Django und die Bande der Gehenkten

Of all the unofficial "Django"-sequels(40+), this is the one that sticks closest to the original. This time around, Django is portrayed by a pre-Trinity Terrence Hill. Hill does his best to copy the original performance by Franco Nero, and succeeds. Director Ferdinando Baldi co-wrote this with Franco Rossetti (who also co-wrote the Corbucci film), and the result is an extremely entertaining film, with plenty of action, and enjoyable performances. This is nowhere the really great spaghetti westerns such as "Keoma", "Bullet For The General", and the works of Sergio Leone and Sergio Corbucci, but fans of the genre will be more than pleased. The ending is the best bit, and was actually copied in the only official "Django"-sequel, "Django Strikes Again". Extremely hard to find, but well worth the search.

You might have to do a double-take every so often while watching Django, Prepare A Coffin! Or Preparati la bara!, a 1968 Italian spaghetti western starring well-known action-comedy legend, Terrence Hill. It's a spin-off of the 1966 Django film that became popular with Italian movie star Franco Nero in the lead role.

Why the double-take? Because you might be convinced that Hill is none other than razor-jawed, dreamy-eyed action hero, Franco Nero.

The close-ups is where the doppelganger effect comes into play, but when the frustrum gives way to a full view of Hill's more lanky form -- especially when he isn't wearing the black overcoat -- you can readily see the difference between him and the more brutish Nero.

The size difference does kind of vitiate the luster of Hill's performance as Django, but not by too much.

Where Nero was more stoic and resolute in both the profile and portrait shots, with a sturdy gait that made him seem both charming and menacing all at the same time, Terrence Hill only manages the menace in the close-ups, and when wearing the large black overcoat in the distant shots.

Even then he has a propensity to let his glowing smile shine through the glower, infrequently, which can also give Django more of a personable appeal in this film compared to the tortured-soul effect that Nero had going for him in the original.

Now some people prefer this film to the 1966 outing, but I can't say for certain that this is better. It certainly has more layers going for it than the original due to the various characters having their own motivations, and that makes it a lot more unpredictable. The characters aren't just 2D cardboard cutouts, and that gives them a much more grounded flavor than what you might be expecting from a western.

There are occasional shootouts to sate the action-hungry viewer, but they aren't particularly as memorable as the ones from the original Django, which might disappoint some viewers.

Also, while Hill can some impressive displays of fisticuffs, his stringy physique doesn't quite make him as imposing as Nero, and in turn he comes across as a much more vulnerable Django than Nero's turn as the character.

However, where the acting counts Terrence Hill actually delivers. He does a very fine job of imitating Nero to the best of his abilities, and that alone definitely deserves a huge hat tip. It's not often someone is able to embody the role made famous by someone else and then turn in a performance that very closely resembles the original, while still managing to add their own spin on it (and managing a verisimilitude without the performance being satirical or farcical).

It's a hard balancing act to pull off, but I think Hill did a wonderful job with what he had to work with. It's a steep departure from his physical-comedy work that he became renown for with Bud Spencer, but well worth the watch for those who enjoyed the original Django that starred the devilishly handsome Franco Nero.

A gunfighter (Terence Hill) forms a gang of "deceased" execution victims to get revenge on the politician and outlaw who killed his wife.

This film is unique among the plethora of films which capitalized on Corbucci's hit "Django" in that it is not only a semi-official, legitimate follow-up, but was also originally meant to star Franco Nero. Of course, it ultimately involved none of the same cast or crew from the original. But when it comes to spaghetti westerns, this is as close as you're going to get. Personally, my knowledge of spaghetti westerns is limited, so I would not be able to rightfully say whether this is among the best or the worst... but it is certainly an enjoyable film.

What makes the film interesting today (2017) is its role in a relatively recent pop song from Gnarls Barkley. Though the score was probably not praised by many people over the last few decades, when someone hears it now, they are bound to recognize the sounds of "Crazy". It might be interesting to know where the musicians stumbled upon the film's score.

The Blu-ray from Arrow Video is excellent, as always, though not their finest work. The picture is cleaned up very nicely (the 2k transfer was created from a 35mm interpositive), so this is easily the definitive version to own. But the special features are lacking. Other than a very brief (10 minute) run-down of the Django films from author Kevin Grant ("Any Gun Can Play"), there are really no bonus materials. No commentary, no interviews, nothing that really provides insight into this film. So a must for spaghetti western fans, but maybe not a must for the casual film buff.

Here is a early film of Terence Hill as Django, the legendary machine-gunning mystery man always bent on revenge. This is a terrific film and the best Django since the original with Franco Nero. Terence Hill plays the part perfectly & along with a very good cast. Django had always been one of my favorite western characters. The character is always so dark and without the pretentiousness that some westerns have at times. If you like westerns that are dark & all about revenge you will really enjoy this. The soundtrack is great with the usual belting out of "DJANGOOOO!!!" that you'll find in various songs that are in the other 857645645645645 Django movies. If you ever find a copy of this film pick it up for sure, it is almost impossible to find these days.

One of my favorite Spaghetti westerns is "VIVA DJANGO". Terence Hill plays Django, a man who's wife was murdered by his best friend. Django becomes a hangman, who doesnt kill his victims, he gives them a harness, with a big hook, to wear so they wont be strangled. Django does this so they will help him get revenge on David Berry for murdering his wife. Excellent Spaghetti Western that never gets boring, full of guns and action! Terence Hill does a good job imitating Franco Nero. I think this movie is slightly better than the origanal DJANGO made in 1966. Get a bootleg of this movie off of Ebay, you wont be dissapointed!