Bounty Killer, O Pistoleiro Mercenário

The film stars Richard Wyler as a 'bounty killer'--a term I can't recall having ever heard except in Italian westerns (the correct American term is 'bounty hunter'). He's looking for José Gómez (Tomas Milian)--a guy who has escaped thanks, in part, to assistance from his girlfriend (Zalewska). She believes he's an innocent man and does not realize he's really a two-bit murderer.

Having seen a lot of Italian westerns, I find a certain sameness to many of them. Sure, the plots are a bit different--but not remarkably so. It's not a bad western but it also doesn't stand out in any particular way. The music is nice, the action decent and the story reasonably interesting. But, on the other hand there is a certain 'sameness' to the film--as if I'd seen a lot of other films like it. Plus, although Halina Zalewska is absolutely gorgeous in the film, she looks right out of 1967--with lipstick, hair and makeup that you'd never have found on a woman of the late 19th century. Also, while I don't want to see gallons of blood, this was an odd film because you see absolutely none--and this made little sense. Nor, now that I think of it, did the escape--as there is no way all these federal agents could be killed without the bad guys (who were outnumbered) even losing a single man.

"The Ugly Ones" 1966 1h 35m Original title: El precio de un hombre AKA The Bounty Killer

This is a paella AND a spaghetti western. It was filmed in Spain, produced by Italians, and came in both Spanish and Italian, originally. It was released in the U. S. in 1968. The story is pretty good, but the cinematrography is lacking. The directing stinks. The photography is bad. The camera shots and setups are horrible. And the music is downright annoying in parts. Thomas Milian as the bad guy, Jose, is terrible. Richard Stapley as Luke, the bounty hunter, is actually pretty good and a likeable man. Halina Zalewska as Eden is acceptable, but mediocre.

The plot is shockingly cookie cutter and worn out.

The Bushwacker 12/26/2021.

¨The ugly ones¨ is a terrific example of the spaghetti western genre from Spain. Offbeat Paella-Spaghetti Western co-produced between Spain and Italy . The band ( Tito Garcia, Hugo Blanco) of a nasty Mexican frees Jose Gomez ( the Cuban Tomas Milian ); he and his bandits trespass the frontier and occupy a village .Escaped Jose Gomez goes back to his home town chased by a bounty killer . The towns people protect Gomez, unaware, at first, that he is changed and become an evil gunfighter . Our hero named Luke Chilson (Richard Wyler) is a bounty hunter riding on a robust horse and hunting outlaws . Gomez returns his ranch and seeks vengeance against Luke , while his hoodlums kill , mistreat countrymen . Meantime his former girlfriend (the Eurobabe Zalowska)double-crosses his friend .

It's an exciting western with breathtaking gun-play between the protagonist Richard Wyler against the heartless Tomas Milian and his hoodlums . Milian is fine, he ravages the screen, shoots, hit and run and kills . In the film premiere attained quite success and nowadays is well valued and I think it turns out to be a good Spaghetti Western. This movie is a lot of fun to watch. It's a fascinating story with a touch of peculiarity, some great characters, and an amazing music score.The picture also titled ¨The bounty killer¨is a tale of justice and revenge, as a man returns home to his village after his breakout and mistreats the townspeople . The basic plot is typical spaghetti western fare, but what makes this movie stand out is its style. Richard Wyler's performance in the movie is a bit wooden for the role of such an interesting character, but the fantastic performance by the always great Tomas Milian as the slimy, menacing outlaw and gang leader Gomez, make up for it. Appears as secondaries the habitual in Spanish/Italian Western such as Jose Canalejas , Luis Barboo, Ricardo Palacios , Mario Brega and Frank Braña , usual in Leone films. Special mention to Tito Garcia in his ordinary role as fatty Mexican bandit and in a cruelly baddie role , he is terrific, and bears a hysterical and mocking aspect , subsequently he would play similar characters .

The film packs violence , shootouts , high body-count and it's fast moving and quite entertaining . There is plenty of action in the movie , guaranteeing some shoot'em up or stunts every few minutes. There is a very odd implementation of zoom shots in the camera work during some particular scenes as the film approaches its climax. Rather than the usual sustained, intensity-building close-ups that Sergio Leone was so fond of, the filmmaker here uses a rapidly zooming in and out camera for a more unsettling effect. The movie gets the usual Western issues, such as avengers antiheroes , violent facing off , quick zooms, exaggerated baddies, soundtrack with Morricone influence , among them . Good production design creating an excellent scenario with luminous outdoors, dirty and rocky landscapes under a glimmer sun and a fine set on the manor . The musician Stelvio Cipriani composes a nice soundtrack and well conducted , this turns out to be one of the most memorable parts of the movie; as it's full of strange sounds and haunting musical background . The opening theme is one of my favorites, and is one of those unforgettable tunes that will play in your mind over and over long after the movie is realized. The soundtrack contributes tremendously to the atmosphere of the film, including an emotive leitmotif, the music score is perhaps the best part of this film . Striking cinematography by Enzo Barboni , ¨Trinity and Bambino¨ films director though is necessary a correct remastering . Outdoor sequences with barren exteriors filmed in Spanish places located on desert of Tabernas , Almeria . This motion picture produced by Jose G Maesso (Gringo , Django, Tarantos) is professionally directed by Eugenio Martin and won prizes conceded by Spanish Spectacle Syndicate. Martin is a horror movies expert ( Hypnosis, A candle for the devil , The fourth Mrs Anderson ) and Spaghetti Western ( Requiem, for a gringo , Pancho Villa , The ugly ones , Bad man's river ). Rating : Acceptable and passable Spaghetti Western , well worth watching .

This film was oh so close to nearly losing me. Maybe my attention span was limited - it had been a pretty tiring day after all (but thats another - and highly uninteresting - story!). But anyway, for pretty much the first third of the movie I was convinced that it was notable purely for being Tomas Milian's first foray into the Spaghetti Western genre that he is so renowned for (and rightly so).

Milian plays Jose Gomez, an outlaw treated with reverence by the small population that make up his hometown. He is freed from captivity by Eden (Zalewska), who looks at Gomez with wanting eyes, seeing him as a local hero. However, bounty hunter Luke Chilson (Wyler) is on his trail, and arrives at the town ahead of the escapee, to the wrath of the very protective townsfolk. When Gomez does arrive in town, with a group of bandits at the helm, the locals begin to experience that he is no longer the great man that they believed him to be, and begin to witness first hand why he has the bounty on his head.

Whilst the opening sequences are slow and stretched to near yawning point (even for me and, hey, I like slow films!), the second half of the movie more than makes up for it. The film really hits the heights as the locals witness the transformation of Gomez' character. Milian plays this role expertly, demonstrating clearly the promise that was to blossom fully in the very near future. Wyler's bounty hunter on the other-hand is far more restrained, yet apt for the character he portrays. There is also a fine supporting cast that includes Spaghetti favourites Mario Brega and Frank Brana, and a pretty powerful soundtrack provided by Cipriani.

All in all, I am relieved that I sat through the slow beginning, because the film does have so much going for it once it does get going. May day improved considerably. Well worth viewing.

This one starts out slow but gets good. It is reportedly Tomas Milian's first western. He turns in one of his best performances as an escaped convict who returns home, where the "bounty killer" of the title lies in wait for him. The townsfolk side with their old friend Milian, only to watch his behavior degenerate into that of the miscreant he's become. Soon his entire gang of freaky looking b**tards (the alternate title is "The Ugly Ones") has trickled into town and the villagers are at their mercy.

This film is the ideological opposite of "The Great Silence" in that everyone hates the bounty hunter, but in the end he turns out to be right. Just the same it's quite entertaining when it gets going and features the best "outlaws terrorizing the townsfolk" sequence of any western I've seen. Rivals the one in the first "Mad Max," which isn't even a western. One of the terrorizing outlaws is the drunk from "Cutthroats Nine." Actually, the cast all around is great, with more than one familiar face. The musical score works well once you get used to it, though it sounds a lot like a cross between a Morricone rip-off and something by that guy who did the "Brady Bunch" music. Eugenio Martin's direction, while it has some slow spots and flaws, shows true inspiration.

All in all, worth seeing for genre fans and a must for those of Tomas Milian.