Would it be possible to list a top five films for each year, starting perhaps in 1964, and carrying through to 1973? That gives us a decade to work with. The Database has them nicely sorted by year[url]http://www.spaghetti-western.net/index.php/Films[/url]. My hope is that such an exercise would give me some new off-the-beaten-path recommendations for films to watch, especially for the earlier and later years of the genre.
If this has been done before, and I just overlooked it, or didn’t use the right search terms, I apologize!
Okay, let’s start with 1964 or rather - since in my opinion Per un pugno di dollari is separate and simply unreachable - from pre-Leone movies, 24 films from May '63 (Tres hombres buenos) until the end of December '64 (Pistoleros de Arizona/5.000 dollari sull’asso).
Within this category, that with the partial exception of Sergio Corbucci’s movie has little to do with strictly speaking Italian-style western, I think that the most important and significant films are these five:
Minnesota Clay
Duello nel Texas
Antes llega la muerte
Le pistole non discutono
El sabor de la venganza
If we are combining 63 and 64 I think Jonathan’s is a pretty solid list.
If I could add another it would be Bava’s Road to Fort Alamo. Not a great film by any means but it is of interest and has its moments.
This is not my personal top 5, this is just the five westerns I think are most representative of 1964 and doesn’t include German westerns. Criteria is historical significance and critical evaluation.
Fistful of Dollars
Minnesota Clay
Le pistole non discutono aka Bullets Don’t Argue
El sabor de la venganza
Antes llega la muerte
Honorable mention goes to Due mafiosi nel Far West (Franco and Ciccio westerns were hugely popular in the Italian box office)
For pre 1964 westerns,
Duello nel Texas, and well thats about it unless you count the German films.
For a Few Dollars More
Pistol for Ringo
Return of Ringo
One Silver Dollar
Adios Gringo
Honorable mention to Centomila dollari per Ringo which was a huge hit when it came out, although it hasn’t really stood the test of time.
1966
The Good the Bad and the Ugly
Django
Big Gundown
Bullet for the General
Navajo Joe
Massacre Time gets honorable mention.
1967
Death Rides a Horse
God Forgives I Don’t
Day of Anger
Django Kill if You Live Shoot
Face to Face
Hellbenders gets honorable mention.
1968
Once Upon a Time in the West
Great Silence
Ace High
The Mercenary
The number 5 spot is tricky for this year, Django Prepare a Coffin, Run Man Run, Today We Kill Tommorow We Die, Sartana Pray for Your Death all are reasonable candidates. If forced to choose I’d go with Run Man Run, even though I’m a Sartana fan. Hows that for being objective? lol
1969
Sabata
Five Man Army
Cemetery without Crosses
Django the Bastard
Tepepa
Honorable mention goes to Price of Power and Specialists
Per qualche dollaro in più
Un dollaro bucato
Il ritorno di Ringo
Una Pistola per Ringo
Perché uccidi ancora?
Other noteworthy titles: All’ombra di una Colt, Adios Gringo, Ocaso de un pistolero, L’uomo dalla pistola d’oro, Una bara per lo sceriffo, Centomila dollari per Ringo
1966
(La resa dei conti/The Big Gundown was released in March 1967, at the same time as 10.000 dollari per un massacro)
Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo
Django
Navajo Joe
Quien Sabe?
El precio de un hombre/The Bounty Killer
Other noteworthy titles: Johnny Yuma, Le colt cantarono la morte e fu… tempo di massacro, Per pochi dollari ancora, Mille dollari sul nero, Texas addio, Due once di piombo/Il mio nome è Pecos, Arizona Colt, Degueyo, Django spara per primo, Per il gusto di uccidere