A BULLET FOR THE GENERAL 1967- QUIEN SABE? *SPOILERS AHEAD*
Gian Maria Volonte, Lou Castel, Klaus Kinski, Martine Beswicke
Damiano Damiani’s classic political western about a young American secretly hired by the Mexican government to assassinate a powerful Mexican bandit leader.
Stage actor Gian Maria Volonte portrays the rude but likeably filthy bandit chief Chuncho who wants at first to help his people by providing them with arms but then is seduced by Nino’s ideals for wealth and power. He becomes an unknowing participant in the General’s death as well as his somewhat unhinged brother Santo (Klaus Kinski) among other events. He gains redemption during the final moments when he finally sees the rich American influence treading over the poor and harmless Mexican peasants that he was blinded to all along. Anti American sentiment runs throughout as well as the notion that all those with money are evil and must be killed. Some have written about the supposed homo erotic nature of the relationship between Chuncho and Nino although I don’t see it. Chuncho is merely bewitched by Nino’s fast talk and get rich schemes that permeates the other members of his band eventually leading to many of their deaths.
Volonte is superb here as the absolutely filthy and ill mannered Chuncho. Although he is essentially a bad guy at the start, he is really in fact a good guy. Volonte, who hated doing the Leone movies because after appearing in them, those were the only roles he was given. He then vowed to only do films that meant something. He's probably the most memorable aspect of the film outside of the supporting role of Kinski who plays his brother.
Castel is wooden as usual but it suits the role here considering he must keep his cool and be as deceptive as possible to get close to the General in order to put a bullet in his head.
Kinski is of course, memorable more or less playing himself as Chuncho's psychotic brother Santo the priest. Santo is not above murdering in the name of God either and one scene has him reciting a prayer as he lobs grenades at soldiers inside a fort.
Martine Beswicke (Adalita) also stars in this must see classic. She doesn't get much to do aside from be alluring and drag her husband Pepito around like a puppy dog. There is some allusion that Nino and Adalita may hook up but this angle is never fleshed out. Beswicke leaves the gang to start on her own after her husband is killed. She gets wise to what Nino is really all about decides to split while she still can.
Chuncho and Nino remain and head on to complete the mission although Nino distorts Chuncho's intentions by seducing his ideals with "sound advice" and promises of wealth. It's only at the end that Chuncho realizes what he has done and reverts back to his original self declaring to the many Mexican peasants to "buy dynamite", not bread in dealing with the invading American influence.
Luis Bacalov provides the great score some of which was recycled from DJANGO. A highly recommended western that even though at near two hours long, holds up admirably to repeat viewings.
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Topic: A Bullet For the General / Quien sabe? (Damiano Damiani, 1967) (Read 9954 times)