Blutiger Staub

As a second unit or assistant director, Alberto Cardone (here billed as Albert Cardiff) worked on Ben Hur, Barbarella, Summertime and Carmen among others; as director he is responsible for several 'Dollar' westerns attempting to cash in, if you'll pardon the pun, on Leone's success.The title sounds expensive but it's probably more than was spent on this spaghetti western which spares every expense but achieves a kind of style through its very sparseness; unfortunately, this pared-down approach is also applied to the story which is the most basic of revenge plots. The beautiful Aurora Batista (often in Leone-like close-ups)is wasted since she is given almost no lines to deliver in the few scenes in which she appears. There's a great deal of far-fetched tricksy shooting, and equally unbelievable fistfights. There are, however, a couple of inventive 'guns' on display, and the symbolism of clocks with no hands probably means something, though I'm not going to lose any sleep over it. Great music, though, conducted by Cipriani. Recommended only for die-hard fans/completists of Italian westerns.

20.000 Dolares al siete (1967) is a violent and entertaining at times Spaghetti Western produced by Italy , shot in Elios Studios , dealing with a relentless vendetta . Inferior Western about a merciless revenge including a deadly confrontation between a tough avenger and his enemies . Our starring Jerry Wilson pulls off a relentless search and revenge mission helped by his two hoodlums with whom carry on a saloon brawl set-up . Jerry Kingio , dressed in black , seeks justice and inexorable vengeance against his contenders who wrongly killed his brother and along the way seeking a loot , a valuable robbed cash . As Jerry carries out blackmails and massacre against various enemies in which he must use his experience and cunning , killing each man of the gang one by one . Jerry proceeds his activities at whatever cost , acting as judge , jury and executioner . There'r some thrilling duels in which a clock serves as focal point for trick shooting games. And the end takes place his encounter with enemies including unexpected final surprise . This is a doomed journey to hell through vengeance , murders and violence .

It is a typical Spaghetti Western including common scenarios , two-fisted antiheroes , rapid zooms and strong confrontations full of shots , crossfire , ridiculous fistfights in Hill/Spencer style, plot twists and violence . So-so Italian Western with sad atmosphere , concerning ordinary vengeance , containing a catching soundtrack , as the music is suitably Spaghetti , likewise an evocative cinematography and nice production design shot in Elios studios and Lacio , Rome . This exciting Western regarding an implacable hunting down , but the cruel killings against the perpetrators should be more fun than it is , but the film seems some boring disjointed , with dark photography at times , as much of the action takes place in confined areas , deserts , defiles , and mountains including a silly ending showdown . Stars Robert Miali who with pseudonym Jerry Wilson performed some Spaghettis , such as : The Taste of Vengeance (1968) , 20.000 Dolares al siete 7 , Dollars on the Red (1966) and 1000 dollari sul nero (1966) most of them directed by Albert Cardiff . Jerry Wilson elegantly dressed in black , plays as Jerry Kingio who goes home to execute a brutal vengeance when bandits took the invaluable honour of his brother . Support cast is unknown , without familiar faces from Spaghetti with exception for Spartaco Conversi who was an ordinary secondary as well as master of arms in lots of Westerns and other genres . While beautiful Aurora Battista (not to confuse her with the notorious and classic Spanish actress Aurora Bautista) plays the damsel in distress who our starring saves when after a naked bath in the river a villain tries to rape her .

It contains evocative musical score by Franco Reitano and Gianni Sanjust in Spaghetti style and Ennio Morricone wake , as well as atmospheric cinematography by Gino Santini , shot on location in narrow passes , mountains and rocky outdoors . Italy .This Spaghetti Western was lousily but professionally shot by the Italian professional Albert Cardone . Albert was a prestigious assistant director to popular films as ¨Ben Hur¨, ¨Purple noon¨, ¨Cagliostro¨ , ¨Carmen¨ , ¨Don Camilo¨ , ¨Return of Don Camilo¨. And shot some films , most of them entertaining Westerns such as : ¨Blood at Sundown¨ , ¨Kidnapping¨ , ¨Il Lungo Giorno Del Massacro¨ , ¨20.000 Dollari Sul¨ , ¨L'ira Di Dio¨ and starred by usual genre stars as Brett Halsey , Gianni Garco , Peter Martell , Wayde Preston , Fernando Sancho and Anthony Steffen . Rating : Better than average 3.5/10 . Only for hardcore Spaghetti Western aficionados.