Django - Schiess mir das Lied vom Sterben

There's so much insane gun play in this film I was hardly in need of a plot. At one point, there's a bandit lighting matches stuffed between his toes for a laugh, and then along comes Sartana, knocks the guy out by shooting a sign that falls on the guy's head, then Sartana lights the last match by shooting it, then sparks up a cigar using the match! Why didn't this film win dozens of Oscars?

You've got Sartana after gold, the bandits after gold, some shady businessmen after gold, the gold miners after their own gold (how dare they!), and a bar owning chick...after gold. Oh, and another gunslinger called Sabbath after gold. He carries a white parasol, reads Shakespeare's sonnets, and constantly refers to his mother. Again, why no Oscars?

There's also a running gag where the bandits constantly try to get the drop on Sartana, but Sartana's always got a pistol hidden somewhere. I can't think of a single slow spot in this film at all, and Stelvio Massi's hyperactive camera-work coupled with Carnimeo's direction make for one of the more entertaining Italian Westerns.

Although the main character of the movie is named "Sartana", is finely dressed in black, pulls off a number of clever tricks, and the movie was titled "I am Sartana... Trade Your Guns for a Coffin" in some quarters, with George Hilton in the role instead of John Garko, I am not sure if this is an official entry in the "Sartana" spaghetti western series. However, this question didn't bother me that much while watching this movie, so I'll put it aside. Hilton does fairly well in the role; he doesn't beat John Garko, but he does give the Sartana character enough quickness and intelligence that he seems to know what he's doing. And the atmosphere of the movie has some definite bite; director Antony Ascot makes things rougher and dustier that what you usually get in a spaghetti western. There is also plenty of fairly well done action sequences as well. I just wish the script was a little better. The story is somewhat thin in the first half and somewhat meanders at times. In the second half, there is more plot, but it sometimes unfolds in a somewhat confusing manner; you really have to be paying attention. Spaghetti western fans probably won't mind the uneven script since the movie delivers in other areas, so if you are such a fan, it's probably safe to give this movie a look.

So the third entry to the Sartana anthology gets a new - Sartana. It seems to be the only one with a different actor and it is even simpler than the other ones. But that might not make it worth less than the other movies. A lot of shootouts, big body count and so forth. So all the pillars for a successful Spaghetti Western one might think.

Then again, there is repetition. And not just repetition from other movies, but repetition in the shootouts. While they may come up with some nice ideas (a hole here, a hole there, hidden gun there, hidden gun there and a slapstick "rifle"/knife combo towards the end), it may not be enough to convey others. Whatever floats your boat ... or rides your horse I guess ...

(1970) I Am Sartana, Trade Your Guns For A Coffin/ C'è Sartana... vendi la pistola e comprati la bara!

DUBBED SPAGHETTI WESTERN

The first 20 minutes was kind of too over the top and ridiculous. I could not get into the movie until after I had to make sense to what I just saw, which it was not until after the second or third viewing is when I was able to grasp in terms of events. Bounty hunter, Sartana (George Hilton) is watching from a distance with a telescope of some men traveling with a wagon until he spots someone he recognizes. And it appears one of the wanted men happens to be on one of the posters. But just as he was about to make his move, a group of bandits then show up and kill all of the men there. And just as soon as the bandits finish their business when one of them threw a stick of dynamite. Sartana is seeing all of this, and he manages to put it out by throwing his water pale a mile from where he is standing up at the mountains, shooting the pale of water to put the dynamite out. He then grabs one of the sand bags that is supposed to be filled with gold dust, and he sees that it is filled with nothing but sand. After he collects his bounty award, he then goes to an almost desolate Mexican village or area. As Sartana attempt to ride through the town someone then tries to stop him, and he manages to shoot the sign over the bandit to knock him out. And he then walks into a Mexican saloon, where there is no one other than a bandit on the table stuffing himself and the bar owner, he stirs trouble with the bandit, and he lets him run out. And where is bandit runs off to, he grabs other bandits. Three of them show up to confront Sartana as he is about to eat something sitting exactly at the same spot where the bandit was sitting. As they see Sartana's holster hung on the hanger, they think he is unarmed. But as they draw their guns at him, he shoots all three of them through the round loaf of bread placed on front of him. The other bandits are looking through the window as the young child of a mother held against her will escapes and runs into the saloon. The little child then offers his savings to save his mother, but he refuses. While the bandits are waiting, sticks of dynamite are seen coming through the fire place, and they all run out. Sartana succeeds shooting all of them, for it was obvious the sticks of dynamite are actually candles. He then gives the mother and her child some money before they on their way, and asks for some information regarding gold shipments.

Only part that did not make sense was right in beginning when the bandits left the sand bags in the wagon instead of disposing them to cause an appearance they were stolen. To not give up the secret the gold never leaves town. Other than that it is classic spaghetti. Of course exaggerated and impossible like all spaghetti's, but that is why a true fan of the genre watches them in the first place. Hilton is better than Garko, this is a better Sartana than the other 4, in my humble opinion. There are a few lower ranking Spaghetti's i always find myself reviewing and this is one of them. I absolutely love it, and people who don't get the million double crosses just need to view it multiple times. I call no one stupid cause i needed to view it multiple times to really take it all in. It's amazing how after many views, simply from the true love of the genre, I notice things i missed on the millionth viewing! LOL, I'm no rocket scientist but i hate people who watch my favorite movie genre offerings 1 time then write a review saying dopey things. Even worse is people who are so stuck on the fact that Garko was not in this one and state it's not a real Sartana even if they say it is. LOL, please! I suggest to anyone who that reads this review, to count how many times the different parties interested in the gold-double cross each other. How many times they agree with the parties involved, to do one thing but then do the opposite. How many times they all screw each other, period. It has high level humor, action, and NEVER a dull moment. One of them Spaghetti's they could have made longer instead of SHOULD have made shorter. What else you looking for? If you scoff at the exaggerated and retarded parts, DON'T watch it! You have to be in love with the Genre of Italian/Spanish spaghetti westerns. Is it GBU or Once apon a time in the west? Hell NO. It is however an excellent Spaghetti and let me add.... I love Garko and every spaghetti he ever appeared in. I just like the story and Hilton better in this one. Another spaghetti they always pick on that i always find myself going back to watch is the second Arizone Colt, made in 1970 The Hired Gun with my boy Anthony Steffen that clowns call a wooden actor! LOL, what you think Clint Eastwood was half the time in the 3 classics? Steffen was born to be a Spaghetti star, perfect actor with the right looks for the job. Watch VIVA DJANGO with Steffen not the one with sometimes the same title referenced with the great Terrence Hill. Then tell me Anthony Steffen movies are not fantastic! I don't do many reviews but since whenever i find myself free i watch a few over and over, reading the other reviews gave me a case of the ass. Hence hadda put my 2 cents in. Peace.....