Cult Spaghetti Westerns
Cult Spaghetti Westerns
Three seminal Cult Spaghetti Westerns in one definitive Boxset, all restored, for the 1st time together on Blu-ray with a Special Contribution by Quentin Tarantino [Region-Free] + large Art-cards with original posters
> DISC 1: ‘DJANGO’
Sergio Corbucci’s ground-breaking Django is one of the greatest and most influential Westerns ever. Seminal, yet banned for decades, its aesthetics of visual cruelty transcended the genre and shaped today’s film-making language. Its major influence is declared by Quentin Tarantino – among many Hollywood directors – and seen in all his films.
The legendary Franco Nero plays Django, the mysterious gunslinger who arrives in a bleak, mud-drenched town – dragging a coffin behind him – to face a group of sadistic marauding bandits and an army of hooded Ku Klux Klan-like psychopaths.
-Presented uncut, from new 4K-restored elements, this definitive version is pristinely faithful to the original filmmakers’ vision; as attested by Ruggero Deodato (of ‘Cannibal Holocaust’ fame) who shot several scenes of ‘DJANGO’ early in his career, as the then-Assistant to Sergio Corbucci.
+ EXTRA FEATURE: 80 min with QUENTIN TARANTINO in ‘DJANGO & DJANGO’
A riveting feature-length testimonial by Quentin Tarantino complements this edition: showing many clips, he explains how Sergio Corbucci’s ‘Django’ permeates his own films from ‘Reservoir Dogs’ to his resounding tribute ‘Django Unchained’. And whimsically Tarantino tells how, in his ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’, his fictional actor, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, ends up working for the real Sergio Corbucci.
>DISC 2 ‘KEOMA, THE VIOLENT BREED’
Acknowledged as the genre swansong, this late Western masterpiece is directed by Enzo G. Castellari whom Tarantino calls ‘his maestro’ (having remade Castellarri’s ‘Inglorious Bastards’) and regards as a ‘cinematic icon’.
Screen-legend Franco Nero reprises his relentless deadly gunslinger persona, now as the eponymous Keoma who, returning to his hometown, finds that it is now ruled by a gang of sadistic killers. Aided by his friend (a superb Woody Strode), Keoma fights the ruthless bunch to the bitter, last-man-standing, end. This gritty no-holds-barred western is presented from 2K-restored materials, showcasing its iconic set-piece striking action-cinematography as never before.
> DISC 3 ‘A BULLET FOR THE GENERAL aka QUIEN SABE?’
A covert US assassin is sent to kill a General who is one of the leaders of the Mexican Revolution. He infiltrates a gang of guerrillas led by the charismatic El Chuncho (Gian Maria Volonté of the ‘Dollars films’) with his lieutenants, the crazed priest (Klaus Kinski), and the beautiful Adelita (007’s Martine Beswick). As the rebels go on a rampage stealing weapons, they unwittingly lead the assassin to the General. And the US agent has a bullet for him!
Directed by Damiano Damiani (Amityville II) and written by Franco Solinas (Oscar nominated for writing ‘The Battle for Algiers’) ‘A BULLET FOR THE GENERAL‘ established the politically-imbued ‘Zapata-Western’ genre; it is fpresented in superb high definition finally doing justice to its lavish widescreen cinematography and it is elevated by the exuberant music from Oscar Winner Ennio Morricone.
-Quoting Tarantino, whose encyclopaedic admiration and devotion to spaghetti westerns provides the curating thread of this box-set: “A Bullet For The General is one of the greatest Spaghetti Westerns ever made. I just love that movie”.
Special Features: all discs have New reworked English subtitles & additional SDH
• Hours of Extras delve into the minds of cinematic legends including on screen interviews with Franco Nero, Enzo G .Castellari, Alex Cox, Ruggero Deodato, Domiano Damiani et al. • Slipcase / reversible sleeve with alternative artworks • Three Collector’s Art-cards • Region Free
TECH SPECS
| FORMAT | Blu-Ray |
| RUNTIME | 311 mins |
| ASPECT RATIO | 1.66:1 & 2.35:1 |
| BONUS | 3 Artcards |
| LANGUAGE | English + Optional Italian with English subtitles + English SDH |
| STUDIO | CultFilms |
| ||
|---|---|---|
DJANGO | A BULLET FOR THE GENERAL | KEOMA |
Django (1966, Sergio Corbucci) is a brutal low-key classic in many ways, a smaller and more contained film than it’s reputation might suggest. Hugely indebted to A Fistful of Dollars (see Corbucci’s prior westerns for the comparison) but successfully manages to create it’s own identity, mythology and style. A much rougher, grungier and muddier version of the West than Leone’s epic scope, it cemented Corbucci as a master and Franco Nero as a major leading man. Disc is great and includes a doco feature with some US director who stole the name for a 2012 Hollywood film. Rating 5/5.
A Bullet for the General (1966, Damiano Damiani) may not be as well-known as the best Leone/Corbucci films, but it’s a classic that deserves to stand alongside the others as one of the very best Italian Westerns. Writer Franco Solinas had The Battle of Algiers come out in the same year, and that gives a clue as to the themes and politics of the film. What becomes apparent on re-watching is just how indebted The Wild Bunch is to this film, in it’s story of a band of outlaws who get caught up in gun running during the Mexican Revolution. Another good disc with director Damiani being serious on the extras and providing history and context. Rating 5/5.
Keoma (1976, Enzo G. Castellari) is perhaps the odd one out and the curiosity for me, as this was my first watch. An interesting, but not entirely successful (very) late entry into the genre, some consider this to be one of the final Italian Westerns before Poliziotteschi, Giallo and horror fully took over 70s Italian film production. Django himself Franco Nero returns as Keoma, awkwardly cast as a Native American brought up by his white father and siblings. A simple plot of helping a town overtaken by bad guys is brought to life by a range of expressionist visual flourishes which work to varying effect. The opening/closing scenes in the ghost town are a highlight, while the overuse of Peckinpah slow-mo in the shootouts becomes a self-parody. A very annoying original song soundtrack does the film no favours. Overall I would recommend, but as a curiosity to see Nero 10 years after Django and a film which killed off a genre. A good disc with Castellari on fine form in the extras, desperate to convince us that he’s just a hack who loves American films. 3/5.