Two people approach each other in the main street of a western town. We all know this can only mean trouble, but instead of bullets, Christmas greetings are exchanged. But it wonât be a peaceful Christmas for the townâs people. A notorious gunslinger called Ringo kills four man out of self defence - but is still arrested by the sheriff - and a Mexican gang of bandits take a wealthy familyâs ranch as a hide-out after a failed attempt to flee from a bank robbery. The sheriff has the ranch surrounded but is reluctant to act since the family members have been taken hostage and his fiancĂ©e is among them. The only person capable to deal with the situation is Ringo, so heâs freed from jail and asked to infiltrate the gang âŠ
Una pistola per Ringo and its loose sequel Il Ritorno di Ringo were made by the same director, with the same leading actor and supporting cast. It was an immediate succes, especially in Italy and France, and made a star out of Italian born actor and former stuntman Giuliano Gemma, who would become one of the busiest actors in the business during the next few years. For an early spaghetti, itâs remakably non-violent, even though the body count is high and some scenes (Sancho executing Mexican peons) might have looked quite extreme in those days. Most directors who followed Leoneâs tracks tried to outdo his films in violence, but Tessari chose a more light-hearted approach. Most critics have even maintained that his style is more American than Italian. And yes, the story about the lone gunman coming to the aid of an aristocratic family taken hostage by a gang of ruthless bandits could have served very well for a Hollywood western, and with his clear smile, shiny white teeth and angelic face Gemma doesnât look like the typical spaghetti western hero, still both his behaviour and moral code are more in line with No Name than with the standard Hollywood hero. When Ringo is asked for which side his father fought during the Civil War, he answers that he used to change sides every time the odds were changing (itâs hard to imagine John Wayne would give a similar answer), and when he arrives at the ranch he immediately starts to negotiate with the Mexicans in true No name style about his share of the loot âŠ
Ringo is, so to speak, a âlight versionâ of Eastwoodâs No Name (although their literary origins are different); heâs even presented as a No Name type of spaghetti western character: he is a passer-by who interferes in a conflict situation, not an avenger focussed on, or even consumed by hate like Django or Harmonica. Heâs lethal and manipulative, but unlike NO Name heâs more of a rascal than a mean bastard. While No nameâs character takes root in the nihilistic roman noir tradition (not Yojimbo, but a character called the Continental Op, created by Dashiell hammet, served as his model), Gemmaâs Ringo character seems to originate more in the tradition of the picaresque novel.
Tessari tells his story very effectively, with acute dialogue (youâll learn what made equally born men different) and interesting plot twists. The film even has an endearing and tragic love affair between a female member of the gang (the gorgeous Nieves Navarro) and the older aristocratic ranch owner. Only the ending is a bit silly: Gemma uses a clock to deviate his bullet in order to hit Sancho, who would otherwise be out of reach. The filmâs lush photography is breathtaking: both indoor and outdoor scenes are shot inventively, while excellent use has been made of the widescreen. Itâs one of those spaghettis that will be ruined when shown in Pan&Scan. Morriconeâs score is, needless to say, exquisite, although the lyrics of the title song, sung by Maurizio Graf ( ⊠and the woman whoâs waiting for his return) seem more appropriate for Il ritorno di Ringo. The film might look a bit too casual to those who love their spaghettis gritty and violent, but it proves that a more light-hearted style was present within the genre from the beginning. The film is flawed, some comical touches are slly, but it was one of the most succesful early spaghetti westerns and a must view for every fan of the genre.
Reviewed DVD: French Seven7Sept.
Running time: 1:33,29 / 2,35:1 Anamorphic / PAL / Region 2 / DD 2.0 Mono French / No subtitles.
This is a stunning DVD. Picture quality is excellent: colours are warm, the image is sharp and crystal clear and thereâs hardly any print damage. Moreover there are interesting extras, such as an interview with Gemmaâs daughter. But ⊠itâs not English friendly âŠ
For everybody who speaks (some) French this is a must have, but it certainly is a movie that deserves a decent first rate English friendly release.
For more info visit:
DATABASE LINK: Pistola per Ringo, Una - The Spaghetti Western Database (spaghetti-western.net)
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