D: Leon Klimovsky; S: Luigi Mondello;
C: Julio Ortas; M: Francesco de Masi; with: Richard Wyler; Guglielmo Spoletini ("William Spolt"); Brad Harris; Simon Arriaga,
Luis Induni, Femi Benussi
Some bandits rob a lot of bucks out
of Fort Jackson and kill its commander. Sergeant Anthony Garnett (Richard Wyler) is taken in by the boys and is promptly accused
for murder an robbery: Death by the strand reads the judgement of the high court. But with the help of a priest Tony escapes:
He steals some civil clothes and as gunman Rattler Kid he starts searching the criminals. Soon all rogues, involved in the
foray of Fort Jackson, rest in the dusty earth of New Mexico - up to the unknown boss. Things make progress as Kid is hired
by his cousin Riff Gonzales (Guglielmo Spoletini), a notorious gangster. The bandits want to raid the bank of Aquela, but
are funky of hardboiled Sheriff Bill Manners (Brad Harris). Kid's job is to bump him off. At the same time he still tries
to accomplish his revenge plan.
The Gunslinger says:
Despite its lack of tension
poverty, a quite entertaining film of Leon Klimovsky (1968). More important than the usual story of revenge is the internal
conflict of Garnett, as he meets his old teacher (Simon Arriaga) in Aquela. He reminds him to his former dreams. Garnetts
maxim - "Dreams are a replacement of life, and life is completely worthless for me" - becomes more and more worthless too.
Unfortunately Klimovsky does not have the actors to implement this adequately. Both, the British Wyler and the US-American
Harris "act" like rock blocks. Passably and maliciously is the rogue crew: Beside Spoletini we find experienced gangsters
such as Luis Induni and Francisco ("Frank") Brana. As diverting manoeuvres and for pure fun they flare off the stagecoach
of a settler family with whole supplies and kidnap their teenage daughter, to gain some amusement. Worth mentioning is the
melancholic score of Francesco de Masi.
Rating: $$$-
Bodycount: 10 Gringos,
1 Indian, 1 Woman
Luv:
Sexy waitress Helen (Femi Benussi) admires
Sheriff Bill: 1/10
Explicit Brutalities:
Kid tortures an indian, but not only
for his bad costume: He wants to experience the names of the gangsters, who robbed the cash of Fort Jackson.
Splatter: 1/10
