Amore, piombo e furore

China 9, Liberty 37 (1978)

** (out of 4)

Condemned gunman Clayton Drumm (Fabio Testi) is saved from the noose but he must track down farmer Matthew Sebanek (Warren Oates) and kill him since he refuses to sell his valuable land to the railroad company. Clayton goes to do the deed but ends up falling in love with the man's wife (Jenny Agutter), which just adds more problems. This Italian/Spanish co-production from cult director Hellman has a few decent moments but in the end this is a pretty boring affair from start to finish. I know Hellman has a strong cult following among some film fans but I can't say I'm one of them. This film here is yet another Spaghetti Western that tells a rather familiar story but Hellman puts his own spin on things and these spins actually hurt more than help. This film has a lot of problems including letting the viewer know who we should be cheering for. The film starts off with Testi being the bad guy and we're given Matthew to like. At around the thirty-minute mark we switch sides as it turns out Matthew is a real jerk who abuses his wife and the director has decided to put us in a love story. The love story between Testi and Agutter never works for several reasons. One reason is that the two have no chemistry and one can't help but roll their eyes at the love banter they give at each other. The screenplay mentions that Agutter is shy and "changes her clothes in the barn" but that doesn't keep her from being nude in this thing at least six different times. The nude scenes are only available in the R-rated cut (most boots are of the TV print) and are the main reasons to watch this thing. Agutter is an incredibly beautiful woman so seeing her nude is about the only thing that keeps this sucker moving. However, even the sex scenes are messed up by Hellman as he decides to film them in a slow-motion fashion with an incredibly bad score over them and a couple even has some sort of weak pop song. Why on Earth Hellman decided to do this is anyone's guess but it doesn't work. I also didn't believe Testi in his role too much but then again this could be due to the fact that Hellman seemed more interested in showing off his body than anything else. Oates is always dependable and he turns in a good performance even though the screenplay does him no favors. Agutter's role is pretty thankless but she gives it all she can. Look quick for Sam Peckinpah as a writer.

A somewhat odd spaghetti Western. I am not familiar with this Monte Hellman, but at first I thought he was trying to be Sergio Leone. Later, I thought he was trying to outdo Leone. I am not sure if the setting is supposed to be southeast Texas, even though there are towns named China and Liberty there, but the countryside there is wooded, and even a bit swampy. Excellent photography of the arid Spanish landscapes. The sound was awful, though, with score and background noise often drowning out dialog. Fabio Testi was the wooden anti-hero, with a serious Italian accent. Warren Oates was the only really well-developed character. Jenny Agutter was oh, so beautiful. But she was alternately reserved and wanton, so it was hard to figure out her character. (You really have to see the uncut version. It is available if you search hard enough for it.) There were a few anachronisms and plot holes but not terribly so. A pet peeve of mine is people suffering grievous wounds, like gunshots and stabbings, and seemingly having no ill effects after three days. I know it moves the narrative along, but sheesh. Anyway it was OK, and just a bit better due to Agutter.

Condemned gunman Clayton Drumm (Fabio Testi) , a pistolero in a Tom Mix hat , is given a last minute by a railway company chief (Luis Prendes) for reprieve freedom on condition he kills rancher Matthew (Warren Oates) . Visiting Matthew's ranch, Clayton is really stalked by Matthew , holding out against the advancing railroad with his trusted rifle and his less than trusty Anglo-Irish spouse .Clayton is unable to bring himself to kill Matthew and leaves, but Matthew's wife, Catherine (Jenny Agutter) , believing she has murdered Matthew during an argument joins Clayton. Then , there takes place the deadliest crossroad as Matthew, still alive, and mad as hell joins Clayton's equally angered partners (Franco Interlenghi , Charly Bravo , Romano Puppo) to hunt down Clayton and wife who has escaped with him .

The plot is usual in Spaghetti Western genre : a merciless vendetta , as a killer is contracted to murder , but the assassin fails to deliver, prompting a revenger to go after him instead . It delivers an absurd parallel within the stereotyped framework of the European Western , and revealing the sheer gratuitousness of traditional roles-types and ordinary mechanisms to create an uproarious genre critique . It provides an acceptable main and support cast . Fabio Testi gives a passable acting as a condemned killer who is hired by a railroad boss to murder an uncooperative rancher . While the gorgeous Jenny Agutter shows his beauty and charming face . As always , Warren Oates , Monte Hellman's regular , steals the show as the relentless avenger hubby . Support cast is formed by notorious secondaries as director Sam Peckinpah , SidneyLassick , Isabel Mestres , and familar faces from Spaghetti or Paella Western as Luis Prendes , Charly Bravo , Luis Barboo, Rafael Albaicin , Romano Puppo , and Helga Line .

Colorful and evocative cinematography by prestigious Giuseppe Rotunno , shot on location in desert of Tabernas , Almeria , andalucia , Spain . And sensitive as well as evocative musical score by Pino Donaggio . The picture was professionally directed by Monte Hellman , though it results to be slow-moving and has several flaws and gaps . After a few years directing in summer theater, Hellman hooked up with legendary "B" movie producer Roger Corman in the late 1950s. Corman helped finance Hellman's production of "Waiting For Godot", the the first time that Samuel Beckett's play had been staged in Los Angeles . Hellman made his film directorial debut with Beast from haunted cave (1959), and directed portions of Corman's The terror (1963). Hellman has directed a few films , some of them are deemed cult movies . As Monte has made : Back door to hell (1964) , Flight to fury (1964) , The shooting (1966) , Ride in the whilwind , Two-lane blacktop (1971) , Cockfighter (1974) , The Iguana and this Clayton Drumm or Catherine or China 9 Liberty 37 , among others .

'China 9, Liberty 37' is last of Monte Hellman's westerns, and his weakest attempt in that genre. The film tries to combine elements of spaghetti western with Hellman's usual existential vision. Although entertaining and thrilling at moments, the film falls into mediocrity as there isn't enough spaghetti nor existentialism.

Clayton Drumm (Fabio Testi) is a gunslinger waiting to be hanged, but is given last minute pardon when men from railroad company hire him to kill Matthew Sabinek (Warren Oates) who used to work as a hired gun for same men years ago. Sounds interesting? Clayton rides into the farm where Matthew lives with his young wife Catherine (Jenny Agutter). The younger and faster gunslinger, who has grown weary of the killing, decides not to complete his mission when he starts to like Matthew and two men become sort of friends. And then enters farmer's gorgeous looking wife.

There is the feel of growing tension in the first quarter of the film, that promises to become tense thriller, but then falls flat as generic love triangle and revenge story. Fabio Testi's lack of charisma against the talents and gravely looks of great Warren Oates becomes obstacle that doesn't allow proper chemistry to evolve between two main characters. Monte Hellman's other westerns (or western type movies) weren't always very thick and original on plot either, but they were executed with fascinating ways and ideas.

Recommended to the fans of Warren Oates and Monte Hellman, and when you do, try to get the uncut version as there are some meaty lines (an nudity) to juice things up a little bit.

Also, another great western director Sam Peckinpah treats the fans of the genre with wonderful cameo as an author Wilbur Olsen who wants to write story based on Clayton's life.

One of the few (only?) westerns where sex is the main motivator, a wonderful spaghetti western with Fabio Testi and Jenny Agutter, with Warren Oates and a rare performance by Sam Peckingpaugh. An important film in the ouvre of Monte Hellman, quintessential 70's cult director; a man who has made more great films than Coppola yet remains mostly unknown in his home country. See "Two-Lane Blacktop," "Cockfighter," and "The Shooting."