User reviews

Italian Western made at the tail-end of the "Spaghetti" style, though it doesn't really fit into those parameters. The snowy setting recalls THE GREAT SILENCE (1968) - which, incidentally, I only watched a day prior to this one!

The plot revolves around the hunt for an escaped convict (Guido Mannari) by Canadian Mounties; however, it also takes in a personal grudge between him and one of the pursuing officers (played by Fabio Testi) - its eventual revelation, absurdly delayed, is clearly inspired by Anthony Mann's WINCHESTER '73 (1950). Testi, however, is unable to express the essential ruthlessness which marked his character following the death of his loved one (Lynne Frederick), who had previously been the neglected fiancée of his quarry; the trio's relationship also evokes memories of the James Coburn character's backstory, shown in intermittent flashbacks, in Sergio Leone's A FISTFUL OF DYNAMITE (1971). Incidentally, Testi and Frederick later appeared together in another (unsuccessful) Spaghetti Western - Lucio Fulci's THE FOUR OF THE APOCALYPSE (1975)!

An unusual element added to the fray is the relationship which blossoms between the villain and Testi and Frederick's child, whom he kidnaps and holds hostage; at one point, the boy saves the man's life and the latter reciprocates - by calling in befuddled doctor Lionel Stander - when the young one becomes feverish. The climactic scenes involve a showdown between Testi and his nemesis that's interrupted by the latter's greedy cohorts (prior to his capture, he had hidden a cache' of gold) and in which, finally repentant, he willingly succumbs to a hail of bullets.

In the end, the film is harmless enough but also strictly routine. This was the first film to bear the name of director D'Amato. He previously directed under his real name of Aristide Massaccesi, which he still retained for his other credit as the film's cinematographer! In anticipation of this, I rented the director's more typical sexploitationer EMANUELLE AND THE LAST CANNIBALS (1977) - which I'll eventually get to sometime this week...

Colorful Paella/Spaghetti western about confrontation between a suspicious outlaw and Canadian Mounted Police , with a trackerwell played by Fabio Testi . Western starred by genre usual , Fabio Testi as an obsessive Mountie resolving conflicts between rugged pioneers and Canadian Mounted Police , being decently directed by horror expert , Joe D'Amato, and dealing with taking on between a Canadian officer and his enemy throughout the gorgeous Canadian outdoors . Canada , late XIX century , Cormack (Fabio Testi) , the lawman most feared by the trappers at the turn of the century , has a strange bond with "Caribou," (Guido Mannari) , an outlaw whom he has imprisoned after killing a card player . When Caribou getaways from jail , Cormack goes after him. Following the death of his loved one (Lynne Frederick), who had previously been the neglected girlfriend of his enemy , Cormack pursues him but then Caribou returns seeking vengeance and kidnapping his son Jimmy (Renato Cestie) .

Well crafted and passable Western realized in traditional style with ordinary screenplay written by Lucio Fulci himself , based on a story by Bret Harte and adapted for the screen by prolific writer Ennio De Concini . Thus , the picture includes the Canadian theme similarly to ¨The unconquered¨ by Cecil B De Mille , ¨The Canadians¨ by Burt Kennedy and ¨The trap¨ by Sidney Hayers . As the movie follows more the American models as well as Spaghetti Western wake . ¨Giubbe rosse¨(1975) is an exciting picture containing noisy action , chases , thrills , breathtaking struggles through the snowy outdoors , spectacular landscapes and anything else . The film is a crossover among three Italian sub-genres : ¨Spaghetti Western¨ ,¨ Canadian Mounted Police¨ and ¨Jack London's White Fang¨ series . Following films about Canadian Mounted Police as ¨Mestizo¨ by Julio Buchs and ¨La Carga De La Policía Montada¨ (1964) by Ramon Torrado and ¨Rebels in Canada¨ by Amando de Ossorio ; as well as ¨White Fang¨series : Lucio ¨Fulci's White Fang¨ , ¨Tonino Ricci's White Fang to the Rescue¨, ¨ Ken Annakin's Call of the wild¨ , ¨Buck¨ with John Savage and ¨Buck and the magic bracelet ¨. Acceptable and passable Spaghetti Western in which the starring , Fabio Testi gives an adequate acting as the stubborn Montie goes into action to track down a dangerous contender who's abducted his child . At the beginning of his long career Fabio played various Spaghettis , such as : ¨Une corde un Colt..¨., ¨Pasion Salvaje¨ , ¨Zorro Justiciero¨, ¨I quattro dell'Apocalisse¨ , ¨At the end of the rainbow¨ , ¨Django Meets Sartana!¨ and ¨Clayton Drumm¨. As it results to be a family film , with no much violence , though there are many deaths . This is an Italian production with action , usual Western characters , go riding , crossfire and lots of shots . It's a middle-budget film with professional actors , technicians , production values and pleasing results . There is action in the movie , intrigue , twists , riding pursuits , and guaranteeing some shoot'em ups or stunts . The movie packs a spectacular final charge of the Mounted Police cavalry against the bandits , though regularly paced , including extras enough . There're several familiar faces from Spaghetti Western and other Italian subgenres , such as : Robert Hundar , Lars Bloch. Bruno Corazzari , Lionel Stander , Emilio Messina and the early disappeared cult actress Lynne Frederick who married Peter Sellers and also starred another notorious Spaghetti : Lucio Fulci's ¨The Four of the Apocalypse¨ .

The motion picture was professionally photographed/ directed by prolific director Joe D'Amato or Aristide Massaccessi . This artisan was a prolific cameraman/writer/producer/director who made all kinds of genres . His first directing work was in 1972's low-budget Scansati... a Trinità arriva Eldorado (1972), co-directed by Diego Spataro, under the pseudonym Dick Spitfire, but it was a commercial failure. As he directed hardcore , soft-core, erotic films starring Laura Gemser, such as Emmanuel and francois (1975), Emanuelle and the Last Cannibals (1977), Emanuelle in América (1977), Emanuelle and the White Slave Trade (1978), Erotic Nights of the Living dead , L'alcova (1985) . Gialli and Terror movies : Gomia , Hitcher in the dark , Death Smiles on a Murderer , Buio Omega . Scifi and Sword-witchery : Ator , Ator l'invincibile, Ator 3 , 2020 Texas Rangers , Bronx Endgame, and many others . Rating Giubbe rosse (1975): 5.5/10 .

Fine Italo-Western with a few surprises at the end and a fantastic showdown in the snow. The whole movie plays in a landscape of snow and so this is the second western after "Il grande silenzio (Leichen pflastern seinen Weg)" who plays the whole time in a snowy landscape. The bad guy who kidnapps the son of the heroe isn't really a bad one. The psychological aspect between the child and the kidnapper is very interesting. If you like Italo-Westerns this is a great one!