“Navajo Joe” (1966) starring Burt Reynolds / Z-View

Navajo Joe (1966)

Director: Sergio Corbucci

Screenplay: Piero Regnoli, Fernando di Leo; story by Ugo Pirro

Stars: Burt Reynolds, Aldo Sambrell, Fernando Rey.

Tagline: There’s no escaping his one-man vendetta of unrelenting violence!

The Plot…

When a gang of outlaws murders his entire village for scalps, Navajo Joe vows revenge.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

When Burt Reynolds was offered the chance to go to Italy to film Navajo Joe, he reached out to Clint Eastwood.  Eastwood had achieved fame for A Fistful of Dollars and A Few Dollars More.  Eastwood said it was a good experience and raved about director Sergio Leone.  Reynolds thought Navajo Joe was going to be directed by Sergio Leone.  He was mistaken.  The director was Sergio Corbucci.  Reynolds tried to walk away, but the contracts had already been signed.

To make matters worse, Corbucci thought Marlon Brando was going to be the star of the film.  Needless to say, Reynolds and Corbucci didn’t get along.  Making the film wasn’t a fun experience for either man.

Burt Reynolds said in interviews it was the worst professional experience he ever had and “the film was only shown in prisons and airplanes because the audience couldn’t leave.”

Who am I to argue with Burt Reynolds.

Navajo Joe (1966) rates 2 of 5 stars.