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Death of a Gunfighter (1969)
One of the rare the western-films that describes what happens in a small town in the West when problems are not solved, piled up or half-finished incorrectly
This revisionist western talks about the inevitable unfolding after many years. About 20 years, of the accumulation of injustice, immorality in Cottownwood Springs, Texas, at the turn of the 19th and 20th century!
There is almost no positive characters in the described events and main characters. Among the worst, in addition to the violent, marshal Frank Patch (convincingly played by Richard Widmark), is the vile Lester Locke (played by Carroll O'Connor), one of the initiators of the conspiracy against Marshal F. Patch.
Marshal Patch has mostly fallen into a hopeless life trap with his reckless actions. Illegally, in delicate situations he decides how he "thinks" it is right. So he once let, the killer from behind, Andrew Oxley (played solidly by Kent Smith), go unpunished in order for the latter to raise the victim's son Will Oxley.
BTW , marshal F. Patch was a gunfighter until he was hired 20 years ago by the leaders of Cottownwood Springs. In principle the gunfighter is badly character, who often resolve ordinary conflicts outside the law or per wild west law - by showdown. Ordinary people rightly despised them.
Most of the leaders of the place have their dishonorable secrets that marshal Patch mostly knows about.
Although for some it is an unusual ending that marshal Patch experienced (for some, the very scene of the clay pigeon in which Patch found himself is debatable), it did not surprise me. I think the intention of the main authors of the film was to show that local cowardly leaders are capable of organizing illegally the brutal removal of marshals.
Famous directors Robert Totten and Don Siegel as well as sciwriters: Joseph Calvelli (screenplay), Lewis B. Patten (novel) deserve praise for this above-average film.
Cinematography by Andrew Jackson) i Art Direction by Alexander Golitzen, Howard E. Johnson and Set Decoration by Sandy Grace, John McCarthy Jr. are well done - although there is one visible mistake: decorated barn through which local leaders pass!
Music by Oliver Nelson is satisfying.
R. Widmark, with his characteristic cynical, repulsive style, played very well the character of the antipathetic, arrogant, self-confident, bad marshal F. Patch. This role suited him like the ace on ten!
There's the solid acting of Lena Horne, once a famous African-American entertainer, in the role of Claire Quintan. She is the girl F. Patch in the film. Both the girl from the brothel and hers owner.
Carroll O'Connor (as Lester Locke) convincingly plays the character of a cunning conspirator against F. Patch.
Of the other famous actors, John Saxon stands out, albeit less on screen, as Lou Trinidad - convincing as a marshal in a nearby town. He is an acquaintance of F. Patch and who correctly advises him to leave Cottownwood Springs - to give up position of the marshal. Seeing that things have gone too far - unfavorably, he makes a correct proposal. Patch has no other way out if he wants to save his head!
Quién sabe? (1967)
This film is one of the better spaghetti-westerns
This film is one of the better spaghetti-westerns.
The music of Oscar winner Luis Bacalov is especially impressive.
With this film, director Damiano Damiani confirmed his reputation as a talented filmmaker. In 1963, he won the "Golden Bear" at the Berlin International Film Festival with the film "La rimpatriata (1963)".
In addition to the screenwriters Salvatore Laurani, Franco Solinas, the main actors are also responsible for the quality of this film. Gian Maria Volontè - as El Chuncho Niños, a multi-award winning, well-known Italian actor. Remembered are his title roles in TV series: Caravaggio (1967), Giordano Bruno (1973), but also as the bad guy in the first two cult spaghetti-westerns by the great director Sergio Leone.
Klaus Kinski as El Santo appears a little less on the screen but that was enough to show his acting talent.
Then relatively young Lou Castel (aged 24) as Bill 'Niño' Tate / Bill 'Niño' Taylor convincingly played the character and hinted at his acting talent.
Of the female characters, Martine Beswick stands out as Adelita. Among other roles she is remembered as the partner of the recently deceased, great actor Sean Connery, in 2 James Bond action movies.
Interestingly, director D. Damiani also briefly appears in the film as a journalist but he s not listed.
This above-average western can be viewed multiple times.
Django spara per primo (1966)
This film is underestimated by the viewers
I don't know why this well-made film is underestimated by the viewers? The rating is 6.1 and I think it had to be higher.
Director Alberto De Martino and his collaborators made a good film that can be watched several times.
Lead actors: Glenn Saxson (as Glenn Garvin / Django), Evelyn Stewart (Jessica Kluster), the legendary Fernando Sancho (Gordon) and Alberto Lupo (Doc), Nando Gazzolo (Ken Kluster) are especially credited for providing above-average acting to the audience presented a complex plot.
By the way, in this film, there is an action almost from the beginning to the end, which requires constant attention from the viewer. There are also quite a number of witty, funny scenes that seem relaxing.
6 screenwriters deserve great credit, including the director Alberto De Martino.
Visually, the film is above average why they are deserving:
Art Direction by Pier Vittorio Marchi,
Set Decoration by Franco D'Andria,
Costume Design by Gaia Romanini,
Cinematography by Riccardo Pallottini.
Acceptable music was composed by the esteemed Bruno Nicolai.
My recommendation is that this good, long-made ago film, must be watched carefully by spaghetti western fans. I don't think they'll complain that they spent about 95 minutes watching him. Spectator Coventry rated it even with a high rating of 8! The ratings here are whole numbers, so I couldn't rate the movie with a rating of 7.5.
Buon funerale amigos!... paga Sartana (1970)
Aesthetically pleasing spaghetti western
Here, I would like to refer to some artistic categories that are paid less attention to. First of all, I would like to praise the artistic contribution of the decorator, especially the clothing designer (Daphne Ciarrocchi, Luciano Sagoni) for the protagonists in the film, the set designer on the interior look (Giacomo Calo, Carducci), the director of photography (Stelvio Massi).
The music is at the level of Bruno Nicolai.
Director Giuliano Carnimeo, screenwriter and coauthor of the story Giovanni Simonelli with Robert Gianviti did a good job of introducing the character of Li Tse Tung / Peng. An unusual character. Otherwise the owner of the casino, of Chinese origin. The role of Li Tse Tung / Peng was convincingly played by George Wang.
On the whole, with the character of the murderous Sartana (Gianni Garko) and his deadly handling of cards, it seemed a very impressive innovation. From an aesthetic point of view, it is a successful, acceptably stylized spaghetti western, which makes it above-averagely watchable.
Stranger on Horseback (1955)
The scenes of slapping
In this mediocre film, in addition to the standard acting of the main actors, I remember the scenes of slapping, the attempt to take the revolver from the judge by Amy Lee Bannerman (Miroslava) and pushing the navalent, wild Amy from the judge Richard 'Rick' Thorne (Joel McCrea).
If you have time, you can watch this slightly shorter film lasting 66 minutes.
Age of Innocence (1977)
I recommend this movie for sure, watching carefully
First of all I do not understand why this film, is well worth watching, no the higher rate? The film I first watched nearly 30 years ago, and then at me, just like recently, when I watched it again, left a strong, a good impression. Screenplay, photography, directed (by Alan Bridges) as well as the protagonist of the film acting as a totality worthy of higher ratings the spectators.
The theme itself, a moral attitude peacemaker Henry Buchanan (who plays excellent David Warner) and its environment, and that before World War II, is such that it is always on it can be discussed.
The film correctly develop the story of the relationship of the new environment, a small town in Canada, and the man who is for conscientious objection suffered a many inconveniences in life. He had to even move from his native England in distant Canada, in the hope that there will come across a better understanding of of his attitude about the war.
This film contains sufficient, the exact number needed dialogues of his protagonists. In the best manner of I. Bergman where practically no: the emotions visible on the faces of the characters, grimaces, gesticulations etc. with what is otherwise unnecessarily overcrowded most of the movies!
Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo (1966)
I recommend to viewers to watch this an extended English language version, remastered for a time of 179 minutes!
Recently I watched an extended English language version, remastered for a time of 179 minutes, which I was particularly impressed. The whole team of artists from the author of the story, writer, director of photography, composer, great E. Morricone, to a great director S. Leone with excellent actors made this movie possible. It is, in my opinion, the best film of all time, not only westerns. We should not forget that the producers have also greatly contributed to film such a movie, a true masterpiece. It is unlikely that will ever to gather team of artists to shoot something! This film can be the younger film makers serve as an example on how the film should be. Leone me in all these movies, among other things, most impress the wide shots and close-ups of characters by which he would like a director be remembered as an innovator successful in conjuring up the space in which the action of the film occurs as very credible presentation of feelings through which characters go during action.
The film faithfully shows what happened in the whirlwind of the Civil War, the three main characters whose main goal is to avoid being directly involved in the war to each of them got hold of the hidden treasures of 200,000 US dollars. Many events on reaching the finish line as the creators of this extraordinary film great advantage that through a combination of violence, humor, skillfully weave with excellent dialogues into a unique the filmic story.
I recommend to viewers to watch this an extended English language version, remastered for a time of 179 minutes! The vast majority will enjoy it, I do not think a smaller number of skeptics who always finds it.
Warden of Red Rock (2001)
The character of John Flinders , the warden of a prison, shines in a deep and long tunnel as the strongest light!
It's a shame that, as far as I know, did not show a DVD of this film, which in any case deserves to see a greater number of viewers. It is one of the better TV films made over the last 20 years. The character of John Flinders, a warden of the prison Red Rock, remain in the memory of viewers as a moral giant. This is rarely succeeded compound of just and moral man in a very responsible job as manager of a prison, for the worst criminals from 1910. in Arizona. The whole film crew of director Stephen Gyllenhaal, through a skilled screenwriter James Lee Barrett, whom this film is dedicated, to the major actors, led by the excellent James Caan has given its contribution to this TV movie failed. Care should see the TV movie!