During the Mexican revolution mine owner Colonel Alfonso Garcia (Eduardo Fajardo) hires Sergei Kowalski (Franco Nero) a Polish mercenary to protect seven tonnes of silver being transported to the US. Kowalski arrives only to discover the repressed peasant workers, led by Paco Roman (Tony Musante), have taken control of the mine by force. Always eager to make good his losses Kowalski persuades Roman, now in a tight spot with Garcia’s army bearing down on him, to hire his services. A sadistic homosexual mercenary called Curly (Jack Palance), wanting the silver himself tries to ambush Kowalski, but Roman thwarts his plans and Curly’s men are killed. Kowalski renews his partnership with Roman and after liberating a town the bandits are joined by Columba (Giovanna Ralli) an idealist who’s farther was hung for being a revolutionary. With the promise of making Roman as famous as Pancho Villa and all the gang rich in exchange for a hefty daily fee plus expenses, under Kowalski’s guidance Roman earns the reputation of a great revolutionary liberator. Garcia’s army still desperate to capture the bandits are joined by Curly in their search. Kowalski’s financial demands for guidance increase but Roman now married to Columbia sees the true importance of the revolution to the Mexican people. Realising his responsibility for his fellow countrymen Roman reneges on the deal and takes all Kowalski’s money for the great cause. The bandits keep Kowalski tied up as a prisoner, but in a devastating attack by Garcia’s army he escapes. Kowalski tracks Roman to a rodeo where he is in hiding working as a clown, Curly also trails him there and the scene is set for the final showdown. –spaghetti-western.net
Sergio Corbucci (December 6, 1927 – December 1, 1990) was an Italian film director. He is best known for his very violent yet intelligent spaghetti westerns. He was for a long time considered an exploitation director, but has now attained a vast following and is easily compared to Sam Peckinpah or Sergio Leone.
He is the older brother of screenwriter and film director Bruno Corbucci.
He started his career by directing mostly low-budget sword and sandal movies. His first commercial success was with the cult spaghetti western Django, starring Franco Nero, the leading man in many of his movies. After Django, Corbucci made many other spaghetti westerns, which made him the most successful Italian western director after Sergio Leone and one of Italy’s most productive directors. His most famous of these pictures was The Great Silence, a dark and gruesome western starring a mute action hero and a psychopathic bad guy. The film was banned in some countries… read more
★★★★ wildly funny and original, with a surprisingly political twist, Corbucci shows that 'la revolución' can be everything but revolutionary.
Brilliant stuff filled with bullet-speed action and these distinctive twists always pumping the plot ahead...
An end-of-2011 celebration not of new films but of old films revived and seen throughout the year. Ozu, Marilyn Monroe, Raoul Walsh, oh my!
Premier film de la trilogie de la révolution que mènera Corbucci au cinéma. Après Le grand silence, qui s’avèrera être un petit échec commercial, le réalisateur retrouve Franco Nero, le ténébreux blond… read review
