Der Tod reitet mit

"Dynamite Joe" is a fairly obscure spaghetti western, rarely seen in the U.S., probably because there are no American actors in it. It's a lot more light-hearted than a lot of Italian westerns, but it doesn't work too well as either a comedy or a western. Rick Von Nutter stars as "special agent" Joe Ford, better known as Dynamite Joe. The character (and the film) seem to be influenced by both the James Bond phenomena, heavy in the 60's, and the TV show "Wild Wild West."

Joe's hired by the government to get a gold shipment safely through dangerous territory and past a group of "comancheros." He manages to do this when a wagon is made from the gold. (Yeah . . . that's believable!) Along the way we're told Joe has "an obsession with the letter G: gold, girls, and gunpowder!" The audience is also treated to (or tortured by) a couple of songs by a saloon girl (who looks a lot like Annette Funicello).

There is the usual -- for spaghetti westerns -- backstabbing and corruption of supposedly noble characters, and a number of mostly predictable twists in the plot. And then there's director Margheriti's famous work with miniatures during a sensational flood sequence. And as usual, the special effects in the sequence alternate from spectacular to dreadful, often within seconds.

In short, "Dynamite Joe" is watchable, but is far from the apex of Italian westerns. And Rick Von Nutter just walks through the title role on what I presume is supposed to be his charm. (Note to Rick: It ain't happenin', dude!)

In order to put an end to the numerous ambushes on the gold transports which are a real menace to the finances of the American government, the agent Joe Ford, called Dynamite Joe due to his liking for explosives, is entrusted with controlling the next transfer.

Dynamite Joe starts with a bang when Dynamite Joe (Rik Van Nutter) appears and at first you'll be forgiven to think that this is a Sergio Leone' Dollar film knockoff as Van Nutter, who strangely resembles Clint Eastwood, is dressed in a poncho, but soon you will realise it's further from that. It's a thoroughly tongue-in-cheek western, a romp, an antithesis to the grim, nihilistic spaghetti westerns, and reminds me of the TV show Wild Wild West. An exploding watch, an exploding leather bag, an exploding derringer, an exploding Stagecoach, a bandit who takes his throne with him wherever he goes, gold-Stagecoach painted red, male guards dressed as women but they have beards , and beautiful women vying for a cool hero who hardly blinks an eye during the mayhem. Definitely an outrageous romp with Bondian traits. It's an absolute blast- fun western all the way. It has some good action, too. Rik Van Nutter makes one cool hero and is winking at the audience. Pity there weren't sequels to this.

Too much gold disappears during transports, so that the bank director hires an expert to guard the next one: Dynamite Joe (Rik Van Nutter)! Bandits and corrupt business-men are already making plans how to get rid of him, but Joe is prepared for many enemies with plenty of explosives.

The first western movie by Antonio Margheriti is somewhat too pedestrian. In the first half of the movie, nothing much is happening except discussions with bank directors and watching the saloon dancers. Only in the middle of the movie, when the villain seriously starts to attack Dynamite Joe (who replies with, guess what, a very big explosion), the audience wakes up and gets the opportunity to watch a movie that is somewhat entertaining at least in the second half, when the gold transport is on the way. Rik Van Nutter (best known for playing Felix Leiter in the James Bond movie 'Thunderball') is a kind of hero that rather is at home in secret agent movies and appears to be miscast here.

DYNAMITE JOE is a cheerful spaghetti western directed by the one and only Antonio Margheriti, who shoots with his typical aplomb: he brings a lightness of touch to the proceedings and fills his film with plenty of action too. Despite this, DYNAMITE JOE feels like a rather superficial movie, lacking in the kind of depth that makes a spaghetti western classic.

The film features Rik Van Nutter as the peroxide blond hero, a Bond-style protagonist who has something of a passion for explosives. The plot involves the transportation of a shipment of gold through enemy territory, and the enemies faced along the way; a number of rich businessmen turn out to be unsurprisingly corrupt, and Van Nutter has his work cut out dealing with them.

Unsurprisingly this is an effects film for the most part, with plenty of explosive action and even a few of Margheriti's infamous miniatures in a flood disaster scene. However, it's not very funny, and Van Nutter's hero is more than a little irritating. It's not a film I'd hurry to watch again, put it like that.

Middling Italian-Spanish Western with habitual actors , customary scenarios and realized in Spaghetti/Chorizo style , including hilarious touches here and there . The film displays thrills , noisy action , riding pursuits , shootouts , lots of blow-up , final twist , and being enough entertaining . It is a decent/passable , though mediocre , Macaroni Western starred by acceptable actors from Spaghetti . It stars Joe (a Bond-style starring , being decently played by Rik Van Nutter) who is hired by powerful bankers to get a gold shipment safely through a perilous territory . As Joe is contracted by the USA government to get the gold shipment to its destination , being supported by an old swagger called Sponge (Barta Barri) and a honest sheriff named Stanton (Alfonso Rojas) . Along the way they find all kinds of dangers , treason , and unexpected attacks . Joe is doublé-crossed and targeted by a second outfit of robbers led by a nasty Mexican bandit nicknamed El Sol (Ricardo Palacios) , chasing the shipment of gold , a great number of traitors and corrupt rich businessmen .

Dynamite Joe starts off with colorful opening credits on characters from the film , it tends to center on the protagonist , Rik Van Nutter , dressed in Clint Eastwood's style , including ¨Poncho¨ , who faces off a motley group of villains . Acceptable though middling Pepperoni Western in which a drifter resolves a conflict among nasty robbers that want to take a gold shipment when the US government attempts to transport it in a safe place . All in all , this film is predominantly an Italian film rather than a Spanish one . It's an Italian/Spanish realization , two country co-production but is clearly dominated by the Italian contingent and the traditional leanings of the Spanish producers of the time have their stamp on the entire proceedings . Passable Spaghetti Western realized in traditional as well as comical style with a screenplay written by Maria Carmen Martínez Roman who wrote numerous westerns , such as : Sheriff Won't Shoot , Réquiem for a Gringo , Winchester Bill , In a Colt's Shadow , Fury of Johnny Kid and the classic Django kill ; including amusing dialogue , silly situations , plot twists and turns . Italian-Spanish co-production filmed in Almeria , full of familiar faces , action , exaggerated characters , crossfire and lots of shots . The film packs comical elements , tongue-in-cheek , thrills , shootouts , floods , high body-count and and results to be quite entertaining . It's a middle-budget film with ordinary actors , technicians , decent production values and average results . There is plenty of action in the movie , guaranteeing some shoot'em up , explosions , or stunts every few minutes . It's an exciting western with breathtaking showdown between starring Rik Van Nutter and his contenders , Renato Baldini , Ricardo Palacios , adding some thrilling as well as spectacular scenes as when Jim uses dynamite against his enemies .

Sympathetic acting by Rik van Nutter who takes on a band of crooks , unethical banker & his gang . Rik , who often used pseudonym Clyde Rogers , was an actor and writer , known for ¨007's Thunderball¨ (1965), ¨Space Men¨ (1960) , ¨The Revenge of Ivanhoe¨ (1965) , ¨Buffalo Bill Cody¨ (1965) and this one , ¨Dynamite Joe¨ (1967). He was married to Emily Frankel and Anita Ekberg, and he died in 2005 . Sexy female cast members accompany to him , such as Halina Zalewska , and Merce Castro . Support cast is pretty well , filled by intimate faces as Spanish actors : Barta Barry , Ricardo Palacios , Alfonso Rojas , Saturno Cerra , and Italian : Renato Baldini , among others . The picture well photographed by Manuel Merino . However , being necessary a fine remastering because of the film-copy is washed-out . Mostly filmed in atmospheric scenarios on location in Almeria . There are many fine technicians and nice assistant direction and adequate production design by the usual Teddy Villalba , he creates a good scenario . Very enjoyable musical score by Carlo Savina , including catching songs at the beginning and the end , including a couple of songs by a saloon girl .

This oddball motion picture was professionally directed by Antonio Margheriti , though it has flaws and gaps . Antonio M. Dawson was born in 1930 , Rome, and died in 2002 . He was a director and writer , and especially known for his works with miniatures , explosions and flood sequences . Antonio shoots with ordinary aplomb and being famous for Yor (1983), Virus (1980) and Horror castle (1963) . Italian writer-director of horror and exploitation films, a former university engineering student who began in films in 1956 . He was also an expert in special optical effects , FX , and model-making . Often used the pseudonym 'Anthony M. Dawson'. He directed all kind of genres such as Wartime : The last hunter , Tornado , Code Name : Wild Geese , Commando Leopard , Der Commander ; Sci-Fi : War of planets , Planet on the prowl , Criminali Della Galassia ; Action : Operazione Goldman , Indio , The Squeeze , Cyberflic ; Terror : The Virgin of Nuremberg , Virus or Cannibal Apocalypse , Alien from the Deep , Flesh for Frankestein and Spaghetti : Joko , Dynamite Joe ,The Stranger and the Gunfighter , Take a hard ride , And God Said to Cain .