Vengeance

"Vengeance", an Arlington International Pictures release, now getting a second life via a new Image DVD, is a routine Spaghetti western revolving around an outlaw's quest for revenge against gang members who've betrayed him and killed his partner.

Rocco (star Richard Harrison, veteran of many an Italian Peplum and Western) is one of the gold thieves left holding an empty bag. Arriving too late to avert the death of his young partner, Richie (who is drawn & quartered in the film's prologue), Rocco systematically criss-crosses the countryside, looking to kill each of his 5 ex-trail buddies and get back his share of the gold. He's followed most of the way by a bounty hunter hired to retrieve the stolen gold, but who takes to acting as Rocco's guardian angel whenever the odds are stacked against Rocco's favor.

Harrison is appropriately laconic (much like Clint Eastwood as the famed "Man with No Name") in pursuit of his single-minded purpose. The rest of the Italian and Spanish cast capably perform their stock roles with a minimum of distraction. Much of the cast mouth their dialogue in English, which makes for less atrocious dubbing than usual for this type of fare.

DVD is letterboxed and print shows some minor wear & tear, but overall, it looks to be in decent shape. Definitely worth a viewing for fans of the genre.

A mute, violent hero (the leader of an outlaw band) single-minded in taking vengeance (on the accomplices who have betrayed him)... Well, it looks as though the viewer is off for just another spaghetti western. And during the first undistinguished half, their fears ARE well-founded. But hope should not be given up, all is not lost. Indeed the man at the helm is none other than Antonio Margheriti (aka Anthony Dawson), a pleasant minor master particularly at ease in fantasy films ("Horror Castle", "Castle of Blood"). And when (rather unexpectedly to be true) the director suddenly remembers what he is really good at, the run-of-the-mill flick is metamorphosed into an unidentified (and inspired) cinematic object. "Vengeance" is still a western, complete with duels, showdown and Morricone-like score, but from then on it gets mixed with thriller (the delayed discovery of the traitor; the astonishing flashback unveiling the true facts about the bank robbery) and horror ((the long final sequence in the sulfur mine with its extravagant lightings and baroque framework ; the villain appearing as a grotesque clown). No longer apathetic, the viewer is now agape. The lesson to be drawn is that if you demand more of a film than just B (or Z) features, just have patience and you will be rewarded. Like Rocco, the hero of the story in a way...

A solid (if standard) plot, good action, and well directed by an under appreciated filmmaker who churned out many solid entries in the genre. Only one thing holds it back: the lousy acting of Richard Harrison. Harrison had a real knack for detracting from the overall value of the films he appeared in, in all honesty he just could not act. Cast Anthony Steffen, Gianni Garko, or Craig Hill in the lead in this well crafted spag and it would have been something to remember.

Director Margheriti is well known for his long list of fast, cheap but well-made horror, sci-fi and action films. As Westerns were so popular in the late 60s he dabbled in that genre also and made some good films. VENGEANCE isn't as interesting as his other late 60s Western AND GOD SAID TO CAIN, but this is still fine entertainment for European pop cinema fans because all the elements of this genre are present (zooms into squinting eyes, impossibly fast gundowns, fuzz guitar laden score, seemingly invincible anti-heroes defeating scummy bad guys).

Vengeance is directed by Italian horror-maestro Antonio Margheriti, and it proves that he can direct a good western as well.

The hero is a Django-like character named Rocco. Richard Harrison does a fine job in this role. The showdowns between Rocco and the various men he is seeking to kill are suspenseful, entertaining, and very well done, especially the beer glass duel with the character named "Kid" (which I had to watch a couple of times to figure out how "Kid" was cheating).

In the end, it is Claudio Camaso as the main villain "Mendoza" who steals the show. Mendoza is a wonderful character who is kind of a cross between Malcolm McDowell's character in "A Clockwork Orange," and a villain you would see in the Batman TV series from the 1960's. You've gotta love it! It's the American west as it can only happen in Italy, and it is a joy to watch. The music is also great.

Highly recommended to anyone who understands and appreciates the Italian westerns.