Rita of the West / Little Rita nel West (Ferdinando Baldi, 1967)

[Mickey13]

Copied from the Spagvemberfest 2022 thread:

@Mickey13

It is difficult to rate the work inasmuch as it is not a regular genre opus in virtue of its relatively scant story which serves as a pretext to embark on a number of music pieces sung by Rita Pavone; hence, it is essentially a glorified music video with scores of musical numbers and a pastiche of spaghetti western tropes; the final product is a lot closer to a television music show of sorts, except that the whole lot is presented in a much more lavish fashion with plenty of sets, extras and the likes.

The music is good though, Rita is charming and has a characterful voice, however, if you do not cherish the entire medley in its quintessentially simplistic nature, you are very likely to be left sorely disappointed. It is hardly anything atrocious, but at the same time, its composition and content readily betray its age and most of it works as a kind of time capsule for better or for worse. Personally, I found it to be funny and endearing in the corny way even if it proves kind of disjointed in its final form by reason of some strange cuts and feeble writing; still, it is much more entertaining and immeasurably superior to most of the 1970s spaghetti comedies.

[Admin (Sebastian)]

This movie’s page in the database has been updated to the new layout. Please submit reviews, facts, trivia, links, pictures etc and let us know if there’s anything that needs to be corrected.

[LankyGringo (Brian)]

Little Rita updated? Now, as soon as White Comanche is also updated, my life will be complete!

[Admin (Sebastian)]

It already is

[LankyGringo (Brian)]

Either that one snuck past me or I made a conscious effort to forget about it.

[BChristgau]

Still haven’t watched this one! I noticed that it’s playing on Tubi right now.

[LankyGringo (Brian)]

Save it for when you are feeling the need for some self-flagellation.

[Gritz]

@LankyGringo

self-flagellation

Self what???

[LankyGringo (Brian)]

It’s real! I promise.

[Wobble (Timothy Rogerson)]

Is this the film for which Terence Hill became Terence Hill? It was seen by the Italian censors over 2 months before God Forgives I Don’t and Hill is credited as Hill on all of the posters. Conventional wisdom is that Hill was first named as Hill for God Forgives but this must have been made first.

[Admin (Sebastian)]

All the contractual stuff of these flicks could have even dated months back further though. Very hard to pin down

[ozerovocka (AnnJarvinen)]

Arabic-language newspaper advertisement

[Perdono (Andreas)]

Is there actually any reason to watch this SW?

Yes, four in fact!

The youthful carefreeness of Rita Pavone.

Gordon Mitchell as Chief Sitting Buffalo.

A certain Mario Girotti as the lovesick Texas Joe.

The music by Robby Poitevin.

And if they haven’t died yet, they’re probably still looking for each other!

Nothing happens in this film? Seven deaths in the first ten minutes alone.

Why did I leave this film gathering dust on my shelf for so many years?

No, not satire, 6/10.

[Bill_san_Antonio]

Yes! One of my favorites. Film that made me aware of Rita Pavone’s peculiar music. I’ve been collecting her 7" singles and I hope to find the soundtrack of this film someday.

[Perdono (Andreas)]

@Bill_san_Antonio

I hope to find the soundtrack of this film someday.

https://www.discogs.com/de/release/3693032-Rita-Pavone-Little-Rita-Nel-West

Her songs in this movie are only on the vinyl lp.

[Bill_san_Antonio]

@Perdono

Her songs in this movie are only on the vinyl lp.

Yeah, and it’s an expensive album, I’ve been waiting if I can find it for reasonable price. Her singles are usually quite cheap, somewhere around 2-5 € on discogs.

[Perdono (Andreas)]

You’re right, you shouldn’t buy everything, and sometimes patience pays off.