PISTOL FOR RINGO 1965- UNA PISTOLA PER RINGO
Guiliano Gemma, George Martin, Fernando Sancho, Nieves Navarro, Lorella de Luca
Ringo, who is also known as 'Angel Face', is hired by the sheriff of a town that has been ransacked by a wild gang of Mexican cutthroats, to rescue a family being held prisoner in their picturesque ranch by the same gang led by Fernando Sancho. The sheriff and his posse surround the expansive ranch and Ringo manages to slink his way in and sarcastically become a 'member' of the gang while manipulating their leader long enough to allow the sheriff and his men to slowly get in close and wipe them out.
Superb spaghetti western starring one of the greatest and best loved Italian western actors, Guiliano Gemma. Gemma’s Ringo is a sly, mischievous and swaggering hero who has a satchel full of funny and sarcastic quips that help enliven this wonderful Duccio Tessari film.
Gemma's Ringo is an unusual western hero in that he plays with children (essentially a big kid himself) and only drinks milk. His ability to manipulate the bad guys is also unusual. On a couple of occassions, he is nearly killed after being suspected of being a traitor only to talk himself out of certain death. There is even a hint that Ringo may steal the captive daughter away from the town sheriff but the angle is never fully explored. It's only hinted at as it's playfully dangled in front of the audience. The sheriff, whom is righteous and and financially set plays against Ringo, the bad boy, who has pretty much nothing going for him except his cunning and wits which attracts the young female love interest. It's a common trait that women are attracted to men who live on the wild side. Unfortunately, the film doesn't allow the time to expand on this angle and that's fine as there's so much else going on.
There is also a story arc that is explored much further than the above mentioned one. The patriarch of the family tries to seduce the attractive female companion to the brute bandit leader Sancho in an effort to make their escape. Only along the way he actually falls in love with this woman who has never known love or kindness. And she falls for him as well.
The score from the always reliable Ennio Morriconne is wonderful and the main theme was a top ten hit in Italy during its initial release. Tessari seemed to enjoy shooting westerns that took place during Christmas as he revisits the holiday in his ALIVE OR PREFERABLY DEAD also starring Gemma. A highly recommended movie regardless of genre and essential viewing for any western fan. Gemma returned in the unrelated RETURN OF RINGO.
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Topic: A Pistol For Ringo / Una pistola per Ringo (Duccio Tessari, 1965) (Read 21855 times)