Content: After sitting six months in the can of Yuma, gunslinger Stark (Brian Kelly) is fed up to the back teeth: Simulating having leprosy, he uses the panic of the guards to escape direction Mexico. Here he calls on and blasts off Warner (Roland Bartrop), his former accomplice, who has brought him into jail. Unfortunately Warner worked for rich haciendero Don Quintaras (Folco Lulli), so that Stark’s revenge causes some collateral damage under Quintaras’ employees. The Mexicano wants to see Stark hanging on the gibbet, but abandon the execution in the nick of time. Instead he offers a him job: His son Fidel has broken away over the border, to hang around with the gang of “The Major” (Keenan Wynn). 5000 dollars plus his freedom is the wage for Stark, if he brings back the lost son.
Because the Major is an old comrade out of army days, it’s no problem for Stark to get in contact with the bandidos. With a simple trick he dupes the Major and separates Fidel from the boys. But Fidel isn’t up for having his feet under the native table again. From now on Stark has to deal with several attempts of his “guest” to escape, then with the Major, who doesn’t want to let his best man go so easily, and finally with an army patrol, whose commanding officer (Rik Battaglia) recognizes Stark as sought after deserter. As Stark at last delivers Fidel at his father to cash the dough, the both men befriend. But there’s a final disagreeable surprise waiting.
| The Gunslinger says: This flick by younger Corbucci brother Bruno generally has a quite good reputation, but I was a bit disappointed. Atmospherically the film is inconsistent: A solid dusty and muddy setting changes with saturated green deciduous forest. This might be owing to the fact, that Corbucci had to retake some scenes in Italy. Acting efforts are quite poor: Whereas Brian Kelly is a passable gunslinger and Weenan Kynn gives a solid performance as duck loving bandit, the rest of the cast remains colourless. In this context one has to mention Fabrizio Moroni, whose only remarkable attributes are his nice hipster hairdo and his neat little leathern bolero jacket. Furthermore the film suffers imo under a lack of emotions and drama, baby. To end this dissing, the repeated attempts to escape of Fidel are as a bit of a yawn as unfunny.
But this flick indeed has its qualities. The desert passage for example has a tight atmosphere and includes at the same time one of the several bizarre episodes: Fidel, with tied hands, complains about walking in the sand, whereas Stark is free to ride. Hereupon Stark unsaddles and lets his horse go, so that from now on both men have to walk. A nice example for the growing friendship between them. Corbucci succeeds with some nice humorisms, i.e. the vet, who amputates the leg of a pig for his dinner or the Major, who likes billing with his duck Sydney.
Fausto Zuccoli offers numerous nice shots, despite altogether the photography to me seems a bit clean. The successful score by Romitelli includes primarily organ, electric guitars and vibraphone in a small orchestra.
| Rating: $$$
| Bodycount: ca. 10 Gringos, 35 Mexicanos, 1 woman
| Explicit Brutalities:As Fidel recurs on the hacienda, his father’s men beat him up. Subsequently they wanna crucify him. To solve the riddle: Fidel’s mum has been unfaithful, what brings her a peace of lead.
| Luv': A widowed settler’s wife, who is passing through for California, flings herself at Stark, who is quite impressed: 1/10
| Gore: 1/10
| Specials: - The Saloon owner possesses a golden pocket watch, armed with a small, but workable Derringer
- Stark uses skilfully a whip
- A big fruit serves as a silencer
- Sydney, the duck, who is able to give little kisses
| Trailer: by R6dw6C
|
| OT:
Spara, Gringo, spara
AT:
Tire, Django, tire (F)
Year: I/F 1968
D, S: Bruno Corbucci (“Frank B. Corlish”)
S: Mario Amendola
C: Fausto Zuccoli
M: Sante Maria Romitelli
with: Brian Kelly, Fabrizio Moroni, Keenan Wynn, Folco Lulli
 | One man's meat ...
|  | Keenan Wynn und Luigi Bonos inspecting their bunch of losers
|  | Brian Kelly, Fabrizio Moroni: Teasing ...
|  | ... is a sign ...
|  | ... of affection
|  | So much fatherly ...
|  | ... affection (Folco Lulli)...
|  | ... causes some reaction
|  | | Nearly respectable: Rik Battaglia |
|
Share this
