Don’t knock yourself out unnecessarily mate. Sometimes life chucks you stuff and you deal with it as you can. The good news is you’ve bounced back. And who knows? Another opportunity might present itself when you least expect it.
3 Likes
Spagvemberfest 2023
Number 3
Run Man, Run (Sollima/1968)
Lingering jet lag meant I only managed one film yesterday and my eyelids struggled a bit with just that one. No reflection on the quality of the film because Run Man, Run has some terrific sequences and is an overall enjoyable watch. It is a bit episodic though and possibly a bit overlong in places? But maybe that’s just the jet lag talking. I enjoyed it again anyway. Although sometimes admittedly through closed eyes. 
9 Likes
Grinders no. 14:
QUEL CALDO MALEDETTO GIORNO DI FUOCO
https://www.spaghetti-western.net/index.php/Quel_caldo_maledetto_giorno_di_fuoco
Since there are some rumours concerning upcoming Blu Ray release in Germany I rewatched my old 1,85:1 VHS before it is going to retire.
What can I say…to me it is still a very solid Spaghetti Western with a good cast (Robert Woods, John Ireland, Ida Galli, etc.), good story, fine locations, etc.
Only the spy/agent story could have been told with a little more excitement and more straight forward. This is my only “critical point”.
But anyway…this should be a “must seen” for all of you fans 
I was lucky to get a 35mm Technicolor copy some time ago but unfortunately from the 5 orignal reels only reels 3-5 are fine. Reel 1 has dozens of splices and is incomplete. Reel 2 is missing completely.
So if there`s another 35mm copy out there you know about please remember me
11 Likes
Film #14: I Am Sartana Your Angel of Death - First viewing 
out of 5
https://www.spaghetti-western.net/index.php/Sono_Sartana,_il_vostro_becchino
Another one I really enjoyed. Action packed, quirky and lots of fun! The way I like my spaghettis!
6 Likes
Day 14:
Ognuno per se (Every Man for Himself)
The Ruthless Four
Sam Cooper’s Gold. (1968)
Haven’t watched this in many years, and had forgotten most of the details, except that I had enjoyed it.
What struck me this time was, that this is not really a Spaghetti Western as we know it … To me, more an adventure film that happens to occur at the same approximate time.
It has been compared unfavourably to the much more famous, ‘Treasure of the Sierra Madre’ … that I think unfair, as the two films are only similar at the most basic level.
The acting here is top notch, and the only one of the ‘Four’ who seems out of their depth is George Hilton, who throws a couple of over the top temper tantrums which are glaringly not in tune with, Van Heflin, Klaus Kinski and Gilbert Roland.
An exciting story with beautiful photography that has a unique atmosphere, although it was made in key familiar locations, including the Carlo Simi town (El Paso) it has a realism that echos more Robert Altman’s ‘McCabe & Mrs Miller’, which it precedes by nearly 3 years.
I give this a very satisfying 8/10
PS: @Hired_Peon … even Gilbert is very good in this one
10 Likes
Spagvemberfest 2023
Number 4
A Reason to Live, A Reason to Die (Valerii / 1972)
I know a lot of people don’t rate this one but it was one of the first non-Leones I saw and I’ve always been fond of it. Watched the new vanilla release Signal One Bluray and thoroughly enjoyed it. The release is a strictly bare bones thing but the picture quality is fine. I like the extra scenes which are not included in this release but, in truth, the film works fine in its shorter version and you don’t get the annoying shift in Coburn’s voice. A good way to spend a Tuesday lunch time.
10 Likes
This is a movie you rarely hear a middle of the road “meh” opinion about. It seems like most people either really enjoy it or they don’t like it at all. I’ve always been fond of it. I do prefer the longer cut, despite the Coburn issue, as I believe it offers more context to the plot.
3 Likes
I have a fondness for Ruthless Four since it was one of the first non-Sergios westerns I watched. I enjoyed the dynamics anong the four as far as who was trustworthy or not. Unfamiliar with Van Heflin at the time (c. 2016), I thought he was a German or Italian actor. I’ve since come to appreciate him in many film noir/crime movies he starred in. I agree that Ruthless Four doesn’t fit the formula of spaghettis that were out at the time.
4 Likes
I tried watching Sabata the Killer during one past SpagvemberFest, and it didn’t resonate with me at the time. But, I think I may have been at the end stretch of the Fest and was experiencing pasta fatigue. I think I’ll give it another try. Thanks for the review!
4 Likes
Spagvemberfest Day 14 - Film 6: His Name Was King
Really very ‘meh’ considering its great score and decent cast. So many bloody shots of Harrison just riding his horse, and a stupidly long sequence of some Mexicans going down a hill.
5/10
9 Likes
Spagvemberfest Day 14 - Film 7: Dead for a Dollar/Trusting is Good…Shooting is Better
These double spag days are helping me to at least make a decent dent into Spagvemberfest this year. Sadly I picked out another complete dud. So incredibly boring and such unimpressive action. Will be completely forgotten from my brain within a few hours.
4/10
9 Likes
I think the key is to approach it with a light-hearted, not expecting much state of mind. 
3 Likes
Buckaroo (1967) - Director: Adelchi Bianchi - 3/10.
Even if the motion picture incorporates certain stylistic touches which constitute a tacit nod to Leone’s classics, the work feels more like a pre-Leone oater in that it replicates most of the corny clichés one hopes not to encounter, but this is not as much of a shortcoming as film’s stodgy action, moldy drama and remarkably pedestrian writing which fling it way below the average and render the overall viewing quite listless and forgettable. The editing and overall action directing come out so inert and inanimate that following the gunfights is about as exciting as watching the mandala assembly in slow motion.
The dialogues and the dramatics prove exceedingly corny and sometimes verge on being outright cringeworthy, but what ultimately mummifies the whole narrative is the extremely lazy storyline which helplessly endeavors to combine the tale of an imperious mogul terrorizing the region with the more straightforward revenge yarn. Neither part of the equation appears to be sufficiently developed or compelling enough to stand on its own: the vendetta feels artificially appended in that following the opening scene, the motif completely ebbs away and does not resurface right until the climax. The domineering bigwig is just your customary bully conniving with a bunch of Mexican bandits in order to assert his dominance over the territory. Some other themes come to the fore en route such as the saloon girl subplot, but they all turn out so inchoate, vague and underdeveloped that they hardly merit any mention whatsoever. Subpar material executed in a substandard fashion.
8 Likes
- The Man Called Noon
Perfectly fine serviceable dish that is well marinated in film-noir ingredients, and me being sucker for genre bending pictures really ate this one up. The unique flavour aroused from joint production of UK, Spain and Italy has lent it with a very atmospheric sensibilities. The central mystery is intriguing and sort of felt like following along pretty damn good puzzle game as a hired killer with memory loss meet up with all sort of strange characters to unearth his true identity, but it wore off on me eventually and a bit nonsense by the end. Also it is too sentimental at time for some of my liking. Lots of eye catching location works here within its limited scope. I particularly like the work done in cave as well as lonely private train station in the middle of desert. This being a film-noir, Spaghetti Western really make it a good entry for this month Spagvember and Noirvember fests I guess. Great one.
10 Likes
Day 14. Movie 9. Dakota Joe.
This was a fun one, starting with a first rate stagecoach holdup and rolling on from there. More Paella than Spaghetti, and borrows heavily from plot points from all three Eastwood/Leone pics - I could’ve done without yet another trek through a desert - but I found it entertaining throughout.
9 Likes
Day 14: Beyond the Law
Thoughts:
One of many spaghetti western action-comedies that start lighthearted but end staring into the deep, dark abyss that stares back. Lots of depth-of-field type shots.
7 Likes
Day 15
Anda muchacho, spara! - The Spaghetti Western Database (spaghetti-western.net)
The half-way point is here!
It is hard to describe how excited I was when I found this in a thrift/charity shop earlier this year. This was one I could not wait for Spagvemberfest to watch but there was nothing saying that I couldn’t watch it again. Often, when you build up a movie in your mind, it turns out to be a bit disappointing. That is not the case with this one as it lives up to every bit of the hype - at least in my opinion.
Our hero, the always great Fabio Testi, escapes from prison and ends up hiding out in a mining community. Unfortunately, the miners are under the thumb of some ruthless businessmen (ain’t that always the case?) who exploit their labor. Testi begins a deadly game in which he plays all sides in an attempt to help the miners and bring an end to the mine owner’s reign.
While the plot of this one is similar to so many others in the genre on the surface, it contains more complexities underneath that sets it apart. The camera work is outstanding and the movie is just chock full of tasty spaghetti western goodness (or badness, I suppose). All in all, it definitely belongs in the upper echelon of the genre.
This one is worthy of and definitely needs a Blu-ray release. Do you hear me, Arrow? 
14 Likes
Spagvember Fest 2023 Day 14
Rewatch
Jesse & Lester
*** 1/2 out of *****
Not counting the Hill/Spencer ones, this Comedy/Western is of the rare breed that’s very entertaining, fun, and does offer a few good laughs along the way. Star Richard Harrison’s first foray as a producer and co-director is a surprising finely homogeneous mix that blends the Comedy and the Western well.
Harrison and Donal O’Brien make a great pair of half brothers who are the ultimate in being completely different from each other: one a likable rogue and playboy with a dream of owning the finest casino/brothel in the Wild West, the other a blustery and bungling Mormon wanting to start his own church.
The various ups and downs of the duo as they try to con each other out of their mutual uncle’s inheritance, and various outlaw gangs who try to rob them of the money is what drives the film and what adventurous mishaps they have.
The Blu Ray of Plaion Pictures when it was still Koch Media is fine looking with audio and picture quality.
8 Likes
Good to know, lol! Having seen many a silly western since my first viewing, I think I’m ready 
. Thanks, LG
1 Like
Days 13 & 14:
Day 13: My Name is Nobody (1973) D-Tonino Valerii. Starring Terence Hill, Henry Fonda, Jean Martin and Piero Lulli. On my Top 10 Spaghetti List. I came to appreciate Terence Hill after watching They Call Me Trinity. After watching him in ‘Nobody,’ I wanted to ask Hill where he’s been my whole life 
. All joking aside, from what I’ve read and heard, Sergio Leone was the brains behind the movie and shot part of it. Rating: 5/5.
Day 14: Three Silver Dollars (1968) D-Mario Amendola. Starring Charles Southwood, Julian Mateos, and Alida Chelli. A gringo gunfighter (Southwood) is told by a dying Confederate officer that the silver dollar on him is one of three that have numbers that represent letters. The letters have a secret message that reveal a hidden cache of millions of dollars. The gunfighter has a quirky Mexican hooligan (Mateos) always wanting to be his tagalong, and a deeply-religious yet murderous bandit (who also knows about the three silver dollars) in hot pursuit. I had a fun time watching Three Silver Dollars and think it would make a great double-feature with The Ruthless Four. Rating: 3/5.
10 Likes