D: Enzo Castellari; S: Luigi Montefiori, Nino Rolli, Nico Ducci; C: Diage Parolin; M: Guido & Maurizio de Angelis; with: Franco Nero, Donal O'Brien; Olga Karlatos, William Berger, Woody Strode

After the Civl War is over, half-breed Keoma (Franco Nero) comes back home. But things have changed and so he enters a desolated world: the little town is tortured by pox, cholera and – even much worse – by the evil mob of Caldwell (Donal O’Brien), an ex-officer. Caldwell’s gang has isolated the town completely: no escape, no help. The sick people are captured in an old goldmine, where they wait for their death. The other citizens vegetate hopelessly like Keoma’s old mate, George (Woody Strode), an ex-slave and new-alcoholic. As Keoma helps Lisa (Olga Karlatos), a pregnant woman, against Caldwell’s gangsters, time starts running. Keoma’s adoptive brothers (Orso Maria Guerini, Joshua Sinclair, Antonio Marsina), members of the mob, try to take the opportunity to get rid of the hated brother. But Keoma only looks like a hippie: he’s a really tough guy, supported by his father Will (William Berger) and good ole‘ George, who has gained back his strength.

The Gunslinger says:

Most critics highly recommend this opus, made by Enzo Castellari in 1976, who orientated himself consciously towards directors like Sam Peckinpah. I was a little bit disappointed: The film calls up masses of really good ideas – like the skillfully used flashbacks – unuseful shots – think of the „four-fingers-game“ – and a nice sinister atmosphere. But the mystic, nearly biblical touch really sucks, folx! Furthermore the excessive using of slomo to illustrate violence wears out the desired effect. The score of the brothers De Angelis is OK, but the male and the female singer, who accompany the storyline like a greek choir, are not everyone’s cup of tea. Nevertheless this film is probably one of the 20 best spagetti western, but the bar for Keoma naturally lied much higher, than for the oeuvre of f.e. Fidani, Brescia, Mauri or Klimovsky. Make your mind for yourself!

Rating: $$$$-

Bodycount: ca 56 Gringos and George