bunch. Not a lot of spaghetti actors can say they made some many good movies!
1.California
2.Return of Ringo
3.The Price of Power
4 A Pistol for Ring
5.Arizona Colt
6. Day of Anger
7. Ben and Charlie
8. Fort Yuma Gold
9. Adios Gringo
10. Silver Saddle
Watched Alive or Preferably Dead yesterday, didn’t care for it but anything with Gemma is worth trying in my humble. I’ve now seen all his westerns except for The White, The Yellow… (and Tex if that counts) and it got me ranking the rest.
The Price of Power
Day of Anger
The Return of Ringo
California
Long Days of Vengeance (So underrated this one)
A Pistol for Ringo
One Silver Dollar
Arizona Colt
Fort Yuma Gold
Ben and Charlie (actually liked this one, apart from the daft shot where Ben catches the bullet in his glass it was a fun buddy movie).
1.California
2 Silver Saddle
3. Long days of Vengeance
4. One Silver Dollar
5. Wanted
6. Return of Ringo
7. Arizona Colt
8. Days of Anger
9. A Pistol for Ringo
10. The Price of Power