This movie, along with ADIOS, SABATA (1970) was responsible for getting me restarted in my spaghetti western obsession when I saw both of them on local UHF TV in the early 1980s. Since then director Sergio Corbucci’s very similar COMPANEROS (1970) also starring Nero and Palance eclipsed it in my memories, mostly because THE MERCENARY was a harder film to find for many years. I’ve finally grabbed the Kino Lorber Blu-ray and given the film another look, and it’s a terrific movie. Another excellent Mexican revolution film, it blends politics, action and humor beautifully, and benefits from excellent turns from its three main cast members, especially Jack Palance as the flamboyant villain Curly. This one is back among my very favorites once again. 9/10.
Rewatch. Another SW I haven’t rewatched since first viewing it in 2018. Like with a few other titles, this is another one I got more enjoyment out of the 2nd time around. I totally agree with Korano’s review in that while the film lacks gunplay and action, all staples we’ve come to love with the genre, the atmosphere, story, and characters make up for that. The Mystery aspect of the film is what makes it so special. It does take its time yes, but it doesn’t waste that time either.
I will admit the film could’ve had a little stronger cast. Kinski’s a top notch actor, even when he’s hard to reign in, but he just doesn’t seem to have that knack to be the carrying force in a film by himself. Paolo Casella made a good Anti-Hero, but he’s missing that something that worked for the likes of Nero, Garko, Hill, Hilton, Steffen, and Gemma. Character regulars like Benito Stefanelli, Frank Brana, Antonio Molino Rojo, Jose Canalejas, etc, would’ve been more effective, though Dino Strano gives a wonderful performance.
The Koch Blu Ray looks amazing, solid work as always.
I’m not a fan of this one, and it’s mainly down to Kinski’s over the top antics - extreme even by his own standards.
Going berserk on screen every few moments isn’t acting … it’s just irritating attention seeking histrionics
Food stuffs are running low. Dinner tonight will most likely be a can of leftover cranberry sauce from Christmas of 2017. I ran out of toilet paper days ago but I believe I have enough old seed catalogs to see me through. I am afraid to sleep anymore as my dreams are haunted by the sound of endless gunfire and visions of corpses strewn across the ground. How many of us are left, I have no way of knowing but I do know that our numbers have dwindled. I have come too far to give up now and, no matter what it takes, I am determined to see this through…until the bitter end.
This is definitely one of my all-time favorites and it was a joy to sit down and watch it again. Though not quite dripping with the gothic horror goodness of And God Said to Cain, director Antonio Margheriti still managed to infuse this film with a generous helping. The hardened gunfighter is what Richard Harrison does best and Claudio Camaso’s Professor Mendoza is one of the most memorably creepy characters of the genre. The story is simple enough but the action is never ending fun from start to finish.
Mulargia: W Django!
-Great example of Anthony Steffen western with loads of action and roll-and-shoot-acts. I didin’t remember how much there was funny stuff in this one, some of them were just stupid (guy bumping on a column etc), some were unintentionally funny (guys who keep flying through the windows during explosions) and then there were some almost absurd gimmicks (Steffen’s fake-hands trick right out of Benny Hill show). Good entertainment anyway, and I just love the end scene. 6/10
I know there’s lot of 10/10 fans of this movie, but as I see it the flick is basically about riding from regular town to ghost town and back and then again to ghost town and back until everyone is dead. The communication skills of every character in the movie are just horrendous. Lives could be saved!
Haven’t watched this in ages and can’t remember much about it except it’s pretty light and enjoyable … very similar to the original, but no Robert Woods … he decided not to take part as he couldn’t stand leading lady Agata Flori, who was apparently the producer’s girlfriend … 'Up, the Casting Couch!"
I have this on the program too, right after I’m done with Woods. That’s one of my favorite spagh posters. I hope they are doing precisely this somewhere in the movie.
Day 23: Django vs. Sartana (a.k.a. One Damn Day at Dawn) (1970) with Fabio Testi and Jack Betts. A Fidani film about a new sheriff (Testi) in the town of Black City. He ends up over his head while attempting to clean the town up from the Bud Wheeler gang and their affiliates, a Mexican gang, led by Sanchez. A stranger (Betts) arrives in town, and is after Wheeler for killing his brother. It was hard to watch at times. Testi’s young sheriff character is humiliated more than once by Wheeler and his compadres and doesn’t react in kind. Fortunately, it comes together toward the end, including the appearances of Django and Sartana. Not bad, but not great either. 5/10.
Here’s one that didn’t impress me much on first watch years ago that I now have a much higher opinion of, thanks to my rewatch via the Arrow Blu-ray. I originally didn’t care for leading man Alberto Dentice, but this time I didn’t mind him, even though he looks like one of The Bee Gees. Van Cleef is in top form here, and the film features three great villains portraying evil power hungry brothers led by the ever-slimy Horst Frank. The film revolves around the mystery of killed their father, and only Frank and Van Cleef know the truth. This movie has many of the qualities that make a classic old-school spaghetti western, all done well; tense action, tight direction, a dollop of humor, a great score, and a captivating plot. We even get some cool revealing flashbacks. By 72, comedy westerns were dominant, so this is a nice return to form. It takes awhile for the plot to take off, but this is a darn good one. 8/10.
Rewatch. Hugh apologies for this uber late post, but I spent some of the day helping my Mom babysit three of my cousins, so I got a much later start. I enjoy the hell out of this one, great action and a solid story. Such a same Chuck Connors didn’t do more SWs, he was perfect for them. Frank Wolff is his usual capable self.
I give the film 10/10 all the way. Hossein only used dialogue when absolutely necessary, almost everything between him and Michele Mercier’s characters didn’t need words, their faces and eyes told you everything you needed to know. It’s a cynical as hell film for sure, but there’s something hauntingly beautiful about it.
According to my A.G.I.S catalogue this film only took some 158 million Lire at the Italian box office. To put into perspective how bad that was, it was only a bit over a third of what Trinity & Sartana are Coming took. That Harry Baird and Alberto Dell’Acqua borefest. How did this happen? The Great Chihuahua Treasure Hunt is a genuinely entertaining adventure western. And it’s got Rosalba Neri in it. In leather trousers! I can only assume it had lousy distribution and just didn’t get to enough screens.
And frankly it’s posters wouldn’t have helped. My Yugoslavian one above is a case in point. The main features are a horse and Mark Damon with his leg up. And remember this film had Rosalba Neri in it. In leather trousers! How many people do you suppose would have gone to see Hannie Caulder if the poster just had Robert Culp on it tying his shoe laces?
Anyway, it was an enjoyable rewatch of a film which I seeem to like more and more with every viewing. I’d love to see it get a proper release one day. In the meantime, my fandub DVDr will have to do.
Oh, and did I mention Rosalba Neri is in it? In leather trousers!
