SPAGHETTI WESTERN COLLECTION-reviews

[The Firecracker]

There's a russian DVD release of this movie? Any links to it?

Banjo already knows this (so you might know it already...) but there is an official release in Croatia and Slovenia which does have the full 2.35:1 image but theres something wrong with it. I'm not exactly sure what because I have only a copy where the aspect ratio has been fixed (maybe the original disc is like 1.85:1...). I don't know any place where the disc could be bought though... it was released with a magazine I think somewhere last year. http://xs110.xs.to/xs110/06486/viva2.jpg
I haven't had the time to compare it to Banjo's version, but I think the last scene was at least longer.
There's also a French disc (only in French I guess?) and even an Italian disc which I haven't seen in any online store. But I think the Croatian disc is much shorter than the Italian one.

Banjo and I share an uncut version that is very unusual. It's widescreen 90% of the time but in two scenes it switches to pan & scan. Then to top it off some scenes (deleted footage for the English releases I guess) are in German.


Oddball.

[Banjo]

Banjo and I share an uncut version that is very unusual. It's widescreen 90% of the time but in two scenes it switches to pan & scan. Then to top it off some scenes (deleted footage for the English releases I guess) are in German.


Oddball.

Actually Sundance,Firecracker and Banjo all share that oddball dvd. 

The reason its like it is,is because i bought a dvd of the movie sourced from a German videotape and whoever transfered to dvd overdubbed an English audio over most of it apart from to long segments where it reverts to German language without any English subs unfortunately.The German video it seems is missing two scenes that are on the English pan and scan video version which were tagged onto the end of my original copy(which Boardwalk Angel now has!).The dvd was already an oddball so i thought it would be better for the flow to edit in the two pan and scan scenes where they were meant to be rather than watching them after the film ends  as an afterthought.

[Sundance]

About Long Live Your Death...

I can't remember how long Banjo's disc is (and can't check it now) but the Croatian disc has a length of 1:36:00. Banjo's is probably much longer because of those only German language scenes, but if I remember correctly atleast one short piece is missing at the end... when Wallach and Nero are riding away and the woman shouts at them, Nero shouts back "shove it up your ass" or something like that... Anyways, IF I remember correctly, Banjo's disc only has the two riding away and we hear the lines (Wallach is also speaking), but the Croatian disc has a closeup of Wallach&Nero when Nero shouts his line.

I know of a spanish TV rip (in Spanish) which is 1:39:31 in length and then an Italian version (I'm not sure if it's from the dvd or not) which has a length of 1:51:49 (and in Italian.. of course). These are both in widescreen.
Don't know about the French disc yet.

[Banjo]

Yes you are correct in saying that both Nero and Wallach were riding away when Nero shouted back.

I've just checked the disc.The footage ends at approx 1:50:45 (this includes of course the two inserted scenes taken fom the English pan and scan video) but the music carries on for a little while longer to a blank screen. There aren't any end credits so i wonder if the Italian dvd  does include them which would account for the extra minute?

[Arizona Colt]

FORT YUMA GOLD- 1966       aka FOR A FEW DOLLARS AGAIN

Guiliano Gemma, Dan Vadis, Nello Pazzafini

Gemma plays a captured Confederate Captain named Gary Hammond. He is hired by the commanding officer of the Union forces to escort two of his officers to Fort Yuma to warn them of an impending attack there by Hammonds own men who are being led by the villainous Major Sanders who has his own plans for the fort assault. Hammond is to thwart his former regiments attack to avoid a needless massacre and that's where Sanders plot comes in.

This being a Gemma movie you can already assume it's going to be good on some levels and this one doesn't disappoint. Given the US release title, I was expecting this to be a siege movie. As the film progresses, Gemma gets into all manner of situations and cliffhangers on his way to the fort. Through all this the title quickly becomes a misnomer but then I had to remember that the film is not really called FORT YUMA GOLD.

Gemma gets involved in an excellently staged bar fight early on that features some surprisingly good action and low key comedy. Carnimeo should have been paying attention here. He could have used some pointers on similar bits in his monotonously staged bar romps. There are a couple of the usual badly telegraphed fisticuffs prevalent in this genre but this is only a minor quibble.

There is also the threat of a gang of cutthroats led by Nelson Riggs (Vadis) who plan to obstruct the mission but actually become a front for the real villains of the piece. A young beauty named Connie Breastfull is there to propel the story a bit instead of just being eye candy. Her name seems to have been inspired by Honor Blackman's Pussy Galore from the Bond film. Gemma even has a similar one liner response. He also finds time amidst all the constant shenanigans to fall in love with Ms. Breastfull whom both end up saving each other over the course of the film.

Hammond gets tortured by Riggs played by Dan Vadis, who I would say steals the film away from the aristocratic villain Major Sanders. He is tied to the ground with two rocks placed on both sides of his head. He has clamps hold his eyes open in an attempt to make him disclose the whereabouts of the letter he is to deliver to Fort Yuma. Connie "saves" him by making Riggs believe she knows where the letter is hidden. Hammond, who may or may not be blind at this point, is taken away by Rigg's men where they taunt and torture him some more.

Hammond, feigning being blind, manages to stealthily snuff out at least three of Riggs' men before he is suspected. He manages to kill the others and take off yet again to try and stop his units attack on the fort. Once he meets up with them, he is accused of being a renegade and now suffers a possible execution should his story be false. It isn't and Hammond races off to stop the bad guys before they can go on with their plan to steal the gold out of Fort Yuma.

It was a pleasure to see Dan Vadis here as one of the villains. He's been a favorite of mine after first seeing him in TRIUMPH OF THE TEN GLADIATORS as a kid and then in TRIUMPH OF HERCULES aka HERCULES VS THE GIANT WARRIORS. He is also one of the Black Widows featured in the Clint Eastwood favorites EVERY WHICH WAY BUT LOOSE and ANY WHICH WAY YOU CAN. Vadis has much screen presence as well as being a decent actor. Even though he isn't supposed to be the main bad guy, he seems to have more screen time and does more with his role than the other antagonists.

Pazzafini gets to play a good guy for a change and it's a shame he didn't do more good guy roles. Maybe Banjo or FC have seen him as a hero more. I think he is also a hero in TODAY IT'S ME, TOMORROW YOU aka TODAY WE LIVE, TOMORROW WE DIE which had Tatsuya Nakadai as the villain.

The music by Morricone and Ferrio is fine although it sounds more like Morricone imitating himself more than anything else. How much of the actual score he contributed is unknown to me.

If you're a Gemma fan, you will definitely want this one in your collection. The WE disc, contrary to what they'll have you believe, is apparently sourced from the japanese dvd with the english dialog synced from another source. During the opening and closing credits, the soundtrack is very clear and pristine, but between those, the sound is muffled and not quite as clear.

It's not as good as PISTOL FOR RINGO, but if you enjoyed ONE SILVER DOLLAR or ADIOS GRINGO or even WANTED which is also directed by Giorgio Ferroni, you'll enjoy this one too.

[Banjo]

Arizona i enjoyed Fort Yuma Gold very much too and i'm gonna open up a thread this your review and link it up to the Spaghetti Western Index which i'm currently working on.

[Arizona Colt]

Through a trade, I got these to view in addition to 10 or 11 others . I've viewed the first few minutes of each some a little more than others but mostly just after the opening credits. Many of them look quite exciting.

THE SPECIALIST- Very good opening sequence

WHITE, THE YELLOW & THE BLACK- Funny but curiously racist comedy. Eli Wallach, Gemma(!), Milian, Nero.
 
TASTE OF VENGEANCE- Suspenseful opening sequence with Garko.

RED BLOOD, YELLOW GOLD- Hilton, Edd Byrnes in what appears to be a rare serious role for Hilton.

PAYMENT IN BLOOD (7 WINCHESTERS FOR A MASSACRE)- Edd Byrnes in this Castellari movie. I have the soundtrack. A most exciting one from Francesco de Masi. I've wanted to see this one for a long time. Apparently this was either distributed or co-produced with Columbia Pictures. A most exciting opening to this film.

JOHNNY HAMLET-Another gothic western from Corbucci, at least by the opening anyway. Very surreal. Love that organ music.

IN A COLT'S SHADOW- Interesting painted backdrops amidst the opening credits. Gorgeous quality. I presume this is from a Japanese DVD? Stelvio Massi is the cinematographer.

A MINUTE TO PRAY, A SECOND TO DIE- I passed over this one several times in Best Buy. It looks pretty good. Arthur Kennedy and Robert Ryan feature here. Franco GIraldi who directed the jovial MACGREGOR movies gets serious here apparently.

CJAMANGO- Another Eduardo Mulargia movie. Looks a bit cheesy but who knows? The score is nice and dramatic. Hopefully this will be as good as W DJANGO!, Mulargia's one good movie of his I've seen. It's also got one time Hercules Mickey Hargitay.

MY NAME IS PECOS- Nifty opening scene that's sets up the title of the movie. A Mexican hero this time out. Robert Woods and Peter Martell star.

SONNY & JED- Milian, Susan George and Telly Savalas! Morricone score! Milian dubs his own voice! Corbucci directs! 'Nuff said!

APOCALYPSE JOE- Anthony Steffen in what looks loke a really quirky role. Eduardo Fajardo again. These two obviously enjoyed working together.

VENGEANCE TRAIL- Leonard Mann, Ivan Rassimov, Klaus Kinski!

SARTANA KILLS THEM ALL- Garko and Chris Huerta. My friends friend has this the 35mm reels of this in english.

DJANGO SHOOTS FIRST- Fernando Sancho and Erica Blanc feature here. The opening is well done. Alberto de Martino directs. Oddly, Castellari had something to do with this movie as opposed to directing. In the credits he's listed as 'Aiuto Regista'. The Nicolai score sounds good.

EXECUTION- John Richardson in a spaghetti western.

EL PURO- Robert Woods, Mario Brega and Italian exploitation starlets Rosalba Neri and Mariangela Giordano. The music from Allesandro Allesandroni is WAY to similar to the DOLLAR music. Eduardio Mulargia. A good cast.

JOHN THE BASTARD- John Richardson, Claudio Camaso, Martine Beswicke and Gordon Mitchell. This appears to be about a Don Juan gunfighter. This must be a rare spaghetti.

BURY THEM DEEP- Gravel faced Craig Hill stars. Another Nico Fedinco score. Looks to be pretty good. Apparently, Hill teams up with a criminal he had put away to catch some robbers.

HATE THY NEIGHBOR- Big George Eastman is in this. Love the credits sequence. Very inventive. Directed by Ferdinando Baldi. This should be good.

A TRAIN FOR DURANGO- The opening bit is quite funny. Anthony Steffen, Mark Damon and Aldo Sambrell. Duccio Tessari writes Enzo Barboni is the cinematographer. Appears to be a comedy of sorts. Don't know who the director is. I'll assume it's Tessari.

PISTOLEROS- This one must be really obscure. I don't recognize anybody major. This must be from the Wild East boot. Looks good though. The credits sequence is similar to the DOLLARS movies.

DEATH PLAYED THE FLUTE- Another rarity. Looks to be kinda grim with ample amounts of low budget sleaze. Seems to be a bit like the 1966 Shaw Brothers movie BELLS OF DEATH.

BUDDY GOES WEST- Bud Spencer goes solo. A Morricone score and Michele Lupo directs this comedy.

WATCH OUT, WE'RE MAD!- Terence Hill & Bud Spencer comedy. Donald Pleasence. Modern day funny stuff.

CRIMEBUSTERS- Terence Hill & Bud Spencer comedy. Modern day. Luciano Rossi is in this as is stuntman Roberto Dell'Acqua and Laura Gemser(!) Barboni wrote and directed.

ODDS & EVENS- Terence Hill & Bud Spencer comedy. Sal Borgese. Sergio Corbucci directs this modern day comedy.

[Banjo]

A TRAIN FOR DURANGO- The opening bit is quite funny. Anthony Steffen, Mark Damon and Aldo Sambrell. Duccio Tessari writes Enzo Barboni is the cinematographer. Appears to be a comedy of sorts. Don't know who the director is. I'll assume it's Tessari.

Looking forward to your full write up's on all those movies AC.

TRAIN FOR DURANGO was directed bi Mario Caiano and is a great take-off of QUIEN SABE?

[Arizona Colt]

I was going through a few of the spaghetti westerns I got in a trade yesterday and I came across one that struck me as particularly humorous. The opening features an hilarious massacre of a family by what appears to be a single Indian. What's funny about this scene is that this Indian possesses an uncanny ability to shoot arrows into people's stomachs even though they are facing horses or wagons. After this bit I immediately said to myself, "This must be a Richard Harrison western". Shortly after that, who appears on the screen but 'Mr. Sleepy Eyes' himself, Richard Harrison. I don't know if Harrison seriously injured himself doing his many peplums and fusto movies (He is very much alive in those) but he seems to be on medication in his westerns. Maybe he's just doing his best Eastwood impersonation. The name of this film is EL ROJO.

GO FOR IT!- A Bud & Terence comedy, it looks to be really funny. Appears to have been shot with live sound save for Spencer's voice being dubbed. Directed by Enzo Barboni, too!

THE TRAMPLERS- Wow! What a cast! Joseph Cotten, Gordon Scott, James Mitchum, Franco Nero. This has something to do with HELLBENDERS. It's mentioned in Hughes' book on spaghetti westerns in the HELLBENDERS section. This one looks to be really good. Cotten heads a group of Southern hellraisers trying to get the Civil War started again. Freeing the slaves seems to be a theme in this Italian oater directed by Albert Band (HERCULES & THE PRINCESS OF TROY).

TO HELL & BACK- FC, this is the Hilton movie you were asking about. The opening appears to be no different than a hundred other spaghetti's but the credits reveal some interesting names--Ernesto Gastaldi wrote along with Luciano Martino (who also executive produced), the brother of Sergio. Michele Massimo Tarantini is the AD. He did a handful of crime movies and the cult horror-action movie MASSACRE IN DINOSAUR VALLEY. The name MacGregor features in this movie! Gastaldi directed the first two MACGREGOR movies.

THE PRICE OF DEATH- Gianni Garko and Klaus Kinski! This seems to be sort of a horror western from the beginning anyways. The music seems way out of place for this sequence. This will be cool to see these two together.

THE SILENT STRANGER- Tony Anthony. An MGM movie with a soundtrack that is WAY TOO similar to the DOLLARS music. At least cues of it are. Anthony goes to Japan. Hey! This was recorded from TNT! Judging by the station identification, this would have to be from the mid 90s.

[The Firecracker]

THE SPECIALIST- Very good opening sequence


 
TASTE OF VENGEANCE- Suspenseful opening sequence with Garko.


JOHNNY HAMLET-Another gothic western from Corbucci, at least by the opening anyway. Very surreal. Love that organ music.


MY NAME IS PECOS- Nifty opening scene that's sets up the title of the movie. A Mexican hero this time out. Robert Woods and Peter Martell star.

SONNY & JED- Milian, Susan George and Telly Savalas! Morricone score! Milian dubs his own voice! Corbucci directs! 'Nuff said!

APOCALYPSE JOE- Anthony Steffen in what looks loke a really quirky role. Eduardo Fajardo again. These two obviously enjoyed working together.


SARTANA KILLS THEM ALL- Garko and Chris Huerta. My friends friend has this the 35mm reels of this in english.


BURY THEM DEEP- Gravel faced Craig Hill stars. Another Nico Fedinco score. Looks to be pretty good. Apparently, Hill teams up with a criminal he had put away to catch some robbers.

HATE THY NEIGHBOR- Big George Eastman is in this. Love the credits sequence. Very inventive. Directed by Ferdinando Baldi. This should be good.

A TRAIN FOR DURANGO- The opening bit is quite funny. Anthony Steffen, Mark Damon and Aldo Sambrell. Duccio Tessari writes Enzo Barboni is the cinematographer. Appears to be a comedy of sorts. Don't know who the director is. I'll assume it's Tessari.


DEATH PLAYED THE FLUTE- Another rarity. Looks to be kinda grim with ample amounts of low budget sleaze. Seems to be a bit like the 1966 Shaw Brothers movie BELLS OF DEATH.

BUDDY GOES WEST- Bud Spencer goes solo. A Morricone score and Michele Lupo directs this comedy.

THE SPECIALIST: Excellent Corbucci!
The gunfights are the best Corbucci ever made! The who-dun-it plot is a little preposterous but who cares? Great climax!


TASTE OF VENGEANCE: One of Garko's better non-Sartana western movies.
I like it a great deal. Very dark.

JOHNNY HAMLET: Okay spaghetti by Enzo G. Castellari.
Has some very nice sets (the cave cemetery), some celver gunfights (under the stairs shoot out) and a good main theme.
Pre-cursor to Castellari's masterpiece KEOMA.

MY NAME IS PECOS: Slightly above average entry starring Eastman as a mexican Peon.
The opening is probably the best the scene the film has to offer (even though it doesn't make any sense that a racist gringo would give away his gun to a mexican). Their are some lovely ladies with large cleavage! Direction is pretty pedestrian. The main theme is a pretty obvious rip-off of The Animals' THE HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN.
Stay away from the light hearted sequel "Pecos Cleans Up".

SONNY AND JED: One of Corbucci's weakest efforts but still an enjoyable movie. The setting is much like Django's, it takes place during the winter but no snow. Nice town dilapidated sets by Carlo Simi.
Despite the bleak atmosphere this one is a pretty light hearted affair.
Fans usually note this for having a plethora of bad language. It's true.


APOCALYPSE JOE: One of Steffen's best! It's a non-stop shoot em up with Steffen dispatching his foes using quirky traps and tricks.
Fajardo is of course slimy as always. Popcorn fun!

SARTANA KILLS THEM ALL!: read my very positive review here...http://www.fistful-of-leone.com/forums/index.php?topic=4319.0


BURY THEM DEEP: I'll have to sit through this one again because I couldn't get past the first dull 20 minutes despite the positive reviews I have heard.


HATE THY NEIGHBOR: My Favorite Baldi movie! Great shoot outs, kinky torture and one well edited fist fight in a barn. The very end is sadly an anti-climax.

A TRAIN FOR DURANGO: A surprsingly above (slightly) average Steffen western with a very good cast of leading actors.
Mark Damen is easily the best thing in the film.
Directed by Mario Caiano.


DEATH PLAYED THE FLUTE: I have a lenghty review of this somewhere...
It's good but a bit on the bland side. The vicious rape/ murder opening and the atypical ending is great!
EDIT: review can be found here...
http://www.fistful-of-leone.com/forums/index.php?topic=2234.0

[Banjo]

TO HELL & BACK- FC, this is the Hilton movie you were asking about. The opening appears to be no different than a hundred other spaghetti's

However there is probably non better for gunning than helpless peons for kicks than the excellent Gerald Herter who is always good value.

Though the quality of my bootleg  is appalling this is still a very entertaining revenge sw,which blends in comedic  elements amongst the more serious stuff,and includes a very well handled heist midway through.
Also a must for George Hilton fans.

 

[Arizona Colt]

I didn't mean that in a derogatory way. I just meant that the opening features another bad guy gunning down peasants whom he has run away from him. Isn't the old guy with the gun the same one from THE BIG GUNDOWN?

[Banjo]

I didn't mean that in a derogatory way. I just meant that the opening features another bad guy gunning down peasants whom he has run away from him. Isn't the old guy with the gun the same one from THE BIG GUNDOWN?

Thats right GERALD HERTER who always seems to play the same sort of role,a sadistic teutonic marksman.