I loved this film. LOVED! For many reasons, but ill touch on a few.
First I want to take note of two cast members. We have Joseph Cotton is determined to get home, and continue the civil war. The gunning down of Union troops,the ability to lie his way out of situations, his death at the end,its all here. its Corbucci doing what Corbucci does best. Presenting a nihilistic, dark western hero (or antihero) depending on who you are cheering for. (I for one was cheering for Jonas) in a win/ lose scenario.Norma Bengell plays Claire, a real witch if you ask me. A double crossing, back stabbing, witch.
Second is the score. A great, memorable, score. Fits in perfectly with the opening scene. its a bit moody as well. It has a nice military sound to it.
Lastly, I thought the plot was enjoyable, and despite what others have said I didnt see the death of Jonas and his sons coming. I will rewatch it a few more times, but Im pretty sure I will have to update my favorites list, as this will be going on it.
I donāt think that Clare is a ādouble-crossing, backstabbing witch.ā Sheās the only character in the movie who has the moral integrity to oppose Jonasās evil, hare-brained plans and to expose the hypocrisy behind his disguise as an āidealisticā southern gentleman who still believes in the āLost Cause.ā Through Clare, Ben becomes progressively aware of his fatherās and his half-brothersā despicable character traits (Jonas: superbia; Nat: avaritia; Jeff: luxuria).
Some further thoughts on I crudeli (in German).
Not?
Hmm, how else could the film have ended if one expects a typical ending of a genre film?
Well, I thought the film would end in a dark manner, but also one that left the viewer to deicide to what happens to āthe hellbendersā (Corbucci does this in Navajo Joe, Johnny Oro,)
I expected Jonas and his sons to reach home safely, Ben marry Claire. I did expect Jeff ( the one who raped the indian girl) to get what he had coming to him. I thought for sure his death would greatly impact Jonas. The best way I could describe what i thought was going to happen is a scene similiar to Navajo Joe, or Johnny Oro, where the future of the protagonists is somewhat certain, but still left up for debate. I did predict that Jonas would not be successful in his attempt to restart and win the civil war. I loved this movie, they sure donāt make them like this anymore. Joseph Cotton is one excelllent, excellent, actor.
I can see why many thought the hellbenders would be killed off, but I didnāt expect Jonas and Ben to die. I did expect them to come to conclusion that they could not defeat the Union army and that their fate was left up for debate.
[quote=āUglyOne427, post:124, topic:578, full:trueā]The best way I could describe what i thought was going to happen is a scene similiar to Navajo Joe, or Johnny Oro, where the future of the protagonists is somewhat certain, but still left up for debate.
[/quote]
But the protagonist of Navajo Joe is very dead at the end, so itās very different from Johnny Oro.
The ending of I crudeli is the one to be expected for Jonas and his evil sons. Only the good son and the girl could have survived in any other directorās film.
Though the ending is here unclear, and I assume that some footage was cut out, so that we donāt see both dead. But I think the way it is directed was meant for both to die, but we actually donāt see it. Unlike in Navajo Joe where we donāt see it either, but where it is very obvious that he dies, in I crudeli it remains unclear.
How do you interpret the ending?
I like your analogy but iām optimistic for Joe and I want to know what you thinkk of the following: Since we donāt see Joe die on screen, the sign he has some life in him is for sure clear when he sends the money back to the people in horseback. Perhaps he does die after that, and we do see him wounded, but not dead. Was it a one hundred percent fact that Joe dies at the end? I think Corbucciās intention was to leave it up to us. But, their is strong evidence to suggest like you said, that Joe does die at the end and he may very well have. Myself I think hes only wounded, since we dont see him die on screen. We see Silence die on screen, Minnesotta Clay die on screen, Corbucci clearly shows us those, but he dosent show us Joeās death. Now, I interpret the ending of the hellbenders like this: the good son and the girl live, Ben maybe not so much, But the girl is clearly not mortally wounded. If anything I think she would help Ben, or leave him. If she leaves him, im sure heād die. I canāt see her doing that. Her actions reminded me a lot of the women who really liked Silence, and stood by him until his death. Same with Minnesotta Clay, the women never deserts him and with him until his death. Nancy is alive, but Clay is dead. (although ive heard their are multiple versions of this ending). So I guess to conclude, the girl remains, alive, but it more of a toss up of ben. I think the girl sticks with ben though, because that beggar could easily have killed both of them. If not the beggar, then the indians for sure.
Lots of spoilers in recent postsā¦ 
As Iāve said elsewhere Iām always left feeling a little confused with this one. Stylistically I mean. In some ways it feels like an American western, in others strictly Italian. I understand there was a lot of interference from the producer during production so maybe that is why. Either way, and despite all this, I always find the film very enjoyable. Norma Bengell is the stand out for me and the theme music is terrific. Doesnāt challenge Corbucciās very best films but sits very comfortably for me in the upper echelons of this second tier.
The casketās itinerary in I crudeli ā āThat feller in the coffin, heās better off than me. Heās got a roof over his head. Anybody kicks him gets a sore foot.ā (Al Mulock, the beggar)
This wasnāt quite as good as I remembered. I forgot just how unspaghetti-like it is. Far from Corbucciās worst though!
Isnāt it quite easy to be far from Corbucciās worst?
The other way round it is also easy to be far away from Corbucciās best ā¦
Words of wisdom, Stanton my man. Words of wisdom.
This is a very good film. Itās a lot closer in spirit to American westerns but thatās not a bad thing.
Any opinions on the German or Italian DVD releases of this film?
https://www.spaghetti-western.net/index.php/Crudeli,_I/DVD
Kino in the US are releasing this on bluray this year.
another one on the BluRay shelf!
This film is an absolute masterpiece. Itās a twisted tale on human moralityāor lack of it, ratherāin a setting where almost every character is a scumbag(although since most of the characters are Confederates, you canāt expect anything less), and they keep on going deeper and deeper down the rabbit hole, keeping you watching.
This film focuses more on the intensity of Jonas and his sons getting caught than actual action, but the actual action sequences are golden, and the ending is brilliant with itās ambiguity in regards to the āāGoodāā son; you can discuss as to whether he was really that good as he did serve the Confederate army, and he did go and get another widow-imposter after the first one died, putting her in a vulnerable position. And so, viewers will decide for themselves whether he died at the end based on their evaluation of his morality; naturally, if he was good, then the viewer will decide that he deserved to be rewarded for his redemption and declare that he lived, and if not, then his death only further proves that even the āābestāā character was not deserving of a second chance. Corbucci was asking us to be the judge of morality at the end.
A top 10 SW that is up there with The Great Silence, Django, and The Mercenary as one of Corbucciās best.
Itās definitely a good one.
I wouldnāt call it one of Corbucciās best, not even close to Django in my opinion. About as good as Navajo Joe.