Das Lied von Mord und Totschlag

This is not a bad little movie, of a certain 'style' that was popular when it was made.

It's loud - and violent - at times, but there-in lies a heart and whilst neither (Franco) Nero or (Anthony) Quinn show us their inner feelings, rather like a lesser Butch Cassidy and Sundance Kid, there is a sort of loyal, strange chemistry between them, that like the best of friendships, work for reasons only known to them.

Unlike 'B' westerns of 20 years earlier, that almost tried too hard to get the most out of their tiny budget/bad script/untalented actor, director etc, Deaf Ears... doesn't, it just gets on with it, which is nice as we can relax and let it unfold.

Erastus 'Deaf' Smith (Anthony Quinn) is the deaf mute messenger who is hired by General Sam Houston to infiltrate a rebel faction that are trying to stop Texas becoming part of the U.S. His friend, Johnny Eras (Nero) comes to assist him with his mission.

There's the usual womanising in the cat-house that helps beef up both the lead's manliness and the male viewing numbers is there as is blowing things up.

Though the film is also known as the bland 'Los Amigos', it's often and usually goes by this far more intriguing one. I saw it on TCM (Turner Classic Movies). It says on the Radio Times website that it was in Italian, but it was not, though in hindsight I'm sure it was dubbed - and Quinn, who is multi-lingual, doesn't speak, of course. The ending and its music is quite a strange enigma, mind you.

If you're after a good, standard, straight western, I'd dither at recommending it, but if you do like your spaghetti westerns, with some sauce, then go for it.

I watch this movie at different ages.. and i love it.. i love this kind of westerns.. if you didn't see yet.. DO IT NOW !

I like Franco Nero. I like his voice, his accent, his acting style, his acrobatics. Any movie starring Franco Nero already has one thing going for it in my book. Saying that Nero is the ONLY thing going for "Deaf Smith And Johnny Ears" would be somewhat inaccurate - there is also a good score, Pamela Tiffin's spunk (at one point, she puts Nero in a reverse headlock!), and some interesting directorial touches (as when Cavara films some scenes from the deaf man's point-of-view, with no sound). But if this is supposed to be a comedy, it's much too violent (beginning with the massacre of an entire family), and if it's serious, then the plot is confused and uninteresting. Anthony Quinn is a bore...and what's up with that ending? (**)

It is not really a good movie. The best things are the character of Deaf Smith (Quinn), the beautiful prostitutes appearing in the film and the moves of the camera around a deaf gunman, that help us to understand how he is aware of the people around him. Anthony Quinn performance is incredible, being the most notable character without pronouncing a single word. All the scenes where he appears flows around him, even when the apparently most charming Johnny Ears (Nero) tries to be funny (sometimes he creates the opposite effect). Smith is funnier, harder and more interesting than Ears, and maybe that is the main reason to watch this film.

The plot of this movie and the characters may be a little bit suspect but the photography is brilliant and, to add to the appeal, so was the music which was written by a name that I have never heard of before i.e. Daniele Patucchi. Soundtrack collectors like myself may be interested to know that the main themes are available on a CD entitled "Wanted - Dead or Alive". catalogue No. CVS 900-020. I enclose the number as it is an Italian CD but if I found it in Australia you can guarantee that it is more readily available elsewhere.

Anthony Quinn and Franco Nero, who have appeared together in other productions, have this rapport between them that is so obvious. See this movie! Don't analyse it. Just sit back and enjoy it!