
The Civil War has ended, but not for Jonas, a ruthless Confederate officer who wants to continue the fight by reorganizing Confederate troops in the Southwest with the support of a large sum of stolen money. He devises an elaborate ruse to allow his small party to travel with minimal scrutiny through hostile territory, for the money is hidden in a coffin said to contain the body of his dead son. Jonas' other sons travel with him along with a hired "widow", as they proceed to ... (Full plot summary below)
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The Civil War has ended, but not for Jonas, a ruthless Confederate officer who wants to continue the fight by reorganizing Confederate troops in the Southwest with the support of a large sum of stolen money. He devises an elaborate ruse to allow his small party to travel with minimal scrutiny through hostile territory, for the money is hidden in a coffin said to contain the body of his dead son. Jonas' other sons travel with him along with a hired "widow", as they proceed to what they hope to be a new start to the War between the States. However, while en route, they face severe, ongoing strife among themselves and successive threats from Union soldiers, a posse of cowboys, and an Indian war party.
Leave your thoughts about The Hellbenders.
| User ReviewDave JA grandious Italowestern by the Master Sergio Corbucci extremly Violent, with beautiful Pictures of the Nature, superb directed, shoted and acted, with a great Soundtrack and a Message of the Last Rear Up of the Dying South and the totally Break Up and once again a Clue with the Coffin |
| User ReviewNate EI caught this on Movies4men and I'm pretty sure it was a cut version but never the less it was an entertaining western, Joseph Cotton was quite unhinged and I enjoyed his constant back hand beatings and the pleasantly bleak ending |
| User ReviewMichael TAnother Spaghetti Western directed by the "other" Sergio, Sergio Corbucci. Joseph Cotten plays an ex-Confederate officer who engineers the robbery of a shipment of gold from the U.S. Army, gold he plans to use to revive the Confederacy. He is aided in the theft by his sons but soon the family begins to squabble and fight over what to do with the spoils and everything that can go wrong, does go wrong. The recent Anchor Bay DVD of this film is worth checking out. |
| User ReviewVincent OThere's a lot of quality on hand, the director (Corbucci), the composer (Morricone) and cinematographer (Barboni) but 'The Hellbenders' never reaches the dizzy heights of either 'The Great Silence' or 'Django'; still it's a worthy effort with lots of energy and by anyone else's satandards a strong release. Joseph Cotton plays an unhinged rebel with a cause and is suited, as are the rest of the cast (in their respective roles). Seems to get more enjoyable with repeat viewings and Corbucci's famous, trademark motifs (bizarre forms of violence coupled with cruel japes) are played up to the usual unhappy end. |
| User ReviewOrlok WSergio Corbucci's excellent Spaghetti Western sees a gang of southerners robbing and killing a bunch of Union soldiers with the soil aim of using the loot to rebuild the Confederate army, and re-ignite the civil war. |
| User Reviewandy gThis is a story about some Confederate soldiers, who call themselves the Hellbenders (think Flying Hellfish), and steal a convoy of money with which they hope to revive the Civil War. I really liked this one, because the story was original and well written and the ending caught me by surprise, which isn't hard to do admittedly (will Nemo escape? will his father find him in time? I just don't know. I just don't know). I don't own it yet, but its definitely a contender for my collection. |
| User ReviewJarett BAnother early spaghetti with more violence and dread than "Clay." Joseph Cotten's role is the centre of the film, and will leave one debating whether he is a orthodox anti-hero or disillusioned villian. Although rather plain in terms of style (even though it comes after 'Django'), the ending (a spaghetti great) is worth the watch alone. |
| User ReviewBrad GSergio Corbucci was the man, and the first half hour of this movie has me riveted. Joseph Cotten at his scariest, other than Shadow of a Doubt, of course. |
| User ReviewGregg DGood movie in spots but uneven. A very unsatisfactory ending. This is the last movie I saw in 2008. Saw December 31. |
| User ReviewChris HA mediocre Spaghetti Western that does just enough to entertain and is held together by a villainous performance from Joseph Cotton. |