Joe... cercati un posto per morire!

This is not a bad Spaghetti Western, marking one of Jeffrey Hunter's last roles: he's a discharged Army officer, slumming it in Mexico trading guns destined to a notorious band of cut-throats, who sees an opportunity to better his prospects when New Orleans belle Pascale Petit turns up with an offer of gold for the man who'll help save her husband (trapped in a mine cave-in, thus making the film something of a GARDEN OF EVIL [1954] rehash).

Hunter assembles a motley group for the job, which is soon at each other's throat over both the promise of gold and the shapely lady herself!; one of them even joins the bandits – and usurps their leadership to boot! Also involved is Mexican prostitute Daniela Giordano (who mimics the melancholy title tune – the score for the film, by Gianni Ferrio, is another good one): the stunning-looking actress was a former "Miss Italy" contest winner, whose best opportunity came with her starring role in Mario Bava's FOUR TIMES THAT NIGHT (1969) – which, incidentally, also featured Petit. Her pimp (the first time I've heard a man being referred as such in a Western!) is one of Hunter's associates, who ultimately turns out to be a good guy. Not so a lecherous and sadistic doctor-cum-priest (Alfredo Lastretti), who's not even trusted by the traitorous and power-hungry group member when he tries to join his ranks!

The gray-haired Hunter is pretty good in what he has to do (his short-term career didn't fulfill its initial promise); the action here – supervised by B-movie specialist Hugo Fregonese – is certainly competently handled, and the film itself seems to me to be an under-appreciated entry (I, for one, hadn't heard of it before) in this popular genre...

Released in 1968-69, but not in the USA until 1971, "Find a Place to Die" is a Spaghetti Western starring Jeffrey Hunter as a dishonored ex-officer drinking his woes away in Mexico when a beautiful woman (Pascale Petit) hires him and several others to save her husband and their gold mine claim from a band of local bandits. Daniela Giordano is on hand as the beautiful Juanita at the cantina.

The plot is obviously borrowed (or, more accurately, ripped off) from 1954's "Garden of Evil" and combines it with a pensive Spaghetti Western flavor, lacking the goofiness and moral hollowness of, say, 1966's "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly." The melancholy is heightened by a moving song Juanita sings at the cantina in the first act; the tune is reminiscent of Jerry Goldsmith's excellent acoustic piece for 1970's "Rio Lobo." Too bad Giordano (as Juanita) didn't have a bigger role, but it's big enough.

There are several other things that propel "Find a Place to Die" above most Italo oaters: The group Lisa (Petit) compiles consists of a few interesting people, including an ex-con turned minister who seems to be sincere but is dubious at the same time. Secondly, their ordeal becomes almost a survival situation and I favor survival flicks. Thirdly, the story arc of the disgraced ex-Confederate (Hunter) is almost inspiring. Lisa says she's naturally drawn to him because she knows he's not like the other worthless cutthroats. The warmth of love slowly wakens the laconic loner out of his brooding stupor and draws the best in him out. Love is power and, when you find it, you need to plug into it if you want to live. Only a fool rejects it or, worse, abuses it. Lastly, being shot in Italy at some kind of ancient ruins, particularly the notable building of the cantina, the movie has a unique look for a Pasta Western, which of course were typically shot in Spain.

The movie is lean at 89 minutes.

GRADE: B

This movie is actually pretty watchable. It's actually better than some of those westerns they used to punch out in Hollywood back in the 30's. You know the ones. The ones where the Duke was doing 12 movies a year. LOL Saying this movie is pretty good is saying somethin' for a spaghetti western. The movie is good enough, it draws you in, and rivets you. And that is also sayin' somethin'. The photography, and the music, are good. The acting is tolerable. To the guy who wrote a review and obviously didn't watch the movie, what is wrong with people like you? // The Bushwacker 6/29/2021.

This is actually quite a sad film to watch. Not because the story is sad, but because it illustrates just how far (down) Jeffery Hunter had come since his hey-day. A couple are defending their gold mine from bandits (using dynamite!) when the husband becomes trapped under a collapsed wagon. Now rather than just use her horse to remove the offending bits of wood, "Lisa" (Pascale Petit) sets off to find some folks who will come to her aid. Unsurprisingly, she alights on a group of miscreants who are quite happy to help so long as they get her gold, herself - or, ideally, both! It might be, though, that "Joe" (Hunter) - a lapsed Confederate soldier - could have just a little more chivalry than the others and, of course, when they arrive at the mine we are soon to find out! Add to the mix, the fact that the original attacking banditos - lead by "Chato" (Mario Dardanelli) have not given up their own ambitions to seize the gold and we have a sort of explosive siege western where nobody can trust anyone. Adolfo Lastretti is quite entertaining as ruthless the "Rev. Riley", but otherwise this is a cheap and cheerful spaghetti-style western that was clearly made quickly, on a budget, and with scant regard to a decent script or production values. There's no chemistry at all between Hunter and Petit and indeed the whole thing has a rather unpalatable seediness to it that I found distinctly off-putting.

Ravioli Western with a prolific Italian director , Anthony Ascott or Giuliano Carmineo , and an American main actor , Jeffrey Hunter known for King of Kings . Entertaining Spaghetti Western with crossfire , action , violence and entertainment . The story is similar to previous classic ¨Garden of evil ¨ (1954) by Henry Hathaway about a desperate group of adventurers recruited by a gorgeous woman being chased by enemies , but this ¨Joe... Cercati un Posto per Morire!" or international title "Find a Place to Die" is realized in Spaghetti style . It deals with an outcast Confederate soldier, Joe Collins ,(the early deceased Jeffrey Hunter) redeems himself by defending a woman called Lisa Martin (Pascale Petit who plays some nude scenes) against vengeful bandits willing to kill for her goldmine claim defended by her marooned husband (Piero Lulli , customary villain in lots of Spaghettis) . The husband called Paul Martin is wounded in a gold mine on a dangerous territory surrounded by nasty outlaws led by Chato . They followed her for the gold and her body but they didn't get the gold.

Ordinary Spaghetti Western being leisurely and deliberately paced , at times thrilling and tense whose plot follows hazardous trails , though is sometimes slow moving . The movie gets the usual Western issues , as ambitious bandits , violent facing off , exaggerated baddies and spectacular gun-play , among them . It's a thrilling western with breathtaking gunfight between the protagonist , Joe Collins played Jeffrey Hunter , against the heartless Chato and his ominous hoodlums and a moving ending shootout . It's an entertaining story with a touch of peculiarity , some usual characters, a lot of shoot em'up and an amazing musical score . The basic plot is typical spaghetti western fare as ambition , betrayal and robbing , but what makes this movie peculiar is its style . The picture is well starred by Jeffrey Hunter , he played three Spaghetti Western such as ¨Joaquin Murrieta¨ , ¨Joe Navidad¨ and this one . His acting is often accused of being wooden, but in many manners is ideally suited to playing the steely-faced gunslinger synonymous with the genre . Very bad cinematography , being necessary a correct remastering because of the colors are faded . It was filmed by cameraman Riccardo Pallottini on location in Ostia, Lazio , Rome . The musician Gianni Ferrio composes a nice soundtrack and well conducted , this turns out to be one of the most memorable parts of the movie; as it's full of enjoyable sounds and haunting musical background , it contributes tremendously to the atmosphere of the film,

The picture was middlingly directed by Anthony Scott or Giuliano Carmineo and some versions was credited Hugo Fregonese , also producer . Hugo was an Argentinian director who emigrated to Hollywood, then became technical adviser on latino themes at Columbia Studios in Hollywood, and subsequently under contract at Universal from 1950 to 1952 filming ¨Man in the attic¨ with Jack Palance , ¨Blowing wild¨with Gary Cooper , ¨Decameron Nights¨with Joan Fontaine , ¨Harry Black and the tiger¨with Steart Granger . Spent the rest of the decade in Europe directing Euro-westerns as ¨Savage Pampas¨ and potboilers as "The Death Ray of Dr. Mabuse" , Terror as "Dracula vs. Frankenstein" before finishing his career back in the country of his birth . And Giuliano Carmineo made several Spaghetti as ¨The moment to kill¨, ¨Find a place to die¨ , ¨They call him Cemetery¨ , ¨They call me Hallaluya¨ , and the Sartana movies : "Have a Good Funeral, My Friend, Sartana Will Pay" , ¨Sartana the gravedigger'(69) ,"Sartana's Coming, Get Your Coffins Ready" , ¨Light the fuse Sartana is coming¨(71) , among others .