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[IL COMMISSARIO]

Nero is Tom Corbett. He returns home after receiving a distressing letter regarding his father. When he arrives he finds everyone acting very oddly. His father's home and assets have been taken over by a Mr. Scott and his psychopathic son Jason (Castelnuovo). Tom also has a brother, Jeff (Hilton) who is also a drunk. Together the two brothers restore there name and get revenge for their family against Scott and his sadistic son.

I was surprised not only by how enjoyable it was but the level of violence for a western film from 1966. Lucio Fulci really shows early signs of where he would be heading in later years. Fernando di Leo also wrote this one. An interesting plot with only a few minor quibbles that DO NOT hinder ones enjoyment of the film. First, something that's not so bad as opposed to unexpected, George Hilton steals the movie out from under Franco Nero who doesn't really show signs of life until towards the end.

Hilton was so fun to watch that it could've been just him and the movie would still be good. Two, Nero seems to be playing two parts here. In several scenes Nero wears an outfit VERY similar to his look in DJANGO and appears to play the character that way. However, when he is wearing the standard cowboy garb he plays the character differently. Perhaps it was just me but it seemed a bit odd and I believe this film was released in Germany as a DJANGO sequel too.

Lastly, the action sequences (not the gun battles) are undercranked WAAAYYYY too much making the scenes look like they'd be right at home in a 1920s silent picture. Still, these scenes as well as the gun battles are very creative and a breath of fresh air compared with the usual players standing on opposite sides running and shooting at each other. Some of them looking suspiciously like they were choreographed by a Hong Kong action crew.

The villain is unusually sadistic also and the characters have a penchant for unloading there guns into one person with some of them still staggering around after taking a few slugs adding to the over the top atmosphere of the proceedings. Definitely worth checking out. The region one discs' picture quality isn't the best and Italian DVD isn't much better but there is an interview with George Hilton. The Italian DVD is the way to go.

[The Hunchback]

This film is great! It's terribly underrated by fans. It's in my top 30 for sure.
I have yet to see Fulci's third western "Silver Saddle" (starring Gemma) but I'm willing to bet this is his best western.
It may even be one of his best films

[Paul]

I really liked this too - I've got the official Italian DVD - had a bootleg before, but the Italian DVD presents the picture anamorphically. I really like the film, though my only complaint (like that of the original DJANGO) is that is was made before Franco Nero started dubbing his own voice for the English language prints.

[The Hunchback]

The whipping scene is the best whipping in a movie I have ever seen!
Looks like Nero was actually taking it!
And Nino is quite good with it too!

[LANZETTA]

This film is great! It's terribly underrated by fans. It's in my top 30 for sure.
I'm willing to bet this is his best western.

I should think so with the other being FOUR OF THE APOCALYPSE.

A pretty decent sw with a great sadistic villain but its never particularly enjoyable watching Franco Nero(hated his dubbing) getting his ass kicked though he makes up for this in the finale.

George Hilton certainly does an excellent impression of a drunk(which seemingly doesn't affect his gun prowess) but like all drunks though funny in places,his character soon becomes wearing. 

[The Hunchback]

This film is great! It's terribly underrated by fans. It's in my top 30 for sure.
I'm willing to bet this is his best western.

I should think so with the other being FOUR OF THE APOCALYPSE.

I was of course referring to the unseen, by many, SILVER SADDLE starring Giuliano Gemma.

[paperbag]

I love FOUR OF THE APOCALYPSE doen't anyone else here like it.

[The Hunchback]

I love FOUR OF THE APOCALYPSE doen't anyone else here like it.

I like it as well (not love).

I think it faulters during the beginning of the third act, in the snow town, and doesn't pick up until the final revenge scene.

[Nico Giraldi]

Still, these scenes as well as the gun battles are very creative and a breath of fresh air compared with the usual players standing on opposite sides running and shooting at each other. Some of them looking suspiciously like they were choreographed by a Hong Kong action crew.

True. You just have to love the scene where Nero jumps over the villains, picks up a gun and then shoots them in the back.

[LANZETTA]

I love FOUR OF THE APOCALYPSE doen't anyone else here like it.

With Chaco(15 minutes worth of  great Milian footage) this western would be nothing special,and i'm in complete agreement with Hunchback about that dire last third of the movie. 

[paperbag]

I liked the last third for Fabio Testi's acting and the music

[LANZETTA]

Yes though i would normaly say that this kinda score shouldn't be in a western,in this case it actually works as FOTA is like a  road movie,western style.

[The Hunchback]

I like this folky style as well.

Many don't seem to.

The score for FOTA has the same reputation as Keoma. It's hated.
Both are brilliant scores.

[The Pallbearer]

I agee with you, Keoma is a great score, however I could not sit through Four of the Apocalypse.


I gave up after a half hour, maybe forty minutes.

Though that was early on in my spaghetti westen indulgences, maybe I should give it another chance one of these days.


I remember my initial reaction to Massacre Time being one of disappointment.  I thought it was pretty bland.  I didn't think there was anything special about it.  Not even Nero or the villain.    The music was decent.  The only standout part was the last twenty minutes I'd say.  Which has some very well done action.

[The Hunchback]

I agee with you, Keoma is a great score, however I could not sit through Four of the Apocalypse.


I gave up after a half hour, maybe forty minutes.

Though that was early on in my spaghetti westen indulgences, maybe I should give it another chance one of these days.


I remember my initial reaction to Massacre Time being one of disappointment.  I thought it was pretty bland.  I didn't think there was anything special about it.  Not even Nero or the villain.    The music was decent.  The only standout part was the last twenty minutes I'd say.  Which has some very well done action.

Watch these two again.