Gianfranco Parolini directed some fine SW and also LvC and Jack Palance were part of genre classics. But this one from the mid 70’s looks more like a low budget TV Western. Shot in Israel LvC has a double role looking strange with false Hair, etc. Jack Palance is totally out of control… But nice to see Sybill Danning and Palances son as a gang member. Not a real waste of time but far away from the early classics. 40 years old German VHS has great picture and sound quality.
Evening all, haven’t been able to watch as many films as I’d have liked this month but tonight I gave a random SW a shot. Maybe next year I’ll plan Spagvember a little better and contribute more heavily. Hope all is well.
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Picked a random SW tonight, headed in blind and I ended up enjoying it to an extent. This was my first Craig Hill SW.
And the Crows Will Dig Your Grave - 4/10.
Craig Hill himself had (IMO) the unique ability of looking young and old at the same time in most scenes. I couldn’t work out whether I thought he fit the role really well or whether he was just a bit meh. I did enjoy the performance of Dan Barker (Angel Aranda) though, I thought he was great. Susan (Maria Pia Conte) too, beautiful lady.
A major flaw though, I thought was the dubbing of the voice for the character ‘Corrales’, was very difficult to understand him at times and as I’m reading the reviews for this film, I see just about everybody has picked up on that…
The story was a little convoluted and flip-floppy at times, but for the most part it was easy to follow and fun throughout. It’s just a very mediocre, down the middle spaghetti western. I didn’t think too much to the set design, which is always something I look out for, so for that reason I’ll notch it down from a 5 to a 4.
The music in this one is also so catchy! It gets stuck in my head every time I watch it. The showdown tune is cool, but the main theme right away just screams supernatural. I feel like I’ve heard a similar tune play during Scooby-Doo chase sequences (at least up until the trumpet enters).
I’d say this is the most overtly Gothic/supernatural spaghetti out there, including the others you’ve mentioned. I wish these genres crossed more often!
3/5 - A decent Garrone picture with Anthony Steffen and William Berger basically playing themselves. The music is solid, the slapstick minimal, and an intriguing subplot involves smuggling migrants across the US border.
Just imagine: the year is 1971. You’ve maybe seen the Clint Eastwood spaghetti westerns and give this new flick called They Call Me Trinity a try. Eurowestern fun for the whole family! Later that summer, you try your luck again with Cut-Throats Nine.
There’s a lot I actually like about this movie–the filming locations are pretty amazing, the plot has a lot of premises and points that are really intriguing… an isolated march through the bitter cold, corrupt officials, violent criminals, even more violent locals… a hint of surrealism and a poetically dark ending. But I didn’t need the extra violent shots that smack of gimmicks to this viewer (some are really gross).
It’s definitely an eerie soundtrack. I like how you said it’s the most overtly gothic SW. Django Kill…If You Live, Shoot and And God Said to Cain have gothic elements in them. All three movies have supernatural elements to them. When Gary Hamilton returns to his old home for revenge in God Said to Cain, it’s almost like he brings the winds and storm with his need for revenge. The stranger played by Tomas Milian rises from his grave at the beginning of the movie and takes on the role of a vengeful spirit. Steffen as Django is a physical person, but he is still disconnected from any other characters on a personal level. Rada Rassimov 's belle character in Django the Bastard literally throws herself at him so she can be with him. Yet, he’s totally disinterested. He comes to town, has his vengeance and leaves. His character reminds me of Eastwood’s ghostly, vengeful drifter in High Plains Drifter. He was a physical human. However, we don’t know anything about him and whether he was connected personally with the murdered sheriff in any sort of way. It’s implied at one point that he’s in the cowardly town out of revenge for the sheriff’s murder. But, we don’t know if the drifter was summoned by a curse made by the sheriff or if it was karma that brought his arrival. I like that it’s never explained (like in High Plains Drifter) whether Django is dead or alive. If he’s a ghost or a guy who survived the grave for revenge.
I’ve really been meaning to rewatch High Plains Drifter! I’m glad you brought it up. I’m sure you’ve also seen Pale Rider also, another good one with ambiguity about the nature of the stranger. Maybe less ambiguity? I just can’t recall as much as I’d like about HPD. If you’re looking for some other gems in the genre, if you haven’t watched Purgatory, Ravenous, The Burrows, and Exit Humanity (Civil War zombies) are all pretty entertaining. And then there is probably my favorite unsettling western, Bone Tomahawk. A while ago, Guillermo del Toro was planning to make a werewolf western. I’m still hoping!
I don’t think any of them have as eerie a soundtrack, though! Or as much Anthony Steffen.
The first time I watched this blood brother to 10,000 Dollari per un Massacro I felt the first hour was solidly entertaining with the final 35 minutes dragging. My opinion has changed a little and while the final 35 minutes are still slow a little, the ending between Gianni Garko and Claudio Camaso more than makes up for it.
This 2nd outing the film feels like a gritty take on epic Hollywood Westerns like Duel in the Sun and The Big Country with the melodrama feud between brothers John and Clint Forest, and the obstacles they face before finally settling the bad blood between them. Definitely not as melodrama heavy as Alberto Cardone’s $1000 Dollari sul Nero, but the focus is clearly on John and Clint’s relationship. The action scenes involving Fernando Sancho, Piero Lulli, Carlo Gaddi, and Bruno Corazzari are the best.
Gianni Garko and Claudio Camaso bring out the best in each other in the film
Decided to give another Craig Hill SW a shot, but sadly this wasn’t as appealing as the one I watched last night. I also think I’ve come to the realisation that while he may look the part of a leading man, he lacks real charisma compared to the top dogs.
Overall, very much below par. I found this one extremely slow and drawn out in certain patches and featured very poor (and very little) dialogue.
The runtime was close to one hundred minutes, which surprised me, as it felt padded out with a lot of unnecessary filler.
Final flaw would have to be the hundreds of characters thrown into the mix - just too chaotic and difficult to keep track of.
There were one or two wild, overly dramatic, but well executed showdowns around the halfway mark and towards the latter stages though (the fight in the sloppy mud springs to mind), which were probably the highlight of the flick, but not worth watching solely for…
Edit - I’ve just dipped into the forum thread for this film and I’m a little surprised at how many people are fond of it. Maybe I’ll give it a rematch in a few months .
Rewatch–and perfect for the first day of snow on the ground! Someone wiser than I said that Corbucci never made a film without at least once magnificent scene, and one sloppy scene. This has plenty of magnificent shots and moments. This particular rewatch, the scene with Loco and his new-found gang (this is after he escaped the sheriff) riding on the crest of a hill of snow. The horses are silhouetted against the bright sky. Morricone’s music is mystical, tragic, with just a hint of the galloping percussion that would accompany a traditional western.
Every time you rewatch a great movie, try to find some small new detail to enjoy.
Not a bad little SW that mixes humor and seriousness. Watched both the International Cut and the original Italian Cut and really couldn’t see much of a difference, unless I missed something, which I’m sure i did.
Giuliano Gemma is really good at playing the likable smart-ass, and here he always has an idea cooking that destiny thwarts him at every time.
Not the biggest George Eastman fan I have to admit, but it is interesting and fun seeing him play the straight man to Gemma’s humorous smart mouth. He’s just as much a con man as Gemma’s character, but seems to be more low key in his efforts.
My only complaint with their chemistry is Eastman getting the drop on Gemma in the fistfights they get into. I know Eastman stood like 6’9, 6’10 in those days, but I honestly think Gemma could kick his ass up and down the sets any day of the week with no issue.
Nello Pazzafini is always a pleasure to see as a reliable heavy, Giacomo Rossi-Stuart is perfectly cast as the hard faced Pinkerton Agent, and Luciano Catenacci reminds me of a taller Italian version of Peter Lorre.
Look out for nice cameos from regulars, Aldo Sambrell, Roberto Camardiel, and Franco Fantasia
Lizzani: Requiescant
-Weird film which can’t decide if it’s trying to be serious revolution western or semi-serious revenge film in pure spaghetti western-style. Castell’s natural gift with revolver is something that could be plausible in Sabata/Sartana -world but not if you’re trying to make a political film. Best thing in the film definitely Mark Damon’s deviant aristocrat villain. Very memorable role. Though you might have a drinking game of “have a sip whenever Damon says George Bellow Ferguson” and you’d probably run out of alcohol. 6/10
Cheap Alberto Cardone SW with a bad script and many time consuming riding scenes. The movie has its moments but overall it is more or less a boring one. Peter Martell is good in the lead and there are some nice ladies….even I did not understand Daniela Giordanos role … whisperer of the bad guy?
Strange German VHS Cover…movie was not shown at Cinema.
In Germany a DJANGO movie without a DJANGO Wade Preston is called “Texas” in dub. A small low budget revenge movie started by Mario Gariazzo and completed by Leopoldo Savano some years later. Movie is very uneven. First half is old school Western style…second half deals with disguise, masks, special weapons etc
There are many well known faces in the cast and at least it is entertaining until the end.
I also recently watched it in 4K and was blown away by how much I noticed this time. From the clever script to the amazing cinematography. Some scenes are real gems, like when Loco, Silenzio, and the sheriff ride together in the stagecoach. In 2025, this is definitely my number 1.
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. It’s like The Searchers meets Cannibal Holocaust.
Wade Preston is called “Texas” in dub. A small low budget revenge movie started by Mario Gariazzo and completed by Leopoldo Savano some years later. Movie is very uneven. First half is old school Western style…second half deals with disguise, masks, special weapons etc
