Lo irritarono.... e Santana fece piazza pulita

As it was the case with many Westerns starring Franco Nero after his success with "Django" (1966), this film starring Gianni Garko has a 'Sartana' in its name, even though it has little to nothing to do with the popular "Sartana" series that Garko is most famous for. "Un Par De Asesinos" aka. "Lo irritarono... e Sartana fece piazza pulita" aka. "Sartana Kills Them All" is doubtlessly an entertaining Spaghetti Western that my fellow genre fans should enjoy. And yet this Spanish/Italian co-production cannot possibly compete with the famous 'Sartana' films. As it is arguably the case with most of my fellow Spaghetti Western buffs, I'm a great fan of Genre-icon Gianni Garko, and Sartana is doubtlessly the role he is best known for. Even though he plays a character of the same name here, the role is completely different from the Sartana known from films like "Light The Fuse... Sartana Is Coming" or "Have A Good Funeral My Friend, Sartana Will Pay". The original Sartana is a kind of Spaghetti Western James Bond who uses eccentric gimmicks and tricks to beat his opponents. The only thing Garko's character in this film has in common with Sartana is that he is a quick shot. Due to the difference of the characters, the name of the character in this film was even changed to 'Santana' in the German language version. This is not to say, however, that "Sartana Kills Them All" is not an enjoyable Spaghetti Western in its own right.

In many aspects, the film bears a lot of resemblance to the great and hilarious Westerns starring Bud Spencer and Terence Hill. This film is more violent than most of the Spencer/Hill Westerns ("God Forgives, I Don't" of 1968 is about equally bloody), slightly less comic, and it also doesn't reach the cult-value of the Spencer/Hill films. Yet, as a fan of this kind of cinema, one cannot help but immediately compare the films, as this is a somewhat satirical Italian buddy-flick set in the Wild West. Gunfighters Sartana (Gianni Garko) and Marcos (Gugliemo Spoletini) are best friends, and yet they are not ashamed to constantly try and trick each other, no matter if it is over women, money or anything else. Fleeing from the law they make the encounters of several memorable folks, including the crafty young lady (played by the beautiful María Silva), who is just as tricky as the two outlaws are... What makes this film quite interesting for a Spaghetti Western enthusiast is the fact that it is both comical and violent. On the one hand it is generally a funny film, which even has a bit of romance in it. On the other hand, the protagonists Sartana and Marcos, who are very likable characters, are also capable of all sorts of things, including cold-blooded murder. The film has elements both of the gritty and nasty Spaghetti Westerns (such as "Django" or "Mannaja") and the more comedy-related films (such as the "Trinity" films with Spencer/Hill), and therefore don't exactly fit either 'type'. The film's storyline is comparatively weak, but other elements, such as loads of fun, a fair amount of violence, and good performances make up for this. Garko is great as always, and so is Spoletini (who passed away in 2005). María Silva is both beautiful and funny in the female lead, and the supporting cast includes several familiar faces for Italian Western fans, such as Raf Baldassare, Chris Huerta, Luis Induni and Carlos Romero Marchent (brother of the director Rafael Romero Marchent). The score is also very good, except for the dreadful singing in the main theme in the beginning. Overall, "Sartana Kills Them All" is certainly no genre-highlight, but it is a worthwhile Spaghetti Western that is recommendable to fans. 6.5/10

This episodic entry in the Sartana series, starring the always excellent Garko is actually nothing of the sort. Only the name survives from the true Sartana series; this Sartana is just as quick with the gun, but he's rarely in control of situations, has no aces up his sleeves, and is saddled with friends and acquaintances with whom he has relationships. This is a hard-edged buddy film. Sartana and his friend Marcos (William Bogard) are low-key crooks, double crossed by their gang, sought by a sheriff and his deputies, and looking for $100,000 of loot which changes hands several times during the action. Along the way they pick up a girl (Maria Silva) who happily joins in the double crossing and stealing. Toss in the nastiest frontier family since the Cleggs in Ford's WAGONMASTER, an invalid old man and his four psychotic, murderous sons, and you have a tough-edged spaghetti western that isn't sure if it's a comedy or a drama. Good stuff abounds for the fan of the genre here; great location shooting, lots of familiar faces in the cast, a catchy theme song ("C'mon Amigo, let's go, let's go...") that had me humming the tune for days afterward, and tons of spaghetti action. To me it was quite enjoyable; to friends of mine it was uneven and disappointing. You decide.

Although this movie played in some territories with the name "Sartana" in the title and having one of the leads named "Sartana", this is not an official Sartana movie, even though series actor Gianni Garko is present and playing this movie's "Sartana" character. In this movie Garko is paired up with Guglielmo Spoletini, and the two manage to generate some genuine chemistry as well as a few humorous moments. Unfortunately, that's not enough to save the movie. The movie starts off agreeably light hearted, but its pleasant tone is soon destroyed by turning the lead characters into unlikable people (for one thing, they kill some innocent people along the way.) There is also very little story and a great deal of padding, which makes for some really boring bits that will try the patience of the viewer. Although I usually love spaghetti westerns, I have to admit that I was really glad when this particular one came to a close.

A duo of of outlaws with killer look called Sartana or Santana (Gianni Garco or Gary Hudson) and Marco (Guglielmo Spoletini or William Bogard) carry out exploits , double-crosses , shootouts to take a loot . At the beginning Marco is detained but freed by a deputy (Chris Huerta) . Later on , they are pursued by Sheriffs (Luis Induni , Lorenzo Robledo) . Along the way the pair picks up a gorgeous woman (Maria Silva) who happily joins to duo and subsequently treason them . The group on the hunt for some loot they known is missing from a robbery , killing and outsmarting anyone who attempts to foil their schemes . They find a brutal family formed by a nasty father (Andres Mejuto) and his cruel sons (Alvaro De Luna , Carlos Romero Marchent , Charly Bravo) .

This enjoyable Tortilla/Ravioli Western packs thrills , humor , action , brawls , irony , crossfire and drags at times , balancing in ups and downs . The picture is starred by the mythic personage Sartana , but this time doesn't appears elegant and dressed in black cloak . Well crafted Western with amusing screenplay , acceptable cinematography and slick production design by the habitual Jaime Perez Cubero and Galicia . It's a thrilling western with spectacular outdoors filmed in Almeria , as usual , Manzanares Del Real and La Pedriza (Madrid) ; dealing with a continuous confrontation among protagonists and both of them against several opponents . The movie has the typical Spaghetti characters , being both violent and comical , as the bloody facing on , greedy antiheroes, dusty and spectacular showdowns , quick zooms , extreme baddies and being professionally directed . Here unite forces two roguish heroes from Spaghetti Western : Sartana or Santana and Marco , a Mexican played by William Bogard acting similarly to the great Fernando Sancho . The secondary cast has several familiar faces from Paella Western such as Francisco Sanz , Charly Bravo , Raf Baldassare, Chris Huerta, Luis Induni , Jesus Guzman , Lorenzo Robledo and Carlos Romero Marchent , brother of the directors Joaquin Rafael Romero Marchent ; furthermore , Maria Martin who played the classic ¨Sergio Corbucci's Hellbenders¨ also including a brutal family similarly to ¨Sartana kill them all¨. The musician Marcello Giombini composes a nice soundtrack , well conducted , this turns out to be one of the most memorable parts of the movie , adding catching songs at the initiation and final .

The motion picture was well directed and in personal style by Rafael Romero Marchent at his best . Rafael Romero Marchent (Madrid, Spain, May 3, 1926), was brother of Joaquin Luis Romero, recently deceased , who was the first to shoot Westerns in Spain . At first, Rafael Romero began in films as an actor, but when his career began to wane, he preferred to spend time behind the camera . Rafael is an expert writer and director of Spaghetti Western as proved in ¨Two crosses on Danger Pass¨, Cry for revenge¨, ¨Two guns for two twins¨ and ¨Sartana Kills Them All¨ or ¨Un par Asesinos¨. While his brother Joaquin Marchent is deemed the Paella Western's best director , his first film was ¨El Coyote¨ and the sequel titled ¨Revenge of Coyote¨ shot in Mexico ; after that , he filmed ¨The shadow of Zorro¨ and ¨Revenge of Zorro¨, he went go directing Western as ¨ Riding to death ¨ , ¨Adventures in the West¨ , ¨Three good men¨, ¨Sabor Venganza ¨ and the most popular and violent ¨Condenados a Vivir¨ . Plus , he wrote for his brother Rafael Romero Marchent the followings Western : ¨Manos Torpes¨, ¨Ocaso Un Pistolero¨ , ¨Garringo¨ and this ¨Sartana Kills Them All¨. Rating : Passable and acceptable , though contains some flaws and gaps ; however , it results to be pretty entertaining . Worthwhile watching for the Spaghetti Western aficionados .

The history about the famous Spaghetti hero called ¨Sartana¨ is the following : The first movie on Sartana as an avenger hero was by Frank Kramer , or Gianfranco Parolini, interpreted by John Garco or Gianni Garco or Gary Hudson , besides being starred by Klaus Kinski and William Berger . As always , the mythic personage appears elegant and dressed in black with a killer look , utilizing offbeat gimmicks in James Bond style and tricks to vanquish his enemies. After being continued by Alfonso Balcazar ¨Sartana non perdona or Sonora¨ with Jorge Martin , Jack Elam and Gilbert Roland . Miles Deem directed two Sartanas which are considered awful . Anthony Ascott or Giuliano Carmineo , realized several movies with George Hilton who replaces Garco . Hilton plays more natural and roguish than Garco who was cold and peculiar . Garco starred various Sartanas with Carmineo as ¨Sartana the gravedigger'(69) , ¨Light the fuse Sartana is coming¨(71). Subsequently were realized a lot of imitations , rip offs and lousy copies such as ¨Django defies Sartana¨(1969) by Pasquale Squitieri with George Ardisson and Tony Kendall , "Sartana, the Invincible Gunman" , ¨El Sartana... l'Ombre Ta Mort¨ directed by Demofilo Fidani or Miles Deem , among others.

Released in 1970 and directed by Rafael Romero Marchent, "Sartana Kills Them All" chronicles the misadventures of a duo of fun-lovin' outlaws, Sartana (Gianni Garko) and Marcos (Guglielmo Spoletini), who are on the hunt for a large sum of loot, which they know is missing from a robbery. They hook up with a vengeful beauty (María Silva) as a sheriff (Luis Induni ) & his deputies pursue them.

While "Sartana Kills Them All" isn't part of the original five Sartana films, it came out right on their heels and features the same actor in the title role. The print I viewed was widescreen and is a surprisingly decent presentation for such an obscure Spaghetti Western. In any case, the film plays out like a low-budget Italo "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" (1969) with Gianni Garko in the Redford role, albeit without Redford's Hollywood good looks (sorta akin to Klaus Kinski), and Spoletini as a kind of Mexican version of Butch Cassidy.

One part that was great was the disabled & disturbed confederate veteran and his four redneck sons from hell, which is reminiscent of the five scary brothers in the mining camp in "Ride the High Country" (1962). María Silva's beauty shines and Spoletini is thoroughly charismatic.

The film runs roughly 84 minutes and was presumably shot in Spain.

GRADE: C+