7 écossais du Texas

This spaghetti western can be put into the "routine" category. It has one of those meandering plots which seems to have been put together from notes jotted on the back of an envelope. However, patient viewers will be rewarded by a few quirky moments which add touches of interest to the proceedings. For example, there's the piano player in the saloon who switches to classical music when brawls break out, there's a sequence in which the stripped-to-the-waist hero gets whipped across his bare back -- a flogging which ranks 48th in the book "Lash! The Hundred Great Scenes of Men Being Whipped in the Movies" -- and there's a nifty fight between the good guy and the bad guy involving a rotating waterwheel. What's more, the dubbed English voices trying, occasionally, for Scottish accents produce a few unintended chuckles. It's not much, but you take what you can get.

Obviously with the title, the producers were trying to suggest that this movie had elements of the classic films "The Magnificent Seven" and "Seven Brides For Seven Brothers". Unfortunately, the movie ends up short, very short.

To begin with, none of the members of the family are made into unique characters. They are just a mindless mob of people shooting and acting alike. In fact, sometimes it's hard during the action scenes to differentiate them from the bad guys! Another big criticism I have with the movie is that it doesn't take long for things to get very confusing. Not understanding what was going on, it was hard to get involved with what happens. Also, the print that currently plays on cable TV is full-frame, when this was shot in widescreen. This makes some scenes even more confusing.

There is a decent musical score by Ennio Morricone, but that's not enough to save the movie. Even if you are a spaghetti western fanatic, like I am, I strongly suggest you skip this movie.

The ranch of the MacGregor family (George Rigaud , Ana Maria Noe) is attacked by some bandits (Antonio Iranzo) and they defend thanks a cannon called Queen Anna and then their sons come to help . Later on, the cousins and sons ( Robert Woods , Tony Zamperla, Roberto DellÁcqua, Julio Perez Tabernero, Manuel Zarzo) go to Las Mesas where takes places the fair county for selling their horses . There rules the powerful baron land Crawford (Chris Huerta). At the Saloon happens a fist-fight and the brothers are detained and imprisoned , but they escape . A poster says : ¨WANTED 250 DOLLARS REWARD SIX DESPERADOS TRAVELING TOGETHER FOR DISTURBING THE PEACE AND JAIL BREAKING IN LAS MESAS COUNTY ARIZONA¨. But Crawford and sheriff (Antonio Molino Rojo ) are allied of nasty Santillana (Leo Anchoriz) and the eldest son Gregor (Robert Woods) attempts to join the Santillana band . Meanwhile the brothers rob the local bank posing as Santillana hoodlums and a ranch is assaulted by the outlaws , being saved Rita (Agata Fiori) by the MacGregor. The highlights of the film result to be the stirring finale when the brothers are besieged by the cutthroats and are rescued by all Scottish of the county who come to help under the shout of 'whisky and glory' and with the bagpipes musical background.

This S.W. packs fist-fights , Shootém Up , thrills, humor and amusement . However it contains some violent scenes as when Chris Huerta is dragged through firing bushes and continuous mistreatment to starring that includes punches , kicks and lashes . The idea of Scottish in old west was formerly brought to life in ¨ The ghost goes west (1936) ¨ by Rene Clair . It's a co-production Spanish-Italian and shot on location in Colmenar Viejo , Hoyo of Manzanares , Aranjuez and Guadix (Spain) with production design by Cubero and Galicia ; furthermore is well photographed by cameraman Alejandro Ulloa - Horror Express- . In the movie appears usual support actors as Spanish : Chris Huerta , Rafael Bardem, Rafael Hernandez , Perla Cristal, Victor Israel and of course the Spaghetti idol Fernando Sancho as usual role as Mexican bandit ; and Italian players : Nazzareno Zamperla , Pierre Cressoy , and Roberto Dell'Acqua , among others . Original musical score by Ennio Morricone, conducted by Bruno Nicolai , who composes an amusing ¨Marcia Dei MacGregor¨ . The motion picture is professionally directed by Franco Giraldi . This Italian writer / filmmaker ( and Sergio Leone 's assistant director ) so consistently mixed the good with the mediocre that it became quite impossible to know what to expect from him next . He directed four Western with abundant touches of humor ( Sugar Colt -66-, Seven guns for the MacGregor -66- , 7 women for the MacGregor -1967- ) and one serious and violent ( A minute to pray , a second to day -1968- ). Rating : acceptable and passable movie that will appeal to Spaghetti buffs . It's followed by an inferior sequel ¨Seven women for MacGregor¨ with more comedy elements and David Bailey replacing to Robert Woods .

Old MacGregor has seven sons and the oldest one Gregor leads his brothers to Las Mesas, a small town where they want to sell 200 horses. They get into trouble with people who are related with evil Santillana. After getting imprisoned and losing their horses they decide to go after Santillana's gang. Gregor goes undercover and joins the gang. Sometimes funny and exciting this film doesn't manage to be more than one of many. All characters are either good or bad and the baddies are always just dumb enough to let the plot go on.

Noteworthy is Ennio Morricone's score which is good but doesn't belong to his famous ones. Cinematography is proper.

4 / 10.

This is a great early Euro western with all of the usual elements an Italian western; revenge, gold, beautiful women , dusty scenes and an Ennio Morricone score, as regards the music. I won't give away the plot! There's also the usual staged -and perhaps pointless fistfights - and some humour. Definitely worth a watch for fans of the genre, if you can find a copy. Hardly the greatest in the genre, but worthwhile nonetheless.