D: Sergio Corbucci; S: Adriano Bolzoni, Franco Rossetti; C: Riccardo Pallotini; M: Carlo Savina; with: Mark Damon, Ettore Manni, Franco De Rosa, Valeria Fabrizi, Giulia Rubini

Johnathan Gonzales (Mark Damon), calling himself only Ringo, is quite a successful bountyhunter. The kill of the two bandido-brothers Perez earns him not only 40 Gold-Pesos but a bunch of problems too. Youngest Perez, Juanito (Francisco de Rosa), whose head doesn’t bring any bounty yet, which saves his life, now becomes leader of the Perez-Gang and swears revenge for his brothers. Meeting point is the little village of Coldstone, where Ringo’s old friend Bill Norton (Etotre Manni) works as sheriff. Ringo avoids the ban of weapons decreeded by Bill and kills three Perez bandidos with a self-made handgrenade, which earns him five days in prison. In the meantime Juanito has allied with some bloodthirsting Apache and claims the extradition of the detested bountyhunter, otherwise he threatens to destroy Coldstone. But Sheriff Bill is a man of law and order: five days in prison mean five days in prison. Therefore he resists Juanito and those honest citizens, who are in a blue funk and would extradite Ringo rather today than tomorrow. As bandidos and Indians attack the town, Bill stands all alone despite of his wife (Giulia Rubini) and Matt (Pippo Starnazza), a “professional” prisoner. Ringo offers his help against an unusual payment, because there should be a treasure of silver hidden in the town … as rumours has it.

I 1966

The Gunslinger says:

Just one year bevor his breakthrough with „Django“ in the same year, Sergio Corbucci created with this not only a clone of “Rio Bravo” but a link for his work between US- and Spaghett-Western. Whereas atmosphere, equipment and the figur of the bullish sheriff breathe the american style, the camerawork, the good whistle-guitar-trumpet-score and especially the character of Ringo hint towards modernity. Mark Damon as a smart, cynical and strictly selfish bountyhunter stands in a row with those figures, played i.e. by “George Hilton” or Giuliano Gemma. Like his opponent, the sheriff, Ringo undergoes a development. Whereas the former has to accept, that one sometimes has to break some rules to win the game, the latter realises, that generosity could be a grand feeling too.

Minuses are the slow developing of the story and the despite of all fireworks sluggish staged final.

Rating: $$$+

Bodycount:

rund 80 Mexcanos und Apache, 3 Gringos, 2 women

Explicit Brutalities:

- At hte beginning of the film a mexican woman is forced by violence to marry one of the Perez Bros. Fortunately she becomes a widdw shortly after.

 - Juanito kills Ringo’s girlfriend Margie (Valeria Fabrizi) just for fun

- With the “help” of Bill’s little son (Lori Loddi) Juanito tries to disarm Ringo

Luv’:

Barsinger Margie and Ringo seem to be in love with each other, but the Mexican’s gun finishs this abruptly: 0/10

Specials:

- Ringo is a great knife thrower, but don’t take any advantage out of this ability

- Ringo constructs a handgrenade out of a water bottle

- Among his golden pistol and his golden spores, Ringo has further golden equipment a golden part of his bridle serves as a rear view mirror and his golden cigarette holder decides the final duel