This “Limited Edition” Blu-ray set from Arrow Video is now available for purchase.
Seemingly every Spaghetti Western enthusiast is familiar with Sergio Leone’s “Man with No Name” trilogy starring Clint Eastwood as well as the epic masterpiece, Once Upon a Time in the West. But this era produced far more titles from Italy and Spain than many would expect. In fact, at one point in a commentary track for this Blu-ray set, it is noted that 75 Spaghetti Westerns were produced in 1968 alone. While many of these films weren’t of the highest quality, there were plenty of strong productions that simply had difficulty standing out or finding proper North American distribution.
The new Arrow Video package Savage Guns: 4 Classic Westerns contains a collection of titles that may not be immediately familiar, but are still solid examples of European-made Old West films. It contains I Want Him Dead (1968), El Puro (1969) aka The Reward’s Yours… The Man’s Mine, as well as Wrath of the Wind (1970) aka Trinity Sees Red aka The Wind’s Fierce, and Four of the Apocalypse (1975). All are interesting and a couple are well above average. Arrow Video has given them excellent new 2K restorations, with two cuts of two of the features, Italian and English audio tracks and tons of bonus features. It was a lot of fun to be introduced to these pictures and learn more about them.
I Want Him Dead came at the height of the genre’s popularity. It’s also the slickest and most impressive movie in the set. The tale is set near the end of the Civil War and follows gunslinger Clayton (Craig Hill), a man who discovers that his sister (Christina Businari) has been murdered by thugs led by Jack Blood (Manuel Martín). After finding his sibling’s body and hunting for answers in a bar, he gets into an altercation with a customer and kills the person in the process. As it turns out, the man’s brother is the town’s sheriff (Remo De Angelis), who now wants revenge on Clayton. Along the way, the lead befriends and falls for a woman named Marisol (Licia Calderon). As Clayton’s journey unfolds, he also discovers that Blood has been hired by a businessman named Mallek (Andrea Bosic) to interrupt and cause chaos during peace talks between the Union and Confederate leaders.
While some elements are familiar, the film is paced like a bullet and zips by in a flash. The camerawork is well above average, with some creative shots (the movie begins with Clayton seeing a gunman reflected in his morning coffee) and is expertly edited. This film is also quite violent, adding a sense of danger to the proceedings. At one point, a moving camera mimics a fist driving itself repeatedly into the lead’s face as he receives a beating. There is also a thrilling chase on horseback and the movie culminates in several exciting shootouts.
It comes with a movie expert commentary track, a featurette with an Italian Spaghetti Western historian talking about the films, a 30-minute interview with the director, a discussion with the editor, an archival talk with the movie’s composer, as well as a trailer and still gallery. In the director interview, he reminisces on his unusual career, made largely of commercial pictures. He notes that he would have preferred to make different kinds of movies, but that the first offer made to him by producers ultimately got him typecast directing these types of projects. The filmmaker also notes that he isn’t a fan of violent stories, but that he and the crew tried to make every element as inventive as they could on their limited budget. Editor Eugenio Alabiso notes in his interview that he co-edited For a Few Dollars More and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, so he knew how to piece together action scenes in a dynamic manner. The commentary track also notes the stylishness of this effort. They also note the title’s interesting message, that the path of vengeance seems to create an unending cycle of killings in retribution for the previous deaths.
El Puro is quite as strong, but does have plenty of fun elements. Pictured above, this story features a wanted gunman with a drinking problem named Joe Bishop ‘El Puro’ (Robert Woods). There’s a bounty on his head, and a team of assassins tracking his movements. Naturally, his alcoholism means that he hasn’t much hope in outrunning his pursuers. However, he makes a friend in a woman named Rosie (Rosabela Neri), who takes him in during a rough spell. When the killers arrive and murder her, El Puro decides to avenge her death and square off against the gang.
There are two cuts available of this western and the longer version adds an extra 10 minutes to the proceedings. It isn’t a great film (the climax is over far too quickly), but it does offer some nice locations and a couple of interesting story twists. El Puro definitely showcases the main character’s unusual, relaxed style during a gunfight. The film’s solid lead performance from Woods helps tremendously, as does the eccentric cast of the oddball gang, some of whom are playing against type.
This Blu-ray comes with an informative critic commentary track as well as another discussion with the Italian Spaghetti Western authority. He lends some insight into the strange story of child actor Giuseppe Valerio Fioravanti who appears in the movie and later became a terrorist responsible for the deaths of over 80 people. Additionally, there is an interview with American star Woods on his acting career in Europe. The genial figure describes how much fun he had working with the cast and crew. He suggests that on smaller projects, there’s more of a communal feeling with everyone working hard to make the best movie possible. Publicity materials are featured as well.
Speaking of communities standing as one, Wrath of the Wind (pictured above) is a unique effort that adds socio-political elements to its story. In fact, the movie barely qualifies as a western. The story is set in the early 20th century and follows Marco (Terrence Hill) and Jacobo (Mario Pardo), two hitmen. They are hired by a wealthy farmer to assassinate a figure who is inciting rebellion among local workers. These cold-blooded killers initially do what they’re told, but soon begin to regret their decision after spending time with struggling, abused peasants like Soledad (Maria Grazia Buccella). By the end of the film, Marco ends up facing off against a sinister landowner.
The movie contains very interesting scenery that includes as much marsh as desert. It gives the final product a grimy, authentic feel. During this period, starring actor Hill was also on the verge of becoming famous in Europe and he gives a convincing portrayal of a stone-cold killer who begins to have a change of heart. The climax is particularly striking as the lead confronts one of the villains with a horrific delivery, as is the traincar finale.
There are two versions of this feature on the Blu-ray, the longer of which featuring a lengthier opening and some other extended scenes. The disc features a film historian interview and a separate movie expert commentary. Both note that the co-production between Italy and Spain was made during the rule of dictator Francisco Franco and that it subtly tries to inspire resistance against the horrific ruler of the country. Bizarrely enough, the movie was marketed as a comedy for its release in some European markets. The disc also features an interview with the camera operator, alternate titles and an image gallery. And, there is a fun 2022 short film about a showdown in a cemetery that is inspired by Spaghetti Westerns.
The fourth Blu-ray contains Four of the Apocalypse, a western from horror legend Lucio Fulci (Zombie, City of the Living Dead, The Beyond, House by the Cemetery). This title came in 1975, near the end of the Spaghetti Western period. Inspired by gritty new westerns like McCabe and Mrs. Miller, it follows gambler Stubby Preston (Fabio Testi) as he attempts to make a new start in Utah. After a major setback, he is forced to team with pregnant prostitute Bunny (Lynne Frederick), a black man named Bud (Harry Biard), and the alcoholic Ben (Michael J. Pollard).
They try to endure harsh conditions together, but meet with terrible problems at every turn. At one point, a Charlies Manson-like figure named Chaco (Tomas Milian) joins them, but he turns out to be a violent psychopath. The group are drugged and experience strange hallucinations as well. They eventually escape from Chaco, but tragic experiences continue for the foursome and several meet a nasty end in this very harsh and unforgiving world. Stubby eventually crosses paths with Chaco once again and the two battle to the death.
The cast are excellent and the movie is very skilled at showing just how brutal life was for those moving to the west. There are plenty of Fulci touches, like gauzy lighting, the use of close-ups as well as wince-inducingly violent scenes. The drug scenes also have a surreal, psychedelic quality. All of this will feel familiar to horror fans who enjoy the director’s later work. It seems that the filmmaker was really gearing up to switch genres at this point in his career (Zombie aka Zombi 2 would follow only a few years after this production).
This title comes with the same kind of features as the previous disc, including a movie expert commentary, a featurette with a Fulci expert and another on the score and its composers, an interview with the production manager and publicity materials. The general consensus is that this picture was the strongest of Fulci’s westerns projects and that he was likely inspired by the story’s harshness. Those who worked with him on it note that he was having a good time and was even amused at shooting some of the nastier, make-up intensive moments.
All of the bonuses are interesting and show how the moviemaker was already very skilled at this point in his career. One can also see that he honed certain elements that would later be used in a different genre. It’s a fascinating effort that will be of as much appeal to horror enthusiasts as to western fans.
In the end, Savage Guns: 4 Classic Westerns is a great package that presents hard-to-find titles with great picture upgrades and tons of bonus materials. There are a couple of really effective efforts in this set, and the others are just as interesting even if they are quite as strong. All of the movies were new to this reviewer and I’m very glad that I had the chance to catch up with them. If it sounds like your cup of team or if you’re even just a Fulci completist, then this set is definitely well worth picking up.