A Pistol for Ringo

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Logan M A true spaghetti western classic with grit, action and comedy. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 04/07/23 Full Review matthew d Giuliano Gemma is fantastic as Ringo versus Fernando Sancho's hilarious robber Sancho. Italian director Duccio Tessari's Spaghetti Western A Pistol for Ringo (1965) is a fabulous movie with a plethora of style. Tessari keeps you smiling as the gunshots ring out and the jokes keep coming. I'm surprised at how funny A Pistol for Ringo is constantly with bizarre and inventive choices. Tessari's direction is thrilling and fascinating. From the hilarious and exciting shootout in the cold opening. A ton of visual jokes, a killer quickdraw standoff, a clever distraction, into a fiercely creative robbery that thinks of everything. A Pistol for Ringo is also a Christmas movie by the way with its unusual season for a Western in the desert. The holiday dinner scene is a riot. Writer Duccio Tessari makes up a story of a lone gunfighter named Ringo, who has to infiltrate a Mexican bank robber's gang in order to score big. It's full of moral and ethical questions as to how to behave in the face of danger. The jokes are hilarious, the violence is shocking, and the characters are endearing. A Pistol for Ringo burns dynamite fuses and lets bullets fly with equal freedom. It's got an outstanding script from the writer of A Fistful of Dollars that's not Akira Kurosawa. It's neat that it has similarities like playing the robbers false for Ringo's advantage and requiring the hero to cross a line in order to outsmart and kill the bandits. Editor Licia Quaglia's sharp cutting style is artful and playful. The gunshots and striking visuals feel startling in every scene. A Pistol for Ringo is a tight 98 minutes long with a brisk pace. It never lets up on the jokes or gunplay. Cinematographer Francisco Marín has cool framing with a memorable style. His smooth panning shots gently careen across battlefields and wealthy estates in equal splendor. Italian actor Giuliano Gemma, of Day of Anger fame with Lee Van Cleef, stars as fearless gunfighter Ringo in Tessari's A Pistol for Ringo. He's calm and clever with a wicked fast quickdraw speed with his pistol. Gemma is a confident and likable anti-hero as he's both a killer and savior in A Pistol for Ringo. You just want him to succeed despite his selfish motives. Giuliano Gemma deserves to be remembered as a sterling Spaghetti Western lead like Lee Van Cleef, Kirk Douglas, John Wayne, or Clint Eastwood. Spanish actor George Martin's worthless Sheriff Ben seems steadfast at first, then you realize he's doing nothing really to save the hostages. The law abiding sheriffs and deputies are useless figures against unethical robbers who have no limits. Spanish actor Fernando Sancho is a scream as the irritable and hilarious Mexican bandit leader Sancho. Spanish actress Nieves Navarro is drop dead gorgeous as the Mexican bandit lady Delores with charm and a fierce shot. Spanish actor Antonio Casas is very pleasant as the cool headed Major Clyde, trying to charm and negotiate his way out of being a hostage. Italian actress Lorella De Luca is lovely and endearing as Miss Ruby. Her sharp tongue, loving presence, and skillful gunplay are wonderful in A Pistol for Ringo. She has nice romantic chemistry with Gemma. José Manuel Martin is terrifying as Sancho's lieutenant Pedro. He's a scumbag rapist and a man with no ethics. Pajarito is funny as the crazy deputy Tim. Pablito Alonso is sympathetic as the little boy hostage Chico. He is certainly useless when he tries to help though. Paco Sanz is money hungry as the capitalist Colonel. Juan Casalilla's raging bank director Mr. Jenkinson and Juan Torres' nervous bank clerk are fun. Director Duccio Tessari has a fun supporting role as Sancho's sleazy hothead henchman Felipe. Production designers Juan Alberto Soler and Carlo Gentili create a fancy ranch full of old wooden antique tables, armoires, and other lavish furnishings. Composer Ennio Morricone conducts a marvelous film score full of boisterous energy for the action and gorgeous melodies with a gentle softness for the dramatic portions. The lighter guitar melodies are mesmerizing. I loved Graf Maurizio's opening theme song "Angel Face." It is superb and really beautiful as a theme for A Pistol for Ringo. Alberto Bartolomei's sound editing adds in huge gunshot and dynamite noises with clear voice over dubbing mixing. Costume designer Carlo Gentili creates fancy Italian designs with ornate patterns and cool suits. His pretty dresses for the actresses are so flattering and cute. Franco Di Girolamo's make-up dyes Gemma's hair blonde and makes each guy look gruff. The light make-up for the actresses is very becoming. The blue lady's dress and white dinner dress are stunning like the jewelry and choker. In short, A Pistol for Ringo is a phenomenal Western with fearsome violence, hysterical humor, and reflective characters. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews

A Pistol for Ringo

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