WELLESNET MESSAGE BOARD

That's at least 20 minutes taken out, since the version at that link is 114 minutes. The Spanish-language version runs 94 minutes, and it can be seen here, although you don't get Welles's voice: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HkjdDSzGNY

Thanks for the link, Steve. I like this movie. It's definitely inspired by the Leone films, right down to using Ennio Morricone for the music score. Welles is amusing as the corrupt Mexican general, and it has a good story. I have the BLOOD AND GUNS VHS in pan-and-scan and it's a joke compared to this.

The Koch Media DVD version contains an introduction by director Petroni whose audio commentary has German subtitles where he describes his intention of making a different type of Western not necessarily influenced by Leone. Of course, the political Western covered by Austin Fisher in his RADICAL FRONTIERS IN THE ITALIAN WESTERN: POLITICS, VIOLENCE AND POPULAR ITALIAN CINEMA (2011) is there but we must not forget the role of Franco Solinas (1927-1982) who wrote the best examples of the subgenre as well as BATTLE OF ALGEIERS and whose script would have appealed to Welles.

Fisher has recently written another book on the political crimes films that took over from the Western - BLOOD IN THE STREETS: HISTORIES OF VIOLENCE IN ITALIAN CRIME CINEMA (2020), one of which SXYNDICATE SADISTS features Joseph Cotten in the role of an aging Capo.

tonyw wrote:Of course, the political Western covered by Austin Fisher in his RADICAL FRONTIERS IN THE ITALIAN WESTERN: POLITICS, VIOLENCE AND POPULAR ITALIAN CINEMA (2011) is there but we must not forget the role of Franco Solinas (1927-1982) who wrote the best examples of the subgenre as well as BATTLE OF ALGEIERS and whose script would have appealed to Welles.

Grindhouse has released a deluxe DVD/BluRay/Music CD of The Big Gundown, written by Solinas, recently featured on the Criterion Channel in their Morricone tribute. The politics is there, but it never gets in the way of a cracking good story.
https://youtu.be/cwEas7rUsuc

Exactly. and if it is the Bu-Ray I have with an interview with Donati he mentions toning down, the didactic elements. But you're right:the film works on both levels in a balanced way.