Content: Clifton is a small peaceful village, where young Scott is the poorest thing in town, cleaning toilets and public rooms and working in a stable. Nearly everyone calls him “Bastard”, because his father is unknown and his mother was a hooker. But things gonna change, as gunslinger Frank Talbot reachs Clifton. Talbot likes Scott, gives him a name, “Mary” as his mother was called, and strenghtens the poor self-consciousness of the boy. In turn Scott sees an opportunity to flee his shitty live and let his dream come tru: to be a gunslinger. After hesitating for a long time and after Scott rescued his life, Talbot accepts him as disciple. But his plans aren’t as that unselfish: The quick bloke shall help him to collect depts of 50.000 dollars in Clifton. Ten years ago some of the now dignitaries were involved in a robbery, for which they never had to pay for. With the help of Scott, Talbot starts to browbeat those men, until he controls Clifton. But Scott recogniozes, that he’s on the way to be as Talbot: a stonecold killer. Two things open his eyes. His olde mate out of stable-days, Murph (Walter Rilla), once was sheriff of Abilene and has met Talbot some 20 years ago. Secondly Scott is forced to kill two deputies in a self-defence. To get out of this vicious circle of violence, he has to face up to Talbot.
| The Gunslinger says: After “Taste for killing" Valerii realised this second flick. Valerii, who learned his trade under Sergio Leone, to me is one of the most capable directors in the genre, who doesn’t deserve his place in the second row. The plot “Eldering gunfighter polishs young daredevil” was used in some other SW, like “The last Killer”. But Valerii shows a new aspect: Indeed Talbot takes to Scott, but his motives to help him out of his mess are economical: Without Scott and his colt, accelerated by his hunger for revenge, it would be difficult for him to achieve his interests in Clifton. Van Cleef is great as an unscrupulous killer, who is quite sympathetic at all. Gemma’s is good as well, to show the painful process of ripening, his character has to undergo. The brass-dominated score by Riz Ortolani pleased Quentin Tarantino as well, who used parts of it for “Kill Bill”.
| Rating: $$$$
| Bodycount: ca. 25 Gringos
| Explicit Brutalities: - Saloon owner Murray (Andrea Bosic) beats up Scott, after his “friend” Talbot was found not guilty for killing a man (Romano Puppo) in the saloon
- Wild Jack (Al Mulock) is reeeeally angry, after Scott deceases an invitation to drink on Jack’s health
- Jack’s men give Talbot a ride through the landscape, but not on the horse’s back, you know
| Luv': Barsinger Gwen (Christa Linder) is interested in Scott, but besides only money and power make the world go round: 0/10
| Gore: 2/10
| Specials: Talbot’s opponents engage a killer (Benito Stefanelli), who challenges Talbot for a quite special duel: with muzzle loader on horse’s back
| Trailer: (friendly provided by ItaloWestern)
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| OT:
I Giorni dell’Ira
AT:
Blood and Grit (UK)
Day of Anger (USA)
Gunlaw (UK)
Der Tod ritt dienstags (D)
Year: I/D 1967
D, S: Tonino Valerii
S: Ernesto Gastaldi, Renzo Genta
C: Enzo Serafin
M: Riz Ortolani
with: Giuliano Gemma, Lee Van Cleef, Lukas Ammann, Giorgio Gargiullo
 | Giuliano Gemma begins as a punching bag for Lukas Ammann ...
|  | ... and the bottle of Tequila of Al Mulock
|  | Not his favourite arm: Lee Van Cleef
|  | Giorgio Gargiullo and Benito Stefanelli presenting their beards
|  | Ricardo Palacios promotes his Tequila to distrustful Van Cleef
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Edited by SlimNaughton