In or quickly approaching the year 1899, western gunslinger Henry Fonda (as Jack Beauregard) gets a shave and haircut. Due to his legendary status, Mr. Fonda must make sure the barber doesn't get carried away with his razor. Remaining calm, quick-draw Fonda draws attention from other baddies around the barbershop. After escaping, the barber's son asks if anyone is faster on the draw than Fonda. "Faster than him? Nobody," the barber replies. As he is getting older, Fonda would like to hang up his holster. Given his reputation, Fonda decides Europe would be a safe place, but he may not make it there before getting gunned down by upstarts or old enemies. It's true "Nobody" is faster than Fonda, so what if he meets "Nobody" on the way outta Dodge...
Fonda fittingly meets "Nobody" in the form of handsome young gunslinger Terence Hill. For most of the running time, Mr. Hill takes the camera's attention. Fonda becomes a supporting player, although his voice-over in the last act commands co-starring status...
This is a fine film, apart from some slapstick and "fast-motion" that feels dated. It seems intent on being a comedy, but elicits less than the desired laughter. The real worth is under the surface. We have a very impressive new actor (Hill) taking the screen from a legend (Fonda). This parallels the new gunslinger emerging to replace the old. Moreover, there is the "new" western taking over, here in the "spaghetti western" genre of Sergio Leone with the modern Sam Peckinpah version referenced strongly. Even the turn of the century can be called into action. Hill and director Tonino Valerii are an exemplary team, with photographer Giuseppe Ruzzolini contributing strongly. Now, if only the surreal was more prominent than the slapstick.
******* My Name Is Nobody (12/13/1973) Tonino Valerii, Sergio Leone ~ Terence Hill, Henry Fonda, Jean Martin
Fonda fittingly meets "Nobody" in the form of handsome young gunslinger Terence Hill. For most of the running time, Mr. Hill takes the camera's attention. Fonda becomes a supporting player, although his voice-over in the last act commands co-starring status...
This is a fine film, apart from some slapstick and "fast-motion" that feels dated. It seems intent on being a comedy, but elicits less than the desired laughter. The real worth is under the surface. We have a very impressive new actor (Hill) taking the screen from a legend (Fonda). This parallels the new gunslinger emerging to replace the old. Moreover, there is the "new" western taking over, here in the "spaghetti western" genre of Sergio Leone with the modern Sam Peckinpah version referenced strongly. Even the turn of the century can be called into action. Hill and director Tonino Valerii are an exemplary team, with photographer Giuseppe Ruzzolini contributing strongly. Now, if only the surreal was more prominent than the slapstick.
******* My Name Is Nobody (12/13/1973) Tonino Valerii, Sergio Leone ~ Terence Hill, Henry Fonda, Jean Martin