Content: Monty Mulligan (Giuliano Gemma) is living the life of a wealthy East Coast bohemian. The dough for this lifestyle is “donated” by the rich brothers MacIntosh, who believe, that Monty invests their money in lucrative assets. As the whistle is blown on Monty’s little business, only a windy lawyer can save the life of our crook with some good news: Monty has come into 30.000 dollars, if he succeeds to live a half year consolidated with his brother Ted (Nino Benvenuti), who lives poor but content in a small Texan village named Big Peak. The designated heir heads straight for Texas, to visit his brother for the next 180 days, waiting for the money. But already the first day ends up disastrous, because Monty takes on Jim (Cris Huerta), the Invincible, who flares Ted’s home for revenge. Homeless and without a nickel the brothers decide to go the criminal way and rob the bank of Mr. Scott. Do they succeed? Of course not, brothers and sisters. Fortunately the mysterious Barnds (Antonio Casas) shows up, a loose acquaintance of Monty, who helps the both amateurs to realize their further plans, like raiding a stagecoach up to the kidnapping of Scott’s daughter Rosella (Sydne Rome). As final coup they want to rob a gold loaded train and they put all their eggs into one basket …
| The Casketnail says: Humorous SW by esperienced Director/Writer Duccio Tessari, who realised with his „Ringo“-films two classics of the genre with an outstanding Giuliano Gemma, playing for the gallery. Unlike to this masterpieces this flick - except its skilfully technical making - is only fair done: The plot suffers under a lack of tension and a certain kick. Up to the finale grande the story ripples along from one failed coup to the next catastrophe, whereas the heritage, which really triggered all, vanishes gradually out of the conscience. Furthermore half of the jokes “implode” or just are old stuff, like the repeating “stumble gag” during the first bank robbery. The whole thing to me seems to be staged a bit dully.
It’s a pity, because therefore the obvious delight in playing of Gemma and Casas is a bit blocked. Nino Benvenuti ist struggling with his too worthy role and gets hardly a grip on his character; Sydne Rome looks really nice, and that’s enough for her.
Pluses are the great camerawork by Manual Rojas and the fitting score by Gianni Ferrio.
Conclusion: Chef Tessari doesn’t figure out to cook these Spaghetti al dente, and his dressing only partially saves the meal.
*Some Facts to Benvenuti: He was Olympic Boxing Champion, before he became professional. Then he was world champion in middleweight and half-middleweight (?). According to the renowned magazine “Ring Magazine” he was the best Italian boxer of all times. This will not really please “Bud Spencer’s” repeated sidekick Joe Bugner, who two times lost against Muhammad Ali only on points. Benvenuti made just one other film: "Mark shoots first" by Stelvio Massi and finally gave up acting.
| Rating: $$$
| Explicit Brutalities: Jim’s comrades really put their shoulder on the wheel in throwing embers on the naked upper bodies of Monty and Ted
| Luv': 1/10 (Meanwhile Ted has a soft spot for Rosella, but fortunately he realizes this mistake
| Gore: 0/10
| Trailer: by abbotwhite
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| OT:
Vivi o, preferibilmente, morti
AT:
Vivos o preferiblemente muertos (SP)
Sundance and the Kid
Alive or Preferably Dead
Year: I/SP 1969
D: Duccio Tessari
S: Ennio Flaiano
C: Manuel Rojas
M: Gianni Ferrio
with: Giuliano Gemma, Nino Benvenuti, Sydne Rome, Antonio Casas, Cris Huerta, Dan van Husen, George Rigaud
 | The MacIntoshs and their"hanging-party- techniques". (Giuliano Gemma)
|  | Nice smile wins (Nino Benvenuti, G.G., Sydne Rome)
|  | Cris Huerta and his mob fully dressed up
|  | Hope, he has a private insurance
|  | Just for you, folx ;-)
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