
Condemned gunman Clayton is given a last-minute reprieve on condition that he murders rancher Matthew for a railway company. He visits Matthew's ranch but is unable to kill him and leaves, but Matthew's wife Catherine believes she has killed him during an argument and joins Clayton. Matthew, still alive and mad as hell, joins Clayton's equally-angered employers to hunt down the pair.... (Full plot summary below)
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Condemned gunman Clayton is given a last-minute reprieve on condition that he murders rancher Matthew for a railway company. He visits Matthew's ranch but is unable to kill him and leaves, but Matthew's wife Catherine believes she has killed him during an argument and joins Clayton. Matthew, still alive and mad as hell, joins Clayton's equally-angered employers to hunt down the pair.
Leave your thoughts about China 9, Liberty 37.
| User ReviewAlan WSadly I've only seen the poor-quality, heavily cut version, but the bones of a very good film are there anyway. Oates is excellent (as ever), and his gravelly voice reminds me of Kristofferson's in Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid - the look and feel of which seems to provide much of the inspiration for this film. Testi isn't bad,either, apart from the difficulty at times of making out his heavily accented English. The two leads are both sympathetic and clearly like each other, which as in Pat Garrett sets it into the pattern of tragedy rather than revenge - and the presence of Peckinpah on-screen further emphasises the homage. I really hope a high quality, uncut version will be released some day; I'd snap it up. |
| User ReviewEric BThe title may suggest some other genre, but don't be fooled -- this is a spaghetti western. Director Monte Hellman returns to the West (via Spain and Italy) and works with grizzled Warren Oates yet again, crafting a well-photographed tale of guns and a love triangle. The locations are pretty and co-star Jenny Agutter is even prettier, but the story is just too simple to sustain much tension. A handsome, sharp-shooting wanderer is hired to take out Oates, but has second thoughts after befriending him and his wife Agutter (who is abundantly naked throughout the film, thank you very much). Which man will she choose? Alas, sheer intelligibility is a substantial problem -- star Fabio Testi is a mumbler with a heavy Italian accent and, even worse, the overstressed musical score often drowns out the dialogue. A shame. The legendary Sam Peckinpah pops up in one scene, portraying a crafty writer out to wring some folklore out of Testi's life. |
| User ReviewGreg Wdon't know why they keep losing my reviews!!! #3 4 this 1 |
| User ReviewJohn R120115: Warren Oates & a good looking unknown, at least to me; Jennifer Agutter; star in this neat little spaghetti western. I absolutely love the sound of these Italian westerns, both the effects; which make it seem like the mics are attached to the characters feet; and the music. An unbelievably classic line is used in this film; "As long as I have a face, you have..." as well as an equally, unbelievably bad cowboy hat; worn by Oates' nemesis, Clayton. Enjoyed this one. |
| User ReviewMichael WThe western filtered though the spaghetti-western, but all that's left is the cheese. I don't see many westerns so I must ask, are they all this troublingly and pervasively misogynistic? Besides its ideological problems it's also burdened with a terrible score and murky sound that does not help a bit in trying to decipher what Italian actor Testi is trying to say. This is my first Monte Hellman film. Please, tell me this isn't a better example of his work? |