Run Time - 1:34:35 File Size - 244mb
Title - Gun Fight at Red Sands (aka Duello nel Texas)
Starring - Richard Harrison, G. R. Stuart, Mikaela, Sara Lezana, Daniel Martin, Sam Field
Directed by - Richard Blasco
Producer(s) - Albert Band
Screenwriter(s) - Albert Band, Richard Blasco
|
Review
Another in our long line of, if you love westerns, you won’t want to miss this film. A European sub-genre, it is a film you won’t soon forget. The film is action packed and the characters are quite colorful. The music is also quite memorable.
The gunfight scenes are simply fantastic and will leave you grabbing your seat till the outcome. You won’t want to miss this film. It will definitely be one you will want to see time and time again. If you like a twist on a classic favorite, you will love this film. There are some twists in the plot you won’t see coming that will really leave you surprised. Everything you love about westerns along with some new presentations make this film a must-see.
(Webmaster note - Not quite Clint Eastwood and Sergio Leone, but as a predessor film, very representative of the European sub-genre of American Westerns. It should not disappoint.)
|
|
Title - Death Rides a Horse
Starring - Lee Van Cleef, John Phillip Law, Mario Brega, Luigi Ristilli, Anthony Dawson
Directed by - Giulio Petroni
Producer(s) - Al Sansone, Henry Chroscicki
Screenwriter(s) - Luciano Vincenzoni
Review
In this film, a young man by the name of Bill (John Phillip Law) has witnessed the murder of his family by robbers. The murder of his father and the brutal rape and subsequent murder
of his mother and older sister leave him mentally scarred and anguished. More than a
dozen years later, he plans to extract revenge. Leaving the love of his life, he
embarks on a journey that will ultimately change his life.
During his journey, he meets one of the robbers and discovers he was left by the
rest of the gang to take the blame for the crimes and served years on a chain gang.
As might be expected, sparks fly when the two first meet. However, they quickly
discover they can both meet their goals far easier if they team together.
Bill is still interested in getting revenge for his family while Van Cleef, the unfortunate
robber, wants to get back the money the rest of his former gang took from him.
Although their relationship is tenuous, the two learn to trust one another in a
grudging way. At one point they are even forced to break one another out of jail.
If you’re a western fan, you surely won’t want to miss this film. The surprise
ending will leave you awed. Van Cleef’s performance is truly one you won’t forget in
awhile. In particular, the well developed glimpses of the compassionate side of his
nature which his character tries to mask behind that of a hardened convict. Through
numerous scenes we see him actually acting as a father figure to the younger man,
doling out advice to the young man who is still consumed by anger and rage.
A plot twist provides a nice bit of surprise, keeping it from becoming a
stereotypical western revenge film.
|
Run Time - 1:54:25 File Size - 314mb
 |
|
Run Time - 1:36:09 File Size - 262mb
|
Title - Deadwood 76
Starring - Arch Hall, Jr., Jack Lester, LaDonna Cottier, William Waters, Melissa Morgan, Robert Dix, Richard S. Cowl
Directed by - James Landis
Producer(s) - Nicholas Meriwether
Screenwriter(s) - Arch Hall, James Landis
Review
A young drifter is mistaken for Billy the Kid. Trouble ensues. When his shooting
ability becomes known, bets are hedged and the young man is forced to duel with
several high profile gunmen, including Wild Bill Hickok. The young man
is really interested in mining for gold and makes friends with several Native
Americans along the way.
Deadwood ’76 proves to be a cut above many spaghetti westerns. Hall’s portrayal
of Billy May, the cowboy who is mistakenly sucked into a gunfighter life,
is excellent. There are also numerous side stories that will keep you riveted
including the revelation that May’s father is in fact an Indian chief.
This was the last film Arch Hall, Jr. made before leaving his acting career
behind to pursue a career in aviation. If you’re a fan of Hall, it is definitely
worth it to check out his last film.
|
Title - China 9 Liberty 37
Starring - Warren Oates, Fabio Testi, Jenny Agutter, Isabel Mestres, Carlos Bravo, Sidney Lassick, Sam Peckinpah
Directed by - Monte Hellman
Producer(s) - Gianni Bozzacchi, Valerio DePaolis, Monte Hellman
Screenwriter(s) - Jerry Harvey, Douglas Ventiorelle
Review
This is a great movie that no true Western fan should miss. The plot twists around a retired gunfighter who is now a gold miner. When he refuses to sell his land to the railroad problems arise. A condemned gunman is given a last minute reprieve on one condition; he must murder the retired gunfighter/gold miner for the railway company.
After he is released and visits the intended victim he finds he can’t make himself commit the murder when he strikes up a strange friendship with his would-be target. Meanwhile, the miner’s wife has come on to the gunman.
When the gunman leaves, she mistakenly thinks she has killed her husband in an argument and joins the gunman. What they don’t know is that the miner is still alive and fit to be tied. In a strange turn of events he partners with the very men who sought to have him killed in an effort to hunt down the miner’s wife and gunman.
One of the most memorable quotes in the film is delivered by the retired gunfighter/miner, Matthew Sebanek. "There ain’t no soft-hearted gunfighters."
Warren Oates does an excellent job in the portrayal of his character, taking you right along with the struggle he faces throughout the film.
This is an action packed film that has been very well staged. You will be perched on the edge of your seat waiting for the big final showdown scene-which doesn’t disappoint in the least. A twist in the story’s resolution catches you totally by surprise, making this a very satisfying film.
(Webmaster note - Quote from a review at IMDB "One of the few westerns where sex is the main motivator, a wonderful spaghetti western with Fabio Testi and Jenny Agutter, with Warren Oates and a rare performance by Sam Peckinpaugh. An important film in the work of Monte Hellman, quintessential 70's cult director, a man who has made more great films than Coppola yet remains mostly unknown in his home country.")
|
Run Time - 1:32:06 File Size - 249mb
 |
