Okay, so not technically a western but enough spaghetti tropes to be included in anyone’s list. This is a film of two halves; the first half is a bit chatty as the relationship between Nero and Aumont is established, however, the second half we get Kinski and a bit more action. I don’t usually like romance in a SW but this one works because of the depth of the characters. First time watch and already up there with my favourites. 7/10
Hi, Sebastian. I’m interested in contributing to the joint review of My Name is Pecos. Is the opportunity still available? If so, were you wanting a brief synopsis? Thanks
The performance of Tina Aumont really stuck out to me in Man, Pride and Vengeance. I thought she spectacularly covered the bases of what her character was supposed to be in this film.
Agreed. She’s probably the best actor in this film and when you’re up against Nero and Kinski that takes some doing. When the film finished I went straight to her IMDb page to find more films.
This time, I went with You’re Jinxed, Friend, You’ve Met Sacramento and it turned out to be okay for the most part. The offering is thankfully executed in a competent fashion and doesn’t suffer from the overuse of slapstick, opting for a more quirky sort of approach instead. My primary gripe with the film is that it seems too episodic, wayward and generally too slow-paced whilst offering not a whole lot in the way of an engaging characterization.
The episodic quality of the storyline actually gives it an appearance of a TV pilot in a way, sort of drifting from one comedic moment to another sketch and so on. The overaching purpose of the narrative is still technically there, but it doesn’t seem to be that much of a priority with the movie spending a whole lot of time dawdling through consecutive skits and whatnot. I can see why some people may like this one, but unless you buy into the specific structure and laid-back approach while ignoring its quintessentially superficial nature, you might not find it that entertaining in the end.
Brescia: Killer Caliber 32
-There’s many thing to like in this film, from animated pop art title sequence to PLL’s cool character and of course the gorgeous Helene Chanel. Too bad I don’t really like these detective style plots in westerns. 5/10
Day 9: They Call Me Hallelujah (1971) (aka. Heads You Die, Tails I Kill You) starring George Hilton. I found myself worn out and annoyed at times by this film. It’s about a a gun-for-hire (Hilton) to a Mexican general who tries to steal Emperor Maximilian of Austria’s jewels, so they can be sold for guns during the Revolution. Maybe it’s just me, but I thought the plot was convoluted at times. The soundtrack was silly, and I thought Southwood’s Russian character to be unnecessary. There were some good points in the film, like the scheming nun. I thought Frank Kramer covered the Mexican Revolution and Maximillian better in Adios Sabata (1970) with Yul Brynner. 5/10
For No.9 I am digging one out that I have never seen before, it was a bonus disc on the notorious Dorado Films BluRay that they put out before going poof…
100.000 Dollars for Lassiter (La Muerte compla condena). Lots of familiar faces and landscapes, quite an intricate story (to put it midlly, one might also call it a bit overburdened) and overall really not bad. It should get a decent HD release. Better than most Marchent films. 2.5/5.
Could go either way, this one. Today, I’m revisiting The Grand Duel (Santi, 1972), Lee Van Cleef’s last properly good, meaty role before he started playing second fiddle to his wigs, and it’s another of those movies which blows hot and cold with me. I loved it last time I watched it back when Arrow released their blu ray presentation but there have definitely been times when I’ve watched The Grand Duel and wondered if I cared for it at all. Ah well. I guess I’ll see if I’m in the mood for it soon enough. I certainly hope so.
Everyone else is watching late George Martin’s movies, so will I. This one was on my watchlist for a while and even being a early one it seems fit for my daily fix.
Okay, I didn’t expect that, but this was even worse than WF and Goldiggers. Lattanzi level of atrociousness. Only for aficionados of mega trash cinema. On the other hand, it’s pretty funny with the CG fandub, you also get about twenty minutes of Pedro Sanchez doing cringey stuff like getting drunk with his squaw, Tedeum waterpool scene quality guaranteed! I mean, there’s so much content. You shouldn’t miss this one. It is all finalized with absolutely smashing wedding scene with Woods disguised as a priest and annoying kid participating in a bar brawl. 1/10
First time watch. This one is solidly entertaining. When you take out Dean Reed’s politics and his having lived behind the Iron Curtain, he has a good screen presence and fits the James Bond in the Old West persona nice. Pietro Martellanz makes a great sadistic villain and it was interesting seeing a clean shaven Piero Lulli.
The Koch Disc is great, and another thanks to our Admin for helping me get it.
This one is for hombres valientes! Example, I’m still wondering if I have the courage for Latanzi karate flick, I thought this marathon would be the perfect occasion but I don’t know if I can deal with this type of stuff. Most likely will be staying on early paella stuff. Nothing special about it, but safe stuff.
What a classic. Bud Spencer and Eli Wallach totally steal the show from Terence Hill in this one, but I don’t think Hill minds playing the more Eastwood-inspired lead. It has a start that is brisk and notable for being such a direct sequel to “God Forgives, I Don’t” and a memorable ending shootout, with Eli giving a passionate speech and managing to evoke some real sympathy from this viewer. 7.5/10
Day 5 - Fort Yuma Gold (1966)
Nello Pazzafini is just great in the first part of the Giuliano Gemma movie packed with double-crosses and rival factions being pitted against one another. It’s got all the ingredients for a fun spaghetti. 7/10
Day 6 - The Savage Guns (1962)
My first time watching this, sometimes credited as the first spaghetti western, though a British-Spain production. Sir Christopher Frayling has referred to this as a “Hammer” western, because Jimmy Sangster wrote the script and Michael Carreras directed. And while there are not many other familiar faces, it is basically a Hammer film–Sangster imbues it with some great shocking scenes, like a boot spur drilling down on a person’s face, or hands being run-over to a bloody pulp (long before Django). The hero is clearly an anti-hero, backshooting villains. Some of the dialogue is super clunky, especially when trying to be moralistic about a character’s “nonviolence” which is a shame, since this character’s PTSD after the Civil War starts off emotional and promising.
There’s an aristocrat in red clothing living in a dilapidated manor, beautiful set designs and costumes, some cheesy but surprising violence, and clocking in at about 83 minutes it’s all economical and fast-paced. Totally a Hammer film in my book, and I would love to see this one get a Blu-ray release! 8/10
