Yes, remarkable. Ennio and the Ants.
I always liked the way MacGregor is pronounced in the original song
Watch also the second MacGregor movie, Robert woods is not in it (and he’s replaced by an actor without any charisma), but oetherwise it’s as good and lively as the first; light-hearted with some grim violence
[size=12pt]Kid Blue - 1973 -James Frawley[/size]
To be honest, at the begging of the film I wasn’t becoming a fan of Kid Blue, Dennis Hoper playing a counterculture figure in the form of a cowboy with a hippie look that used to be a train robber trying to go straight in a small town, didn’t seemed to appeal to my taste.
But as the film went on, things got significantly better, mostly because of the great cast, Warren Oates character dreaming of ancient Greeks and his wife of free love, Ben Johnson as the mean sheriff, and Peter Boyle in a perfect mix as mad scientist mad preacher, along with other less but still familiar faces.
From the several subplots the most funny are the ones with the Indians and Peter Boyle character.
Not really a comedy in my view, even if with some funny moments it’s not a funny film, still the last scene was well made with the Wright brothers type of plane.
A different kind of western where the director (with lots of credentials in TV, going from The Muppets to Grey’s Anatomy), and Hopper make a statement against capitalism religion and authority under a excuse of a western, and also trying to tell the genre was finished.
Not a brilliant film but watchable mostly because of the great cast, and at least its not so pretentious as it seemed to be at the beginning.
The oddball characters make me smile in that one.
Today: My Name is Pecos (Lucidi, 1966). Meh. I was looking forward to this one since it seems to receive a fair bit of love on here but, alas, it didn’t do it for me. There was little to dislike, it was alright, but it had nothing remarkable about it either, imo. The wibbly-wobbly YouTube version I was watching probably didn’t help its cause but then again I’ve enjoyed a fair few poor uploads of good films at this point. I’ve been on a bit of a mini Robert Woods kick and I was hoping that, if nothing else, I’d enjoy his strange casting as a Mexican. But I found his attempts here at laconic, taciturn and deadly to be more Anthony Steffen than Clint Eastwood. Ah well. Can’t win 'em all. Maybe I’ll fare better tomorrow when I take a stab at Black Jack.
[size=12pt]http://westernsontheblog.blogspot.be/2014/06/john-sturges-1-law-and-jake-wade-1958.html[/size]
Well, decided to watch Black Jack (Baldanello, 1968) today instead. I liked this one. The entire movie is docked points for Robert Woods’ maniacal false laugh (“AH! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAA!!! HAHAHAHAAAAA!!!”) and his twirling-around-the-room-crashing-into-things overacting in the final scene of the movie, but, those hair-brained choices aside, Mr. Woods makes a cool if obsessed character out of Jack Murphy, and the movie itself is the very definition of “spag” with its ugly characters and episodic revenge storyline. And it started so slick with its Danny Ocean-style bank heist, too; could’ve gone a much lighter route at that point. But it stayed gritty and dirty, and gradually became something of a tragedy as these films so often do. As he staggered through the town vowing to bring Sanchez back alive, I half expected him to start screaming, “A horse! A horse! My kingdom for a horse!” Good stuff.
Watched L’uomo, l’orgoglio, la vendetta
Does this count as an western, well it was sold as one. Put some thoughs about it in the film thread
Gave the Spags a swerve today and went with Seraphim Falls (Von Ancken, 2006). Not bad at all, a lot better than I thought it was going to be. I really don’t care for Pierce Brosnan as a rule but he’s the standout here in this largely lively and hugely straightforward chase movie. Loses its way a little bit in the final third but not irretrievably so. Recommended.
I’ve watched the two westerns with Raquel Welch, Bandolero! (1968) and Hannie Caulder (1971).
The later is pure exploitation, I Spit On Your Grave done as Hollywood western, with Welch walking around half the movie with nothing but poncho, Ernest Borgine and Strother Martin bringing their wardrobe from the set of Wild Bunch and an extra coat for Jack Elam and doing maniacal Three Stooges, mysterious black-clad deus-ex-machina character which was not explained at all etc. It is also much more interesting of the two.
I didn’t like Bandolero. I think that Stewart’s standard goody-good character was unsuited for this movie, Martin was passive and romance between him and Welch was laughably forced. Didn’t like her hair style either. We were supposed to be rooting for the good-hearted bandits, but the script, director and actors didn’t manage to win me over.
Django.
Viewed this one again and still great as ever. Full of memorable characters and Nero does say some great offhand comments 
.
Last one i watched was Matalo the other night. I already had the Wild East dvd of Kill the Wicked which is meant to be the same script as Matalo and i heard some reviews that it was kinda Psychadelic so i was interested. Unfortunately it failed to deliver any basic interest after a decent opening. The score didnt bother me as much as the characters (who we know virtually nothing about), an almost complete lack of dialogue and a strange ending.
A real bore that one but on the bright side i have seen some films that were enjoyable : Blindman, Black Killer, 5 Man Army to name a few recently.
The War Wagon (1967)
Solid, action-packed heist job/revenge movie. Kirk Douglas character kinda annoyed me a little bit.
A Gunfight - 1971
Pretty good obscure western. Kirk Douglas vs Johnny Cash. The idea of it is whoever wins, loses as well, as the ending shows. The two men find that they have a lot in common; both are tired of living up to their reputations, and decide to give one if themselves a chance to win a lot of money, by setting up a duel between themselves.
A grim ending, but Cash and Douglas are great, a solid 8/10.
I love finding these completely odd and obscure 70s westerns, there’s some really great ones like The Culpepper Cattle Comapny, and Doc, which are fantastic.
Gunfight is one of my favorites, I think Johnny Cash is excellent in it.
Zandy’s Bride.
Gene Hackman plays a man with a super caveman attitude as thats all he knows, and when his mail order bride arrives things do not go easy. Excellent drama style western with Hackman on super form and nice to finally see this one in 2.35 ratio.
This is the first film I saw him in, and I thought he was great as well.
Seven Ways from Sundown (1960)
Nice little story with Audie Murphy of friendship between pupil and unlikely master, who will inevitably have to face each other at the end.
The Scalphunters (1968)
Well rounded movie that is in its heart story about race struggle, but also packs a lot of action (and comedy). Watch it for the great actors.
[size=12pt]THE GLORY GUYS[/size] (1965, Arnold Laven)
Another Peckinpah movie not directed by Peckinpah, and an interesting companion piece to Major Dundee:
[size=12pt]http://westernsontheblog.blogspot.be/2014/07/the-glory-guys-1965.html[/size]
I have to say, I’ve never heard of this before, but seeing as Major Dundee is my favourite Peckinpah (which is different from what I view as his best), this is definitely now on my radar. Thanks Sherp! And a score by Riz Ortolani too!
[size=12pt]Rio Lobo - 1970 - Howard Hawks[/size]
A long time since I last watch the final take of Hawks Rio trilogy (if it can be called that way).
By far the weakest of the all movies, but with one of the best scenes, the initial train robbery scene is very well done.
By 1970 Wayne was becoming a bit old for this type of parts, hardly to get a romantic interest, at least in the form of a lovely young girl, but anyway the one scene Over the years the one part of RIo Lobo I have kept in mind was the scene when Jennifer O’Neill calls comfortable to the Duke after spending the night close to him instead of the younger Rivero. No girl ever call me comfortable either, so I understand Wayne’s character surprise.
It’s a well-directed work, in a professional way that is, but it’s not a great western, mostly cause of the actors, the casting direction made sure the Wayne was the only one to shine, with the exceptions of Jack Elam and Vitor French, the rest of cast (Rivero, the young Mitchum even O’Neill), couldn’t really act, and compared with the other two films it’s a real let down in that department, almost looks like some sort of B-movie.
The story is just a variation on the Rio Bravo/El Dorado theme, with a good setting, but Hawks or someone for him decide to give a more modern touch to the thing, especially in the woman behavior.
Not a great western I’m afraid and for those who don’t like him, Wayne (alongside with Jack Elam), is clearly the best in it. In the end it’s very but very far from Classic territory.