The Big Gundown / La resa dei conti (Sergio Sollima, 1967)

Dillinger · December 25, 2008, 1:34pm

Great idea!
By the way, Kessler’s book offers some information about versions, although it’s a coupe of years old.

Novecento · February 6, 2009, 1:38pm

The length of the Franco Cleef version compared to Koch was briefly mentioned over at the Sergio Leone Web Board (La resa dei conti aka The Big Gundown (1966)) where, in spite of Mike Siegel in Cinema Retro saying Koch is 105.58 pal (equaling 110 theatrical which is almost equal to NTSC) it’s stated that Koch’s version is only 2 seconds longer.

Now my Franco Cleef NTSC DVD clocks in at 105.31 and if Koch comes in at 105.58 PAL then mine is missing more than a couple of seconds. I was wondering if anyone has some more info on this?

There is also a question over at SLWB regarding a still of Cuchillo removing his knife from Shep in Cinema Retro which is not in the FC version. Can anyone shed any light on this?

Admin · February 6, 2009, 1:46pm

it would be great if someone like schnittberichte.com (their cut comparisons are great) would compare the two. I thought the Franco Cleef is merely the most complete ENGLISH AUDIO version, otherwise the koch media one is the best one available…

why is Franco Cleef not teaming up with Wild East or something? I dont get all this bootlegging “cult”…

autephex · February 6, 2009, 2:34pm

I have recently taken the Franco Cleef audio track and edited it into the Koch release to make my own disc because the Koch video transfer is far superior- just compare the two, there really is a huge difference. There are no cut scenes between the two releases. I know this because sync’ing the audio required me to match up all the scenes and I would of come across any missing parts, even a tiny one.

Novecento · February 6, 2009, 5:14pm

How interesting; I wonder where all these ideas of Koch’s version being anything from a couple of seconds to 4 and a half minutes longer are coming from then?

It’s a real shame Koch was unable to include and clean up the English language track sourced by FC - I’m assuming this may be due to Koch having to negotiate the legal rights for it which would be costly?

Personally I like to watch Italian Westerns in the language that the main actor(s) were speaking on set and in which they subsequently dubbed it. To use some classic Corbucci’s as an example, I like Django in Italian, Il Mercenario in English and Gli Specialisti in French. Consequently, for me Sollima’s Big Gundown and Run Man Run have both got to be in English.

Admin · February 6, 2009, 5:39pm

you mean there is NOT?

autephex · February 6, 2009, 5:45pm

No- when it comes to the video quality I mean there is- which is what I was speaking of there

axl_foley_01 · February 6, 2009, 5:50pm

You´re right, I´m just thinking about the crappy synchronisation in some of the German releases, especially after the success of the Barboni/ Spencer/ Hill movies…
They are mostly totally changing the content of a movie…

autephex · February 6, 2009, 5:52pm

I like to watch them in Italian, but I also like to have an English version in case I’m feeling lazy or if I want to show the film to a friend- its easier that way.

Regarding the runtime, there’s lots of different factors that come into play. There is a slight difference in the runtime of the FC & Koch releases, but its not a big difference and it is not because any scenes were cut. I’m guessing mostly because one is NTSC and the other is PAL

mrchallenge · February 6, 2009, 7:46pm

I have the pleasure of having a copy of autophexes work and can vouch for him. He did a fantastic job with the Big Gundown. It eclipses the Franco Cleef version.

uncknown · February 6, 2009, 9:52pm

Mike Siegel merely made errors in calculations. I guess he is on the “Reich system” LOL!
TRUST ME - the Koch version is not longer. There is a fraction of a second or so “more”.

Novecento · February 7, 2009, 4:23pm

Thanks for clearing that up Uncknown - good to know I’ve not been missing out on anything

uncknown · March 28, 2009, 2:17am

Several scenes have been re-mixed with the music in stereo.
The Shep/Cuchillo showdown is incredible in the FC version

LEE VAN CLEEF’S “THE BIG GUNDOWN” - THE RESTORATION OF A SPAGHETTI WESTERN CULT CLASSIC IN CINEMA RETRO #13

chuck_connors_brother · March 30, 2009, 3:45pm

I recently got the Koch disc but I got the Jerksi disc off ebay years ago and it was one of the first SW’s I saw, looks amazing his disc… the uncut scenes are in Italian with subtitles, I think he did his before Franco Cleef.

p.pereira · July 24, 2009, 3:07pm

I watched this flick once again recently. Damn good.
Even write some thoughts about it, in my blog. Stay away if Portuguese language it’s an issue!

scherpschutter · July 24, 2009, 3:51pm

It’s not easy, but I can understand it more or less

I agree, a great film, a great duel between knife and gun
What I like, is your portuguese word for bounty hunter, caçador de cabeças - wonderful!

By the way, no DVD with portuguese audio, not even in Brazil?

Novecento · July 24, 2009, 6:00pm

Isn’t it literally “headhunter”?

scherpschutter · July 24, 2009, 7:38pm

Yes, in Spanish this would be cazador de cabezas, but I think they say cazador de recompensas

p.pereira · July 26, 2009, 8:05pm

Indeed! “Caçador de cabeças” its the term usually used in the portuguese subtitles, and obviously my favourite!

p.pereira · July 26, 2009, 8:12pm

I meant no DVD released in Portugal. As a matter of fact, there aren’t that many movies dubbed in Portuguese. Usually our cine market, works with original audio + subtitles… and that it’s one of the cultural big differences between Portugal and Spain.