Hmm - thatās interesting. 110m slot and they also refer to it by its Italian name. However, would Film Four really have had either a composite print (like the Indicator version) or shown the Italian version with English subtitles. I didnāt think such a version existed in 2001. Only in 2013 was this put together.
By way of comparison, Jerry Maguire which precedes it runs for 139m at 24pfs and is in a 140m slot .
You shouldnāt read too much into the guide ā¦ They showed an 80 minute (approxā) version which was English language and very bashed up.
The time between films would be filled with unrelated documentaries and coming soon trailers. No big mystery here.
FilmFour used to send out a monthly magazine with synopses/reviews etc of new films airing on the channel. I may still have a few of these somewhere. If they could find it, they would try to show the longest version, initially at least. However, as aldo mentioned, you canāt really trust those listings even though all the other time slots seem to fit.
Iāll dig out the 25 year old VHS tape and have a look at some point in the near future ā¦
but not tonight, Josephine!
Well the āFranco Cleefā composite version was doing the rounds several years before any official composite version. Cinema Retro did a good write up of it in 2008, which included an interview. Still that wasnāt as far back as 2001.
Yeah me grandad tried watching Sabata (it wasnāt because I recommended it to him) and he said he didnāt like it. I agreedā¦Iām not into the circus westerns. I told him he should watch Day of Anger or The Big Gundown instead not thinking theyād actually on tele. Iāll have to see if heās seen them.
Get granda to a few beers before the movie, and he might appreciate it more ā¦ thereās not too much circus crap in this one, say compared to āBoot Hillā and a few others, which arenāt my bag either.
Also, some allowances need to be made for the time period ā¦ back in the day, 60s and 70s Circuses were really popular and regularly televised during holidays as a big treat - LOL
How times have changed ā¦ but thatās a part of their charm, as long as itās not overdone .
He doesnāt drink so thereās not much hope 
I agree though I preferred it to Boot Hill, but still didnāt think it was anywhere near Van Cleefās best. To be honest Iāve avoided other circus spaghettiās since then. Maybe if I was around in the sixties Iād like them more.
Excuse my typos ā¦ Get Granda a few beers.
As long as the old chap is content, thatās what counts. Cheers!
Iāll try and convince him one night