Réquiem para el gringo

This movie is a lot of fun to watch. It's a riveting story with a touch of peculiarity, some great characters, and an amazing music score.

The film is a tale of justice and revenge, as a man returns home to his ranch after some sort of military service, and discovers that his brother has been killed by a gang of outlaws. The basic plot is typical spaghetti western fare, but what makes this movie stand out is its style.

The main character has kind of a mystical aura about him because of his uncanny ability to predict the weather, and use it to his advantage. He also has a knack for seeming to appear out of nowhere to surprise his targets. Lang Jeffries's acting in the film is a bit wooden for the role of such an interesting character, but the fantastic performances by Carlo Gaddi as the slimy, menacing outlaw Ted Corbin, and the always great Fernando Sancho as Porfirio, the gang leader who is losing his grip, make up for it.

There is a very odd implementation of zoom shots in the camera work during one particular scene as the film approaches its climax. Rather than the usual sustained, intensity-building close-ups that Sergio Leone was so fond of, the director here uses a rapidly zooming in and out camera for a more unsettling effect. This turns out to be one of the most memorable parts of the movie.

The music score is perhaps the best part of this film. The opening theme is one of my favorites, and is one of those unforgettable tunes that will play in your mind over and over long after the movie is done. The soundtrack contributes tremendously to the atmosphere of the film, especially the organ parts.

This one is a must-see for fans of the spaghetti-western genre.

A fairly successful Euro western, DUEL IN THE ECLIPSE occupies a fairly middling position in the sub-genre, its quality eclipsed (pun intended) by the Leone classics along with the endless Django and Sartana films. This is a Spanish/Italian co-production with plenty of weird style to recommend it, although it's not quite as weird as CAPTAIN APACHE! The film was made on the cheap and it shows, and yet it holds a certain charm despite the deficiencies present. Square-jawed Canadian star Lang Jeffries plays a gunslinger clad in a leopardskin who makes it his job to take out a gang of sadistic ruffians led by the boorish Fernando Sancho. The presence of an expect black-clad shooter allows the film it's German title, REQUIEM FOR DJANGO, although the original title was the more generic REQUIEM FOR A GRINGO.

DUEL IN THE ECLIPSE was directed by a pair of Spaniards who are better known to fans of the Euro-horror film; Jose Luis Merino made the excellent Gothic horror shocker KILLERS OF THE CASTLE OF BLOOD, while Eugenio Martin handled the all-time classic HORROR EXPRESS. Thus the film's horrific and sometimes sadistic overtones are all the more welcome and the style generally makes this a winner, although there are some crucial mis-steps along the way (including an interlude with the zoom lens which must have made Jess Franco a happy man!). The storyline might be simple and familiar, but as a whole this is a workable western with some neat, unique elements, not least the titular event.

"Requiem para un gringo" is the kind of eurowestern that is hard to define. The main character is dressed in a Leopard suit...but he's also an Astrologist!!! Apart from that, the story is simple as in many westerns vengeance is the only point, but not the usual vengeance, I wont say much, don't want to spoil it...I gave you a clue already.

L. Merino, the director, was more interested in horror and sci-fi than in westerns, maybe that is why this film looks (and works) as an horror film in many moments, which makes it much more interesting and bizarre, the dialogues are somewhat silly, but the camera work is very rich and the acting is good enough, as you can imagine the movie is full of stereotypes as it was made in Spain in the late sixties "golden age" of Spanish westerns. Marisa Paredes (Pedro Almodovar's favorite actress) appears in this film (at the age of 18) more beautiful than ever, but also check out for other beautiful women...

Must say that I enjoyed the movie a lot. Don't miss this one if you have the chance.

For some reason, the guide on my TV displays channels that I don't have access to, so it's beyond me what the point of that is. I don't know if they're just teasing me or what, but good thing I happened to discover this film when I was scrolling through. I thought the title sounded cool, so I went to see if it was available online. I'm glad it's on Plex, because I could definitely plan on watching this more than once. Ross Logan (Lang Jeffries), a celestial enthusiast whose favorite article of clothing is a leopard printed poncho, seeks to avenge the murder of his brother that was committed by a ruthless gang occupying a hacienda. The relationships of the supporting characters are also explored within the background of the main story, most notably the affair of Porfirio Carranza's (Fernando Sancho) girlfriend (Femi Benussi), the gang's leader, with one of his men, Tom Leader (Ruben Rojo). There was also a scene that implied an upcoming sexual encounter, between Logan and the female worker of the hotel where he's staying. Another woman named Nina (Marisa Paredes) is being mistreated by one of the gang members. She keeps trying to get away from him, and one of the times he catches her, he seems highly frustrated that she's not ready, and says something along the lines of he can't keep waiting. Whatever it is, it's something that makes her uncomfortable. The subtly of it leaves the audience to guess, so there's room for interpretation, but anyone older than 12 knows what he's referring to. So this film was actually quite racy. I loved the isolation, suspense, and the intense emotion. There's scenes where no one has to say anything, and you can feel the tension. Just as a warning though, the camera work towards the end might cause dizziness. I thought it made the movie feel cheap, as it only emphasized its low budget, but it wasn't enough to ruin the whole film. I just thought I'd put that out there for anyone who experiences vertigo.

The band of the nasty Mexican named Porfirio Carranza (Fernando Sancho) and his bandits trespass the frontier and occupy a mansion . Our hero named Logan (Lang Jeffries who married Rhonda Fleming) is a bounty hunter who wears a leopard poncho and riding on a mule . He returns his ranch and seeks vengeance against Carranza's hoodlums who kill , mistreat countrymen and lash a young (Sancho Gracia). Logan confronts underlings and it is narrated by means of three flashbacks in which take place three showdowns against the mestizo Aldo Sambrell , the dreary gunfighter dressed in black played by Carlo Gaddi and the elegant Ruben Rojo who double-crosses his chief with the Eurobabe Femi Benussi . Meanwhile Carranza hanging villagers and putting a poster of warning in Spanish language saying : ¨ SI ALARGAS LAS OREJAS PUEDES ALARGAR EL CUELLO¨ . Logan has a special date for his bloody vendetta , April 17, 1867 , when takes place a sun eclipse .

It is an exciting but uneven western with breathtaking gun-play between the weird protagonist Lang Jeffries against the heartless Fernando Sancho and his hoodlums . Lang is fine , he ravages the screen , shoots , kills , hit and run . In the film premiere attained bit success ; however , being nowadays best valued and I think it turns out to be a decent Spaghetti-Chorizo Western . Aldo Sambrell and Carlo Gaddi as two cruelly baddie roles are terrific , they bear hysterical and mocking aspect , subsequently they would play similar characters . The film packs violence , shootouts , high body-count and being fast-moving and quite entertaining . There is plenty of action in the movie , guaranteeing some shoot'em ups or stunts every few minutes . Good production design creating an excellent scenario with luminous outdoors , dirty and rocky landscapes under a glimmer sun and a fine set on the manor . The musician Angelo Francesco Lavagnino composes a nice soundtrack and well conducted ; it is full of strange sounds and haunting musical background . Striking cinematography by Mario Pacheco who reflects a colorful eclipse and barrens exteriors from Almeria . Outdoor sequences filmed at Spanish places located on Colmenar Viejo , and of course , Almeria . The movie gets the usual Western issues , such as avenger antiheroes , violent facing off , quick zooms , exaggerated baddies , soundtrack with Morricone influence , among them . There appears as notorious secondaries the regulars in Spanish/Italian Western , such as : Aldo Sambrell (Sergio Leone's usual) , Angel Alvarez (Django) , Ruben Rojo , Sancho Gracia (800 bullets) and a future prestigious actress , Marisa Paredes (Almodóvar customary) . Special mention for Fernando Sancho in his ordinary role as fatty Mexican bandit . This motion picture produced by Sergio Newman was professionally directed by Jose Luis Merino and Eugenio Martin or Gene Martin . Jose Luis Merino made some Westerns (More dollars for the MacGregor , Kitosch the man who came from the north) and horror movies (Terror of the living dead , Scream of the demon lover) . And Eugenio Martin is a terror movies expert (Hypnosis , A candle for the devil , The fourth Mrs Anderson and the classic Horror express) and Spaghetti Western (Pancho Villa , The ugly ones , Bad man's river ). Rating : Acceptable and passable Spaghetti Western , well worth watching .