Savage Gringo (1966)
5/10
Bava's Flair for Suspense is Missing in Rote Prairie Melodrama
2 February 2024
Three men on horseback, wearing handkerchiefs over their mouths, ambush and murder a range rider working for cattleman Martin (Piero Lulli). Martin is the target of an unscrupulous businessman and crook who runs a nearby town. Martin gets a break when Nebraska (Ken Clark), a loner who can shoot pretty well, shows up looking for work. Martin's wife, Kay (Yvonne Bastien) has needs, too, and eventually wants Nebraska for herself. When Martin is killed, the bad guys focus on Kay and pressure her to sell the ranch. Nebraska intervenes and saves the day.

The Nebraska character is so virtuous and multi-talented, once he shows up the movie gives up any suspense it had. Nebraska will obviously win out. He plays chess, is a superior tracker, an excellent marksman, rides a white horse, and falls for the girl. At first, he wants to stick around to help Martin and Kay, "to see how it ends." At the end, he won't commit to Kay and rides off.

It would appear that in some provinces, SAVAGE GRINGO was passed off as a continuation of the popular RINGO film series. The movie is competently made but doesn't add anything new to the genre. Though suspense specialist Mario Bava was involved, there are no real surprises. The film's one highlight is a violent barroom brawl photographed mostly at ankle level.
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