Content: blind Bud Massedy (Ken Clark) is always interested in making a fast dollar to rebuild his farm, destroyed by some Yankees during Civil War. On his way he comes across a military patrol, slaughtered by Indians, and a banker’s order over 150.000 dollars: money for soldier’s pay, which is obviously not needed any longer. Via young Slim (Alberto Cevenini), who he prevents from being taken to the cleaners by a bunch of cardshapers, Bud gets in contact with a gang of desperados. Now time has come to convert the banker’s order into cash with the little help of the uniforms of the killed patrolmen. But because of the greed and impatience of gangleader Carson, the actual unproblematic business becomes a rather bloody affair. To make matters worse, Bud und Slim (Michel Lemoine), who are fooled out of their parts of the booty by the Carsons, are captured by the Indians. Blessing in disguise they are rescued by a military convoy, heading for Fort Alamo. Shortly after that, the soldiers come up against Carson, still dressed in blue too and single survivor of an Indian attack, with half of the dough. Whereas Bud detects the do-gooder in himself and wants to help the convoy to reach Fort Alamo despite its incompetent commanding officer (Antonio Gradoli), Carson tries everything to get back the dollars.
| The Gunslinger says: blind Mario Bava, who has always favoured the classic US-western, makes no bones about this favour in his SW debut. He staged this film in an American style, without minding the “typical” SW elements, already implemented by Sergio Leone. There aren’t i.e. Italian shots, what means extreme closeups, and the cast is clearly separated in “good” and “evil”. The plot follows the classic operation scheme of many westerns and gangster flicks: good guy is forced by circumstances to be a gangster, but he is able to redeem himself and finally wins the female prize.
Remarkable is the ambitious camera work of Terzano. Furthermore the shots i.e. in the gang’s hideout and in the cave, where Bud and Carson fight for money and woman, are great, because of the good use of light and shadow. Due to Bava’s talent, even the scenes shot in the studio don’t appear as a deficiency because of low budget, but they create a special atmosphere. The score of Piero Umiliani offers a fitting orchestral backing, dominated by strings and horns. Entertaining but not essential. By the way: Art director was no one else than Demofilo Fidani.
| Rating: $$$ blind
| Bodycount: ca. 13 gringos, ca. 22 Indians, 1 woman
blind
| Explicit Brutalities: - Carson kills an old woman, as she screams too loud
- The beaten Slim gets two bullets in his back by Carson
blind
| Luv': blindMore than tender bonds of love between Janet (Jany Clair) and Bud: 4/10 Gore: blind
| Specials:Gore: blind0/10
| Trailer: by Spoon MHD
|
| OT:
blindAT:La Strada per Forte Alamo
blindArizona Bill (F)
Year: I/F 1964
D: Mario Bava (“John Old”)
S: Lorenzo Gicca Palli (“Vincent Thomas”), Franco Prosperi (“Charles Price”), Livia Contardi (“Jane Brisbane”)
C: Ubaldo Terzano ((“Bud Third”)
M: Piero Umiliani
with: Ken Clark, Alberto Cevenini (“Kirk Bent”), Michel Lemoine, Jany Clair
 | blindMichel Lemoine and Ken Clark try to cash, ...
|  | blind... Gerard Herter as well
|  | blindThat's what I would call ...
|  | ... a certain Bava- touch
|  | blindMichel Lemoine doesn't say it with flowers
|  | | Ken Clark wins Jany Clair |
|
