La strada dei giganti

Doomed to obscurity, the film is a truly peculiar quasi-western set in the Piedmont between Parma and Austria. The odd mix of 19th century western style garb and dancehall saloon with 18th century court settings and costumes more akin to Louis XV is baffling and disorienting. But there's no lack of action as beefy American railroad engineer Don Megowan struggles valiantly to complete his railroad commissioned by the Grand Duchess of Piedmont (Hildegard Knef). Chelo Alonso is the (always) sultry Austrian countess sent to disrupt his work but instead winds up falling in love with the big lug. Her debut dance in the saloon must be seen to be believed; it's more appropriate for a sultan's harem. Disaster after disaster happens to impede the railway with some pretty hair-raising escapes and some fatalities. Not all of the sabotage comes from the Austrians, however. Altogether unsatisfying in toto but deserves high marks for the action sequences.