Franco Nero

[indio]

OK , i have fallen in love (but not in a gay way!) with this actor, but i only have a few of his movies , which are his best westerns and where can i get them?
these are what i have...
Django
Django strikes back
Texas, adios
keoma
companeros
and jonathan of the bears is on the way.

[redyred]

Il Mercenario, also known as Professional Gun. Perhaps his best.

[cigar joe]

I''''ll second that, try and get The Mercenary (A Professional Gun is the cut version of this film). The SPO Entertainment from Japan is a beautiful widescreen release.

[The Smoker]

Avoid Cry, Onion! at all costs. even if its free.

[indio]

thanks smoker , as were both lads from the midlands i'll take your advice.
you all seem to agree that the mercenary is the one to watch, what makes this stand out?

[Le Bon]

I remember first seeing Mercenary on BBC1 about 1979. It was the first sw shown after the Dollars trilogy. I can remember thinking GREAT! if most of the spaghetti's are as good as this...but alas that was not to be.
I think it is Corbucci's closest copy of SL. Cool anti hero, the mexican he teams up with, gundown in a circle supervised by one of the 3, and a great Morricone score.

[The Smoker]

thanks smoker , as were both lads from the midlands i'll take your advice.
you all seem to agree that the mercenary is the one to watch, what makes this stand out?

Its familiar territory to you. Companeros is kinda reworking of 'The Mercenary/A Professional Gun' but less talky more energetic.
Check out Cigar Joe's review..
http://www.fistful-of-leone.com/forums/index.php?topic=1359.0
..does it better justice than my jabberin.

Oh avoid the Professional Gun (Region 1) release very cheap price but so is the disc. Bad quality
I think its cut, but not too sure.

P.S. Funny thing is. There was a "where you from" kinda roll call over at the Spaghetti Western Board ages ago. Theres bloody tones of UK spaghetti fans from the Midlands, must be a geographical thing. Some 'land-locked' connection with the Western in general.

 

[cigar joe]

The SPO Entertainment Japan DVD of the Mercenary has an option menue where you can see both versions.

The Mercenary is the more serious flick , Companeros is showing the increasing influence of the comedy spaghetti trend taking over the genre at the time (it has more questionable continuity) I like both, the slight edge going to The Mercenary.

PS Indio let us know what you think of "Jonathan of the Bears".

[indio]

will do joe , still hasn't arrived yet. ordered mercenary from cd japan so i hope thats the jap version.

[The Smoker]

Don't worry Indio thats the MGM/Stingray DVD.

if looks like this.
It should come with this odd little Mercenary Holographic Calandar inside the case. Its very er, kitch.

How much did you pay for it?

[indio]

i worked it out as just over 20 pounds. the only problem with ordering stuff from Japan is sometimes i get a customs charge and that can be up to £8!!

[The Smoker]

Packages from anywhere abroad stating a price over roughly £20 get pinched. Its a gamble. Some do slip through also slows the delivery time down too.
If the word 'Gift' aspose to the price, is printed on the package you'll be o.k.
Sometimes its best to ask for a private speedy service like DHL seems to bypass the customs.

http://www4.cd-wow.com/
CDWOW is a good internet DVD vendor out of Shanghai to the UK.
All their packages have the price concealed. Perticulary good for Criterion DVDs from the US which are normally just go over that £20 mark.
Unfortunatly no Japanese Spaghetti Western DVDs have cropped up on there website. Ive emailed them requests. No real large market for them. 

[cigar joe]

He's also in "Force 10 From Navarone" a non outstanding average B war flick.

[Belkin]

Check him out in Camelot! Almost gets the girl! 

[Danny]

Some others: (I haven't seen them all yet)

Uninvited
Die Hard 2
Legend of Valentino
Enter the Ninja
Querelle
Hitch-hike
Versace Murder
Redneck (waterfall)
The Bible - David
The Bible - In the beginning
The Bible - Paul of Tarsus