Il grande duello

Released in 1972 (1974 in the USA) and directed by Giancarlo Santi, "The Grand Duel" is a Spaghetti Western starring Lee Van Cleef as a grizzled ex-sheriff who helps a framed man (that looks like Barry Gibb from the Bee Gees) confront the politically powerful trio of brothers who want him slain.

This is an okay Euro-oater, but nothing to write home about. Van Cleef is stalwart as the grim hero, of course, and the three sibling villains are interesting, particularly the whacko effeminate one who massacres scores of settlers with a Gatling gun. The titular confrontation of the climax is akin to the gunfight at the O.K. Corral, albeit with one person against three. In the female department, Dominique Darel and Alessandra Cardini are on hand as Elisabeth and Anita respectively, both good-looking in different ways, but their presence is never capitalized on. 'Barry Gibb' is fine as the secondary protagonist. There are some curious over-the-top sequences, like a character catching a bullet with his teeth and someone else being catapulted, which seem incongruous with the generally serious-but-quirky proceedings.

The movie runs 98 minutes and was shot in Uliveto Terme, Vicopisano, Pisa, Tuscany, Italy, and Elios Studios in Rome.

GRADE: C

Sheriff Lee Van Cleef aids a fugitive convicted of murder in his escape from a group of vicious bounty hunters and involves himself in a murder mystery involving the fugitive and a powerful family of three ruthless brothers.

The Grand Duel is watchable but not particularly exciting or memorable, with the plot taking way too much time to develop with Van Cleef's motivations remaining murky a bit longer than they should.

Horst Frank is good as the eldest brother with delusions of grandeur. His effeminate psycho brother is a lot of fun to watch too.

The title event where Van Cleef takes on multiple gunmen is the best thing about the movie.

The Grand Duel is one of the most under-rated Spaghetti Westerns ever made. Van Cleef returns as the Man in Black and he is at the top of his game. Good action scenes and a great sound track by Luis Enriquez Bacalov under the name Sergio Bardotti. Beware of the cut version under the title Storm Rider.

The post above that states that this film was shot in English is only partially correct. Each of the characters spoke their own language, and the script was available in quite a few. How do I know -- I am the deputy who goes up to the stagecoach and gets used as Lee van Cleef's coat rack. Lee and Jess did speak English, but the people in the stagecoach spoke mostly Italian. The bounty hunters spoke a multitude of languages, one even spoke Serbo Croatian. Do not know about the speaking any of the cast after the stage left Gila Bend, that was the only part I saw. I was a young Army Officer in Italy and had the opportunity (along with one of my NCOs -- Bill on the rack with the Gila Bend sign) to play the role of the deputies in the beginning of the film. It was an opportunity I will always remember. Lee was a true gentleman, Jess was a hoot, and Lee's stuntman/double, X Brand (Pahoo in the Series Yancy Derringer) was an extremely nice person. I will always remember being in this great film

This is a western vengeance with a young named Philip Wermeer (Peter O'Brian) wrongly accused of killing a patriarch and going after those whom murdered his father . He lives for one purpose to avenge his death but is also pursued by cutthroat bounty hunters and the sheriff of Jefferson named Clayton (Lee Van Cleef) . Philip is besieged and shot dead but he emerged firing his gun and made his escape . But Clayton helps him and during a series of fire-fights , Clayton contrives to help Wermeer getaway from attacks of enemies . Together form an alliance to vanquish the three Saxons brothers (Horst Frank , Klaus Grunberg). Both of whom , Wermeer and Clayton , making a dynamic duo , combining raw untamed youth and the experience only a veteran sheriff can offer . Together, the two make their way to Jefferson , where they can confront outlaws . Weermer is caught and convicted of murdering and sentenced to be hanged . At the end is revealed the amazing truth about who killed The Patriarch .

It's one of the numerous European Western (this time co-produced by Italy, France , Monaco, Germany) posterior to Sergio Leone ¨boom¨ and follows the Spaghetti Western models . Thus , there are violent confronting , harsh and brutal villains , rapid zooms , spectacular and bloody shootouts, and musical score with Ennio Morricone influence . Features appearance by stalwart Spaghetti , Lee Van Cleef , he plays his usual role , even wearing similar black clothes of former characters as Colonel Mortimer , Sentenza and Sabata . It appears known secondary actors from European films as Jess Hahn (Topkapi) and the usually baddie Horst Frank (Vengeance of Fu Manchu) . Special mention to Klaus Grunberg who plays a cruel gay killer . Atmospheric and enjoyable music by Luis Enrique Bacalov , subsequently Oscar winner for ¨The Postino and Pablo Neruda ¨. The direction by Giancarlo Santi is uninspired and predictable although gets a surprising ending . Santi was usually direction assistant to Sergio Leone . The flick will appeal to Lee Van Cleef fans and Spaghetti western buffs .