Les 7 Écossais explosent

I read at the film's premiere that it had been "fun" to produce, with 18 wounded during the hectic fights and horseback stunts. It was definitely fun to watch, with 82 bad guys dead by my count, at the second viewing. And no, I did not go back for the accounting of the "death" toll, but for the imaginative, riotous fights, involving both the male and female members of the McGregor clan. I regret no video-age producer cares to bring back a copy of these precious B-movie jewels of the Italian "spaghetti western" era. Much better, and healthy, than current US violent tv fare.

The families of MacGregor, who has 7 sons, and Donovan, who has 7 daughters, are next door neighbors in the Wild West. When bandits steal the treasure of the Mac Gregors, the sons go to retrieve it. The story is rather simple, mainly an excuse for many fights, including the pretty ladies who are not to be underestimated. The families' parties after the fights, however, are almost as dangerous as the fights were! But the strength of this sequel to "7 Guns for the MacGregors" is that it is never as silly as later Italian western comedies in the 70s, because the action scenes are well staged, edited and photographed, for example the fight on the locomotive is something any serious western movie would be proud of. Editor Nino Baragli previously did nothing less than "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly". Also the villain (Leo Anchoriz) is portrayed quite seriously, some brutal scenes - for example when he shoots some of his gang members - are not what you'd expect in a comedy.

It's the combined qualities of the comedy and action scenes that make this movie great fun from the first to the last minute. Most people praise this sequel less than the first movie "7 Guns for the MacGregors", but for me, it's absolutely on the same quality level, just like the Morricone soundtrack.

I was taken to this movie for my twentieth birthday in 1967. We couldn't believe how bad it was although now that I see that it was filmed in Italian, that might explain part of the problem. It was certainly dubbed into English, I would have remembered subtitles. For years now it has been the butt of family jokes. My husband has always been jealous, because he was not there. If anyone knows how I can get a copy of it I would love to see it again. Sue Routledge