Un colt et le diable

Released in 1968 and directed by Marino Girolami, "Between God, the Devil and a Winchester" (originally titled "God Was in the West, Too, at One Time") is an Italo oater starring Richard Harrison as a pacifist in the Southwest who obtains a map from a boy that leads to a treasure allegedly stolen from a mission. Several other people want the treasure too, like Juan Chasquisdo (Gilbert Roland), but likely for less noble purposes. The story's (supposedly) based on Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island, which I've never read.

"Between God, the Devil and a Winchester" has the limitations of most Spaghetti Westerns, like dubious dubbing, awkward editing, laughable sound effects and caricatures rather than characters. But, if you can look beyond these flaws, it has several attributes, like the noble Harrison as the protagonist, which is in contrast to the amoral characters (caricatures) typical of Italian oaters.

The first act takes place at a Western Inn and is highlighted by the stunning Dominique Boschero as Marta. Dominique is so breathtaking she's almost worth the price of admission; unfortunately, she's removed from the story by the end of the first act. Roland as Chasquisdo is memorable, if for no other reason than the iron gauntlet on one hand.

The next two acts involve searching for and finding the treasure and aren't as good as the opening act. For one, there are a few nighttime sequences that are too dark to tell what's happening. But the ending is decent and satisfying. Too bad they omitted Marta from the last two acts.

The film runs 98 minutes and was shot in Spain.

GRADE: C+

Between God, the Devil and a Winchester (1968)

** (out of 4)

Mildly entertaining Spaghetti Western is a variation on Stevenson's Treasure Island. In the film, an old man shows up with a treasure map and hires a bandit to take him to the location but the old man is killed during a shoot out. A kid and a peaceful man eventually get a hold of the map and once again the bandit is taking them to the location when more double crossing happens. There are several major plot holes with this film including the fact that bandits keep being used even though the characters know very well that this is just going to lead to trouble. Every time one of the bandits are killed it seems the group brings another in for help. Another problem is that the film is very poorly made and comes off looking incredibly ugly with some very bad camera-work. Some of the tracking shots in this thing are beyond bad. Even with all that said the film does have a few good moments and that includes one scene where a woman is being attacked by the bandit so she breaks a lantern over his head. Gilbert Roland, iron hand and all, is very good and keeps the film moving. Carlo Savina's music score is certainly the highlight of the film.

This ¨Anche Nel West Céra Una Volta Dio ¨ (1968) by Marino Girolami¨ is based on Treasure island , classic novel by Robert Louis Stevenson , it deals with a stranger (Folco Lulli , similar role Treasure island's Billy Bones) arrives in an inn and hides a treasure map the bandits wish . Being chased by outlaws suffers an accident , then a boy (Jack Hawkins-alike) witnesses where it was hidden and he gains access to a treasure map . The kid retrieves it and passes it on to the local preacher . Later on , he persuades a guide called Juan Chasquisdo (Gilbert Roland , lookalike Long John Silver) and a priest (Richard Harrison) , an innkeeper (Roberto Camardiel) to accompany him in his search to recover it. All of them are pursued by cutthroats (Raf Baldassarre). The priest recognizes that much of the treasure was likely that from a local mission. They set out to get it before the bandits encounter it.

This Paella/Spaghetti Western is filled with action , thrills , horse riding , intrigue , betrayal and crossfire . This Ravioli/Paella Western packs violence , shootouts , high body-count and it's fast moving and some moments genuinely entertaining if you can avoid thinking too much . It contains bits of campy and refreshing events with turns and twists . Nice acting by Gilbert Roland as a rogue thief sporting an iron hand instead of a wooden leg ; he starred some Spaghetti such as Sonora, Goldseekers , Johnny Hamlet and Any Gun Can Play . Richard Harrison's performance in the movie is a bit wooden for the role of such an interesting character , but the fantastic performance by the always great Folco Lulli and sympathetic Roberto Camardiel save the show . Furthermore , a motley group of usual Spanish/Italian secondaries such as Luis Barboo , Xan das Bolas , Jose Sacristan , Ennio Girolami , Raf Baldassarre , among others . Atmospheric cinematography by Pablo Ripoll, though being necessary a correct remastering , and features a sensitive musical score by Carlo Savina , including emotive songs . This is a passable Spaghetti Western with some amusing moments and nice outdoors shot in La Pedriza , Manzanares Del Real , Colmenar Viejo (Madrid) , and interior filmed in Elios studios (Rome) .

Strong and robust Richard Harrison was a magnificent muscle-man . He was one along with Ed Fury, Brad Harris, Kirk Morris, Reg Park, Mark Forest, among others, whom to seek fortune acting absurdly muscle mythological figures, but anybody topped Steve Reeves and Gordon Scott in popularity. Harrison played in Hollywood some minor roles as ¨Kronos ¨ and ¨South Pacific¨ , while shooting another inferior character in ¨Master of world (1961)¨ produced by American International , he met producer James H. Nicholson's daughter and married her within six months. Frustrated at not being able to secure meatier roles in America , Harrison jumped at the chance when offered the first character in 1961 ,¨The Invincible Gladiator¨ , which was filming in Europe along with his greatest success ¨The seven Spartans¨. He wound up settling in Italy for the next two decades. His lead role, of course, immediately typed him as another Herculean type and, to avoid being penned in too much as a muscle man, he sought characters in routine spaghetti westerns as ¨Texas the red¨ , ¨Gringo¨, ¨Reverendo Colt¨ , ¨Joe Dakota¨ ¨ ,even the main role from ¨For a fistful of dollars¨ was offered to Richard Harrison , but he turned down and explaining : Maybe my greatest contribution to cinema was not doing Fistful of Dollars, and recommending Clint Eastwood for the part . He also starred Wartime genre as ¨Leopards of Churchill¨ and ¨36 hours in hell¨ and spy intrigue as ¨Master stroke¨ and ¨077 challenge to the killer's¨ . Once Italy closed down film production after the muscular craze had died down, he, like others, found himself unemployed. He did manage to scrape up work in Hong Kong, but a large portion of them were bottom-of-the-barrel Ninja movies.

The film was professionally directed by Marino Girolami , under pseudonym Fred Wilson or Dario Silvestri , he is father of Enzo G. Castellari and Ennio Girolami who here appears as a nasty bandit and brother of Romolo Guerrieri . He was a craftsman working in all kind of genres as Western such as "Badmen of the West" ,"Two Ringos from Texas", "God Was in the West, Too, at One Time" and specially , Terror and comedies .

Other Spaghetti Westerns freely based on famous novels and plays are the followings : ¨Apocalypse Joe¨ by Leopoldo Savona with Anthony Steffen that takes elements about ¨Hamlet¨and ¨Macbeth¨ of Shakespeare . Other Spaghetti freely based on famous play by Shakespeare is ¨The Fury of Johnny Kid¨ by Gianni Puccini with Peter Lee Lawrence and Cristina Galbo from ¨Romeo and Giuletta¨ along with "Bullets and the Flesh" by Marino Girolami . Other Spaghetti based on known and classic plays and novels are the followings : ¨Johnny Hamlet¨(1968) with Andrea Giordana directed by Enzo G Castellari ; ¨The return of Ringo¨ by Duccio Tessari inspired on the ¨Odyssey¨, and ¨John Il Bastardo¨(1967) based on books from Zorrilla and Moliere ; ¨Long days of vengeance¨ by Florentano Vancini with Giuliano Gemma and Francisco Rabal , being based on classic novel titled ¨The count of Montecristo¨ written by Alexandre Dumas .

Unreleased in the USA (except for an unauthorized latterday Something Weird dumping), this Italian Western is typical of those that chose to merely imitate American product rather than innovate. It's designed for movie fans who enjoy slumming, and judging by some verbose IMDb reviews, are easily impressed by ripoffs (in this case aping "Treasure Island").

It's sad watching a real Hollywood talent like Gilbert Roland reduced to such a nothing role.

My advice to fans killing time watching low-grade Italian genre crap: take some time to watch the hundreds of masterworks from Italy -you might learn something about the human condition from the artists and craftsmen ranging all the way from Antonioni through Zurlini.

The film starts with a road and a covered wagon that apparently has all kind of household goods. The owner probably provides distant ranches with convenience products. For $10 he has accepted a passenger who will kill him soon. The passenger turns out to be a criminal Confederate colonel who has a map of a hidden treasure. In a conflict with outlaws he gets killed and a little boy and a "stranger" without a gun get hold of it. A typical treasure hunt with only partial knowledge about the location by each of the searchers through a wild mountain landscape is about to start. Gilbert Roland and Richard Harrison together with a mixed bunch including the outlaws are able to entertain the viewer and deliver both a good performance. There are a lot of nice and wild landscape shots and the score has at least average quality. On the downside there is a certain lack of credibility in more than one situation. E.g. before starting a treasure hunt I'd try to get rid of outlaws.

Recommended for Western and Adventure genre enthusiasts.