A Train for Durango

Though the 1970 spaghetti western "They Call Me Trinity" inspired a number of other comic spaghetti westerns, there were a few comic spaghetti westerns made before it, this movie being one of them. This one seems at times a little unsure of what tone to be, since there are several somewhat brutal killings by gunfire spread throughout. But most of the time the movie aims to be a silly experience. Though I have to admit that I didn't laugh at any time or at any gag, the light-hearted attitude makes the movie a pleasant experience if you are a fan of pasta westerns and want to see one that's somewhat different than usual. The only real complaint I have about it (other than the brutal parts) is that the movie for the longest time seems a little drawn out. Had it been shortened by fifteen or so minutes, I think it would have played out better. But the movie is all the same enjoyable.

Two penniless adventurers (Anthony Steffen, Enrico Maria Salerno) see a possibility to steal a gold treasure from bandits after a train robbery. Too many competitors get involved, and the attempts to get hold of the gold get increasingly desperate.

A comedy with sophisticated writing which works surprisingly well with two leading actors who were not known as comedians in their other westerns. Also the rest of the cast is working fine with Mark Damon, Roberto Camardiel and Aldo Sambrell.

Steffen and Salerno play Gringo and Lucas, two adventurers on their way back to Texas from Guatemala (where Steffen was shot in the behind). They sell their horses and guns to buy tickets for the train to Durango. On board is also a safe carrying a large sum of government money. While Steffen is flirting with a French mademoiselle (Dominique Broschero) and Salerno is sneaking up on passengers to steal their food, the train is robbed by three different gangs, led by the unholy trinity of El Lobo, Heraclio and El Jefe, who have joined hands for the occasion. The safe is stolen and the mademoiselle is kidnapped, but Gringo and Lucas, the only survivors of the massacre, accidentally find the two keys of the safe, and are now the only ones who can open it. They intend to get close to the safe now in the hand of El Lobo, a bandit. At various occasions, a mysterious American (Mark Damon), who drives around in a red car, appears at the right moment to save them.

A Train for Durango is a colorful, lively, and imaginative comedy western. It's lighthearted throughout, that is only tempered by the violence - a train robbery resulting in mass murder and a bizarre 'Death Ring' scene, featuring a group of people gathered round a table, playing a Mexican variation on Russian Roulette. But that's the nature of SW; they tend to have some black humour or morbidity. It's good to see Anthony Steffen play a lighter and not so smart character instead of his usual hard man silent roles. Dominique Broschero is a hottie. With that suaveness and sly grin, Mark Damon reminded me of Face from A-Team ( Dirk Benedict) and he was really good.

I recently saw a nice widescreen English language release of this DVD and really enjoyed it. First off it's a great travelogue of spaghetti western locations; I recognized locales familiar from FOR A FEW DOLLARS MORE and many others, all beautifully shot for maximum effect, Spain standing in for Mexico effortlessly. Second, it's a who's who of Spanish character actors; only Frank Brana seems to be missing of the stalwarts...well, so is Fernando Sancho, but most everybody else is here. Third, the leads all do a good job. Steffen is well cast as Gringo, a down on his luck Americano looking for a break south of the border. Mark Damon puts his shark-grin handsomeness to good use as the mysterious gunman who shows up from time to time to help out our heroes. And Enrico Maria Salerno was a revelation to me as Lucas, Gringo's Mexican sidekick. After seeing his performance I could totally see him pulling off the role of Tuco in THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY; he's sly, grinning, full of life, and not entirely trustworthy. This is an early comedy western, and for once the comedy works. It has some pretty funny scenes which made me laugh aloud, comic characters who aren't just irritating, and the comedy rings true, especially the ending, which I thought was hilarious. If you haven't seen it, you're missing out.

This Spanish/Italian co-production results to be a very funny Western about some roguish adventurers who attempt to rob a fortune from a safe. This entertaining film deals with two buddy adventurers (Anthony Steffen , Enrico Maria Salerno) witness a train-robbery by two groups of bandits ( led by Jose Bodalo and Roberto Camardiel , respectively) and are then chasing the robbed gold and they also took Helen (Dominique Boschero) . Mario Caiano's Western parody is packed with frantic action and silly humor . Italian-Spanish co-production full of action , exaggerated characters, crossfire and lots of humor . This Spaghetti Western concerns about robbing a valuable fortune from a train crossing Mexico to American West and the ruler Porfirio Diaz had for pay to US . Then the rogue thieves along with a cocky American (Mark Damon) team up as three unlikely heroes . This is a surprisingly low-key Spaghetti Western in which three diverse characters joining forces to find the safe and rob a lot of money .

This amusing picture with Spaghetti all-star-cast contains an entertaining plot , action Western , shootouts and bits of campy and refreshing humor . It's an improbable blending of standard Western, tongue-in-cheek and continuous pursuits with no sense . A bemusing premise and interesting casting full of usual Spaghetti make this oater well worth the watching . Delightful Western satire in which three grifters Steffen-Salerno-Damon using his wits , breaking all the rules and kicking virtually every cliché in the pants , as he relentlessly deceives, plunders and robs . Amiable but sometimes lumbering Western satire goes on and on about the same premise , as a lot of minutes are superfluous ,it has half hour of excess , as it packs overblown jokes and antics and some moments turns out to be dull and tiring . Steffen and Salerno steal the show as two improbable rogues , there are very fine, they ravage the screen, , hit and run , besides receive violent punches, kicks and are ultimately buried to reveal the gold whereabout . Furthermore, appears ordinary secondaries of Spaghetti/Paella Western as Jose Luis Martin , Aldo Sambrell, Tito Garcia, Rafael Albaicin, Simon Arriga ,Manuel Zarzo, Jose Canalejas Lorenzo Robledo, and many others . The film mingles slapdash, pursuits, high body-count and it's fast moving and quite entertaining. There is plenty of action in the movie , guaranteeing shootouts, fights or stunts every few minutes . The musician Carlo Rustichelli composes a jolly soundtrack with catching leitmotif and well conducted . Mediocre cinematography by Enzo Barboni in Eastmancolor with negative badly processed . Interior filmed at Elios Studios , Rome , and outdoor sequences filmed , of course , at Almeria, Spain. The film follows in the wake of ¨ Hallelujah trail (65) ¨ by John Sturges ¨ Support your local sheriff ¨ and ¨ Support your local gunfighter ¨ by Burt Kennedy and of course ¨ Blazing saddles (74) ¨ by Mel Brooks , all of them are engaging Western satire and very fun . The picture takes part of a sub-genre in which during the period of the late 60s and 70s combined Spaghetti Western and humor with tongue-in-cheek , for example, ¨The white , yellow and black¨ (Sergio Corbucci) , ¨ My name is Shangai Joe¨(Mario Caiano), ¨The stranger and the gunfighter (Anthony M Dawson), ¨ Vivi o, Preferibilmente, morti( by Duccio Tessari , here screen-writer)" and ¨Trinity and Bambino¨ trilogy ( by Enzo Barboni or E. B. Clucher who is cameraman of ¨Train to Durango¨).

Mario Caiano's direction is well crafted, here he's more cynical and humorous and less inclined toward violence and packs too much action , but especially this slapstick Western contains broad comedy . Caiano is a craftsman who has directed all kind of genres as Peplum as ¨Ulisse vs Ercole¨, ¨I due Gladiatori¨, ¨Maciste Gadiatori di Sparta¨ , Spaghetti : ¨Brandy¨, ¨Avenger of California¨ , ¨Ringo, face of revenge¨ , ¨Bullets don't argue¨, ¨Lone and angry man¨ , Terror : ¨Nightmare castle¨, ¨ Eye in the labyrinth¨ and even Pornonazi as ¨Nazi love camp 27¨. It's an offbeat , muddle and uneven Western but will appeal to Spaghetti aficionados . Rating : 5,5 , riotous Western spoof in which there's too much silly comedy and enough excitement .