Sergio Corbucci is one of the spaghetti western's greatest directors – he was responsible for two classics, DJANGO and THE GREAT SILENCE, among many others. This is an earlier offering, made before he got his groove on, and it doesn't have the same kind of 'vibe' to it as all the Leone-influenced westerns that came out during and after 1967. This one feels more like a set-bound American western; it has that clean-cut style to it rather than the dark and gritty atmosphere that epitomised the 'spaghettis'.
Saying that, it's still a great little film, really well paced for a western and with some intriguing characters. Much of the film's success is down to Cameron Mitchell, who appeared in some of the best genre films Italy had to offer during the '60s; most of these were directed by the great Mario Bava (I'm thinking LAST OF THE VIKINGS, BLOOD AND BLACK LACE, KNIVES OF THE AVENGER, the list goes on). Mitchell was a great actor in my opinion and he's perfectly cast as the hero here. He gives Clay a raw humanity that makes you sympathise with him from the outset and the fact that he's handicapped – as the film progresses he gradually loses his sight – only adds to the pathos. Clay's dire situation makes for a truly nail-biting extended climax as a group of killers prowl after him through deserted streets and stables.
Elsewhere, genre conventions abound. There are some brutal Mexicans, led by ever-present character actor Fernando Sancho, and a wonderfully staged shoot-out in which Clay seems to kill about two hundred of the enemy by shooting them off their horses. There's a tough femme fatale, played by the beautiful Argentinian actress Ethel Rojo, who easily holds her own against the macho guys surrounding her. Georges Riviere, who starred in a couple of Italian gothics like CASTLE OF BLOOD before appearing in this, is an unusual villain in that he doesn't actually do much that's villainous in the film: he just stands in Clay's way, and that's enough. The action scenes are well handled and the location work impressive. This is a film where even the horses seem to have their own individuality. The dubbing is pretty bad but this is par for the course for any Italian genre film, really. It's a good looking film, well handled by Corbucci, technically perfect and with enough atmosphere to make it a success.
Saying that, it's still a great little film, really well paced for a western and with some intriguing characters. Much of the film's success is down to Cameron Mitchell, who appeared in some of the best genre films Italy had to offer during the '60s; most of these were directed by the great Mario Bava (I'm thinking LAST OF THE VIKINGS, BLOOD AND BLACK LACE, KNIVES OF THE AVENGER, the list goes on). Mitchell was a great actor in my opinion and he's perfectly cast as the hero here. He gives Clay a raw humanity that makes you sympathise with him from the outset and the fact that he's handicapped – as the film progresses he gradually loses his sight – only adds to the pathos. Clay's dire situation makes for a truly nail-biting extended climax as a group of killers prowl after him through deserted streets and stables.
Elsewhere, genre conventions abound. There are some brutal Mexicans, led by ever-present character actor Fernando Sancho, and a wonderfully staged shoot-out in which Clay seems to kill about two hundred of the enemy by shooting them off their horses. There's a tough femme fatale, played by the beautiful Argentinian actress Ethel Rojo, who easily holds her own against the macho guys surrounding her. Georges Riviere, who starred in a couple of Italian gothics like CASTLE OF BLOOD before appearing in this, is an unusual villain in that he doesn't actually do much that's villainous in the film: he just stands in Clay's way, and that's enough. The action scenes are well handled and the location work impressive. This is a film where even the horses seem to have their own individuality. The dubbing is pretty bad but this is par for the course for any Italian genre film, really. It's a good looking film, well handled by Corbucci, technically perfect and with enough atmosphere to make it a success.