A Minute to Pray, a Second to Die

Back when the Italians were making their so-called 'Spaghetti Westerns', studios often obtained the services of non-Italians to play the leads in their films. The idea was that these B-list foreign actors would increase the marketability of the films abroad and folks like Rod Steiger, Clint Eastwood and Lee Van Cleef were often seen in these movies. In "Un minuto per pregare, un istante per morire", Alex Cord, Arthur Kennedy and Robert Ryan starred...and it was unusual to see that many American actors in one of these films.

Cord plays Clay McCord, an outlaw who is headed to Tuscosa, New Mexico Territory. Why? The territory has just approved an amnesty for criminals. In other words, if they sign a document promising to obey the law, their past crimes will be forgiven. But Cord realizes this might just be too good to be true...and that's exactly the case. Scum-bags, bounty hunters and the like plan to kill these outlaws before they get to the city...and in McCord's case this actually occurs IN Tuscosa...mostly because the Sheriff (Kennedy) is a jerk. But when the Governor (Ryan) arrives and swears the support the amnesty, McCord MIGHT just stand a chance.

Like you'd expect, this movie is extremely violent...as are nearly every Italian western. Lots of remorseless killings are the norm in this one and they seem to take precedence over the plot at times. Add to that a very simple plot and you have what amounts to an exciting time-passer and not much more.

By the way, I really liked Ryan's performance....very low key and convincing.

Alex Cord plays Clay McCord(how apt!), an outlaw who has traveled to New Mexico on the promise of amnesty given by its governor(Robert Ryan). Unfortunately, Clay gets challenged by the local sheriff(Arthur Kennedy) who doesn't agree with the governor's plans, and decides to use Clay to lure other outlaws to the state, so that he can deal with them all at once. This leads to a big showdown at the end.

Not bad western is clearly based on the style of the Sergio Leone westerns, and is a decent attempt at doing so, though of course is not as stylish or memorable. Good cast, and an interesting character detail of Clay having epilepsy like his father, which sometimes makes him vulnerable.

Carcasses galore do not a better movie make. Some guy with an unnamed palsey like affliction in his hand goes around blowing people away by the dozen. For an example he rides into a camp, shoots about fifteen people and next is seen riding off on their wagon. He must have needed a wagon.

We get a flashback scene wherein the principal is seen as a boy of around nine kneeling over his father in the street while his dad is having an attack of the obviously genetic palsey. Ten or so men stand around and laugh at the boy's father in derision. The kid gets mad and grabs a gun and shoots them all dead. We are supposed to presume the kid goes on with the business of growing up without answering any repercussions from having committed this mass murder in the middle of town. Uhh...ok. Right. That could happen.

This movie plays like a Sergio Leone copy done by an elementary school drama club. When in doubt, shoot some characters.

The most unrealistic aspect of this film is that there is no way the main character would have been able to travel around on horseback carrying that amount of lead ammunition required to kill as many as he does. Hey, maybe thats why he needed the wagon.

Pleasant and enjoyable Spaghetti Western with lots action , thrills , fights and violence . In Tuscosa, New Mexico, the Governor offers amnesty papers to all outlaws . When outlaw Clay McCord (Alex Cord) learns the Governor of New Mexico has offered a pardon to all who apply for it at the town of Tuscosa , he's intrigued but suspicious about it , but he wants his redemption . Then Clay who suffers from troubled occasional epyleptic and strange spells about his deceased father arrives in a minering village called ¨Escondido¨ with a poster captioning the following : ¨If you ain't wanted Mister , you ain't wanted¨. The village is tyrannically domineed by a ruthless villain , boss Kraut (Mario Brega) , there Clay is healed by the beautiful Laurinda (Nicoletta Machiavelli) .Later on , in Tutcosa , Clay McCord's appearance triggers a violent mayhem , as he clashes with the local sheriff , Roy Colby (Arthur Kennedy) , and other outlaws . The Governor (Robert Ryan) then arrives and attempts to calm the situation , knowing that if McCord asks for amnesty , other outlaws will follow .A Minute to Pray, a Second to Die... That's all McCord gives them! The man with the twisted hand always shoots straight to kill!

This is a good S. W. plenty of action , shootouts , fist-play and with an interesting character : an outlaw who suffers epileptic fits which plagued his father as well . An above average Spaghetti Western with usual ingredients , a violent confrontation among bandits , an amnesty and eventually a complex chain of happenings leading to a shoot-out with McCord, Colby, and the Governor on one side while a band of outlaws comprise the other . Stars Alex Cord who plays efficiently the deranged gunslinger , and , even did all of his own stunts . He sought a Hollywood a hard way to success and he found one via his equestrian skills in the early 1960s starring some TV Westerns . Steady work came to him on such established western TV series as Laramie (1959) and Branded (1965) and that extended itself into acting roles on crime action series as Route 66 (1960) and The Naked City (1958). Gaining a foothold in feature films within a relatively short time, he starred or co-starred in more than 30 feature films, including Synanon (1965), Stagecoach (1966), Stiletto (1969) and Mafia (1968). After his film career declined in the late 1970s he turned to action adventure overseas with this notorious "spaghetti western" : A Minute to Pray, A Second to Die (1967) and the British war drama The Last Grenade (1970) and later commercial interest was drawn from his title role in Grayeagle (1977). In Un minuto per pregare, un istante per morire (1967) movie appears usual support actors who took part of hundreds of Spaghetti or Paella Westerns as Italians : Mario Brega, Gianpiero Albertini , Enzo Fiermonte , Giovanni Ivan Scratuglia , Spartaco Conversi , Fortunato Arena, John Bartha, Alberto Dell'Acqua , Ottaviano Dell'Acqua , as Spaniards : Lorenzo Robledo , Antonio Molino Rojo , Aldo Sambrell , Daniel Martin , José Canalejas , Francisco Sanz and José Manuel Martin .

It contains an original musical score by Carlo Rustichelli , it is sensitive and rousing as well , this is one of the best soundtracks of the genre . Likewise, a colorful and evocative cinematography by Aiace Parolin, shot on location in Desierto de Tabernas, Almería, Andalucía, Spain and De Laurentiis Studio, Rome, Italy . The motion picture was professionally directed by Franco Giraldi . This Italian writer/filmmaker (and Sergio Leone 's assistant director) so consistently mixed the good with the mediocre that it became quite impossible to know what to expect from him next . He directed four Westerns with abundant touches of humor (Seven guns for the MacGregor -1966- , 7 women for the MacGregor -1967- ) and one serious and violent (A minute to pray , a second to day -1968- ) . Rating : 7/10 , acceptable and decent movie that will appeal to Spaghetti Western buffs .

"A Minute to Pray, A Second to Die" is a quality spaghetti western with a solid cast and an interesting storyline. It is filmed beautifully, with a relatively high production value for a film in this genre.

Alex Cord does a terrific job portraying Clay McCord, an outlaw who is suffering from increasingly debilitating seizures. He is seeking amnesty before his enemies close in on him, but is being too cocky for his own good when he asks for it. Robert Ryan delivers the best performance in the film as the governor of New Mexico. Mario Brega and Arthur Kennedy are also great here.

This movie is very good, but it doesn't stand out to me as being one of the best spaghetti westerns out there. It's lacking too much in style to be in the same league as any of the great ones. It does have some cool spaghetti overtones, but overall it's a bit too much like an American western. This is especially evident in the music score, which is OK as movies go in general, but pretty dull by euro-western standards. The soundtrack kind of reminds me of the music from "The Unforgiven." Although there is an interesting story here, it is told in a manner which is a bit too conventional for my tastes. If a spaghetti western fan and a Hollywood western fan had to watch a movie together, this one would be the perfect compromise.

All of this is not to say that anyone should avoid this film. I did enjoy watching it very much. As I said, it is a very well-done film and I recommend it to anyone who likes westerns, spaghetti or otherwise.