''Death Rides a Horse'' ( it, Da uomo a uomo, lit=As man to man) is a 1967 Italian

Spaghetti Western The Spaghetti Western is a broad subgenre of Western films produced in Europe. It emerged in the mid-1960s in the wake of Sergio Leone's film-making style and international box-office success. The term was used by foreign critics because most o ...

directed by

Giulio Petroni Giulio Petroni (21 September 1917 – 31 January 2010) was an Italian director, writer, and screenwriter, best known for his spaghetti westerns ''Death Rides a Horse'' (1967), with Lee Van Cleef in one of his first starring roles, '' A Sky Full of ...

, written by

Luciano Vincenzoni Luciano Vincenzoni (; 7 March 1926 – 22 September 2013) was an Italian screenwriter, known as the "script doctor". He wrote for some 65 films between 1954 and 2000. Biography Vincenzoni was born in Treviso, Veneto. He is probably best know ...

and starring

Lee Van Cleef Clarence LeRoy Van Cleef Jr. (January 9, 1925 – December 16, 1989) was an American actor. He appeared in over 170 film and television roles in a career spanning nearly 40 years, but is best known as a star of Italian Spaghetti Westerns, parti ...

and John Phillip Law.

Plot

Bill ( John Phillip Law), a boy whose father was killed and mother and sister were raped and murdered in front of him by a gang, sets out 15 years later to exact revenge, having used the time to become an expert marksman with a gun. Each of the outlaws bears a characteristic that Bill memorized while watching his family slaughtered and his house set on fire: the first has a tattoo of four aces on his chest, the second a scar, the third one a distinctive earring and the fourth (who was the one who saved young Bill from the burning house) wears a necklace bearing a skull; while he saw the face of the fifth, he never saw the face of the man who saved him from the fire. As he begins his journey, a gunfighter named Ryan (

) is released from a prison after serving 15 years there. He was framed for an armed robbery by the very same men who murdered Bill's family. When they meet along the way, Ryan gets the better of Bill, who is blinded by vengeance, but he does Bill no harm. In the next town, Ryan asks for a man named Cavanaugh (

Anthony Dawson Anthony Douglas Gillon Dawson (18 October 1916 – 8 January 1992) was a Scottish actor, best known for his supporting roles as villains in films such as Alfred Hitchcock's ''Dial M for Murder'' (1954) and ''Midnight Lace'' (1960), and playin ...

), whom Bill recognized later as the man with four aces tattoo. Bill manages to kill Cavanaugh in a duel, but the more experienced Ryan insists on tracking the other outlaws alone. They cross paths again in Lyndon City, where Ryan meets rich banker named Walcott (

Luigi Pistilli Luigi Pistilli (19 July 192921 April 1996) was an Italian actor of stage, screen, and television. At one time Pistilli was one of Italy's most respected actors of stage, screen, and television. In theater, he was considered one of the country's ...

) and demands his share of the robbery 15 years ago. Walcott stages a robbery on his own bank and frames Ryan. When the tables are turned later, Bill reciprocates, helping Ryan escape from a jail. An equally determined Bill sets out ahead of him. Bill reaches a Mexican town, where he recognizes the man with the big earring and guns him down. He is captured by the outlaws, beaten and buried alive from the neck down (he had also recognized the man with the scar and Walcott). Left to die in the hot sun, he is rescued by Ryan, who shoots several men standing guard. Preparing for the gang's return, Bill notices that Ryan is wearing a necklace with a skull. Ryan admits he was present during the murders, but arrived late and did not participate; he also rescued Bill from the fire. He gives his word that once the outlaws have been dealt with, he will remain to face whatever justice Bill seeks. In a final shootout during a sand storm, the last remaining man who killed Bill's family has him dead to rights, only to be killed by Ryan's thrown knife. Bill nonetheless insists on revenge. Ryan's gun is empty, so Bill tosses a bullet to him. He has just one bullet left now himself. Ryan turns his back and walks away, daring Bill to shoot him in the back. Bill fires, but it is only to kill a surviving outlaw. A grateful Ryan then watches as he mounts his horse and rides away.

Cast

as Ryan * John Phillip Law as Bill Meceita *

Mario Brega is a character created by Japanese video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto. He is the title character of the ''Mario'' franchise and the mascot of Japanese video game company Nintendo. Mario has appeared in over 200 video games since his creat ...

as One-Eye, Walcott henchman in waistcoat *

as Walcott *

as Burt Cavanaugh/Manina *Jose Torres as Pedro *

Franco Balducci Franco Balducci (23 November 1922 – 7 June 2001) was an Italian film actor. He appeared in 75 films between 1947 and 1978. He was born in Umbria, Italy. Selected filmography * ''Bullet for Stefano'' (1947) - Giacomo * ''Tempesta su Pari ...

as Lyndon City sheriff *

Bruno Corazzari Bruno Corazzari (born 30 December 1940) is an Italian film, television and stage actor. Life and career Born in Castellarano, Reggio Emilia, Corazzari started his career in the second half of the sixties, playing minor roles in a number of Spa ...

as Walcott bartender *Felicita Fanny as Martita *

Ignazio Leone Ignazio Leone (19 April 1923 – 30 December 1976) was an Italian film actor. He appeared in 105 films between 1952 and 1976. Selected filmography * '' The Walk'' (1953) * ''I Chose Love'' (1953) * ''Amici per la pelle'' (1955) * '' A Woma ...

as Minister *

Carlo Pisacane Carlo Pisacane, Duke of San Giovanni (22 August 1818 – 2 July 1857) was an Italian patriot and one of the first Italian socialist thinkers. He argued that violence was necessary not only to draw attention to, or generate publicity for, a c ...

as Holly Spring station master *Angelo Susani as Paco *Guglielmo Spoletini as Manuel *Vivienne Bocca as Bill Meceita's sister *Walter Giulangeli as Mr. Meceita *Elena Hall as Mrs. Meceita *Mario Mandalari as Walcott henchman *

Nazzareno Natale Nazzareno Natale (4 April 1938 – 21 June 2006) was an Italian actor He played Rojo Gang Member in '' Per un pugno di dollari'', Paco in ''For a Few Dollars More'' (1965), and Bountyhunter in '' Il buono il bruto il cattivo'' (1966), by Sergio ...

( c.s.c.) as Member of Pedro's gang *Ennio Pagliani as Walcott henchman *Giovanni Petrucci as Walcott henchman *

Romano Puppo Romano Puppo (25 March 1933 – 11 May 1994) was an Italian stuntman and actor. Life and career Born in Rome, Puppo debuted in 1961 in the Mauro Bolognini's drama '' Careless'', and after a number of very minor roles he soon became a regular ...

as Lyndon City deputy *Richard Watson as bartender *

Archie Savage Archie Savage (April 19, 1914 — February 14, 2003) was an American dancer, choreographer, and film and theatre actor.

as Vigro Uncredited (in order of appearance) * Carla Cassola as Betsy *

Nerina Montagnani Nerina Montagnani (20 April 1897 – 4 November 1993) was an Italian character actress. Life and career Born in Maranello, Modena, Montagnani graduated as a teacher. Starting in 1918 she worked as a governess and a gardener in many noble house ...

as the Minister's wife *

Nino Vingelli Nino Vingelli (4 June 1912 – 26 March 2003) was an Italian film actor. He appeared in more than 200 films between 1941 and 2000. Selected filmography * ''I mariti (Tempesta d'anime)'' (1941) * '' The Betrothed'' (1941) - (uncredited) * '' ...

as Card player *

Remo Capitani Remo Capitani (19 December 1927 – 14 February 2014), also known as Ray O'Connor and Ray O'Conner, was an Italian actor from Rome. He was probably best known for his role in the western '' They Call Me Trinity'' as Mezcal, a Mexican thief. ...

as Gold escort member * José Terrón as Walcott's henchman *

Jeff Cameron Jeff Cameron (born ''Goffredo Scarciofolo'', 1932 - 1985) was an Italian actor. He appeared in more than thirty films from 1962 to 1973. Filmography References External links * {{DEFAULTSORT:Cameron, Jeff Date of birth unknown 1985 d ...

as Cavanaugh's henchman

Production

The screenplay and story of ''Death Rides a Horse'' was written by

. Vincenzoni went to work with director

after having a falling out with

Sergio Leone Sergio Leone (; 3 January 1929 – 30 April 1989) was an Italian film director, producer and screenwriter credited as the pioneer of the Spaghetti Western genre and widely regarded as one of the most influential directors in the history of cin ...

while the latter was making ''

The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly ''The Good, the Bad and the Ugly'' ( it, Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo, literally "The good, the ugly, the bad") is a 1966 Italian epic spaghetti Western film directed by Sergio Leone and starring Clint Eastwood as "the Good", Lee Van Clee ...

''.

Releases

''Death Rides a Horse'' was released in Italy in August 1967. The film was released uncut in the United Kingdom and United States in 1969.

Reception

A contemporary review, the ''

Monthly Film Bulletin ''The Monthly Film Bulletin'' was a periodical of the British Film Institute published monthly from February 1934 to April 1991, when it merged with '' Sight & Sound''. It reviewed all films on release in the United Kingdom, including those with ...

'' declared the film to be a "display piece" for John Phillip Law and Lee Van Cleef, noting that Van Cleef was "in excellent form." The review declared the film to be "less gimmicky than most Italian Westerns, and all the better for it." The review noted that the recurring flashbacks were "tiresome" but had relevance to the narrative. "Robe" of ''

Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

'' said that the film wouldn't reach the popularity of earlier Clint Eastwood westerns, noting that the script borrows from other Italian Westerns and that "good color photography and an interesting score by Ennio Morricone are the pic's strong points. Otherwise, all technical elements are routine."

Analysis

In his investigation of narrative structures in

films, writer Bert Fridlund ranges ''Death Rides a Horse'', together with '' Day of Anger'' as prime examples of a "tutorship variation" that further develops the play on age/experience between the protagonists in ''

For a Few Dollars More ''For a Few Dollars More'' ( it, Per qualche dollaro in più) is a 1965 Spaghetti Western film directed by Sergio Leone. It stars Clint Eastwood and Lee Van Cleef as bounty hunters and Gian Maria Volonté as the primary villain. German actor ...

'', with

playing the older partner in all three films. In the "Tutorship" films, a younger protagonist seeks the more or less reluctant partnership of an older one, but differences of motivation eventually bring them into conflict.

References

Sources

* * *

External links

* * * * *
alternative link
{{DEFAULTSORT:Death Rides A Horse 1967 films Spaghetti Western films 1960s buddy films 1967 Western (genre) films English-language Italian films Films directed by Giulio Petroni 1960s Italian-language films Italian films about revenge Films scored by Ennio Morricone 1960s vigilante films Italian buddy films United Artists films Films with screenplays by Luciano Vincenzoni Films shot in Almería Rape and revenge films Italian vigilante films 1960s exploitation films 1960s Italian films