Frente a Frente com os Pistoleiros

The setting is an area in the Wild West terrorised by a violent outlaw gang who have the corrupt sheriff in their back pocket. Into this enters a mysterious loner who takes it upon himself to protect the people against these criminals by joining the gang and infiltrating them from within.

From the above synopsis it should be clear to any seasoned fans of spaghetti westerns that A Coffin for the Sheriff (great title, pretty irrelevant though) is a film with some very familiar plot elements seen in many other entries in the sub-genre. But in fairness, this is a pretty early entry in the Italian western cycle of movies and so these clichés weren't quite as cemented in as they were going to be by the end of the 60's. This one was helmed by Mario Caiano who, like most of his Italian contemporaries, made a number of films in the different popular genres of the given year; the best of the one's I have seen is his impressive Agatha Christie styled giallo Eye in the Labyrinth (1972). With this one, it's really more a case of business as usual, as opposed to an entry that brings anything new to the table. It is one of the sub-sets of spaghetti westerns that fall under the revenge-themed bracket and I thought it essentially delivered its goods in an effective and entertaining enough manner. The star of the show is Anthony Steffen, who seemed to specialise in roles such as this one; he is a fairly limited actor in many ways but fits the persona of spaghetti western anti-hero pretty well it has to be said.

Ultimately, this one is more of the same but more of the same is okay sometimes and it's perfectly acceptable when it's based around an original formula which is so dependable to begin with.

For a long time l'd bought some spaghetti western with a Brazilian actor called Anthony Steffen (Antonio de Tefé in early time) but for several reasons when tried pick up any of them l've been junping this choice to a best option, the day arrives at last l've finally watched a movie from this famous actor, despite it needs a propper restoration to enhance and consequently a best clean picture, on this DVD has a classic brazilian dubbed version, due the bad translated version to english allowed by italian and spanish producers, the plot is quite the same a disguised Marshall pursuit who killed his wife in a wagon robbery ,it has so many holes in screenplay to take a knee pain so much which take me under the table, overhall an easy movie to relish for those who love this fabulous genre!!

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First watch: 2018 / How many: 1 / Source: DVD / Rating: 6

Una bara per lo sceriffo (AKA: A Coffin for the Sheriff/Lone and Angry Man/Tomb for the Sheriff) is directed by Mario Caiano and written by David Moreno and Guido Malatesta. It stars Anthony Steffen, Eduardo Fajardo, Fulvia Franco, George Rigaud and Armando Calvo. Music is by Francesco De Masi and cinematography by Julio Ortas.

In the grand scheme of things as regards Pasta Westerns, Mario Caiano's Oater is strictly routine. The plot is the basic lone gunman out for revenge theme, where in the weathered scuzzy frontage of Anthony Steffen, it involves the infiltration into a gang of scum-bags to get said revenge.

It's atypical of the genre around this time, it's a picture more concerned with raising the pulse rather than making any sort of thematic statements. There's no great style to praise, the dubbing is poor, the fight choreography weak, while all the foxy women on show are given short shrift big time. However, the action is never far away, thus ensuring the pic is never ever dull.

Steffen makes for a cool dude under pressure, the actor would make a telling contribution to the genre with director Caiano, and he's given a number of scenes to hone his gruff rough and tough persona. The villains, fronted by an excitable Lupe Rojo (Calvo) and a maniacal Murdoch (Fajardo) are great fun. There's a great score from De Masi to help things along, and a super title song warbled by Peter Tevis lands in the ears and stays there. Hell! There's even a comedy old geezer doing his best Moore Marriott impression to keep us perky.

It's clichéd, it doesn't utilise the locales or the Widescreen format and it is scared to deviate away from the Spag Western film making 101 play book. Yet sometimes for genre fans this sort of fare is enough for a good time to be had, and so it proves. 6.5/10

Vengeance-minded stranger Anthony Steffen worms his way into a gang of thieves led by a crooked ex-lawyer and a Mexican bandit in order to find the perpetrator of a previous murder attributed to the gang.

A vivid atmosphere and some great Spanish locations make up somewhat for some rather pedestrian script-writing. Steffan and villain Eduardo Fajardo are always fun to watch too.

Though not really bad, this is still recommended only for die-hard spaghetti western fans.

Director Mario Caiano has done better work, especially in the horror genre.

Shenandoah (Steffen) works his way into a band of highwaymen led by Rojo (Armando Calvo). His initiation consists of hunting down and killing a member of the gang who has 12 bullets while he is only given 2 bullets. When the bandits attempt to rob a wealthy rancher, whom Shenandoah knows, he warns him. The outlaws begin to suspect they were betrayed and commence to rough Shenandoah up. Shenandoah then reveals his true reason for joining the gang; one of them killed his wife and he is there for retribution.

A coffin for a Sheriff is an odd title for this 1965 spaghetti western because there's no coffin - there's a sheriff but his link to a coffin is non-existent. Its other title is much apt as Anthony Steffen is certainly a "Lone and angry Man" as the stranger who ends up joining a cutthroat gang led by Lupe Rojo and there's the usual showdowns, brawls and a vendetta. One beating that Steffen takes is quite brutal for its time. It's an entertaining western, a little slow at times, perhaps, but Steffen's performance, the landscapes and the efficient plot makes this worthwhile.