Une corde un Colt...

Made in 1969 by Robert Hossein who directed this and stars as Manuel – a gunman who has lost his will to fight. Then Michele Mercier as Maria Caine turns up and ask for his help; her husband and his friend has been hung by a gang of ranchers who are a notorious family. She wants justice – but her kind and not the sort dished out by a judge.

He then gets embroiled in a kidnap plot and all bets are off as to how this is going to pan out. Now this is dedicated to Sergio Leone who also makes a cameo appearance. It is screamingly sixties in style – with the music as jarring as it is effective. It is all in English but has that seventies Italian feel for sound recording that makes it sound dubbed. The acting is so straight that it seems forced at times; but that belies the very real undercurrents of what is really going on.

Things are communicated without being said and a look can convey emotions that pages written by a bard would leave unmolested. Some have commented that the pacing could have been better; but you need time to take in what is actually happening under the surface and this is the sort of film where you will spot more on subsequent viewings. It is high time someone made a release of this and much plaudits to Arrow for so doing. This is one for fans of the genre and for those who just love a good old western – not made in the West obviously, but not lacking in any way because of it – seriously recommended.

The qualities inherent in this Spaghetti Western have more to do with its uniqueness rather than for any outstanding merit: the film, in fact, is a French-Italian co-production (albeit co-scripted by none other than Dario Argento!). Also unusual is the fact that the movie was helmed by its own leading man – incidentally, the two stars (Hossein and Michele Mercier) had just finished the 5-picture "Angelique" series, which is currently being re-proposed on Italian TV (I've recorded four of them so far but have yet to watch any). Of the remaining cast members, I was mainly familiar with Michel Lemoine (perhaps best-known for playing the Mephistophelean figure in Jess Franco's SUCCUBUS [1967] and who would himself graduate to direction with the likes of SEVEN WOMEN FOR Satan [1974]); though his character isn't given any distinguishing features, the actor's odd looks are enough to give an offbeat tone to the traditional Western garb and settings.

The plot – a running feud between two factions, with each of whom the laid-back and detached ex-gunfighter Hossein becomes involved – is quite typical and straightforward; actually, the hero had been Mercier's flame but the latter eventually married another man, who turned out to be no good…though she's determined that the perpetrators of his death be punished, which is why she now turns once more to Hossein (living a hermitic existence in a nearby ghost town!). In direct opposition to the "Angelique" films mentioned above – where the sensuality of Mercier, one of the loveliest starlets of her time, was given center-stage – here, she deliberately chose to be deglamorized (not only forced to bury her husband all by herself but being physically manhandled by the villains at the end). Anyway, Hossein joins the other side – ostensibly as a rustler – but subsequently kidnaps the patriarch's daughter for purposes of ransom; on the other hand, they retaliate by beating up the two brothers (Lemoine among them) of Mercier's husband. By the time it's all over, unsurprisingly, there are bodies lying everywhere – even the stars get it (with Hossein giving himself a particularly ironic demise)!

Much of what's admirable in the genre at its best is evident here as well: laconic dialogue, good action (ominously donning a glove before engaging in shoot-outs, Hossein's gunplay is so quick as to border on the invisible!), terrific score (by the director's father Andre'!) and an evocatively grubby look (the opening and closing moments, then, are given an added dimension by being presented in sepia); interestingly, Hossein dedicated the film to his friend (and undisputed master of the genre) Sergio Leone!

This is a violent , beautifully crafted as well as exaggerated Spaghetti and packs taciturn acting on cynical characters with bloodbaths including high body-count , sense of style and elaborate narration . It pits ¨Man with no name¨ against two families that are feuding between them , the Rogers and the Caine . As a gunslinger (Robert Hossein) saves the damsel in distress who is also his former flame (Michelle Mercier) and at the same time she is seeking revenge for death her husband . The gunman join forces with the widow pitting the nasty family who uses twisted means to chase them and it terminates in a deadly feud . The pistolero kills various bandits in a gunfight at the saloon , then he is detained and imprisoned by the sheriff . Later on , there takes place kidnapping , killings , street shootouts at a ghost town and tragic events .

This classic Western titled ¨Une Corde, Un Colt..." or "Cemetery Without Crosses" or "The Rope and the Colt" contains slow and deliberating filming , elaborate shoot-outs , and portentous close-ups of grime-encrustred faces with heinous bloodbaths included . It is a strange , slow-moving and almost utterly visual picture with some surprises and well paced . Robert Hossien stars as a leather-clad gunfighter and wearing black glove , drawn into a dramatic facing off between two revengeful families . Hossein plays a drifter similarly to Clint Eastwood's ¨Man with no name¨ from ¨A fistful of dollars¨ and ¨For a fistful of dollars more¨. Fine support cast formed by Italian/French actors , all of them customary Spaghetti such as Guido Lollobrigida or Lee Burton , Daniele Vargas , Serge Marquand , Benito Stefanelli and Ivano Staccioli . Special mention to Michele Mercier as attractive as well as vengeful widow .

This is a well-made French/Italian production , in spite of , there appears usual Spanish secondary players from Paella/Ravioli Western , mostly uncredited , such as Simón Arriaga , José Canalejas , Álvaro De Luna , Charly Bravo , Cris Huerta , Lorenzo Robledo and Angel Alvarez as a Barman likeness to his role in Django . Unforgettable and terrific original music by André Hossein , in Ennio Morricone style , including a catching leitmotif , one of the best of Spaghetti . Worn-out cinematography by Henry Persin , being necessary a nice remastering because of the colors are faded.

This stylish , violent , laconic Western was very well shot by Robert Hossein and is dedicated to Sergio Leone , who made one of the more important scenes . Hossein did revive his career almost instantly on the strength of this film through the main role and filmmaking . Director Robert Hossein claims that Dario Argento was not involved in writing the screenplay with perhaps not more than two dozen lines of dialog ; Dario Argento is listed in the credits on the Italian and German versions but not on the French version . Robert Hossein said that the dinner scene at the Rogers house was directed by Sergio Leone. Rating : Better than average Spaghetti Western .

Unusual spaguetti western made by Robert Hossein in a beautiful Almeria landscape in Spain, a sort of a homage to Sergio Leone who actually directed a single dinner scene only, Hossein playing a quiet guy who wear a black glove every time he needs use a gun, a wise trademark for a gunman and Michele Mercier as black widow for first time didn't use your sex appeal, on a serious acting, well made french-Italian production, finally something new for this genre!!!This movie just come out in box-set with four movie in spaguetti kind all them remastered with original audio!! Those movies already available in brazilian maket as single release has a bad image on dubbed version, mostly has a fake english audio!!

Resume:

First watch: 2018 /How many: 1 / Source: DVD / Rating: 7.25

This is a very good eurowestern that will have you in its grip from start to finish.

It is beautifully filmed with lots of desolate wide open desert, and impressive mountain scenery. The film has a feeling of loneliness as much of it takes place in a deserted ghost town which has apparently become the home of the protagonist.

The movie is populated with bitter characters that are primarily motivated by revenge. There are no happy endings here. This definitely wasn't "the feel good movie of the year," which is a good thing. The female lead is a beautiful woman in black with little left to live for other than seeing her husband's killers pay for his death. Her relationship with Manuel, the man she goes to for help with her plan, is a very intriguing one. This is because we are left to wonder what their history is until close to the end of the film when it is finally revealed.

The music score is excellent. The opening/closing theme is a great spaghetti western ballad with vocals. The music during the film is mostly guitar designed to create feelings of suspense and sadness. There's also a touch of organ thrown in for good measure. It all works wonderfully with the film.

This is a high-quality spaghetti western that is riveting and entertaining. I highly recommend this one. If you get the chance to see it, don't pass it up.