ironhorse_iv
The first thing, you'll probably notice about this movie is the fact that the filmmakers couldn't figure out, what to call, this film. 'Seven Winchesters for a Massacre,', 'Renegade Riders', 'Blake's Marauders', 'Payment in Blood', "Last Resort' 'The Final Defeat' and 'Winchester for Hire' has all been used to describe this movie. Since, the movie has multiply titles, it has really confuse, most of the viewers. Directed by E.G Rowland AKA Enzo G. Castellari, the movie tells the story of a mysterious gunman, Stuart (Ed Byrnes) who joins up with a gang of ex-Confederate led by renegade Colonel, Thomas Blake (Guy Madison) in an attempt to find buried treasure, from the American Civil War. Without spoiling the movie, too much, I have to say, the movie really tries too hard to be, the next 'The Good, the Bad and the Ugly'. There are way too many similarities to that Sergio Leone's 1966 film. While, many people believe that, Ed Byrnes kinda looks, and acts like Clint Eastwood's 'Man of No Name' in certain scenes, in my opinion, he looks and acts more like Casey Affleck in 2007's 'The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford'. Without telling too much about him, all I can say, is that, the twist and turns with his character, somewhat doesn't make sense. If he's supposed to be the good guy, then why does, he kills a lot of innocent people!? It doesn't make sense. It really get more befuddling, toward the end, when it turn out, he was indeed, a good guy, and had a 'partner', who a few scenes earlier, left him to die and was working with the bad guys. They really tossed out, the logic of the film, out of the window, by this point of the film. Because of that, it's by far, one of the weakest parts of the film. You know, the movie has a problem, when most people find themselves, rooting for the group of rapist and murders over the large amount of faceless, not establish good guys. You know, then, that the film, has, went the wrong direction. Guy Madison as the villain, Thomas Blake was meh for the most part. I like how he does have a commanding voice. Yet, his role was nothing new and comes across as somewhat dull. Reportedly Madison had drinking problems while making this film. So, it was no surprise, that he often look like, he hasn't slept in days. He just look tired & bored of acting the same type of roles. He was indeed, typecast as a Civil War officer, way too many times. Despite that, I did like the group of sadistic cutthroats that made up Blake's Raiders. First off, you got the Tuco rip-off Chamaco Gonzales played by Thomas Moore AKA Ennio Girolami, who pretty much, set up the plot. Then, you got the quiet, Indian, Rios played by Alfred Aysanoa AKA Aysanoa Runachagua, whom looks like, he set out of the wrong movie. My favorite in the gang, has to be the sadist, Mesa Alvarez (Attilio Severini) who uses his spurs to kill or torture people & the cowardly Frenchman cook/sommelier, Levasseur (Piero Vida). Both were very memorable. I like how much, the gang reminds, a bit of Director Sergio Corbucci's 1967's 'Hellbenders' mixed with Director John Sturges's 1960's hit, 'The Magnificent Seven'. Anyways, I like how each one of them, having their own set of weapons, and gimmick for a campaign of violence. I love, how the movie kinda introduce them. It's by far, one of the best opening sequences, I had seen in a Spaghetti Western. Yet, I can't say the same, toward the later-half, when Louise Barrett AKA Lousie Baratto's character, Manuela was introduced. That scene comes out of nowhere, and seem very awkward. Her character really wasn't needed. Another thing, I wish the movie could had done, better, is in the video language transfer department. Not everything in the film was converted, back into the English language for the US and UK release, as the original Italian dubbing was still there. It was so badly done. Because of that, it really took me out of the film. It's just too weird to see characters jump, from one language to the other. Still, the soundtrack by Francesco De Masi was very exciting to listen to. The opening credits with the Civil War photos background was kinda cool, because of that. Another thing, that wrong, about this film, is its tone. It's all over the place. What a weird hodgepodge of odd comedy mixed with gritty extreme violence. While, the action was amazing; the problem is, so parts is a bit too unrealistic. I don't particularly like those obnoxious gimmick gun tricks, this movie has. Candles are shot from a candlestick, a water-jug is shot from a person's mouth, playing cards are shot from another person's hands, and last, a gun being whipped out of a holster, are a bit over the top. The editing is also not very inspired, at times the movie appears rather uninspired and loosely put together. Some scenes just ended, mid-sentences, and begin with no establishing shots. It was very jarring. The movie's visuals is sub-standard, but it kinda works, enough to reach the end of the climax. So I can't complain about that. Overall: Whatever, this movie wants to calls itself. I have to say, I was somewhat disappointed in how the film turn out. Great opening, but pretty crappy delivery toward the end. I really can't recommended, watching.
ma-cortes
Macarroni Western starred by two ordinary Spaghetti actors as Guy Madison and Edd Byrnes ; both of whom played several Italian oaters . Simple but effective Western that has all the classic ingredients of a good Spaghetti . It deals with a gunman named Stuart (Edd Byrnes) joins up with a gang of Confederate guerrillas commanded by Col. Thomas Blake (Guy Madison) to find a cache of missing Confederate gold . Set during post Civil War a misfit group carries out a risked travel beyond enemy lines , as Stuart teams up a motley bunch , including a veteran captain and other various colleagues (Ryk Boyd and Ennio Girolami , among others) to help them out by promising a massive reward if it succeeds . As the meanest rebel ever born lives only to make 'em die . They must pull off the dangerous objective , as Stuart and the ambitious drifters join forces to take a lot of money from confederacy that has been buried into an Indian cemetery similarly to ¨The good , the bad and the ugly¨ . The dangerous assignment is set against stark environment , Union soldiers attacks and hazardous trails . As the battle for victory has ended but the war for vengeance goes on.This enjoyable Ravioli Western packs thrills, action , brawls , crossfire and drags at times , balancing in ups and downs . There is plenty of action in the movie , guaranteeing shootouts , fights or stunts every few minutes . This is an agreeable Western all'Italiana dealing with a continuous confrontation among protagonists and both of them against several opponents . The movie has the typical European Western characters , as the bloody facing off , greedy antiheroes, dusty and spectacular showdowns , extreme baddies ; and being rightly directed . This Italian Western was filmed in 1967 , a notorious year in the development of European western that almost doubled since former year with movies mostly filmed in Spain and Italy . Director Enzo G Castell makes a nice camera work with some zooms and clever choreography on the showdown , fighting , spectacular shootouts and entertaining scenes . The film blends violence , high body-count and it's fast moving and quite entertaining ; there is a very odd implementation of shots in the camera work during some particular scenes as the film approaches its climax , as in the ending gunfights and the customary showdown conclusion . Guy Madison's performance in the movie is a bit wooden for the role of such an interesting character, a rebel confederate Colonel similarly to Quantrill or Anderson , but the fantastic performance by Edd Byrnes as a likable gunslinger saves the show . Edd is very fine , he ravages the screen , he jumps , bounds and leaps , hit and run . Byrnes as a brave and two-fisted gunfighter is terrific , subsequently the would play similar roles in other Spaghettis as "Professionals for a Massacre" by Nando Cicero and ¨Any can gun play¨ by Enzo G Castell . Ennio Girolami , Marino Girolami's son , plays as a cruelly baddie role ,he is pretty good , subsequently he would play similar characters in various oaters and Spaghettis , many of them directed by his brother Enzo G Castellari . The musician Francesco De Massi composes a nice soundtrack , well conducted , this turns out to be one of the most memorable parts of the movie , adding catching songs at the initiation and final .The film was well produced/written by Marino Girolami who used pseudonyms as Fred Wilson or Dario Silvestri , he is father of Enzo G. Castellari and Ennio Girolami and brother of Romolo Guerrieri . Marino wrote and directed several Western such as "Badmen of the West" ,"Two Ringos from Texas", "God Was in the West, Too, at One Time" , "God Was in the West, Too, at One Time" . The motion picture was professionally directed by Enzo G Castell . Enzo usually makes experimental editing techniques such as unbroken transitions from one scene to another and a cameo appearance in his films . Castellari often works with Guido and Maurizio De Angelis and uses to do slow motion shootouts and choreographic death scenes . Enzo is a good a craftsman working in all kind of genres , as he made Western especially . His first one was ¨Some dollars for Django¨ co-directed by Leon Klimovsky , but actually, for the most part of its filming by the disagreements arising with Klimovsky was realized by Enzo G. Castellari, which this film was his directorial debut in a sub-genre that became one of its greatest representatives ; in fact if you compare the beginning of "7 Winchester for a massacre" which would direct the next year and the end this one seem to be similar direction . After that , he went on directing ¨ Johnny Hamlet¨ , ¨Kill them everybody and came back alone¨, ¨Tedeum¨ , ¨Cipolla colt¨ and the masterpiece : ¨Keoma¨ and finally its inferior sequel ¨Jonathan of the Bears¨ also with Franco Nero . Some of them are serious , others are goofy and plenty of slapstick and slapdash . This ¨Seven Winchester for a massacre¨ is a bewildering story , enjoyable in lots of parts and it will appeal to Spaghetti Western fans . It's a passable film , and better than a lot of the ulterior spaghetti western to come .
