Uncas, el fin de una raza

European rendition based on James Fenimore Cooper's famous novel and , of course, shot in Madrid surroundings such as Manzanares Del Real and Colmenar Viejo . This is a Spanish-Italian co-production with a varied cast formed by actors of diverse countries . The classic James Fenimore Cooper's novel is brought to screen in this Western adventure and in Spaghetti/Tortilla style . The picture takes several liberties and is partially inspired on the notorious novel . XVIII century , French and British army battle themselves to take North American and Canadian territory . There happens Indian wars between Hurons , Mohawk and settlers and army , while the tribes allied fight to each side . The story is about a dying tribe called the Mohicans in which only two are left , Uncas (Daniel Martin who starred same role in the version directed by Harald Reinl) and his father Chingachgook (Jose Marco) as well as one white man named Hawkeye (Hawkeye's real name in the novel is Natty Bumppo, being played by Luis Induni) , a fur trader . They are set upon by French soldiers and their cohorts , Huron tribesmen led by the evil Cunning Fox (who in original novel is called Magua) . On their way they intercept Indians attacking a small regiment in command of captain Duncan Edward (Jack Taylor , Jesus Franco's usual actor) including the two daughters (Sara Lezana as Cora and Barbara Loy as Alice) of Colonel Munroe (Paul Muller) on their rout to fort Henry . The three men lead the survivors to the fort while love stories take place but the War continues . They fight to protect them against the raiding Huron Indians . On rout they are double-crossed by Cunning Fox (José Manuel Martín , Spaghetti's customary secondary player) . Meantime the fort is besieged by a French Army and Indians allied , commanded by a General (Pastor Serrador) . There , subsequently takes a place a massacre carried out by traitor Hurons against Fort Henry soldiers .

This is an exciting film , plenty action , thrills , fights , love and breathtaking outdoors . Acceptable action sequences in medium budget with rousing attacks and spectacular fights . Charismatic performance for all casting . The notorious Spaghetti actor , Luis Induni is good as Hawkeye and women protagonists , Sara Lezana , Barbara Loy , are wonderful . Special mention to Daniel Martin as honorable Unkas and Jose Manuel Martin as an appropriately villainous in a powerful performance . Look for secondary actors usual of Spaghetti Western as Jose Marco , Rufino Ingles , José Riesgo , Lorenzo Robledo , among others . And two Eurotrash actors , Jack Taylor and Paul Muller , both of whom Jesus Franco's habitual . Colorful cinematography by Carlo Carlini -however, being worn-out and necessary a perfect remastering- reflecting splendidly the sunny exteriors from Manzanares Del Real and Colmenar Viejo where in the 60s and 70s were shot hundreds Spaghetti/Chorizo Western . Evocative as well as atmospheric original musical score by Bruno Canfora and Angelo Francesco Lavagnino . The motion picture was professionally directed by Mateo Cano , though with no originality . Rating : 5,5/10 . Acceptable and passable .

The picture was partially based on historical events . Although the Ft. William Henry massacre actually took place, historical fact differs somewhat from historical fiction. A Col. Munro was in command at the fort and did indeed surrender to Montcalm when General Webb could not arrive in time to reinforce him. The attack by the Hurons after the surrender was directed at the colonial militia and its Indian allies. Munro and the British regulars were at the head of the column under the protection of French soldiers and did not know that the column had been attacked until they arrived at Ft. Edward. James Fenimore Cooper based his novel on reports from survivors of the attack. The British used the attack to stir up the colonials to join in the fight against the French. In all versions of the movie except this one, Munro survives and is saved by Hawkeye. Munroe survived in real life as well.

Other retelling about this classic story ¨The last of the Mohicans¨ are the followings : 1922 , mute adaptation by Maurice Tourneur and Clarence Brown with Wallace Beery as Magua ; the classic 1936 by George B Seitz with Randolph Scott as Hawkeye ; Spaghetti rendition (1965) by Harald Reinl with Joachim Fuchsberger , Karin Dor , Daniel Martín , Anthony Steffen , Carl Lange . And TV series titled ¨Hawkeye and the Last of the Mohicans" (1957) by Sam Newfield with John Hart and Lon Chaney along with 1985 TV movie by James L. Conway with Steve Forrest and Ned Romero . Of course , the best rendition was directed by Michael Mann (1992) with Daniel Day Lewis, Madeleine Stowe , Jodhi May and Wes Studi as Maua.

Just TWO (2) stars as an average rating?? OK, I think I know what's going on here. The people who have actually seen this incredibly obscure movie & registered a ratings vote are most likely devotees of the source material and were understandably disappointed. I think I read James Fenimore Cooper's LAST OF THE MOHICANS when I was about 11 and skipped to the action scenes. Which once you get down to it is what the Italians have done here. Gone are any sense of character development, exposition, plot nuances, etc. Of the film's 400 or so lines of dialog maybe 100 of them are directly from Cooper's novel, and most of those delivered by Paul Muller as an implacable British commander of a frontier outpost during the French and Indian War. He always gets the good lines because he was an actual actor.

But you see, an even vaguely faithful adaptation of the book was not the point of this production, which is actually an early era Spaghetti Western with guys dressed up as Mohicans or 18th century soldiers instead of cowboys & Pistoleros. It's a potboiler entertainment intended to wile away rainy Saturday afternoons for 10 - 14 year old boys and their fathers rather than a stirring rendition of classic literature. The costumes and weaponry are likely inaccurate, the military traditions on display far from historically adept, and yes the Italian and Spanish supporting actors made up with boot polish to portray a Native American fighting force look ridiculous. Bugs Bunny had more credibility when he tunneled into Napoleon's castle and started playing boogie-woogie on the harpsichord while wearing a hoop dress, though the French are correctly portrayed as foppishly effete even when firing cannons at people.

So fans and history buffs looking for a detailed visage of LAST OF THE MOHICANS and its fascinating events would be well served to look elsewhere, which is why Michael Mann made his version in 1992. There you go, see ya later. But for students of B grade European genre cinema this will prove a indispensable study in the kitsch entertainment the Italians always seemed to do best. Euro Horror gods Jack Taylor & Paul Muller headline the cast of Redcoats, with Barbara Loy and Sara Lezana providing the eye candy women who become the focus of the plot since Italian genre cinema always ends up being about sex. Daniel Martín and José Marco ham it up as the local friendly Injun guides who help to escort them through the hostile Spanish wilderness substituting for 18th century New England (at least I am assuming the film was made in Spain: It looks like Andalucía at any rate) under the expert guide of Hawkeye, played by familiar genre actor Luis Induni who looks like he wandered onto the set from a cocktail party. And José Manuel Martín gets to act appropriately noble + savage as the great Huron Chief Cunning Fox, who wears a wristwatch in one scene unless my eyes deceived me.

I know that Cunning Fox is a great Huron Chief because the script made a point to mention that a few times to dutifully remind viewers like myself that could care less just who the different players are & what is motivating their actions. To tell the truth the whole LAST OF THE MOHICANS thing is just a series of reference points by which audience members can navigate the film's action, which is impressive at times. There are pitched battles galore, various people get tied up to trees and threatened while awaiting last minute salvation, and of course Jack Taylor is a much better Indian fighter than the Indians themselves. Which makes sense once you think about it, because if his character was not a better Indian fighter than the Indians they would have killed him early on and the movie would be over.

A special note must be made of the direction by Mateo Cano, who's stylistic approach has as much in common with Sergio Leone as an episode of MORK & MINDY does. It's interesting to see an Italian genre film made before the style factor which made Spaghetti Westerns so distinctive. The direction and camera work are artlessly straight-forward, and the musical score by Bruno Canfora and the usually brilliant Angelo Francesco Lavagnino is more evocative of a 1960s Italian horror film -- which is indeed the case, as some of Lavagnino's themes from CASTLE OF THE LIVING DEAD are replayed, albeit at a different tempo. They even reused the fort set from Amando de Ossorio's "Three From Colorado" and probably the same mishmash Injun brave costumes previously seen in Jose Elorietta's FURY OF THE APACHES; Both films made at about the same time as this one, and just as adorably square once you get down to it. I love it when they play this stuff straight, it sort of heightens the absurdity of the proceedings.

After 1966 Italian made Westerns became self-consciously arty, filled with the glib humor, hip asides and hypnotic atmospherics that made the derivative plotting, wooden acting, familiar landscapes & identical architecture less of an issue. This one earns points for being novel as far as Spaghetti Cinema though it's service to Mr. Cooper's novel is minimal. After watching it I'm not really any more compelled to read the book again, though I could sure go for another Spaghetti Western.

5/10, since the film is immune to conventional criticism. Look for a gloriously widescreened Greek subtitled version, the color is magnificent even if the aspect ratio isn't quite right.