La vendetta è il mio perdono

Found on U.S.video under the title "Shotgun", for some strange and unknown reason?! This film is very good, although it may move a bit slow at times, and all the actors perform well, this is one Spaghetti Western that should not be missed by any Spaghetti Western fan! The direction is also well done as is the music which reminds one of Ennio Morricone. I was lucky enough to find it at the local video store. The print on the video is A+. Maybe this is one title that should be put out on DVD?

Having grown up watching John Wayne movies, I was never a fan of Spaghetti Westerns because of their tendency to deconstruct mythological heroes and traditional American values. But 'Vengeance' is an exception since it doesn't destroy the concept of 'law and order' but instead replaces it with one man's quest for justice under his own rules. And there is an unambiguous hero, even if he doesn't wear a badge. Tab Hunter is outstanding as Durango the ex-sheriff out to avenge the murders of his fiancé and her parents. He does so not by directly killing the culprits, but by placing each in less than desirable situations. (One is eaten by vultures after being left tied to a tree). The ending is quite unexpected and puts an interesting spin on the whole plot.

This is probably Hunter's best performance since Gunman's Walk. He plays the part of a sheriff as well as Humphrey Bogart plays a detective. Spaghetti Westerns have a reputation for being long on sauce and short on meat. 'Vengeance' has plenty of meat in Tab Hunter. It's surprisingly good for a movie of this genre, and worth watching.

There is something missing from this 1969 Italian oater. Tab Hunter is pretty good as Durango, an ex-sheriff whose dreams of marriage are shattered when his fiancé and her family are massacred during a robbery. His hunting down and killing the perpetrators should be more fun than it is; the film seems claustrophobic, as much of the action takes place in confined areas, including a warehouse for the final showdown. Erica Blanc is fine as Joanne, Durango's former girlfriend who owns a saloon (!) but she sings snatches of a terrible song at least twice. Either she's saddled with a terrible voice or her dubber is, for the monotone lyrics are cut away from as soon as possible. The great Peiro Lulli turns up as a villain, and other familiar faces fill the screen. The music is suitably spaghetti, with the blaring trumpets and guitar chords, but Hunter, a fine rider, looks ridiculous on the small horse he's given to ride early on, and the sexual hi-jinx late in the film seem juvenile and out of place. Overall, a film that MST3K would have had a blast mocking. Serious students of the genre will find much to enjoy here, but others beware!

If you are a fan of spaghetti westerns, and you're not expecting epic Sergio Leone stuff, you probably will be pleasantly surprised by this little film. It has a great cast, good direction, an easy to follow story with a good twist in the end. Not to mention a powerful and quite emotional soundtrack theme that suits the quite melodramatic story perfectly. Tab Hunter, does an exceptional job playing the sheriff, whose revenge is among the dirtiest in the genre. Also worth mentioning is Erika Blanc's performance, adding spice to the story. Do not miss this one if you are a fan of Italian westerns. I hope it will see the light of day on DVD one day, it really deserves better than remaining obscure.