Ringo - Such Dir einen Platz zum Sterben

Find a Place to Die is a spaghetti western from director Giuliano Carmineo, who later on helmed the excellent giallo The Case of the Bloody Iris. This western is definitely less enjoyable than that thriller though. In it a woman seeks the help of a gun-fighter to avenge her husband's murder and to retrieve her stolen gold.

It's a fairly bog standard entry in the Italian western sub-genre with little to recommend it to anyone beyond spaghetti western fanatics. It is, however, graced by the presence of former Miss Italy Daniela Giordano, who appeared in a few interesting movies, most notably Mario Bava's fun sex comedy Four Times That Night. But she isn't really in this one enough, although she does feature in perhaps the most memorable scene in the film where she sings a song while strumming a guitar. This moment was at least a little different to the norm for these types of flicks but otherwise this one is business as usual spaghetti style. It's solid but nothing too great.

This is not a bad Spaghetti Western, marking one of Jeffrey Hunter's last roles: he's a discharged Army officer, slumming it in Mexico trading guns destined to a notorious band of cut-throats, who sees an opportunity to better his prospects when New Orleans belle Pascale Petit turns up with an offer of gold for the man who'll help save her husband (trapped in a mine cave-in, thus making the film something of a GARDEN OF EVIL [1954] rehash).

Hunter assembles a motley group for the job, which is soon at each other's throat over both the promise of gold and the shapely lady herself!; one of them even joins the bandits – and usurps their leadership to boot! Also involved is Mexican prostitute Daniela Giordano (who mimics the melancholy title tune – the score for the film, by Gianni Ferrio, is another good one): the stunning-looking actress was a former "Miss Italy" contest winner, whose best opportunity came with her starring role in Mario Bava's FOUR TIMES THAT NIGHT (1969) – which, incidentally, also featured Petit. Her pimp (the first time I've heard a man being referred as such in a Western!) is one of Hunter's associates, who ultimately turns out to be a good guy. Not so a lecherous and sadistic doctor-cum-priest (Alfredo Lastretti), who's not even trusted by the traitorous and power-hungry group member when he tries to join his ranks!

The gray-haired Hunter is pretty good in what he has to do (his short-term career didn't fulfill its initial promise); the action here – supervised by B-movie specialist Hugo Fregonese – is certainly competently handled, and the film itself seems to me to be an under-appreciated entry (I, for one, hadn't heard of it before) in this popular genre...

This movie is actually pretty watchable. It's actually better than some of those westerns they used to punch out in Hollywood back in the 30's. You know the ones. The ones where the Duke was doing 12 movies a year. LOL Saying this movie is pretty good is saying somethin' for a spaghetti western. The movie is good enough, it draws you in, and rivets you. And that is also sayin' somethin'. The photography, and the music, are good. The acting is tolerable. To the guy who wrote a review and obviously didn't watch the movie, what is wrong with people like you? // The Bushwacker 6/29/2021.

Ravioli Western with a prolific Italian director , Anthony Ascott or Giuliano Carmineo , and an American main actor , Jeffrey Hunter known for King of Kings . Entertaining Spaghetti Western with crossfire , action , violence and entertainment . The story is similar to previous classic ¨Garden of evil ¨ (1954) by Henry Hathaway about a desperate group of adventurers recruited by a gorgeous woman being chased by enemies , but this ¨Joe... Cercati un Posto per Morire!" or international title "Find a Place to Die" is realized in Spaghetti style . It deals with an outcast Confederate soldier, Joe Collins ,(the early deceased Jeffrey Hunter) redeems himself by defending a woman called Lisa Martin (Pascale Petit who plays some nude scenes) against vengeful bandits willing to kill for her goldmine claim defended by her marooned husband (Piero Lulli , customary villain in lots of Spaghettis) . The husband called Paul Martin is wounded in a gold mine on a dangerous territory surrounded by nasty outlaws led by Chato . They followed her for the gold and her body but they didn't get the gold.

Ordinary Spaghetti Western being leisurely and deliberately paced , at times thrilling and tense whose plot follows hazardous trails , though is sometimes slow moving . The movie gets the usual Western issues , as ambitious bandits , violent facing off , exaggerated baddies and spectacular gun-play , among them . It's a thrilling western with breathtaking gunfight between the protagonist , Joe Collins played Jeffrey Hunter , against the heartless Chato and his ominous hoodlums and a moving ending shootout . It's an entertaining story with a touch of peculiarity , some usual characters, a lot of shoot em'up and an amazing musical score . The basic plot is typical spaghetti western fare as ambition , betrayal and robbing , but what makes this movie peculiar is its style . The picture is well starred by Jeffrey Hunter , he played three Spaghetti Western such as ¨Joaquin Murrieta¨ , ¨Joe Navidad¨ and this one . His acting is often accused of being wooden, but in many manners is ideally suited to playing the steely-faced gunslinger synonymous with the genre . Very bad cinematography , being necessary a correct remastering because of the colors are faded . It was filmed by cameraman Riccardo Pallottini on location in Ostia, Lazio , Rome . The musician Gianni Ferrio composes a nice soundtrack and well conducted , this turns out to be one of the most memorable parts of the movie; as it's full of enjoyable sounds and haunting musical background , it contributes tremendously to the atmosphere of the film,

The picture was middlingly directed by Anthony Scott or Giuliano Carmineo and some versions was credited Hugo Fregonese , also producer . Hugo was an Argentinian director who emigrated to Hollywood, then became technical adviser on latino themes at Columbia Studios in Hollywood, and subsequently under contract at Universal from 1950 to 1952 filming ¨Man in the attic¨ with Jack Palance , ¨Blowing wild¨with Gary Cooper , ¨Decameron Nights¨with Joan Fontaine , ¨Harry Black and the tiger¨with Steart Granger . Spent the rest of the decade in Europe directing Euro-westerns as ¨Savage Pampas¨ and potboilers as "The Death Ray of Dr. Mabuse" , Terror as "Dracula vs. Frankenstein" before finishing his career back in the country of his birth . And Giuliano Carmineo made several Spaghetti as ¨The moment to kill¨, ¨Find a place to die¨ , ¨They call him Cemetery¨ , ¨They call me Hallaluya¨ , and the Sartana movies : "Have a Good Funeral, My Friend, Sartana Will Pay" , ¨Sartana the gravedigger'(69) ,"Sartana's Coming, Get Your Coffins Ready" , ¨Light the fuse Sartana is coming¨(71) , among others .

Though somewhat standard "gang hunts for gold" spaghetti western fare, it is well-directed and has solid performances. The score is also well-done, one of the better non-Morricone ones I've heard. Fast-paced with several nice action scenes, with a couple of great, cold-blooded sudden shootings. The VCI DVD is ok, letterboxed but the transfer is soft and rather noisy throughout, with a lot of grain in dark scenes. The mono sound, though, is rich and well-recorded. The film is definitely worth a look for anyone looking for an entertaining, obscure western.