Adios Gringo
The Gringo falls little behind the Ringos , but he still does a good job .
Its an easy plot , which does not become boring .
Also the first screening in 1965 … its been a long time .
6 Likes
I totally agree 
Tonight, I shall be getting me some of that sweet, sweet revenge in the form of SWDB favourite Death Rides a Horse (Petroni, 1967), in which John Phillip Law manages to turn a wholly sympathetic orphan and massacre survivor into such a scowling stroppy bastard that you kind-of wish they’d shot him in the intro. Still, never mind that. The film’s inevitably about him but, thankfully, it’s also about Lee Van Cleef too and, as usual, he’s brilliant, elevating the material from standard mentor-protege fare to a ripsnorting bumsmacker of a movie. Now take that soppy look off your boat JPL before I give you something to snivel at! Bloody kids today.
8 Likes
Spagvemberfest 2025
Day 4
For a Few Dollars More (Leone / 1965)
Still possibly my favourite Leone and a pretty much perfect western I think. The Arrow Blu looks fabulous and so many extra features it’ll probably take longer to watch them all than to watch the film in the first place. 1965 off to a perfect start.
9 Likes
SPAGVEMBER FEST 2025
Day 4
Una Bara per lo Sceriffo (1965)
Rewatch.
Every time I see this SW I like it a little more, just something about it. It’s pretty simple in plot, a lawman tossing aside the star to infiltrate a gang and take out the member responsible for his wife’s murder, but how it’s executed is just so well done and acted out. The mix of American and Italian elements is on full display here and works very, very well.
Anthony Steffen has one of his better outings here as Texas Joe Logan, a moody and somber man who suffered a tragedy he may never fully recover from. Steffen’s steely expression and gritty face is used well, and while not super expressive, offers a nice amount of different feelings that add highly to the character.
Eduardo Fajardo is his usual smirking menace in a rare, but no less effective, non Mexican bad guy role. Murdock might be the number 2 man in the gang, but he’s equally ruthless and sinister, unhesitant to get his hands dirty no matter what is asked of him. The blonde hair he sports is kind of odd, but he makes it work.
Armando Calvo, a talented Puerto Rican character actor, is equally rough and menacing as gang leader Lupe Rojo. This guy is so wicked and nasty, he doesn’t even think twice about slapping around his girlfriend when she even speaks out of turn to him and letting his men rape an innocent woman. Calvo plays the role super well.
The theme song A Lone and Angry Man by Peter Tevis is one of the catchier tunes of the genre.
4/5 stars to a Western that needs more fans
10 Likes
Day Four: Light the Fuse… Sartana’s Coming
Rewatch. A personal favorite.
5 Likes
Day 4: Cjamango (1967) Directed by Eduardo Mulargia. Starring Ivan Rassimov (aka Sean Todd), Mickey Hargitay, Helene Chanel, Pedro Sanchez, and Piero Lulli. I tried to like this movie. It had a great cast. There were some sentimental moments in the story involving a Jewish-harp playing, orphan boy named Manuel and Cjamango. But otherwise, an unremarkable movie with wasted talent all around. Rating: 1.5/5
11 Likes
Spagvemberfest 2025
Day 5
The Relentless Four (Zeglio / 1965)
An enjoyable if unremarkable spaghetti that makes me think it would have been an ideal vehicle for Giuliano Gemma in this period if only it had a slightly tighter script and a better director. Adam West actually looks pretty good in the saddle but his technique in the fight scenes leaves a lot to be desired. Giuliano would have been much better. Still, a pretty enjoyable flick with the feel of an “early” spag about it.
11 Likes
As you said, Phil, the Arrow bluray release of ‘For a Few Dollars More’ is gorgeous. ‘Arrow’ really has done itself proud with the ‘Dollars’ Trilogy…and the hours of extras!
The sheer enjoyment of watching these films has been increased ten-fold.
I only wish that there were outakes included on ‘FAFDM’ and ‘GBU’. The behind the scenes footage for ‘Fistful’ was simply stupendous…
4 Likes
Dig Your Grave Friend… Sabata’s Coming (1971) (orig. Abre tu fosa, amigo… llega Sábata) - Director: Juan Bosch - 4/10.
The reason why the work comes out superior to Bosch’s other comedic westerns is that its content does not lean into comedy as heavily, opting for a more nuanced, multipronged approach, which proves a lot funnier in the end anyhow. Likewise, Sancho’s appearance here feels a lot more extensive which is additionally underpinned by some solid chemistry between him and Harrison, whose aptitude for comedy frequently seems to go unnoticed. This is not to say that the final product turns out to be some great feat, what with its predominantly low production values, gruff execution and commonplace story about Harrison’s character’s strife with the local bigwig terrorizing the region, yet it hangs together for the most part and unfolds with acceptable dispatch and cohesion, playing to its strengths by relying on its actors’ charm whilst forgoing the pitfalls of excessive mimicry bedevilling many of its analogs. Though the continuous back and forth between the two buddies and top banana’s bride makes for a droll spectacle in the midsection, the project fizzles out towards the end with the final showdown coming out especially uninspired. On the whole, the offering is a quick-and-dirty entry with not much in the way of originality or particularly satisfying plot progression, yet given how execrable the rest of subgenre’s output was in the 1970s, it certainly does not vex as much as some of those and does not overstay its welcome, largely staying true to its roots and providing oater slop of satisfactory quality.
8 Likes
No. 4 LA VENDETTA E UN PIATTO CHE SI SERVE FREDDO
Hm, a very uneven movie. Maybe it was the success of 1970’s SOLDIER BLUE that made italian Film makers think about a SW with Indians and racism. There are a lot of violent parts… not too much detailed but present. On other hand there is a comical character by Steffen Zacharias and the film begins in style of Karl May movies. Also Indians speak like Winnetou in German Dub:wink: . In General German Dub is far over the top making the movie more extreme in all directions.
Leonard Mann, Ivan Rassimov and all the others did a good job…too bad movie was shot in Italy only and not in Spain.
Not bad but also no masterpiece.
6,5/10
5 Likes
Day Five: Poker With Pistols
Reasonably average. George Hilton’s suave gunfighter has one of those amazing spaghetti western names, “George Bronson”
4 Likes
2/5
The Tall Women - 1966
First time watch. Despite the title, I don’t think any of the women were very tall. 
Seven (naturally) women have to survive trials and tribulations of the west after the rest of their wagon train is murdered by Indians (unfortunately).
There was pair of sisters called the Grimaldi sisters. A nod to Alberto Grimaldi, perhaps?
Also, the poster: Sole Survivors? Chew that paradox over in your mind while scarfing down a pan of beans.
6 Likes
Day 5: A Few Dollars for Django (1966) Co-directed by Leon Klimovsky and Enzo G. Castellari. Starring Anthony Steffen, Frank Wolff, Gloria Osuna and Alfonso Rojas. It’s 1877, and Regan (Steffen) is a bounty hunter who decides to make a living for himself in Montana. A territory torn apart by a land war between the cattle ranchers and the farmers. Regan sees that there is money to be made in collecting bounties. However, when he sees a man about to be hanged by a lynch mob for defending his farm and his wife’s dignity from the thugs of villainous cattle rancher Amos Brownsberg, Regan saves the man and breaks up the mob. Regan is quickly made sheriff by the town mayor and judge for his bravery. He is initially reluctant to take on the responsibility. However, his impartiality towards both ranchers and farmers regarding the law makes him a good lawman. But, Brownsberg is not willing to have his power checked without a dirty fight. The ruthless rancher tries to use Regan’s past as a bounty hunter against him at one point. Sheriff Regan steps up against drunken cowboys and defends Trevor Norton (Wolff) and his niece Sally (Osuna) from harassment just after their arrival to town. Norton (Wolff), who may or may not be his badass twin brother Jim, is played by one of my favorite actors from the SW era, Frank Wolff. I think why I like Dollars for Django is because it shows how difficult and frustrating it can be to uphold the law and keep the peace between two or more opposing factions without taking sides. I think Steffen gives one of his finer performances here as well. Rating: 3.5/5.
9 Likes
I’ve never seen The Relentless Four. And I had no idea Adam West was in it! Thanks for your review, Phil 
SPAGVEMBER FEST 2025
Day 5
Un Fiume di Dollari (1968)
First time watch.
This one is kind of a mixed bag for me; I liked it, but I didn’t love it/like it as much as I thought I would. There’s quite a lot that’s enjoyable about it, but some things don’t fit. Perhaps I wasn’t in the right frame of mind when I watched it, or there’s something I missed. The revenge angle was perfect, but what automatically threw me was the melodrama filled reunion between Jeff and his son Tim. Loris Loddi was one of the better Italian actors to start out as a kid and isn’t annoying at all, but unless done right, tearful reunions can be a little much.
Thomas Hunter did a fantastic job in his first outing as the lead in a movie, a very natural performer. He’s like a mix of George Hilton and Michael Forest, tall and expressive. Jeff Brewster is an ex Confederate who, along with buddy Ken, takes a shipment of money the Confederacy isn’t gonna need anymore, but are spotted by a Union patrol. Jeff gets captured while giving Ken the chance to get away and get Jeff’s share of the money to his wife Mary. Sadly, he learns Ken took off, left Mary to die, and kidnapped his son. With the aid of the mysterious Winny Getz, Jeff sets out for revenge.
Henry Silva, one of the finest 60’s and 70’s character actors, gives an excellent performance as the sinister Garcia Mendez, Ken’s right hand man. Silva mixes laughs and menace very well, showing Mendez as a man who’ll do just about any task laid before him, including murder. He loves bullying and tormenting those he sees as inferior.
Dan Duryea, one of the many recognizable slimy heavies of the Hollywood Golden Age, gives a rare good guy performance as Winny Getz. Getz has a keen interest in helping Jeff get back on Ken and acts as a spy so Jeff can slowly infiltrate into the ranch crew.
Nando Gazzolo, one of the best voice actors in Italy, gets the chance to flex his onscreen acting skills as Ken Seagull/Ken Milton. At first a loyal friend to Jerry Brewster and his family, shows his true colors by keeping a cache of money for himself and allows Jeff’s wife to die. Knowing his old pal will want to get even after serving time in Union prison, Ken has his tight hand Mendez send out gunmen.
Nicoletta Machiavelli, one of Italy’s many elegant ladies, does well in a small, but still worthwhile role.
the Explosive Media Blu Ray looks really good and strong
3.5/5
8 Likes
I’d say Morricone’s music is one of the strongest aspects of this movie - I was also a little disappointed with the movie overall, but it’s not too bad.
2 Likes
- Bianchi: Buckaroo
-Film starring not-so-big-favorite Dean Reed and my least-favorite vilain actor Livio Lorenzon.
Dull film which offers nothing new except maybe the scene where Dean Reed suddenly sings a song on the campfire. You don’t see that happen often in spaghetti westerns. 3/10
5 Likes
No. 5 SAPEVANO SOLO UCCIDERE
Rewatch after 20 years or so.
Very easy review: No real story, wooden actors, stupid dialogues, boring.
Gordon Mitchell was totally wasted with a short appearance.
Understandable there was no German Cinema Release. First output was on Video in first half of the 1980s.
2/10
7 Likes
Missed yesterday so this evening I’m going for a double-bill. First up is chilly beauty The Great Silence (Corbucci, 1968), before I break out the hand-axes and fog machine for some late-era madness in the form of the wonderfully decayed Mannaja (Martino, 1977). Wow. Even for a dreary Thursday in November that’s some pretty grim viewing, right there. I might have to chase up my misery marathon with some Hey Duggee to cheer myself up.
8 Likes