Die schmutzigen Dreizehn

Even if you are a die hard fan of spaghetti westerns, it's likely that you'll find this particular one pretty disappointing. It doesn't get off to a good start; the first thirty or so minutes are kind of slow, and the (limited) action in this section of the movie is pretty flatly done. When the movie does get more or less to the thirty minute mark, things do pick up - but only slightly. The action doesn't get much more exciting than what we saw in the first part of the movie, even though there are many excuses for it. It doesn't help that the two leads of the movie, Craig Hill and George Martin, don't give very charismatic performances (though to be fair, the script gives them few favors.) The last twenty minutes of the movie - when things really start to get desperate for the leads - aren't that bad, being tough and gritty as well as kind of exciting. If the first eighty minutes had been like that, we might have had something here. But as it is, those good last twenty minutes are not enough to save the movie from being labelled as mediocre and drab as a whole. And with the official American DVD release of this movie using a pretty crummy print, there's even less reason for spaghetti western fans to give this particular effort a look.

This film begins with a group of outlaws led by a man named "Sandy Cassel" (George Martin) attacking a peaceful ranch and, after killing several cowboys, stealing all of the horses in the corral. Not long after that, having witnessed part of the shootout between the horse thieves and the ranch hands, a smaller group of cowboys led by a man named "Billy Mack" (Craig Hill) negotiates with the widowed owner of the ranch to retrieve the stolen horses--for a price. After she accepts the offer, Billy Mack's men ride off in search of the horses. The scene then shifts to yet another widow by the name of "Mrs. Cook" (Margarita Lozano) helping one of her daughters named "Anne Cook" (Maria Montez) prepare for her wedding scheduled for the next day. As fate would have it, however, Sandy Cassel's men just happen to appear and politely ask to stay for the night with a promise to leave in the morning. Mrs. Cook graciously agrees and tells them they can sleep in the barn. It's then that Billy Mack appears with his men and they are also allowed to stay the night as well. Unfortunately, not long afterward, a man slips into the house and brutally kills Mrs. Cook, Anne and the younger daughter "Elizabeth Cook" (Eleonora Brown). Needless to say, when the word gets out about what has happened, both Sandy and Billy Mack are quite upset. Unfortunately, they have no time to find the guilty culprit because the news has also reached the citizens of a nearby town and an extremely large posse is headed their way--and they are determined to see each and every one of them hanged. Now, rather than reveal any more, I will just say that this was a rather disappointing Spaghetti western due in large part to the way the numerous subplots were connected with one another. Nothing seemed to flow together very well and that made everything seem quite uneven. Likewise, considering that the horse thieves had previously murdered several ranch hands in cold blood, it was hard to feel any sympathy for them when the lynch mob started closing in on them. Be that as it may, I don't consider this to be one of the better Spanish-Italian efforts and I have rated it accordingly. Below average.

An Italian-Spanish co-production full of action , exaggerated characters, shootouts and loads of violence . There is plenty of action in the movie , guaranteeing some shoot'em up or stunts every few minutes . There's also an interesting intrigue and whodunit with some Giallo when happens a killing spree , and the question is : Who is the killer ? For money, for pleasure, for revenge, he doesn't care why he kills or how ¡ . A family formed by a mother (Margarita Lozano) and two daughters (Eleonora Brown) is cruelly killed and are accused two different bands who are facing each other . One gang (Jose Canalejas) is led by Billy Mack (Graig Hill) and another one (Frank Braña) is commanded by Sandy Cassel (George Martin) . When the fiancé named Bud Lee (Howard Ross) of a murdered girl learns the slaughter and atrocity committed he executes a single-handedly revenge , ravages and kills each person involved in the massacre . Bud is relentless in his vendetta , deadly in his violence . Then the two bands flee and go to the town which is inhabited by important people as the Sheriff ( Antonio Molino Rojo) , the banker , the priest (Andrea Bosic), the doctor (Umberto Raho) and a gorgeous Pastor's priest named Barbara Ferguson (Susy Andersen) , among others . But Barbara is kidnapped as hostage and the bandits get away to Mexico . They arrive in a Mexican village but are besieged by a posse (Antonio Molino , Aldo Sambrell , Alvaro De Luna) formed to chase them . There takes place violent fights , facing off , hangings and final surprise about the killer's identity .

It's an exciting western with breathtaking showdown between the protagonist Graig Hill and George Martin and his hoodlums . Both of whom are fine , they ravage the screen, kill , shoot , hit and run , besides receive violent punches, kicks and hitting . Aldo Sambrell as a cruelly baddie role is terrific, he subsequently would play very secondary or minimum characters . Furthermore, there appears usual Italian/Spanish Western secondaries as Alvaro De Luna, Rafael Albaicin, Jose Canalejas , Antonio Molino Rojo , Ricardo Palacios , Jose Luis Martin and of course Frank Braña . The film blends violence , blood , tension , 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 final gunfights and the customary showdown conclusion . There are many fine technicians and nice production design by Wolfgang Burman who creates an excellent scenario with barren outdoors , dirty landscapes under a glimmer sun and a fine set on the little town and the surrounded Mexican village . The musician Francesco De Massi composes a nice soundtrack and well conducted ; including enjoyable songs at the beginning and the end . Striking cinematography by Stelvio Massi in Eastmancolor, with negative regularly processed , being necessary a perfect remastering . Interior filmed at Roman Studios and outdoor sequences filmed in Madrid and of course Almeria, Spain.

Nunzio Malasomma's direction is well crafted and inclined toward violence and too much action . ¨Quince Horcas a Asesino¨ or ¨Fifteen scaffolds for a murderer¨ is his only Western , he also directed Peplum as 1960 The revolt of slaves , and his speciality were Drama and Adventure as 1958 Adorabili e Bugiarde ,1951 Quattro rose Rosse , 1950 Il Diavolo in convent , 1947 Il Diavolo ,1943 La Signora in Nero , 1943 In due Si Soffre Meglio ,1943 Incontri di Notte . Rating : Acceptable and passable Spaghetti Western . Worthwhile watching .