Content: Labor camp really sucks, particularly if you`re arrested innocently. That’s the opinion of “Minnesota” Clay too, arrested because of murder, who decides to flee to prove his innocence, instead of of spending the next 20 years with breaking stones. His aim is Madison City, a hole of shit, shattered by a gang warfare. Outside we see the Mexicanos of “General” Otíz (Fernando Sancho), whereas the mob of evil Fox (Georges Rivière), the “sheriff” of Madison, controls the city. Fox cashs 80 dollars per day for his “protection” service against the Mexican bandidos. But it’s Fox, who is able to witness to Clay’s innocence, so he is needed alive. Clay’s second problem is his progressive blindness, which limits the time for his mission. He gets sudden help by mercenary Estella (Ethel Rojo), who is anxious for the well-stocked war chest of the “General” and the bounty, set on Clay’s head. She allies with Fox and sends Clay and Otíz to their doom. But Fox refuses to share and Clay, meanwhile nearly blind and heavily chipped, has come into play again, because disappointed Estella enables his escape. Clay has to act fast, because the Fox gang just want to cash a last time after the end of the Mexicanos, before withdrawing from the advancing army.
| The Gunslinger says: Second and completely independent self-contained Western by Sergio Corbucci. The film like its predecessor “Massacre at Grand Canyon” references strongly to the US-Western. This is meant atmospherically but also concerning the conception of the characters, which are clearly separated into “good” and “evil”, and the childish love-story between Clay’s daughter (Diana Martin) and his groupie Andy (Alberto Cevenini). But otherwise one can detect first shy “Spaghetti-elements”: The setting of a village, grinded between two rival gangs reminds of “A Fistful of Dollars”. The character of the selfish and unscrupulous Estella is a classic one, if you know, what I mean ;-). Furthermore you can watch some concrete brutalities: For example Fox comes up with a neat little sadism during Showdoown with Clay, using daughter and blindness of his opponent. Acting efforts are good: Fernando Sancho, in his first appearance in the SW, makes the chicken swallowing, crafty Mexicano chief in a fantastic uniform permanent. Cameron Mitchell, after his weak appearance in the trivial “Jim, il Primo”, is a credible aging and torched gunslinger. Forget about the exerted happy ending.
| Rating: $$$+
| Bodycount: ca. 50 Mexicans, ca. 10 Gringos, 1 Woman
| Explicit Brutalities: - Fox’s men bash Andy, because he doesn’t want to pay
| Luv': Only a childish „lovestory“ between Andy and Clay’s daughter Nancy: 0/10
| Gore: 2/10
| Specials: - Clay compensates his progressive blindness with an ear much above average
| Trailer: by Javier Western
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| OT:
Minnesota Clay
AT:
L’Homme de Minnesota (F)
Year : I/SP/F 1965
D, S: Sergio Corbucci
S: Adriano Bolzoni
C: José Aguayo
M: Piero Piccioni
with: Cameron Mitchell, Georges Rivière, Antonio Casas, Fernando Sancho
 | Cameron Mitchell sights ...
|  | ... obviously helpless Ethel Rojo, who in fact ...
|  | ... isn't as that helpless. Fernando Sancho concentrates on chicken, Tequila and ....
|  | ... Georges Rivière
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