Well, Since watching THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY. I have been on my western film search. I have seen many westerns usually the ones involving the calvary, but now I am beginning to watch all westerns. Speghetti Westerns have become of special interest. Much like my interest for foriegn Sci-Fi/Horror films. What is it about these strange foriegn genres that are dubbed that I like so much?
JimH you were right Blockbuster didn't have ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST, but we have two stores that do have it. One was Hollywood Video and the other was one of those old 80's video stores that has managed to survive in our town. (They still have alot of the junk you don't even see mentioned on this webpage).
Anyway I'm only into the middle of ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST and its fantastic. Especially the opening scene. Now I am in a big search to find DJANGO and the rest of the classic Speghetti Westerns that I have missed.
The only Speghetti Westerns that I have seen before my recent Eastwood kick was TAKE A HARD RIDE and MY NAME IS NOBODY.
The ones that I have now seen are:
MY NAME IS NOBODY
TAKE A HARD RIDE
THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY
FIST FULL OF DOLLARS
A FEW DOLLARS MORE
FIST FULL OF DYNAMITE
Any thoughts about other Spegetti Western films?
Here are some above average spaghetti westerns to look out for, some of which I review on my site. (Note: Some aren't on video here, though you might find them on cable):
Compañeros
The Five Man Army
Any of the "Sartana" series
A Minute To Pray, A Second To Die
Chino
Deaf Smith & Johnny Ears
The Great Silence
A Bullet For The General
A Fistful Of Dynamite (a.k.a. Duck, You Sucker)
Keoma
A Man Called Blade
So you are looking for DJANGO? Well, I can tell you this: DJANGO is available on DVD from Blue Underground/Image Entertainment on the DVD collectors set "The Speghetti Western Collection". Now, even though DJANGO was released by Anchor Bay Entertainment with a transfer from the original 35mm negative, the quality of that particular release was so-so. But, Blue Underground/Image Entertainment spent two years restoring the negative and the quality is WAY BETTER than Anchor Bay's old version (with the exception of some scratches and wear-and-tear on the original negative itself, the picture quality is still good and the color is great). Also, Blue Underground/Image Entertainment has gone great lengths to include the original Italian track that was never included in Anchor Bay's old release! The only drawback is that if you want this "definative" release of DJANGO, it's only available on the DVD box set and is not sold seperately.
Along with DJANGO, the DVD box set also has DJANGO KILL!...IF YOU LIVE, SHOOT! (1967), RUN, MAN, RUN (1968), and MANNAJA: A MAN CALLED BLADE (1977) all uncut and uncensored, with both the English and Italian tracks, and other extras.
Scott, if you really love Spaghetti Westerns you will love this DVD set of "The Spaghetti Western Collection". It's retail price is quite high to $56 dollars, but it is worth it. And the only way to see DJANGO in it's original intended form, it's only available on this box set. As for the movies themselves: they are worth the price.
The two Terrence Hill/Bud Spencer TRINITY films should be required viewing. Great western comedies and essential.
Hill and Spencer also starred in the above average BOOT HILL, it's not a comedy, and nowhere near as good as their TRINITY films but worth a look.
If you can find it (I've only seen it airing on America One TV, I can't find it on home video), LONG LIVE YOUR DEATH aka DON'T TURN THE OTHER CHEEK is a lot of fun. It stars Franco Nero, Eli Wallach (in full Tuco mode), and Lynn Redgrave (Nero's lover at the time). It's one of the "European stranger teams up with Mexican criminal/revolutionary" subgenre of Spaghetti westerns like FISTFUL OF DYNAMITE and THE COMPANEROS. Witty, rude, non-PC dialogue with exciting action scenes. Great fun.
Others to look for:
DEATH RIDES A HORSE
A MAN CALLED SLEDGE
some of the SABATA films
DEAD MAN'S RIVER - very silly, but I like it.
Thanks, Chris I might just buy that collectors set. I do want to see the restored version. Also thanks Yaddo and Greywizard. Great stuff.
SABATA. Thems good viewing! Classic stylish Italian B-flicks. Gotta love 'em.