Bandidos

Like THE PRICE OF POWER (1969), which I watched last September, I only became aware of this obscure Spaghetti Western when it was included in an all-time best poll on the "Spaghetti Westerns Database" website. As it turned out, it's a pretty good example of the genre, though I wouldn't quite place in the top rank. Star Enrico Maria Salerno brings intelligence to the genre - much like Gian Maria Volonte' did in FACE TO FACE (1967). The credits are quite modest, but Egisto Macchi's score is certainly exemplary; interesting characterizations, too, are somewhat nipped in the bud by a mostly unfamiliar cast.

Still, the complex plot keeps one watching: featuring a traveling-show backdrop, it's essentially a revenge saga between old pals; one trains a young gun to eliminate the other, because he can no longer use his smashed hands - but the villain is revealed to be the one man who could clear the mysterious boy of murder! Though the film's tone is generally serious, an anarchist streak surfaces during one scene where Salerno's current protégé is murdered in cold blood by a cowboy in the audience, just for a lark. The climactic shoot-out is somewhat drawn-out, but it's capped by a clever bit involving a mirror.

I watched this via a slightly trimmed German DVD - where one graphic shot to the neck is missing from the main feature but curiously present in the accompanying theatrical trailer!; it also seems to cut off a little too abruptly at the very end.

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 .

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.

"Bandidos" is a great, action-packed revenge story that is set up by a very dramatic opening scene that has a rogue gunfighter meet up with the man who taught him to shoot. The gunfighter shoots his former friend in both hands, and then tells him to try to get revenge if he's able to hold a gun. The stage is set, and the film doesn't let up until the very end.

All the elements of a great spaghetti western are here. There is a cool music score, an engaging story, suspenseful gunfights, cheesy acting, a couple of great one-liners, and it is all done way over-the-top, like a good western should be. This movie is loaded with style, and style is the reason why the Italian westerns are so much more fun to watch than the ones made in the U.S.

There is a lot of great camera work in this movie. The interesting use of camera angles here gives the film a distinct character in much the same way that the use of close-ups marks the Leone westerns.

My favorite scenes in the movie are the ones that take place in saloons. There is one especially amusing one in which a man who has just lost a gunfight is sitting at a table drinking and harassing customers and saloon girls while he waits to die from his bullet wound. This old woman tells him to "hurry up and die," and he decides he wants to shoot one of the saloon girls so that he can take her to hell with him.

"Bandidos" is a must-see for anyone who likes their westerns Italian style.

The film starts with a train robbery where all but one passengers are killed. The rest of the film consists in a complex plot where basically the many bandits all kill each other. The 2 honest heroes who have a buddy relationship hardly contribute to the body count. All the leading actors give a good performance, specially Salerno playing the resentful Martin. Cinematography is good but not outstanding and the sets are often quite detailed. On the downside there is the lack of a real focus and too many senseless killings. Finally even bandits need some honest people to steal from. If you want you can call that nihilism as well.

Certainly above average Spaghetti Western. The German budget DVD could have a better image quality.

6 / 10