Bandidos

This film starts with a classic sequence in which a train is held up by Billy Kane (Venantini) and his bandits. All the passengers are brutally massacred because, as Kane rightly states, if you don't want your face on any reward posters, you don't leave any witnesses. There is one survivor however - Richard Martin (Salerno) - a renowned fast gunslinger who attempts to take on the gang singlehandedly. There is previous history between the gunmen, and to remove the threat Kane shoots and cripples both of Martin's hands, ending his gunslinging days for good.

Years pass, and Martin is now travelling from town to town, hosting a gunslinger show. Fate brings him face to face with escaped convict Ricky Shot (Jenkins) who he takes under his wing, passing on his prowess with a gun, with the aim of using the young hotshot to gain his revenge on Kane. As it happens, Ricky Shot has his own motive for facing Kane, as we find out as the story unfolds.

Bandidos is a classic spaghetti western in the revenge sphere. Whilst the cast features none of the usual spaghetti stalwarts that we know and love, it is well casted, particularly Salerno in the part of Martin. It is also superbly directed by Dallamano, a man better known for his thrillers.

The film contains some superbly tense gunfights, matched with a decent soundtrack. The story is at all times riveting, making Bandidos a highly recommended film for all lovers of Italian westerns, and maybe a few more besides.

Crispy salad Italian/Spanish jammed with Spaghetti/Ravioli and Tortilla/Chorizo Western. It's a typical Spaghetti Western in which blends the common scenarios , as invincible and tough antiheroes, difficult and fast showdowns with numerous deceases , impulsive and quick zooms , lots of action , musical score with Morricone influence . It deals with a gunman named Richard Martin (Enrico Maria Salerno) , a serious and smooth-talking revenger , he is traveling on a train , held up by Vigonza (Cris Huerta) and renowned Billy Kane (Venantino Venantini) , a previous pupil of Martin's . Kane spares Martin, but only after shooting his hands . Years later, Martin meets an escaped convict named Ricky Shot (Terry Jenkins) , a young and unexperienced drifter seeking his innocence for a crime he did not commit . Unfortunate though experimented Martin trains his new disciple and both men seek out villain Billy Kane . Gunman Richard Martin wishes revenge and reckoning , he acts as a protector of young gunfighter and vice versa . Both of them carry out a spectacular show titled : ¨Richard Martin presents¨ : The Best Trick Shooter in the World , 'Ricky Shot' . At the end the nasty gunslinger Billy Kane rides into the strange town and eventually he and Ricky face off on the central square .

The film displays psychological characters-in deep , shootouts , action Western and being enough entertaining . The movie contains typical particularities Spaghetti , as is full of fury , sadism , bloodbaths, and portentous close-ups of grime-encrusted faces . Interesting screenplay from Juan Cobos and Luis Laso , remarking the special relationship between an expert but helpless gunfighter and a young cowboy wrongly convicted for the train robbery . Spectacular final takes place on the downtown when protagonists contend face to face and surrounded by nasties . The action is good, with the stunts earning their keep by crashing off of roofs and falling from buildings or horses . Terry Jenkins is passable as an unfortunate young wrongly accused of a crime he did not commit , and Enrico Maria Salerno steals the show as a veteran shooter seeking vengeance . Most of the fun in this one is picking out the locations and identifying stock performers , as there appears several secondaries , usual Spanish actors such as Cris Huerta , Victor Israel and Antonio Pica as well as Italian players as Giancarlo De Sisti and Roberto Messina . This 1967 Italian western has many familiar faces among the cast ; all do a good job, particularly Maria Martin as an attractive saloon woman , she also starred another classic Western titled ¨The tramplers¨ by Sergio Corbucci . The picture is plenty of nice sound by Egisto Macchi who composes one of his best soundtracks , including an evocative leitmotif . Atmospheric cinematography correctly photographed by Emilio Foriscot , though is necessary a right remastering . Filmed on location in Colmenar Viejo , Manzanares Del Real and La Pedriza (Madrid) with good production design from Jaime Perez Cubero who along with Jose Luis Galicia designed lots of sets in Westerns filmed in Spain . The motion picture was well written and directed by Massimo Dallamano or ¨Max Dillman¨ who previously photographed ¨Fistful of dollars¨and ¨For a fistful dollars more¨. Dallamano managed to make a fluid ,witty and agreeable SW . He also proved his experience in thriller and Giallo genre such as "A Black Veil for Lisa" , "What Have You Done to Solange?" , "The Cursed Medallion" ,¨Portrait of Dorian Gray ¨ ,"Colt 38 Special Squad" , "Mafia Junction" , "What Have They Done to Your Daughters?" or "The Coed Murders" among others .

Other films dealing with the gunslinger/student theme and developing a paternal-filial among them are the following : "In a Colt's Shadow" by Gianni Grimaldi with Stephen Forsyth , Conrado San Martin and Aldo Sambrell ; 'Beyond the Law(68)' by Giorgio Stegani with Lee Van Cleef and Alfonso Sabato ¨. And the best are ¨Día de Ira¨ or I Giorni Dell'Ira (original title) with Lee Van Cleef and Giuliano Gemma , this Spaghetti Western along with 'Da Uomo a Uomo¨ by Giulio Petroni with Lee Van Cleef-John Philip Law led to recovery in the popularity of 'horse opera' after Leone hits , both of them are masterpieces about relationship between maestro and student .

I saw this film after reading the good review by Coventry n I am happy to c this film.

I admire Coventry's knowledge of films especially the obscure ones.

Avoid reading the plot summary as it is rightly advised by Coventry too.

The plot synopsis on IMDb n Wiki gives away major stuff about the film. It gives away major spoilers. I heeded Coventry's advice n I enjoyed this film tremendously.

This film marked the directorial debut of cinematographer Massimo Dallamano (he did the cinematography for For a Few Dollars..... n Fistful of ....) No wonder the cinematography is top notch in this film. The scene at around 44th min, the place where the horse carriage is shown below the tree next to the river looked straight outta poetry and very picturesque.

The film is about three characters: Billy Kane, a dreaded robber who is very sharp at shooting, in fact the first shoot out where he shoots a train traveller, Richard Martin, confirms that Kane is truly a mean n dreaded killer.

After the shootout, Martin, now a handicap n without his thin moustache, recruits a wanted convict, Ricky Shot.

Together they organise shooting amusement shows for public earning money but both have agendas of their own.

The film has ample amount of tension, suspense n action.

The direction n acting is first class.

Highly recommend to fans of the Spaghetti Westerns.

This first movie by Dellamano is an above average western flick, stylishly photographed. Dellamano would go on to later make a name for himself in the giallo(police procedural/thriller) genre. This movie shows off the great character interaction, and memorable shots that would go on to become his trademark. a recommended movie.

This is really worth watching: Excellent cast (pity Salerno and Venantini didn't do more Western), good story, turns and twists, fine camera work (no wonder: Dallamano has control). Brilliant opening scene. Highly recommended.