D: Leopoldo Savona; S: L.S., Sergio Garrone, C: Sandro Mancori; M: Berto Pisano; with: Antonio de Teffè („Anthony Steffen“), Fernando Sancho, Luisa Barratto („Liz Barrett“), Giovanni Cianfriglia („Ken Wood“), Howard Nelson Rubien

Gunslinger Chamaco (Antonio de Teffè) awaits his execution in an Army prison. But in reality the prisoner is an undercover agent for the US-Army: Captain Morrison. He has to support the Army to fight the smugglers, led by unscrupulous Burnes (Tom Felleghy), who supply Mexican rebels with weapons and amno. Morrison „escapes“ outta jail and heads for Mexico, where he wins confidence of „El Santo“ (Howard Nelson Rubien), leader of the actual rebellion. He pretends to support the Mexicans in order to destroy the next weapon transport. But brutality of the Mexican army under leadership of sadistic Capitano Ramirez (Giovanni Gianfriglia) and the charms of beautiful El-Santo-niece Mercedes (Luisa Barratto), force Morrison to choose between emotions and duty.

The Gunslinger says:

Quite entertainig shooter with lots of action, made by Leopoldo Savona in 1967. The film doesn’t comment social tensions: These are only some pitoresque ingredients to illustrate Morrison‘s emotional development. And things work out, folx: good actors, dusty atmosphere, an absorbing score and a „classic“ camera work with lots of close-ups and long shots. So let‘s forget the slight story!

I think, this flick isn’t yet published in the US/UK. It’s worth looking for.

Rating: $$$+

Bodycount: 10 Gringos, ca. 90 Mexicanos, 2 women

Explicit brutalities:

- Folx, we’re in Mexico, and thus we have the usual potpourri of sadistic badinages: beginning with spontaneous executions of innocent peones up to public lashings

- As Morrison is exposed by the smugglers, these are not really amusede and give him the stick

Luv‘:

The limpy fire of love, smouldering between Mercedes and Morisson, really needs some kind of accelerator 1/10

Splatter: 1/10