Un doigt sur la gâchette

Spanish-Italian co-production with Spaghett-hero as Peter Lee Lawrence as Johnny Kidd against Campos family . An Italian-Spanish co-production full of action , exaggerated characters, gun-play and lots of violence . California, two families , the Mounter (Montescos , formed by Luis Induni , Ana Maria Noe and Peter Lee) and the Campos (Capuletos, formed by Peter Martell, Jose Rubio and Rufino Ingles) live in eternal facing off. In the beginning of the movie there is a confrontation but the Mounter are double-crossed and takes place an ambush . The sole survivor named Kidd (Peter Lee Lawrence), of a slaughter seeks vendetta . After suffering atrocity , Kid executes a single-handedly revenge , he hits , ravage and kills each person involved in the massacre . For pleasure, for avenge, he doesn't care why he kills or how . He is relentless in his vendetta , deadly in his violence . The conflict is simple one between avenger Kid and a Baron land with his hoodlums ,oppressors, nasty bandits . Johnny learns the shooting of Lefty (a Mercurio role-alike). Meanwhile Kidd along with his pal (Andres Mejuto) who holds a hook attack a stagecoach and falls in love with Giuletta (Cristina Galbo). Johnny looks for vengeance , taking on Diego (Peter Martell or Prieto Martellanz in a Tybaldo character-alike) . Later on , Kidd is submitted a tempestuous trap and is caught .

It's an exciting western with breathtaking showdown between the protagonist Peter Lee Lawrence and the enemy ,the Campos family, and his underlings. Peter Lee is fine, he ravages the screen, he jumps, shoots , hit and run and ultimately takes the law on his own hands, but also receives violent punches . The protagonists , Lee and Galbo , married in real life until early death Peter Lawrence who committed suicide at 29 years old .Peter Martell as a cruelly baddie role is terrific, subsequently he would play similar characters in various oaters . Nice acting by Andres Mejuto as two-fisted bounty-hunter gunfighter with a hook . Furthermore, appears usual secondary actors from Italian/Spanish Western as Luis Induni , Maria Cuadra ,Rufino Ingles , Piero Lulli and several others. Brief appearance of future terror myth , Paul Naschy , uncredited and almost extra . The film blends violence, blood, tension, high body-count and it's fast moving and quite entertaining. There is plenty of action in the movie , guaranteeing a shootout or stunt every few minutes . This is an average Spaghetti Western with some moments genuinely entertaining if you can avoid thinking too much. Follows the exploits of Kidd in SW usual theme, the revenge , in addition the starring attempts to reunite his lover facing rivalry among families . Mediocre performances seem badly dated today .The musician Gino Peguri composes a vibrant soundtrack in Morricone style and well conducted ; including a catching leitmotif . Atmospheric scenario with barren outdoors, dirty landscapes under a glimmer sun and a fine sets with striking cinematography in Eastmancolor with negative well processed . Interior filmed in Roma Studios (Madrid), Cinecitta Studios (Rome) and outdoor sequences filmed at Colmenar Viejo , Manzanares del Real , Aranjuez, and La Pedriza , location along with Almeria, where in the 60s and 70s were shot innumerable Spaghetti.

It's a Western freely based on famous novel by Shakespeare titled ¨Romeo and Giuletta . Other Spaghetti based on known and classic novels , are the following : ¨Johnny Hamlet¨(1968) by Enzo G Castellari ; ¨The return of Ringo¨ by Duccio Tessari inspired on the ¨Odyssey¨, ¨John Il Bastardo¨(1967) based on books from Zorrilla and Moliere ; and ¨Anche Nel West Céra una Volta Dio ¨ (1968)by Marino Girolami¨based on ¨Island of treasure¨ by Robert Stevenson. The motion picture is middlingly directed by Gianni Puccini in his last film , he was a craftsman who directed all kind genres and wrote classic Italians as ¨Bitter rice¨ and ¨Ossessione¨ until his early death at 50 years old . Rating: 5,5 ; regular but entertaining.

It's not the first time that a drama of Shakespeare or another classical is adapted and free interpreted for a Spaghetti Western. The story is about the war between two rancher families: Monter and the Campos. In the Shakespeare Drama the two are named Montague and Capulet. The son of the Monter who is named Johnny not Romeo has not many experiences with Guns and Women. Fortunately he got a teacher an old outlaw called Lefty and he meets Guiletta Campos the daughter of the Campos Chief. She is espoused to another man but fells in Love with the son of her father's enemy. The cast of the two lovers are Peter Lee Lawrence and Cristina Galbò. It's interesting that both became a couple during making FURY OF JOHNNY KID and married few years later. There is obviously good chemistry between them. Nevertheless the movie is more a spaghetti western as a romantic drama with typical violent scenes, a revenge story and a buddy next to the hero. The typical Buddy story it's about an old outlaw is teaching a young fellow. The Buddy (Andrès Mejuto) is called Lefty and he has only one hand left. All actors are pretty good and the movie is without strange overacting you see in so many contributions of this genre. Somehow it's like an Adult Western without childish elements you'll find in most western from Italy.

Next to these "normal" western stories there are some extraordinary scenes. I didn't expect the end and Yes that's what I would call a weird movie. FURY OF JOHNNY KID is the only western directed by Gianni Puccini who is better known for his work on more sophisticated Movies. He did quiet a good job as also the composer Gino Peguri and the cinematography by Mario Monturi have done.

FURY OF JOHNNY KID was a big surprise for me. It's a weird Spaghetti Western for Adults with good Acting, Directing and a fine score. I enjoyed this unusual Movie with a suspenseful story and many interesting scenes and at least some connection to the great Drama of Shakespeare.