D: Luigi Bazzoni; S: L.B., Suso Cecchi d’Amico; C: Camillo Bazzoni; M: Carlo Rustichelli; with: Franco Nero, Tina Aumont, Guido Lollobrigida (“Lee Burton”), Alberto dell’Acqua, Klaus Kinski (“Kinsky”), José Manuel Martin

Don José (Franco Nero) is an army officer, who goes to his doom as he meets sweet gypsy Carmen (Tina Aumont): He has to arrest the beautiful, but punchy beauty. Carmen escapes on the way to jail, so Don José as responsible officer is demoted, but he became a slave to her since he has seen her the first time. Hot kisses and sweet talking bring him to go to the bad. Finally he kills his captain (Franco Ressel) in a rage of jealousy. José has to flee and hides himself in the mountains at some friends of Carmen, a bunch of rogues. Unfortunately our little family is joined by sadistic Garcia (Klaus Kinski), Carmen’s husband. The gang plans a heist of Carmen’s rich employer (Karl Schönböck). The coup fails bloody, but the bandits capture a chest of gold. The surviving mobsters reach the mountains on foot. Because plans for the future of Carmen and Don José quite differ, the desaster pulls up.

The Gunslinger says:

Luigi Bazzoni made this entertaining adaption of the famous „Carmen“-story in 1968 and enriched it with classic Spaghetti-elements. The quite known plot of passion and obsession creates a frozen atmosphere despite the blazing spanish sun. Bazzoni could build on a capable staff: Franco Nero, who doesn’t poise in Django-stereotypes, Klaus Kinski, manic and lunatic at his best, seductive Tina Aumont and some Spag-prominence like Guido Lollobrigida, José Manuel Martin, Franco Ressel or Alberto dell’Acqua in minor roles. Above average.

Rating: $$$+

Bodycount: 10

Explicit brutalities:

- Garcia bumps off his wounded comrade Remendado (Alberto dell’Acqua) , because transporting him seems too circumstantial to him.

Luv’:

Don José loves Carmen, who unfortunately is a volatile and self-centered little thing, which can only love itself. 5/10

Splatter: 2/10