Einen vor den Latz geknallt

One of the last spaghetti westerns (though really, there was a good amount of American talent in front of and behind the camera), it does definitely have some novelty value - the cast, some good Canary Island scenery, a quick pace, and some good action sequences (best being the gunfight in the canyon). Still, there was clearly a bunch of potential wasted.

Brown is good, Williamson does okay, but the rest of the cast isn't actually given that much to do. Kelly's character could easily be written out, and Van Cleef's bad guy character isn't fully developed (for one thing, the movie doesn't seem to know what to do with him at the end.) And the script really isn't that much - it more or less consists of either the protagonists riding through the desert, or engaged in action.

Die-hard western fans (especially those who like spaghetti westerns) will probably find enough to enjoy about it, but this certainly won't convert anyone who normally avoids this genre.

The stars of "Three the Hard Way" reunite for this enjoyable if not classic Western. Jim Brown plays Pike, a tough, honourable trail boss who gives his word to his dying boss (Dana Andrews) that he will take $86,000 in payroll money to a ranch in Sonora, Mexico. Naturally, when people get wind of this large cash windfall, greed completely takes over, and various groups form to try to get that money. One such interested individual is smooth gambler Tyree (Fred Williamson, in a delicious performance), who is the first to accompany Pike on the journey. Along the way they also hook up with a hard-luck prostitute, Catherine (Catherine Spaak) and her half-breed / martial artist companion Kashtok (Jim Kelly). Among the money hungry antagonists in this story is sly, sleazy bounty hunter Kiefer (Lee Van Cleef), who realizes Pike was at one time a wanted man.

The cast, under the guidance of Italian director Antonio Margheriti, look like they're having a fine time, and that feeling is infectious. The reliable Brown has a relaxing low key presence, and he and Williamson continue to have good chemistry. Kelly really is quite good in the role of the mute Kashtok. Van Cleef, who's given his own harmonica-based "theme", is fantastic, as could be expected. You're never quite sure what to expect next from Kiefer. Spaak is touching, Harry Carey Jr., Robert Donner, Charles McGregor, and Leonard Smith offer some amusing comedy relief, and Barry Sullivan is an entertaining villain as crooked lawman Kane. Hal Needham, the films' stunt coordinator and second unit director, appears uncredited as Garmes.

Excellent location shooting in the Canary Islands and a zesty music score by Jerry Goldsmith add to the fun. The action scenes are first rate and exciting, and Brown and Williamson have a pretty intense fight near the end, which is soon followed by a truly impressive set piece.

In summary, "Take a Hard Ride" is a solid, well done Western that should satisfy fans of the genre.

Seven out of 10.

Offbeat Western deals with tough and two-fisted African-American Pike (Jim Brown) must complete promises his upright wealthy employer Morgan (Dana Andrews) that he will venture across the desert to deliver $86,000 dollars in bankroll money . As Pike will have to ride across Mexican border to a ranch in Sonora, Mexico . Pike attracts a motley bunch of comrades for his trip , as he makes an uneasy alliance with smooth, yet suspicious card gambler Tyree (Fred Williamson) in order to execute successfully his risked assignment , meanwhile the dudes run afoul of bounty hunter Kiefer (Lee Van Cleef) . During their perilous trek Pike and Tyree pick up a couple of strays and desperate waifs , meet harassed whore Catherine (Catherine Spaak) and her loyal Kung-Fu fighting Indian companion Kashtok (Jim Brown) , while a vast army of pursuers chase after the loot . Along the way they face off ruthless bounty hunter Kiefer , a shifty marshal (Barry Sullivan) and numerous greedy chasers who give a dogged pursuit .

This is a rather passable attempt to expand the Spaghetti/Paella Western blending the blaxploitation and Kung-Fu markets . Action Western in which a rugged trail boss as well as reformed criminal makes an uneasy alliance with an offbeat group of roles for his journey and to transport large payroll throughout Mexican border , being mercilessly pursued by a nasty bounty hunter who wants to take a heap of money . The film stands out the breezy chemistry between Jim Brown and Fred Williamson . Nice personalities wasted in a mediocre screenplay . The storyline is uneven but has its agreeable moments here and there . The picture takes part a little genre in which during the 1970s achieved splendor and mingled Spaghetti Western and martial arts with influence of David Carradine-Kung Fu series . Good stunts , including people falling from heights , slam into railings , throw themselves just in front of camera , bridge explosion and many other things . The notorious filmmaker , producer and stuntsman Hal Needham was brought in to coordinate stunts on the film , though he was promptly removed from the production . The support cast is pretty well , formed by a colorful team of characters full of bandits , sheriffs , deputies , desperadoes and outlaws such as ace martial artist half-breed Jim Brown , veteran Harry Carey Jr , Hollywood star Barry Sullivan , Robert Donner , and usual Spanish secondaries from Paella Western as Jorge Rigaud and Ricardo Palacios , both of whom worked with Lee van Cleef in Margheriti's previous Western : ¨Blood Money¨ or ¨Karate , colt and impostor¨ , being shot in Almeria , Spain . Adequate and sunny cinematography by Riccardo Pallottini , it is well set , in fact the town set from the opening scene has been become a sort of western theme park and , nowadays , everything is there exactly as it was in the movie , the main street houses and church . Filmed on location Canary Islands , Gran Canaria , Lanzarote , as surrounding area was used extensively, utilizing the black, volcanic sand of the island and also the dunes of Maspalomas on the southern coast . Fun and great musical score by maestro Jerry Goldsmith , he did one of his best for the genre . Jerry creates an absolutely fantastic score but was actually criticized for making a score superior to the film.

This oddball motion picture was professionally directed by Antonio Margheriti who was born in 1930 , Rome, and died in 2002 . He was a director and writer , known 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 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 , And God Said to Cain .

A western, shot in Spain, with a twist: Jim Brown and Fred Williamson, folks not normally associated with Euro-made westerns, take it upon themselves to deliver a large payroll to a ranch in Sonora, Mexico, after the ranch owner (Dana Andrews) dies while on the road. Everybody who hears of this -- and I mean everybody -- goes after them. This includes the local sheriff (Barry Sullivan), an army of drifters and gunhands, and bounty hunter Lee Van Cleef, who recognizes Brown as a wanted man from years before. Brown is given minimal dialog, which is a good thing as he is not exactly an actor. Williamson fares better as a breezy card sharp in fancy duds, who carries most of the dialog for the two of them. Not bad. The music, clearly derived from THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN, is better than the movie.

Take a Hard Ride is directed by Antonio Margheriti and written by Eric Bercovici and Jerrold L. Ludwig. It stars Jim Brown, Lee Van Cleef, Fred Williamson, Catherine Spaak and Jim Kelly. Music is by Jerry Goldsmith and cinematography by Riccardo Pallottini.

Trail boss Pike (Brown) promises his dying employer Morgan (Dana Andrews) that he will travel across the dessert to deliver $86,000 in payroll money to a ranch in Sonora, Mexico. Forming an uneasy alliance with dandy gambler Tyree (Williamson), Pike quickly realises that many other people are aware of his task and want the money; including Bounty Hunter Kiefer (Cleef).

What do you get if you take a large pan and throw in some Spaghetti and Paella, add some Blacksploitation beef and season with Kung-Fu? The answer is Antonio Margheriti's Take a Hard Ride.

It's a fun movie, even unique in some ways, but it ultimately doesn't add up to much more than a series of action scenes, some good - some poor, glued together by a very ordinary and adventurous screenplay. Cast are hugely watchable, with the leads supported by Western pros Barry Sullivan and Harry Carey Junior, and the Canary Islands location is beautifully utilised. Bonus is the score from Goldsmith, who tinkers with traditional Spaghetti Western strains and adds in his own harmonious grace. Apparently Margheriti rearranged much of the score to suit his own editorial purpose, it's testament to Goldsmith's skills that even though the chronological flow of his piece has been defiled, what exists still marries up superbly with the vistas.

It flopped at the box office and it has over the years been the source of much rib poking, however, from an action stand point it often delivers the goods. Bodies pile up, stunt-men and horses (PETA would go nuts!) fly about everywhere, and explosions are not in short supply. Yes it's poorly written and directed without due care and attention, but you may find it hard to dislike on account of its machismo and oddity value. I mean, if you can't enjoy a Western that has Jim Kelly suddenly turning into Bruce Lee and laying Kung-Fu down on some outlaws? Then entertainment is dead... 6/10