Bandidos

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.

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 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.