45 reviews
Excellent Spaghetti Western with a rousing score.
What I liked about this film was an intriguing storyline, superb music by Ennio Morricone and Lee Van Cleef. The action scenes are almost on a par with Leone's films and Van Cleef is top-notch (more convincing as a 'good guy').
After watching my tape of this film, I found out that it was a (badly-cut-by-Columbia) 84 min version. This would explain some confusing sections of the dialogue/narrative.
I'm told that the fuller versions (there is one of 114 min) are superior. Let's hope this film gets a decent treatment on DVD (hello Sony-Columbia) - it certainly deserves it more than most.
After watching my tape of this film, I found out that it was a (badly-cut-by-Columbia) 84 min version. This would explain some confusing sections of the dialogue/narrative.
I'm told that the fuller versions (there is one of 114 min) are superior. Let's hope this film gets a decent treatment on DVD (hello Sony-Columbia) - it certainly deserves it more than most.
This should please fans of the spaghetti western sub-genre
In this Italian spaghetti western from director Sergio Sollima, Lee Van Cleef stars as "Colorado" Corbett, a feared bounty hunter looking to hang up his guns. He's convinced by rich fat-cat Brockston (Walter Barnes) to go on one more manhunt, and in exchange he'll be rewarded with backing for a potential political career. Corbett's quarry is a Mexican known as "Cuchillo" (Tomas Milian), who's accused of sexual assault and murder. What Corbett believes will be an easy takedown turns ever more complicated and dangerous. Also featuring Nieves Navarro, Gerard Herter, Maria Granada, Roberto Camardiel, and Angel del Pozo.
This has the usual over-blown sound effects and striking musical score (courtesy of Ennio Morricone) that I love in spaghetti westerns. The story doesn't hold a lot of surprises, but fans of the spaghetti sub-genre should dig it.
I try to avoid promoting individual products, but in this case of the Grindhouse Releasing Blu-ray, it is a fantastic release featuring the remastered American cut on both Blu-ray and DVD, the original Italian version on Blu-ray, and a CD of the soundtrack. The film discs also include commentary tracks and interviews with cast and crew.
This has the usual over-blown sound effects and striking musical score (courtesy of Ennio Morricone) that I love in spaghetti westerns. The story doesn't hold a lot of surprises, but fans of the spaghetti sub-genre should dig it.
I try to avoid promoting individual products, but in this case of the Grindhouse Releasing Blu-ray, it is a fantastic release featuring the remastered American cut on both Blu-ray and DVD, the original Italian version on Blu-ray, and a CD of the soundtrack. The film discs also include commentary tracks and interviews with cast and crew.
good stylish spaghetti western
Retired sheriff is persuaded by a politician to come back and hunt down a Mexican who has raped and murdered a twelve year old girl but he slowly realises the Mexican has been framed to cover up the real murderer. Good, stylish spaghetti western,this is the longer uncut version of the film and not the hacked up Amercian version that lost nearly twenty minutes of footage.This has a rather slow start and develops into a chase movie in a kind of western version of "the fugitive".Lee Van Cleef is his usual dependable self and the Ennio Morricone soundtrack is good although i'm not sure about the screeching title song!Film is good and satisfies overall.
a truly great epic spaghetti western
This film is often referred to as "the best non-Leone spaghetti western." That may very well be true. For me, it's difficult to decide because there are a couple of others that I like about as much as this one. This movie is brilliant. It has everything that makes the spaghetti western such a great film genre.
The music score is a masterpiece. It is one of Morricone's best. The title song sends shivers up my spine. I love the voice, the melody, and the lyrics. It is absolutely unforgettable. The melody of the theme song keeps on recurring, but in totally different ways, each one unique and wonderful, sometimes haunting, sometimes playful, and sometimes serious. There are parts where the music is choreographed with the action on the screen in a way very reminiscent of the Leone westerns. Cuchillo's run through the cane fields is driven by the corresponding music, making the music and the action inseparable. The musical accompaniments to the gunfights near the end of the film are operatic, suspenseful, and appropriately grandiose. This score is not background music. It is a dominating force in this movie, and could even be considered the most important part of the film. Ennio Morricone may very well be the biggest "star" of the spaghetti western genre, even though he never physically appeared in a single one of the films!
Director Sergio Sollima uses politics and social commentary not only to get a message across, but also to make us relate to and sympathize with some of the characters, and to despise some of the others. He also throws in some great strange, eccentric, and over the top characters (no spaghetti western is complete without em). You just gotta love the lady ranch owner and her lovesick ranch hands, and the nazi-like Baron Von Schulenberg with his monocle and Dracula cape. That baron really gets on Lee Van Cleef's nerves, and Van Cleef has a couple of great smart-ass remarks for him. This is classic stuff all the way.
Lee Van Cleef is perfect for the role of Corbett. This is classic Van Cleef, playing the cool, confident, unflinching bounty hunter type. Sollima definitely picked the best possible actor for the role. The same can be said for his choice of Tomas Milian for the role of Cuchillo. Milian plays the part of a man that is being hunted like an animal. He sometimes has to act and think like an animal would to stay one step ahead of his predators. Milian conveys this very well. I can't imagine anyone else in this role.
See this movie! And if you are a spaghetti western fan, you need to have it, so find it and add it to your collection!
The music score is a masterpiece. It is one of Morricone's best. The title song sends shivers up my spine. I love the voice, the melody, and the lyrics. It is absolutely unforgettable. The melody of the theme song keeps on recurring, but in totally different ways, each one unique and wonderful, sometimes haunting, sometimes playful, and sometimes serious. There are parts where the music is choreographed with the action on the screen in a way very reminiscent of the Leone westerns. Cuchillo's run through the cane fields is driven by the corresponding music, making the music and the action inseparable. The musical accompaniments to the gunfights near the end of the film are operatic, suspenseful, and appropriately grandiose. This score is not background music. It is a dominating force in this movie, and could even be considered the most important part of the film. Ennio Morricone may very well be the biggest "star" of the spaghetti western genre, even though he never physically appeared in a single one of the films!
Director Sergio Sollima uses politics and social commentary not only to get a message across, but also to make us relate to and sympathize with some of the characters, and to despise some of the others. He also throws in some great strange, eccentric, and over the top characters (no spaghetti western is complete without em). You just gotta love the lady ranch owner and her lovesick ranch hands, and the nazi-like Baron Von Schulenberg with his monocle and Dracula cape. That baron really gets on Lee Van Cleef's nerves, and Van Cleef has a couple of great smart-ass remarks for him. This is classic stuff all the way.
Lee Van Cleef is perfect for the role of Corbett. This is classic Van Cleef, playing the cool, confident, unflinching bounty hunter type. Sollima definitely picked the best possible actor for the role. The same can be said for his choice of Tomas Milian for the role of Cuchillo. Milian plays the part of a man that is being hunted like an animal. He sometimes has to act and think like an animal would to stay one step ahead of his predators. Milian conveys this very well. I can't imagine anyone else in this role.
See this movie! And if you are a spaghetti western fan, you need to have it, so find it and add it to your collection!
- spider89119
- Mar 29, 2006
- Permalink
Great Lee Van Cleef non-Leone Western
- FilmFlaneur
- Apr 21, 2001
- Permalink
Very good S.W. about a relentless and exciting manhunt set against spectacular scenery of Almeria
This is the original installment from Cuchillo trilogy and again an awesome Tomas Milian . This is the first part from Sergio Sollima trilogy, starred by Tomas Milian, as the roguish Cuchillo and formed by ¨Face to face¨ with Gian Maria Volonte and ¨Run Cuchillo run ¨ with Donald O'Brien and this one . It deals with Jonathan Corbett , a real-life character well played by Lee Van Cleef , who pursues a Mexican bandit accused of rape and murder . The solitary , self-reliant Corbett tracks down Cuchillo who is wrongly accused of killing . The relentless chase is set against strong environment , risked mountains and hazardous trails. Later on , the dangerous pursuit includes a motley posse formed by Walter Barnes, Angel Del Pozo , Gerard Herter , among others . Now as absolute starring Tomas Milian , nicknamed Cuchillo , and supported by Lee Van Cleef as an obstinate pursuer . It will be a long and dangerous pursuit with continuous getaways . It's set during early Mexican revolution with Benito Juarez ruling . And the Cuban Thomas Milian, as usual, puts faces, grimaces, crying and overacting, but plays splendidly.
This Zapata-Western is superior than subsequent entries because it displays stirring adventures, shootouts, riding pursuits and is pretty amusing. It's an exciting S. W. with breathtaking showdown between the protagonists Lee Van Cleef , Tomas Milian and the nasty enemies as Walter Barnes and his hoodlums as Angel Del Pozo and the German officer Gerard Herter . Tomas Milian is very fine, he ravages the screen, he jumps, hit and run , besides receiving violent punches, kicks and wounds . Gerard Herter playing a cruelly baddie role as Prussian baron with monocle is terrific , subsequently the would play similar role in other Spaghettis . Furthermore, it appears usual secondaries of Italian/Spanish Western as the femme fatal Nieves Navarro or Susan Scott as a black widow , in addition a lot of familiar paella faces as Robert Camardiel ,Lorenzo Robledo, Luis Barboo , Fernando Bilbao, Barta Barry , Frank Braña and , of course, Fernando Sancho in his ordinary role as a bully Mexican . The film blends violence, blood, tension , high body-count and it's fast moving and quite entertaining. There is plenty of action in the movie , guaranteeing shootouts or stunts every few minutes. There are many fine technicians and nice assistant direction and excellent production design by Carlo Simi , Sergio Leone's usual , he creates a magnificent scenario with barren outdoors, dirty landscapes under a glimmer sun and a fine set on the final scenes . As always , the musician Ennio Morricone, composes a nice Spaghetti soundtrack and well conducted ; it's full of guttural sounds and emotive score . Interior filmed at Elios Studios and outdoor sequences filmed at Tabernas , Cinecitta Studios , Rome and of course Almeria, Spain.
Sergio Sollima's direction is well crafted, here he's less cynical and humorous and more inclined toward violence and too much action. Colorful and evocative cinematography by Carlo Carlini , reflecting marvelously the habitual Almeria outdoors . The picture was well directed by Sollima , it would be his last Western and following directing successes such as Pirate films as ¨ Sandokan ¨ and the ¨Black Corsario¨ . Rating : Better than average Western . Essential and indispensable watching for Spaghetti Western aficionados .
This Zapata-Western is superior than subsequent entries because it displays stirring adventures, shootouts, riding pursuits and is pretty amusing. It's an exciting S. W. with breathtaking showdown between the protagonists Lee Van Cleef , Tomas Milian and the nasty enemies as Walter Barnes and his hoodlums as Angel Del Pozo and the German officer Gerard Herter . Tomas Milian is very fine, he ravages the screen, he jumps, hit and run , besides receiving violent punches, kicks and wounds . Gerard Herter playing a cruelly baddie role as Prussian baron with monocle is terrific , subsequently the would play similar role in other Spaghettis . Furthermore, it appears usual secondaries of Italian/Spanish Western as the femme fatal Nieves Navarro or Susan Scott as a black widow , in addition a lot of familiar paella faces as Robert Camardiel ,Lorenzo Robledo, Luis Barboo , Fernando Bilbao, Barta Barry , Frank Braña and , of course, Fernando Sancho in his ordinary role as a bully Mexican . The film blends violence, blood, tension , high body-count and it's fast moving and quite entertaining. There is plenty of action in the movie , guaranteeing shootouts or stunts every few minutes. There are many fine technicians and nice assistant direction and excellent production design by Carlo Simi , Sergio Leone's usual , he creates a magnificent scenario with barren outdoors, dirty landscapes under a glimmer sun and a fine set on the final scenes . As always , the musician Ennio Morricone, composes a nice Spaghetti soundtrack and well conducted ; it's full of guttural sounds and emotive score . Interior filmed at Elios Studios and outdoor sequences filmed at Tabernas , Cinecitta Studios , Rome and of course Almeria, Spain.
Sergio Sollima's direction is well crafted, here he's less cynical and humorous and more inclined toward violence and too much action. Colorful and evocative cinematography by Carlo Carlini , reflecting marvelously the habitual Almeria outdoors . The picture was well directed by Sollima , it would be his last Western and following directing successes such as Pirate films as ¨ Sandokan ¨ and the ¨Black Corsario¨ . Rating : Better than average Western . Essential and indispensable watching for Spaghetti Western aficionados .
Excellent "Spaghetti" Western
This is absolutely one of the best so-called spaghetti westerns ever, after Sergio Leone's films of course, and it rates very highly among all westerns. Unlike many other non-Sergio Leone westerns, the cinematography, camera-work, etc., are all very good and some scenes are very artistic and even worthy of Leone himself.
Lee van Cleef is excellent as the pseudo-lawman/bounty hunter with integrity who believes in "justice" and "progress" for society.
Ennio Morricone, as usual, provides a great score for the film. The song is rousing, while the music for the chase scenes is excellent. Morricone also does a folk-music/square dance version of the theme for the wedding party, which is a neat touch.
The story is interesting and well-developed, as well. In its full-length version, it is in fact somewhat deep, with van Cleef's Corbett being a fairly complex character who undergoes a significant character development in the course of the film. In the abridged American version, unfortunately, he is shown as simply bounty hunter who mercilessly kills all before him in cold blood, who never bats an eye at his job, making his character two-dimensional and making the end more flat, more perfunctory, and less convincing or meaningful. In the full-length version, though, he cares about justice, gives outlaws a choice (and a chance), and there is significant development on how he becomes so obsessed with finding Cuchillo that he crosses the boundary between justice and personal obsession. He then re-examines himself and the events in which he finds himself to come to a significant realisation near the end.
Lee van Cleef is excellent as the pseudo-lawman/bounty hunter with integrity who believes in "justice" and "progress" for society.
Ennio Morricone, as usual, provides a great score for the film. The song is rousing, while the music for the chase scenes is excellent. Morricone also does a folk-music/square dance version of the theme for the wedding party, which is a neat touch.
The story is interesting and well-developed, as well. In its full-length version, it is in fact somewhat deep, with van Cleef's Corbett being a fairly complex character who undergoes a significant character development in the course of the film. In the abridged American version, unfortunately, he is shown as simply bounty hunter who mercilessly kills all before him in cold blood, who never bats an eye at his job, making his character two-dimensional and making the end more flat, more perfunctory, and less convincing or meaningful. In the full-length version, though, he cares about justice, gives outlaws a choice (and a chance), and there is significant development on how he becomes so obsessed with finding Cuchillo that he crosses the boundary between justice and personal obsession. He then re-examines himself and the events in which he finds himself to come to a significant realisation near the end.
- Wulfstan10
- Jul 17, 2005
- Permalink
THE BIG GUNDOWN (Sergio Sollima, 1966) ***
At the 61st Venice Film Festival, Quentin Tarantino named THE BIG GUNDOWN not only his favorite Spaghetti Western but one of the all-time Top 5 Westerns!; ironically, though I knew of the film's reputation and had actually already missed out on it on late-night Italian TV due to a power cut, I was all set to give it another miss because I had intended to attend a screening of the latest film by nonagenarian Portuguese film-maker Manoel de Oliveira during which he was also to be presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award...but when, during a Press Conference, Tarantino singled out this one as being the film to see at the "Italian Kings Of The 'B'" retrospective (which he and Joe Dante were presiding over), I just had to be there - since, unlike most other titles at the Festival, it was reserved just that one screening!
The show, then, was delayed by an unattended bag left inside the theater from the previous screening which, incidentally, had been Ferdinando Baldi's Spaghetti Western BLINDMAN (1972) and, given the paranoid state of affairs post-9/11, this necessitated the intervention of bomb disposal units/dogs/soldiers/police before anyone could be allowed to re-enter the hall and the projection of the next film could proceed! If that wasn't enough, Joe Dante - who was present at the screening and my brother and I could overhear him waxing lyrical to his wife about the film's qualities - had to leave the theater after the first few minutes of the projection because, for some reason, English subtitles were not supplied with the only available print!
Anyway, let's get to the film itself: from the accompanying interview with director Sollima, I learned that the Tomas Milian role was originally intended for Gian Maria Volonte', who was to have played a much older "prey" - but then the characters' ages were reversed. As it turned out, this was the first film to feature Milian's "Cuchillo" Sanchez character - a wily Mexican peasant and a dexterous knife-thrower - which he reprised in RUN, MAN, RUN (1968; also directed by Sollima and whose R1 DVD courtesy of Blue Underground I ordered following this viewing, also because it's the only remaining title from the company's "The Spaghetti Western Collection" set I have yet to watch!). The original treatment (by Franco Solinas) was much more politicized but, even if this element was eventually toned down, it's still palpable in the film's critical depiction of the upper-classes - arrogant, duplicitous and perverse - vis-a'-vis the struggling and downtrodden but lusty (and, by extension, virile) lower classes.
Lee Van Cleef has one of his best roles ever as renowned bounty hunter (with an eye on a place in the Senate) Jonathan Corbett; to me, his relationship with Milian's character is one of the strongest ever to be established within the entire Western genre, and it's this that elevates the film above most non-Leone Italian efforts. Ennio Morricone provides one of his most eclectic and haunting scores that's weird and exhilarating at the same time, especially towards the end of the film when the song (ironically called "Run, Man, Run" and with a heightened vocal rendition by Christy to match!) - which is also heard over the opening credits - is reprised. In contrast to the operatic and baroque styles adopted by the other two Sergios - Leone and Corbucci, respectively - Sollima utilizes a much more sober, humanist and, ultimately, realistic approach.
The complexity of this film's script belies the general low esteem in which the genre is held (being episodic in nature, with Van Cleef and Milian meeting up with a plethora of diverse characters during the course of the manhunt; one of the most memorable scenes is when Van Cleef goes to look for Milian's wife, a feisty prostitute who verbally abuses her husband for having deserted her but then lashes out at Van Cleef when realizing his true intent, after which the latter is cornered by the entire local community!); indeed, at the time, these films were more authentic than the examples - the Western was then on its last legs - churned out by Hollywood...at least until THE WILD BUNCH (1969) came along!
I remember when the film was reviewed in a journal available outside the venue of the Venice Film Festival, it was described as having allegiances with the giallo genre - Milian is accused of being a serial rapist - but, having rewatched the film, this element isn't sufficiently stressed to make that connection! One of its more interesting aspects, however, is the reciprocated respect that passes between Van Cleef and Austrian bodyguard/ex-military officer/aristocrat/marksman Gerard Herter (whose character Sollima admitted to having based on Erich von Stroheim). This, in turn, gives way to a terrific extended climax: first, we see Milian duel with the real culprit of the crimes he's suspected of, then Van Cleef's stand-off with the Baron, and finally the confrontation between Corbett and the villainous railroad tycoon who appointed him to trail Milian in the first place. The cast also features a brief but striking turn by Nieves Navarro as a nymphomaniac rancher(!) and Fernando Sancho as a Mexican policeman who, hating the revolutionaries as much as the Americans, is content to let them cut each others' throat.
I'm surprised, therefore, that the film has still to make it to R1 DVD but I'm glad I picked up the R2 edition: the remastered print is beautiful and the film contains a 15-minute interview (though the video proved problematic initially) with Sergio Sollima that was highly engaging, informative and even funny (his quips about the highbrow Italian films of the time, the critics' darlings as opposed to the largely neglected genre offerings, is priceless!); in fact, I wish he'd done a full-length Audio Commentary for the film, as I really could have listened to him talk all day!!
The show, then, was delayed by an unattended bag left inside the theater from the previous screening which, incidentally, had been Ferdinando Baldi's Spaghetti Western BLINDMAN (1972) and, given the paranoid state of affairs post-9/11, this necessitated the intervention of bomb disposal units/dogs/soldiers/police before anyone could be allowed to re-enter the hall and the projection of the next film could proceed! If that wasn't enough, Joe Dante - who was present at the screening and my brother and I could overhear him waxing lyrical to his wife about the film's qualities - had to leave the theater after the first few minutes of the projection because, for some reason, English subtitles were not supplied with the only available print!
Anyway, let's get to the film itself: from the accompanying interview with director Sollima, I learned that the Tomas Milian role was originally intended for Gian Maria Volonte', who was to have played a much older "prey" - but then the characters' ages were reversed. As it turned out, this was the first film to feature Milian's "Cuchillo" Sanchez character - a wily Mexican peasant and a dexterous knife-thrower - which he reprised in RUN, MAN, RUN (1968; also directed by Sollima and whose R1 DVD courtesy of Blue Underground I ordered following this viewing, also because it's the only remaining title from the company's "The Spaghetti Western Collection" set I have yet to watch!). The original treatment (by Franco Solinas) was much more politicized but, even if this element was eventually toned down, it's still palpable in the film's critical depiction of the upper-classes - arrogant, duplicitous and perverse - vis-a'-vis the struggling and downtrodden but lusty (and, by extension, virile) lower classes.
Lee Van Cleef has one of his best roles ever as renowned bounty hunter (with an eye on a place in the Senate) Jonathan Corbett; to me, his relationship with Milian's character is one of the strongest ever to be established within the entire Western genre, and it's this that elevates the film above most non-Leone Italian efforts. Ennio Morricone provides one of his most eclectic and haunting scores that's weird and exhilarating at the same time, especially towards the end of the film when the song (ironically called "Run, Man, Run" and with a heightened vocal rendition by Christy to match!) - which is also heard over the opening credits - is reprised. In contrast to the operatic and baroque styles adopted by the other two Sergios - Leone and Corbucci, respectively - Sollima utilizes a much more sober, humanist and, ultimately, realistic approach.
The complexity of this film's script belies the general low esteem in which the genre is held (being episodic in nature, with Van Cleef and Milian meeting up with a plethora of diverse characters during the course of the manhunt; one of the most memorable scenes is when Van Cleef goes to look for Milian's wife, a feisty prostitute who verbally abuses her husband for having deserted her but then lashes out at Van Cleef when realizing his true intent, after which the latter is cornered by the entire local community!); indeed, at the time, these films were more authentic than the examples - the Western was then on its last legs - churned out by Hollywood...at least until THE WILD BUNCH (1969) came along!
I remember when the film was reviewed in a journal available outside the venue of the Venice Film Festival, it was described as having allegiances with the giallo genre - Milian is accused of being a serial rapist - but, having rewatched the film, this element isn't sufficiently stressed to make that connection! One of its more interesting aspects, however, is the reciprocated respect that passes between Van Cleef and Austrian bodyguard/ex-military officer/aristocrat/marksman Gerard Herter (whose character Sollima admitted to having based on Erich von Stroheim). This, in turn, gives way to a terrific extended climax: first, we see Milian duel with the real culprit of the crimes he's suspected of, then Van Cleef's stand-off with the Baron, and finally the confrontation between Corbett and the villainous railroad tycoon who appointed him to trail Milian in the first place. The cast also features a brief but striking turn by Nieves Navarro as a nymphomaniac rancher(!) and Fernando Sancho as a Mexican policeman who, hating the revolutionaries as much as the Americans, is content to let them cut each others' throat.
I'm surprised, therefore, that the film has still to make it to R1 DVD but I'm glad I picked up the R2 edition: the remastered print is beautiful and the film contains a 15-minute interview (though the video proved problematic initially) with Sergio Sollima that was highly engaging, informative and even funny (his quips about the highbrow Italian films of the time, the critics' darlings as opposed to the largely neglected genre offerings, is priceless!); in fact, I wish he'd done a full-length Audio Commentary for the film, as I really could have listened to him talk all day!!
- Bunuel1976
- Aug 23, 2006
- Permalink
Fantastic Italian Western!
As a big fan of Spaghetti Westerns, two of my all-time favorite directors are Sergio Leone and Sergio Corbucci. Out of all Spaghetti Westerns directed by neither Leone, nor Corbucci, Segio Sollima's "La Resa Dei Conti" aka. "The Big Gundown" is my personal favorite, and doubtlessly one of the greatest films the genre has ever brought forth. An exciting and extremely stylish film with brilliantly drawn characters, "The Big Gundown" is a masterly Spaghetti Western with a political message.
Jonathan Corbett (Lee Van Cleef), a famous gunman and bounty hunter, is sent to hunt down a Mexican small-time crook named Cuchillo Sanchez (Tomas Milian), who is accused of the rape and murder of a 12-year-old girl. Corbett is an experienced and successful lawman, but Cuchillo is very clever too. On the his long hunt Corbett gets to know Cuchillo, whose guilt he finds more and more doubtful. Although this is a very serious Spaghetti Western in most of its parts, there are some very funny characters, like the almost cartoonish aristocratic Austrian gunman Baron Von Schulenberg (Gérard Herter), a cold-blooded but extremely arrogant and almost Nazi-ish killer wearing a monocle and always looking neat as a pin.
Sergio Sollima's directing is truly outstanding. The acting is also great, especially the brilliant performances of Tomas Milian and Lee Van Cleef, two of my personal favorite actors. The score by Ennio Morricone is one of a kind, outstanding, even compared to most of the other Morricone soundtracks. In one ingenious part of the movie, for example, Morricone mixes Ludwig Van Beethoven's "Für Elise" with a Mexican guitar and his typical dynamic Spaghetti Western drums. The cinematography and settings are overwhelming in a manner that is en par with Leone. In short: "The Big Gundown" is a formidable gem that even Leone would be proud of, and an Italian Western highlight that no lover of the genre could possibly afford to miss! 10/10
Jonathan Corbett (Lee Van Cleef), a famous gunman and bounty hunter, is sent to hunt down a Mexican small-time crook named Cuchillo Sanchez (Tomas Milian), who is accused of the rape and murder of a 12-year-old girl. Corbett is an experienced and successful lawman, but Cuchillo is very clever too. On the his long hunt Corbett gets to know Cuchillo, whose guilt he finds more and more doubtful. Although this is a very serious Spaghetti Western in most of its parts, there are some very funny characters, like the almost cartoonish aristocratic Austrian gunman Baron Von Schulenberg (Gérard Herter), a cold-blooded but extremely arrogant and almost Nazi-ish killer wearing a monocle and always looking neat as a pin.
Sergio Sollima's directing is truly outstanding. The acting is also great, especially the brilliant performances of Tomas Milian and Lee Van Cleef, two of my personal favorite actors. The score by Ennio Morricone is one of a kind, outstanding, even compared to most of the other Morricone soundtracks. In one ingenious part of the movie, for example, Morricone mixes Ludwig Van Beethoven's "Für Elise" with a Mexican guitar and his typical dynamic Spaghetti Western drums. The cinematography and settings are overwhelming in a manner that is en par with Leone. In short: "The Big Gundown" is a formidable gem that even Leone would be proud of, and an Italian Western highlight that no lover of the genre could possibly afford to miss! 10/10
- Witchfinder-General-666
- Aug 6, 2006
- Permalink
Reasonably good Italian western with a political message
Lumpy and uneven production hurt an interesting story. It's a shame that this isn't better but if you consider the conditions films like this were made under it's a good job.
Van Clief does a variation of his role in "For A Few Dollars More" and succeeds. He carries the film, without him the movie would probably be unwatchable. Milan is his usual "poor everyman" but is less assured in the role. His character seems to be aimed at defiant 14 year old boys which is at odds with the more adult themes the film is based on.
The cinematography ranges from very good to harsh. The music is a Morriccone classic but is crudely edited during the course of the film. THe final showdown is strange as there are really two showdowns. The dubbing is passable but doesn't help.
Not counting the Leone films this is a top level Italian Western.
Van Clief does a variation of his role in "For A Few Dollars More" and succeeds. He carries the film, without him the movie would probably be unwatchable. Milan is his usual "poor everyman" but is less assured in the role. His character seems to be aimed at defiant 14 year old boys which is at odds with the more adult themes the film is based on.
The cinematography ranges from very good to harsh. The music is a Morriccone classic but is crudely edited during the course of the film. THe final showdown is strange as there are really two showdowns. The dubbing is passable but doesn't help.
Not counting the Leone films this is a top level Italian Western.
One of the best Spaghetti I've ever seen!!!
Here we have two legendary actors together, the stereotyped Lee Van Cleef & Tomas Millian, the first a true American from New Jersey that went to stardom after working with the master Sergio Leone, Tomas Millian a Cuban that made an impressive career at Italy and Spain on spaghetti genre although both had a fine experience on Italian Poliziotteschi on the seventies.
As strange as it may seems Lee Van Cleef plays a good guy Jonathan Colorado Corbett, a bounty hunter that swept the western territory of those outlaws, bank robbers and related, such striking performance impresses the greedy and wealthy financier Brokston (Walter Barnes) that is willing underwrite Corbett to run of the senate's seat, however appears an unexpected sad news, a twelve years old girl was raped and murdered by a Mexican outlaw called Cuchillo (Tomas Millian), they require to Corbett bring him alive to be punished rather than he cross the Mexico frontier.
The savvy Corbett finds him sooner than he had ever hope, Cuchillo was calmly shaving at a small village, nonetheless the slippery cat burglar escapes with rare smartness, the next stop is a Mormon's wagon train passing by the river area, Corbett finds him about to rape another young girl, once more Cuchillo has a lucky at his side, the young girl shot at Corbett's shoulder, next meeting at widow farmer where the dirtiest runaway at last was arrested, meantime all it took was a small slip up for the cunning outlaw slips away, a new rallying point takes place in a desert waterhole, where the crafty bandolero sticks a cactus's thorn at Corbett's back pretending a snake's bite that is near him, what scene, anyway Cuchillo still gets running over and over until weary confess that he wasn't rape the girl whatsoever, although he knows who did.
Isn't all that Tarantino regards this movie one the best spaghetti ever, the both leading actors had a flawless performance, the final showdown is priceless , the director Sergio Sollima lived up at Leone's style, I'll look forward for a better restoration preserving the fabulous Aspect Ratio 2.35 : 1, due my copy was of the first generation of DVD!!
Thanks for reading.
Resume:
First watch: 1993 / How many: 2 / Source: TV-DVD / Rating: 8
As strange as it may seems Lee Van Cleef plays a good guy Jonathan Colorado Corbett, a bounty hunter that swept the western territory of those outlaws, bank robbers and related, such striking performance impresses the greedy and wealthy financier Brokston (Walter Barnes) that is willing underwrite Corbett to run of the senate's seat, however appears an unexpected sad news, a twelve years old girl was raped and murdered by a Mexican outlaw called Cuchillo (Tomas Millian), they require to Corbett bring him alive to be punished rather than he cross the Mexico frontier.
The savvy Corbett finds him sooner than he had ever hope, Cuchillo was calmly shaving at a small village, nonetheless the slippery cat burglar escapes with rare smartness, the next stop is a Mormon's wagon train passing by the river area, Corbett finds him about to rape another young girl, once more Cuchillo has a lucky at his side, the young girl shot at Corbett's shoulder, next meeting at widow farmer where the dirtiest runaway at last was arrested, meantime all it took was a small slip up for the cunning outlaw slips away, a new rallying point takes place in a desert waterhole, where the crafty bandolero sticks a cactus's thorn at Corbett's back pretending a snake's bite that is near him, what scene, anyway Cuchillo still gets running over and over until weary confess that he wasn't rape the girl whatsoever, although he knows who did.
Isn't all that Tarantino regards this movie one the best spaghetti ever, the both leading actors had a flawless performance, the final showdown is priceless , the director Sergio Sollima lived up at Leone's style, I'll look forward for a better restoration preserving the fabulous Aspect Ratio 2.35 : 1, due my copy was of the first generation of DVD!!
Thanks for reading.
Resume:
First watch: 1993 / How many: 2 / Source: TV-DVD / Rating: 8
- elo-equipamentos
- Feb 9, 2021
- Permalink
Fair movie, great score
Even though Eli Wallach was "the Ugly" in Sergio Leone's epic 1968 western, and Lee Van Cleef was "the Bad," the labels were switched in the original trailer, and again on the poster for "The Big Gundown" which had its U.S. release later in the same year. I recall seeing it as the top half of a double feature (Dean Martin's first Matt Helm movie, "The Silencers," was in the second position) and though the movie was a better than average Italian western (and aside from Sergio Leone's contributions to the genre, all Italians westerns were average at best) what stood out, aside from Lee Van Cleef's always commanding presence, was another remarkable music score by the amazing Ennio Morricone that even included a rare vocal by Nina on "Run, Man, Run." The soundtrack, available at one time on the United Artists label, is worth tracking down, and the movie is also worth a look.
Sometimes sloppy but mostly a lot of fun...
- JasparLamarCrabb
- Jul 26, 2011
- Permalink
The Key Spaghetti Western
Unofficial lawman John Corbett (Lee VanCleef) hunts down Cuchillo Sanchez (Tomas Milian), a Mexican peasant accused of raping and killing a 12-year-old girl.
"The Big Gundown" hit American theaters thanks to the success of Sergio Leone's Clint Eastwood films. Despite being made before "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly", it was that film's power that attracted people to "Gundown" and star Lee VanCleef. Unfortunately, the folks at Columbia did not give the film the respect it deserved and tried to pass it off as a film starring "Mr. Ugly" (who was actually Eli Wallach, not VanCleef, showing how little they cared).
Ennio Morricone, the biggest name in Italian composing, provides the score and it is among his best work. Actor Milian was actually Cuban, not Mexican, but he filled the role as well as anyone could (and starred in two more Sergio Sollima westerns in 1967 and 1968).
Through Grindhouse releasing, the film is now available on DVD and Blu-ray, completely uncut, looking sharp and sounding great. There are interviews with Sollima and Milian, as well as a complete commentary from Western authority C. Courtney Joyner. If the film itself were not enough, the booklet has a few essays and a bonus CD contains Morricone's entire soundtrack.
"The Big Gundown" hit American theaters thanks to the success of Sergio Leone's Clint Eastwood films. Despite being made before "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly", it was that film's power that attracted people to "Gundown" and star Lee VanCleef. Unfortunately, the folks at Columbia did not give the film the respect it deserved and tried to pass it off as a film starring "Mr. Ugly" (who was actually Eli Wallach, not VanCleef, showing how little they cared).
Ennio Morricone, the biggest name in Italian composing, provides the score and it is among his best work. Actor Milian was actually Cuban, not Mexican, but he filled the role as well as anyone could (and starred in two more Sergio Sollima westerns in 1967 and 1968).
Through Grindhouse releasing, the film is now available on DVD and Blu-ray, completely uncut, looking sharp and sounding great. There are interviews with Sollima and Milian, as well as a complete commentary from Western authority C. Courtney Joyner. If the film itself were not enough, the booklet has a few essays and a bonus CD contains Morricone's entire soundtrack.
Probably the second best western of 1966!
In 1966, Lee Van Cleef was a part of the greatest western of all time; he also made this film. Naturally, The Big Gundown has nothing on Sergio Leone's masterpiece The Good, The Bad and The Ugly; but it's still a more than decent little western that will surely satisfy anyone who considers themselves a Spaghetti Western fan. The film is directed by Sergio Sollima, who directed a handful of westerns in the late sixties before going on to direct successful Polizi flicks Revolver and Violent City. He's no Sergio Leone but his direction is certainly solid and the film benefits from the Spaghetti Western style. The plot focuses on the common western theme of one man chasing another through the desert. The lead character is Jonathan Corbett; a gunslinger turned police sheriff put on the trail of Cuchillo Sanchez; a Mexican bandit believed to have raped and killed a young girl. The Mexican is no match for the hardened gunman and he is tracked down quickly - but he has an uncanny ability to escape capture, and this drags the chase out long enough for the sheriff to realise that there may be more to the criminal than meets the eye.
The film benefits from two excellent leading performances. Lee Van Cleef made his name in Spaghetti Westerns for a reason; and that reason is performances like this one. He fits the style of the film very well and effortlessly fits into his role; which he has played many times before and since. His opposite number is the great Tomas Milian, who once again proves his versatility as the Mexican bandit. Milian has an amazing ability to make any role work for him and he's a constant source of entertainment. The Spaghetti Western genre is often best known for its entertainment value and this is true of many genre films; but this one stands out somewhat in that respect as it actually has some kind of point to make. It's not a great point and the film is hardly life-affirming but it still offers a little more than the average western. Of course, there are still plenty of gunfights, chases and general posturing and the director ensures that there's always enough going on to keep things worth watching. Overall, this is an excellent little film and well worth checking out. Recommended!
The film benefits from two excellent leading performances. Lee Van Cleef made his name in Spaghetti Westerns for a reason; and that reason is performances like this one. He fits the style of the film very well and effortlessly fits into his role; which he has played many times before and since. His opposite number is the great Tomas Milian, who once again proves his versatility as the Mexican bandit. Milian has an amazing ability to make any role work for him and he's a constant source of entertainment. The Spaghetti Western genre is often best known for its entertainment value and this is true of many genre films; but this one stands out somewhat in that respect as it actually has some kind of point to make. It's not a great point and the film is hardly life-affirming but it still offers a little more than the average western. Of course, there are still plenty of gunfights, chases and general posturing and the director ensures that there's always enough going on to keep things worth watching. Overall, this is an excellent little film and well worth checking out. Recommended!
"I'll hunt you down and kill you like the rotten beast you are".
- classicsoncall
- Aug 3, 2011
- Permalink
Excellent SW. However I'm a (duck you sucker!) for these films!
I just love this subgenre of the western, the 'spaghetti western' and I'm drawn in with the simplicity, brutality and plot lines of them. When they are good, they can be very good. The Big Gundown is definitely good.
It has an alumni of spaghetti western cast and crew from other notable examples of the genre making an excellent film. The production values are right up there with the magnus opus of the genre the Sergio Leone 'Dollars' films. In that I mean the music (Ennio Morricone of course), the cinematography and production design.
What I like about these films is the plot twists and here it doesn't disappoint in that respect. I won't spoil it or indeed any plot in my review. It is not a long film, it is freely available so what is stopping you from watching it?
I love the other Sergio's (Leone and Corbucci films). Well this film is directed by yet another Sergio (Sollima). I realise I've watched one of his films shot around the same period (Face To Face (1967)). He is another Sergio director that comes highly recommended!
The cast are notable actors in these films including Lee Van Cleef and Tomas Milian. Both excellent performances and deserve to ride off into the distance together at the end before going there own way.
It has an alumni of spaghetti western cast and crew from other notable examples of the genre making an excellent film. The production values are right up there with the magnus opus of the genre the Sergio Leone 'Dollars' films. In that I mean the music (Ennio Morricone of course), the cinematography and production design.
What I like about these films is the plot twists and here it doesn't disappoint in that respect. I won't spoil it or indeed any plot in my review. It is not a long film, it is freely available so what is stopping you from watching it?
I love the other Sergio's (Leone and Corbucci films). Well this film is directed by yet another Sergio (Sollima). I realise I've watched one of his films shot around the same period (Face To Face (1967)). He is another Sergio director that comes highly recommended!
The cast are notable actors in these films including Lee Van Cleef and Tomas Milian. Both excellent performances and deserve to ride off into the distance together at the end before going there own way.
- tonypeacock-1
- Apr 5, 2023
- Permalink
Above average spaghetti Western
Sergio Sollima probably hit his finest note with this Western. Lee Van Cleef certainly did: this is the best I have seen from him, better even than his roles in FOR A FEW DOLLARS MORE and THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY. Thomas Milian cranks out another typical performance as the loudmouth protesting his innocence who doubles up as expert knife thrower... and can he kill by targeting his opponent's head!
In this "dog eat dog" microcosm where Van Cleef is a bounty hunter who kills without a second thought, Milian at least has some awareness of the value of human life and gracious enough to spare Van Cleef's life when the latter is down. That unexpected generosity touches a cord in the bounty hunter's heart, who begins to wonder if there could not be some truth to Milian's claims that he neither killed nor raped a young girl.
Fernando Sancho deserves special plaudits for his role as laidback and cynical Captain Segura, always ready to elude the action once he senses danger.
Cinematography and action sequences are quite competent, with Carlo Carlini managing a visually engaging product.
The script rates better than usual for a spaghetti Western.
I have read somewhere that Director Quentin Tarantino rates THE BIG GUNDOWN the best spaghetti ever. I prefer Sergio Leone's work but I will not deny that this is an eminently watchable film. 7/10.
In this "dog eat dog" microcosm where Van Cleef is a bounty hunter who kills without a second thought, Milian at least has some awareness of the value of human life and gracious enough to spare Van Cleef's life when the latter is down. That unexpected generosity touches a cord in the bounty hunter's heart, who begins to wonder if there could not be some truth to Milian's claims that he neither killed nor raped a young girl.
Fernando Sancho deserves special plaudits for his role as laidback and cynical Captain Segura, always ready to elude the action once he senses danger.
Cinematography and action sequences are quite competent, with Carlo Carlini managing a visually engaging product.
The script rates better than usual for a spaghetti Western.
I have read somewhere that Director Quentin Tarantino rates THE BIG GUNDOWN the best spaghetti ever. I prefer Sergio Leone's work but I will not deny that this is an eminently watchable film. 7/10.
- adrianovasconcelos
- Jul 21, 2023
- Permalink
If you don't kill me right now, it'll be the last mistake you make.
La resa dei conti (The Big Gundown) is directed by Sergio Sollima and written by Sollima and Sergio Donati. It stars Lee Van Cleef, Tomas Milian, Walter Barnes and Gerard Herter. Music is by Ennio Morricone and cinematography by Carlo Calini.
Superior Spaghetti Western with shades of Zapata for good measure, The Big Gundown finds Van Cleef as bounty hunter - cum - unofficial lawman Jonathan Corbett, whose reputation for bringing in the criminals, dead or alive, has caught the attention of business baron Brockston (Barnes). With an interest in getting into politics, Corbett is sold on Brockston's offer of political help if he will do a job for him. The job is to hunt down a Mexican rogue by the name of Cuchillo (Milian) who is alleged to have raped and murdered a 12 year old girl. Tracking Cuchillo across the land, the Mexican proves to be a slippery customer, and more importantly, Corbett begins to doubt the veracity of the charges against him.
Adios Amigo.
What do you need for a great Italo Western? A leading man with screen presence supreme? Check! Rogue antagonist able to overact opposite the leading man whilst still exuding charm personified? Check! Scorching vistas? Check! A musical score so in tune with the story it's a character all by itself? Check! And violence? Check! Sollima's movie has it all.
Much of the film is about the manhunt and how the two men involved develop a relationship. Cuchillo claims he's being set up and seems to have friends in every town featured in the play. Corbett is a dandy with a gun, but he's not perfect, he can be outsmarted and get caught cold. There's good thought gone into the screenplay in this respect, not putting the anti-hero up as an infallible superman.
Then there's the side-bar narrative strands that show Sollima's political bent, even though this is hardly a heavily politico piece. From class struggles and racism, to asides on the justice system and the fat cats who operate around the system, Sollima does enjoy dangling such carrots. With zippy set pieces fuelled by brooding machismo that is in turn enhanced by the top work from Carlini and Morricone (it's one of Moricone's best scores, real dynamite), this is grade "A" Spaghetti and well worth feasting on. 9/10
Superior Spaghetti Western with shades of Zapata for good measure, The Big Gundown finds Van Cleef as bounty hunter - cum - unofficial lawman Jonathan Corbett, whose reputation for bringing in the criminals, dead or alive, has caught the attention of business baron Brockston (Barnes). With an interest in getting into politics, Corbett is sold on Brockston's offer of political help if he will do a job for him. The job is to hunt down a Mexican rogue by the name of Cuchillo (Milian) who is alleged to have raped and murdered a 12 year old girl. Tracking Cuchillo across the land, the Mexican proves to be a slippery customer, and more importantly, Corbett begins to doubt the veracity of the charges against him.
Adios Amigo.
What do you need for a great Italo Western? A leading man with screen presence supreme? Check! Rogue antagonist able to overact opposite the leading man whilst still exuding charm personified? Check! Scorching vistas? Check! A musical score so in tune with the story it's a character all by itself? Check! And violence? Check! Sollima's movie has it all.
Much of the film is about the manhunt and how the two men involved develop a relationship. Cuchillo claims he's being set up and seems to have friends in every town featured in the play. Corbett is a dandy with a gun, but he's not perfect, he can be outsmarted and get caught cold. There's good thought gone into the screenplay in this respect, not putting the anti-hero up as an infallible superman.
Then there's the side-bar narrative strands that show Sollima's political bent, even though this is hardly a heavily politico piece. From class struggles and racism, to asides on the justice system and the fat cats who operate around the system, Sollima does enjoy dangling such carrots. With zippy set pieces fuelled by brooding machismo that is in turn enhanced by the top work from Carlini and Morricone (it's one of Moricone's best scores, real dynamite), this is grade "A" Spaghetti and well worth feasting on. 9/10
- hitchcockthelegend
- Apr 20, 2014
- Permalink
The Big Gundown
- Scarecrow-88
- Mar 24, 2012
- Permalink
A truly rousing Spaghetti Western.
"La Resa dei Conti", a.k.a. "The Big Gundown", rates highly as a grand example of its genre. It's got a meaty story (screenplay credit goes to Sergio Donati and director Sergio Sollima), an epic feel to it, eye popping gorgeous widescreen photography (by Carlo Carlini), one of Ennio Morricones' most majestic and best ever scores, and enough action to keep a viewer riveted.
Lee Van Cleef, incredibly cool as usual, plays Jonathan Corbett, a bounty hunter with political aspirations. He's hired by businessman Mr. Brokston (Walter Barnes) to go after "Cuchillo" (Tomas Milian), an outlaw who's been accused of raping and murdering a 12 year old girl. Corbett soon finds Cuchillo, but what happens is that a sort of cat and mouse situation arises where the outlaw slips from Corbetts' clutches on more than one occasion. As the hunt continues, Corbett begins to have his doubts about the mission, and indeed he hasn't been told the truth.
Eurofilm superstar Milian delivers a very hearty performance as the desperate quarry, who proves to have a crafty nature to him as well. He and Van Cleef are well matched and receive strong support from Barnes, Luisa Rivelli as Lizzie the prostitute, the scene stealing Fernando Sancho as Captain Segura, Nieves Navarro as a widowed woman, and Gerard Herter as the colourful character Baron von Schulenberg.
Sollimas' direction is stylish and the film is just beautiful to look at, with plenty of detail filling the frame at all times. It's got plenty to recommend it to fans of Italian oaters.
Eight out of 10.
Lee Van Cleef, incredibly cool as usual, plays Jonathan Corbett, a bounty hunter with political aspirations. He's hired by businessman Mr. Brokston (Walter Barnes) to go after "Cuchillo" (Tomas Milian), an outlaw who's been accused of raping and murdering a 12 year old girl. Corbett soon finds Cuchillo, but what happens is that a sort of cat and mouse situation arises where the outlaw slips from Corbetts' clutches on more than one occasion. As the hunt continues, Corbett begins to have his doubts about the mission, and indeed he hasn't been told the truth.
Eurofilm superstar Milian delivers a very hearty performance as the desperate quarry, who proves to have a crafty nature to him as well. He and Van Cleef are well matched and receive strong support from Barnes, Luisa Rivelli as Lizzie the prostitute, the scene stealing Fernando Sancho as Captain Segura, Nieves Navarro as a widowed woman, and Gerard Herter as the colourful character Baron von Schulenberg.
Sollimas' direction is stylish and the film is just beautiful to look at, with plenty of detail filling the frame at all times. It's got plenty to recommend it to fans of Italian oaters.
Eight out of 10.
- Hey_Sweden
- Jan 5, 2014
- Permalink
Intriguing cat and mouse chase...
1st watched 8/19/2007 - 7 out of 10(Dir-Sergio Sollima): Intriguing cat and mouse chase Italian-made western that keeps you guessing right up to the very end. Lee Van Cleef plays a cop that is doing his job by hunting down a Mexican who is accused of raping & murdering a 12-year old girl. As he catches and then loses this elusive fellow bits and pieces of the story begin to unravel that question the authenticity of the charge against him. We are brought along with the Lee Van Cleef character thru this interesting story that challenges our assumptions about who's right and who's wrong. To give any more away would ruin the movie for those who want to watch it, so I'll stop right there. The only real negative to this movie is the fact that it is dubbed and comes across a little corny at first, but once the story grabs you and the relationship between the two main characters becomes the central theme, you look over the mistake of not using subtitles and it doesn't bother you as much. Overall, this is a very well made spaghetti western that should be considered a classic in the genre.
If it weren't meant to be so serious, it would be laughable
A truly dreadful film with some of the worst dubbing of all time. Worse, apparently some scenes were filmed, then their continuations were shot based on OTHER scenes! One example (from many): during a gunfight a woman is clearly shot seriously, probably fatally, and the camera shows her slumping to the floor. Seconds later, she is apparently unhurt, begging Van CLeef not to go!! A real laugher, made with high school talent, poor direction, and dubbing that is (like I said) so poor it makes Chinese Kung-Fu movies look good! If you need a laugh, and there is absolutely nothing else to do, and if you must, watch this film...but mostly to see how NOT to make movies. Van Cleef must have groaned when he saw this piece of garbage.
- SCmovieprof
- Jun 2, 2007
- Permalink
Superb spaghetti western elevated to new heights due to Morricone's phenomenal score
- TheNabOwnzz
- Sep 24, 2018
- Permalink