Reviews

Degueyo is an exceptional spaghetti western. It's not among the greatest but it's just barely under the top tier spaghetti westerns imo. What i especially liked were several things. First and foremost the plot, is linear, actually makes sense and is complex enough to keep your attention. 2nd, main Characters are given enough back story that you care about them. 3rd, they do mostly logical things, ie when a baddie is dispatched the protagonists actually take their weapons and ammo knowing they'll need it later.

Performances are good and overall a very grim feel pervades throughout. Dan Vadis as the main bad guy is excellent, he moves with great energy and you can tell he relished this role. Rossi Stuart as well does great as the hero.

The film is fairly violent for its time and let's just say not too many of the characters get out of it alive. My highest marks would go to the script / plot. Much tighter than most spaghetti westerns and more complex. No, it's not perfect but it's very enjoyable and I've seen a lot of italian westerns. Just know that this is basically a siege type plot/ primarily taking place in the town itself, so no emphasis on expansive Vistas or impressive desert visuals. Anyway, recommended and currently can be seen on YouTube.

Many of AIPs main players are there including writers, direction etc. However, the script is very weak. There is very little of the classic AIP interplays or humor at work here. It feels flat and barely has any redeeming features. However, Fred Clark is good as the general and he's pretty funny. And great to see all those other character actors from those times. But something is missing here, it just has a weird vapid meandering vibe to it. Literally any previous AIP generated beach movie or knock offs such. 'Fireball 500' are much better. This film has its moments but really, if you're wanting to delve into the AIP library, this is not the place to start. Like I said, for completists only.

I've seen all of Leone's films including 'Colossus of Rhoades' which is actually a better film than this one. 'Sucker' is bloated, has a meandering plot that limps to a resolution of sorts. There is no central antagonist or specific challenge for these characters per se. It's all rather vague.

Morricone's music has it's moments & while I don't think it's a terrible soundtrack it's numbingly repetitive, overused to the point of irritation at times.

The Flashbacks work to a degree but remain amorphous & offer not much in terms of backstory or character development. I get that Coburn pines for that time & this woman & his friend., betrayal is a part of this but nothing is made very clear or compelling.

Coburn & Steger are respectfully fine on their roles. No other characters are built into any kind of reality, thus interest falters due to lack of any attempt for instilling character background or motivation or connection to the central protagonists in any of these characters.

Leone made some great films., 'For a Few Dollars More' IMO being his best western, lean, mean & full of style, action & outrageous / enjoyable characters. This is the director attempting to stretch a bit with a political message & characters than perhaps evolve more as people. Problem is, Leone was better dealing with archtypes and mythology.

I just ordered this on DVD because I am a Leone fan., as well as a fan of Coburn & Steiger and there are numerous individual moments I really enjoy., the stand-out is Steiger's speech concerning the 'revolution' when he say 'my family is my country' he rejects all political manifestos., to which I heartily agree.

Now, this is not a film I'd recommended to a neophyte coming into Leone or Italian westerns in general because it reflects very little of the best that Italian westerns offered as well as what Leone offered in terms of his unigue style.

You want enjoyable then watch either of the other Sergios: Corbucci or Solima both these directors were more consistently entertaining in terms of pure cinema & they knew how to build characters & have them evolve. Leone's real skills were in his visual prowess & myth making abilities., best enjoyed in his earlier westerns.

I've watched may Euro Horror over the years, "lady Frankenstein' which I would rate roughly on about the same overall level as 'Mark of the Devil' although not nearly as gory or as humor free; ranks near the top in terms of cheesiness, great dialogue, great sets, enjoyable atmosphere & fun moments galore but what really aces it are several things that I'll break down for you now.

1.) Script: Very good, twists and turns, episodic action, melodramatic interactions & unintentional comedic moments abound. 2.) Dialogue... immensely quotable & witty exchanges especially between MIckey Hargitay's Captain Harris & Herbert Fux's Lynch. 3.) The Actors involved: First & foremost Rosalba Neri. She is so striking in her beauty here. Eyes like an Egyptian goddess., She just oozes sexuality in every scene & her acting is very good. Mickey Hargitay. I realize a lot of people don't care for MIckey but I am big fan., having read a lot regarding himself & Jayne Mansfield I felt a certain connection with him., his acting was never stellar, he was always Mickey and he is to me always enjoyable. Herbert Fux, great as always, holds his own in every scene. Joseph Cotton is workman like but good. Paul Muller is very good., his interactions, gestures & dialogue are perfectly intoned for the moment.

Atmosphere & set design, light etc. is great, only the day scenes / the Monster rampaging are merely adequate to push the plot forward. The Monster itself. meh...but that's only a minor quibble.

This film also pushes the envelope in terms of pervesity in a fairly twisted manner. All in all RECOMMEDED!

I'm a big fan of director Henry Hathaway. His sense of scope & vistas mostly attributable to his director of photography but never the less, if you have ever seen a few of his classics like 'Nevada Smith' 'From Hell to Texas' all of them bear his visual mark to a great degree.

True Grit has some of the most enjoyable dialogue written. Having not read the novel, I understand from reading other's remarks that this film had a screen play that was very similar to the words written in the book. It's great & also at times very funny, almost every scene is a stand-out, the only other film that enters that territory for me is 1979's Walter Hill classic 'The Warriors'.

Glen Campell's remark when he meets Mattie in the boarding house is a great example to paraphrase 'You know a moment ago I'd had half a mind to kiss you but now I want to turn you over my knee and give you a good spanking! Mattie replies 'One would be as unpleasant as the other!'. These moments abound, really enjoyable interactions, intelligent, somewhat formal speech that is not spoke today which I also enjoyed.

I also though Glen Campbell was fine. Not many know but apparently Wayne's granddaughter under circumstances I can't remember was instrumental in having Wayne cast Glen in the movie because she was a big fan of his. He approached him backstage at a performance & with granddaughter in tow, offered him a part. So I heard, I just don't recall where I read that. Over-all classic, highly recommended.

Very enjoyable series that unfortunately only had 13 episodes. I am a big Rod Taylor fan & also like Dennis Cole a lot. Taylor is a professional & I don't think he's ever done anything I didn't enjoy,

The plots R a bit repetitive, action sequences are sometimes a little dicey & most episodes wrap up with a fairly perfunctory ending. Budgets are not huge either. Additionally almost every episode has some patently goofy elements be it plot resolution or action sequences in general.

Having said this, it is still immensely enjoyable to me & probably to most everyone that remembers this series with fondness. The Stutz is a great car for the series & is always displayed & utilized to best effect.

I always enjoy austere visuals, western vistas & the big open desert. All on great display here. If you enjoy early Russ Meyer and his use of existing structures as well as desert vistas it's a joy to watch this series for some of that familiar Southwest beauty. Mostly though it's a nostalgia thing for me, to see a series that's not driven by current trends be it film or entertainment in general.

I knocked off 2 stars due to the series shortcomings as stated above...they in no way however take away from its' great enjoyment factor for me nor should it for other fans. Recommended.

I am a big Bronson fan & this film ranks at the top in my list of his best efforts. Walker Hill is the man that makes this all possible and his direction for a first time film is impressive. IN fact this is very authentic in terms of location, costume & general feeling of depression era America.

There are a lot of actors that are enjoyable to watch but Bronson is probably one the greatest physical actors ever. When you watch this film his body language, gestures & movements, expressions etc. are very effective at conveying his character's feelings & motivation., he doesn't need a lot of words.

Coburn is fabulous as is Strother Martin, in fact everyone does first rate work. But it's Bronson who makes it great. When you see him he has an interesting take on his fights, he observes the fighters as he can & adjusts his style accordingly. For instance in the first fight against Lou Antonio he sees his opponent using a lot of big wide telegraphed outside punches, Bronson just walks into his middle & throws a straight punch to the inside., blam, that's it.

Each fight is intelligently crafted with this in mind, it makes Bronson not only the toughest but the smartest fighter. The highlight for me is the cage fight with Robert Tessier. Over-all a pretty impressive first effort from Hill., Bronson at this stage in his career was a consummate professional, solid actor with many years experience and if you are a Bronson fan, check it out!

Other films of hers were more important & got more coverage but this is essential prime RW for any fan & should not be missed. It's also a nice 60's spy spoof & I found the plot enjoyable. Clive Revill is massively amusing as one of the bad guys...his accent is hilarious & his delivery is spot on.

Over-all this is highly recommended for Raquel fans primarily. For 60's spy capers & fans of the era's flms. it's well done, well acted & worth a watch..

The other reviewers have hit the high points. I will say it's pretty bizarre but it's not a badly made film. The director is competent & the script flows more or less logically. Shatner himself does have some scenes where he emotes like he's on thespian steroids...and those outfits he wears are truly amazing...thank God those 70's styles are over with....over-all though I didn't find it as amusing as many reviewers seem to think it is.

Recommended for Shatner completists & those that like their films with a nice dose of cheese.

A great 70's cult classic that stamps itself onto the consciousness of many with it's classic themes & noir look. Really near perfect in terms of concept & execution. Ya Joe Bob Briggs featured it on Monster Vision & his intro was hilarious, for instance he wonders why these guys didn't just steal & hot wire a car but NO they only travel by subway! Har...yes the plot is not realistic....but the themes are well played out. Just suspend your disbelief & enjoy 'the journey up'.

On the original release with the introduction & speech by the original war chief on Coney Island before they get on the subway I actually preferred that as he outlines the mission and in reference to the Director cut that jettisoned this entire prologue, I prefer the original as well I do not really care for the cartoon animated swipes but even that cannot mar this classic enough to make a difference to me. It's still a cult film of the highest order.

Michael Beck & James Remar are the 2 primary forces here & they both do well within their characters. Highly recommended classic 70's, one of Walter Hill's best.

Finally, as to the director's cut & the complaints, a few more observations, it's his film, he can cut how he wants & we can prefer whichever version we fans like. I am sure the older versions are out there. I had one on VHS with the original prologue. Nowadays I am not sure if that version is available. I wish it had been included in the director's cut as a bonus material addition.

Most reviewers miss the point. Rush's film is a cinematic moment in time. The focus is a linear journey about certain events that take place over a very limited time frame of perhaps 4 or 5 days cinematically. In terms of plot it aims for a certain moment in time & it hits the mark.

The choppers R first rate classic 60's builds, the scenery is great, Kovak's DP work is outstanding, Adam Rourke is the stand-out here, he holds his own easily against Jack in all the acting chops departments & Sabrina Scarf is amazingly sexy. Stu Phillips & The Poor provide excellent musical coverage & every player does a great job at being who thy R supposed to be. The fights R fun & the magical moments R numerous, for instance, Poet's decision to go with the Angels under a distant moon while sitting on his chopper at a carnival, ambient street sounds & conversations abound around other character interactions just like in real life.

If U like biker flicks this is the real deal. The ending is rushed (no pun intended) that's the bummer part but the ride there is great fun. One of my personal favorites maybe cause my parents had me n my sister in the back seat of the Drive-In while we saw this many years ago the very first time. I forgive this film a lot perhaps but it's right up there in my top 5 BIker films of all time.

It is an excellent take on the novel IMO. I've read the novel multiple times & I think Sarne captured the essence of it. Raquel is simply amazing as Myra & it's probably my favorite of her may roles simply because she gets to shine throughout the proceedings. John Huston is great as well, I mean how can U not love this guy? Amazingly talented director & auteur, he goes low brow & just hams it up.

The entire film is a Cult film fanatics wet dream...there were plenty of cinematic car wrecks from the 60's (Candy, Bluebeard come to mind} trying to cash in on the 'hip' times with movies that pushed the envelope but Myra Breckenridge is in a class by itself.

Commentary by Welch is worth the price of admission alone. Sarne's is a bit more self serving but worthwhile to hear the director's perspective on the whole proceeding.

All in all recommended. If U like 'Beyond the Valley of the Dolls' then U'll like this although BTVOTD is the pinnacle, the Cult film to end all Cult films, Myra is right up there!

A favorite of mine since a kid. Read the Will Henry book many times (the book is of course better). Very enjoyable western however. Stellar visuals, music that is memorable, excellent cast. Omar Sharif does great as 'Colorado' the bandit leader but if anyone reads the book, Colorado is described much as Telly Savales looks but it's Hollywood, having said that Sharif does a great job IMO.

A lot of people knock the effects, I can over look it, its' a great old school western that really tries to be a spectacle & mostly it succeeds; one can forgive the occasional visual short comings when U consider the intent & desire of all involved was to make it as good as possible.

Lottsa great actors here! Crazy cameos & they almost all are wasted in terms of screen time or contribution to the plot. The central actors are very good. I am not a huge Peck fan but he's good. Julie Newmar is fantastic needless to say.

All in all one of my favorites since it was such an early influence on me, I owe to this movie & of course WIll Henry's source novel which I highly recommend as well.

Striking visuals, excellent character actors allowed to chew large chunks of scenery, good music & atmospheric, finally a nice 80's time capsule of cultural references make this one a keeper.

Donald Pleasance, Martin Landau, Jack Palance all present wonderful characterizations. Between Landau & Palance these two great actors really pull out the stops with some amazing performances & I have to give the nod to Martin Landau as the crazed 'Preacher' Byron, he really gives an amazing performance although Palance is just a nose length behind in terms of off the wall performances! Some great some great shock cuts, nicely scripted thriller with I will admit some implausible plot twists but who cares? This is classic on almost every level & it's a personal favorite of mine. Very quotable lines, amazing performances, these guys (Pleasance, Palance & Landau)could act the socks of any of todays thespians on their worst day & in this film one gets the feeling they R really enjoying themselves with these characters & it shows. Worth finding & highly recommended.

The best of the revolutionary spaghetti westerns. Volante's best role imo within this genre. Complex characterizations, interesting narrative & an ending that will leave U a bit shocked perhaps.

Other's have reviewed the plot. I will say Lou Costello as El Nino is a cypher in this film, his character is rather blank & not easily read but that's the point. Other reviews I have read remark he has no charisma or his characterization is boring but they miss the point; he is a professional assassin & he knows exactly what he wants & what he is doing & he is smarter than everyone around him. Chuncho's first realization there is something more to El Nino comes in a quiet scene where in he asks Costello as El Nino 'U don't like wine, U don't like women, what do U like' paraphrasing, El Nino replies 'Gold'.

Kinski is wonderful as always. Highly recommended spaghetti western! IMO this is Volante's best characterization although 'Face to Face' is very close in my ranking, here his emotional arc is extreme & he is an excellent actor. I always enjoyed his performances but in this film he really does a wonderful wonderful job of acting. He makes most modern American actors look like rank beginners in comparison. He was truly gifted. RIP amigo.

My rating is a reflection of my great enjoyment for the majority of things AIP related, this film for me is very enjoyable on multiple levels. Probably what I like best is it's schizophrenic plot.

I will not attempt to describe the narrative, it has been gone over. The many attributes I enjoy are firstly, AIPs production & sets, it's a very brand driven piece. Anyone familiar with AIPs 60's productions can recognize this visualization almost instantly & no studio has ever reproduced the visual 'look' of these films. I attribute this mostly to Daniel Haller in production design.

Every goofy moment in this film is driven by this same feeling that communicates it can only be AIP at it's most essential; sets, music, narrative & even the actors all fit within this unique universe perfectly. You either love it or hate it with a few in betweens. I love it.

I especially enjoy Harvey Lembeck's & Aaron Kincaid's performances but all the actors do what they R supposed to do within the AIP universe very well, even Tommy Kirk who I felt was very good in 'Pajama Party' btw.

I'm aware of the post production insertion of everything regarding Susan Hart & I think it works well. Karloff is fine for what he does which isn't much. Rathbone is great & Bobbi Shaw is fabulous as always.

No Nancy Sinatra fan here & IMO her role could have been played by anyone but for that, no complaints at all.

This film is for an AIP completest primarily. If U love their films U gotta love this one. So, in a word, recommended!

Saw this when I was about 8 or 10 years old on the big screen. It blew my mind. Have not been the same since! Classic fantasy, superb visuals & as many have noted, the witch attack scene completely terrified me. And the skeleton 'sleep' witch was in my nightmares for many nights.

This is an early film, animations are not Harryhausen but I am not as down on the animations as some here, they are enjoyable & fit the film well enough. The center piece is Pendragon's castle & what a castle it is! If I could live anywhere within a fantasy film it would be there.

Torin Thatcher is superb as always, he has the most evil chuckle when amused & he has the chops to chew scenery with the best of them, he was a wonderful actor. Everyone else does their part well, Kerwin Mathews is just right as Jack.

Yep Evil Elaine is a hottie! There are some bizarre mash ups in terms of themes what with leprechauns, Vikings etc. But it certainly doesn't drag & the castle scenes are stupendous.

All in all, one for the ages, forgive it's shortcomings in terms of budget & some of the animation sequences, become a child again & remember what it was like to be terrified & amazed. A personal favorite of mine that branded my mind forever. All is forgiven because this film shaped my entire direction in life in terms on my interests in fantasy, art & creative processes, it was my first exposure to a world I never knew, imperfections & all, it is a classic IMO.

AS others have stated, a minimalist western that has a unique look. The 'Ghost Town' is awesome, the mood is downbeat throughout. Unusual in it's over-all 'look'. I liked it very much. It certainly is different from the norm in a lot of ways, the music is superb, the acting is good esp. Hosssein's black clad leather gloved gunfighter.

Recommended for Italo / Euro western fans. Not recommended for a new comer's introduction to Spaghetti Westerns simply because it falls far outside what would be considered a 'typical' spaghetti western in execution / form & characterizations. The French influence is clear & not a bad thing IMO.

BTW the Rancher's blonde daughter is incredibly hot too bad she didn't get more scenes. However her role is pivotal to the film's course.

I have this one in my collection & IMO certainly in the top 20 Euro westerns ever made. It is a 'horse of a different color' however & not for everyone.

There are few Italian westerns that have more satisfaction for the viewer in my mind than 'Faccia a Faccia' does, Intelligent, fluid characterizations with shifting moral sands, there is nothing typical or predictable about this film. I cannot recommend it highly enough. Morricone's soundtrack is one of his best as well.

Volante & Milan both are excellent but it's really Volante's character arc that drives the narrative & he is top notch in every respect. Highly recommended film that should be on every serious spaghetti western film fan's top 10 list IMO. It's a fairly complex film for the genre & challenges the viewer on many levels. Intelligent film making within the confines of the genre. Don't miss it!

No, it's not 'Witchfinder General' which is the best entry in this genre of films BUT Mark of the Devil shares many aspects of the former film dressed up in a more exploitive setting.

One must also consider it's Germanic pedigree as German horror in general has a certain 'feel' to it, distinct from just about any other countries output in terms of the mood, characterizations & over all feel.

Having said this I can say Mark of the Devil holds a special fondness in my heart. The music is phenomenal, the characterizations very well done with 'Albino' in particular being one of my all time favorite nasty witch hunter characterizations.

I don't watch it for the gore perse although there is that for those that are drawn primarily for it, no it's the music, the characters, the Euro mood of the piece that I like very much.

It's a distinct period piece with excellent sets, cinematography, music & mood & although the direction can be spotty I recommend it for what it is, a blatantly raw & quite effective film that portrays it's subject matter rather well.

Albino lording it over the town & the pub scenes are probably my favorite scenes just wished they had built up the tension between Albino & Herbert Lom's character a bit more IMO that would have been a better driving narrative for the film but what we have is very enjoyable for Euro Horror fans & fans of early gore.

Recommended, forget what the critics say or to quote Klaus Kinski 'We don't make films for critics' amen.

Brando's western is a cut above & significantly more thoughtful than a majority of westerns in the same time period as this was made. It's title 'One Eyed Jacks' & reference to it within the film really goes deeper than first interpreted, by this, I mean to say, every character in the film has an agenda & they show only the face they want to show in order to get what they want or to conceal what they need to conceal.

This is of course human nature but in the course of this film it really plays out in an interesting & oft tragic manner. This film is really Brando's but Malden is awesome to behold here as his Dad Longworth is one major SOB & he plays it to perfection. Everyone on screen is superb from Ben Johnson to Slim Pickens all the way down, just excellent throughout.

Special mention to the soundtrack by Hugo Friedhoff? it is superb! I hope I got his name correct.

Not much to fault about this western, it's more psychological than constant action but it builds & has a lot of tension & the action scenes are excellent & well worth the waits; near perfection on every level! Highly recommended!

This is a good film, Bava & Cameron Mitchell both do good work imo, the soundtrack is excellent & there are a couple real gems in this film regarding Bava's visual strengths. One such scene shows the bad guy galloping off linearly away from the screen zig zagging through hills descending into a valley as the soundtrack thunders & his descent has a strange visual extrapolation to it that I'm still not sure how Bava achieved, you have to see it.

Another such scene is when Mitchell reveals his face from under his helmet with the burning village surrounding him, very impressive visuals! Again, the music & Bava's commanding sense of visual style come together for a moment of perfection.

This is really Shane redone as a Viking film & it's actually quite good. I recommend it however not to neophytes of Bava, there are other obviously more well known titles in his filmography that one should start with.

At some point every Bava fan should see this film. I need to see Eric the Conqueror, that one I still have not seen, I think Bava did 3 Viking themed films. BTW he was the special effects director for Steve Reeves original 'Hercules' film!

I read the other reviews, everyone has hit the major observations regarding this film, having said that, Dino is enjoyable & there's no negatives about watching Anita Ekberg, Eva Six (briefly scene as Buono's wife in the steamboat ending sequences) which is amusing considering earlier scenes that have Buono all bothered seeing Anita in sexy attire since Eva who plays Buono's wife is JUST as hot! Ursula Andress adds another bit of icing to this schmaltzy cake of 60's western comedy.

Other pluses Bronson is Bronson but more animated making for an interesting performance, Victor Buono is great as usual, Richard Jackael, Mike Mazzurka, many other character actors in this film to enjoy. It is what it is, Aldrich was coasting so he could get the green light for his next film, I don't think he had any doubts about what it was or how it was turning out, for him it was business so he could get on to a film he really wanted to do.

It's in my collection & I play it as 'background' when I'm doing other things, it's light, fluffy & completely mired in the 60's which for me is a plus.