China 9, Liberty 37

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Audience Member Sadly I've only seen the poor-quality, heavily cut version, but the bones of a very good film are there anyway. Oates is excellent (as ever), and his gravelly voice reminds me of Kristofferson's in Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid - the look and feel of which seems to provide much of the inspiration for this film. Testi isn't bad,either, apart from the difficulty at times of making out his heavily accented English. The two leads are both sympathetic and clearly like each other, which as in Pat Garrett sets it into the pattern of tragedy rather than revenge - and the presence of Peckinpah on-screen further emphasises the homage. I really hope a high quality, uncut version will be released some day; I'd snap it up. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/13/23 Full Review eric b The title may suggest some other genre, but don't be fooled -- this is a spaghetti western. Director Monte Hellman returns to the West (via Spain and Italy) and works with grizzled Warren Oates yet again, crafting a well-photographed tale of guns and a love triangle. The locations are pretty and co-star Jenny Agutter is even prettier, but the story is just too simple to sustain much tension. A handsome, sharp-shooting wanderer is hired to take out Oates, but has second thoughts after befriending him and his wife Agutter (who is abundantly naked throughout the film, thank you very much). Which man will she choose? Alas, sheer intelligibility is a substantial problem -- star Fabio Testi is a mumbler with a heavy Italian accent and, even worse, the overstressed musical score often drowns out the dialogue. A shame. The legendary Sam Peckinpah pops up in one scene, portraying a crafty writer out to wring some folklore out of Testi's life. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Typically offbeat western from director Monte Hellman about condemned man Fabio Testi being given a reprieve if he kills Warren Oates who's holding up the progress of railroad barons. Jenny Agutter plays Oats beautiful young wife who then falls to Testi, creating a "Postman Always Rings Twice" type of situation leading to murder, revenge and good old fashioned cowboy, or at least Italian Spaghetti Westernized, action. However, this film moves at a trudging pace, much like Hellman's other offbeat westerns, and like his other westerns suffers for it. On the plus side, you do get Sam Peckinpah as a wild west dime novelist in one scene, which is mildly entertaining. Overall, despite it's painfully slow pace, this western is handsomely filmed by Hellman and anything with Warren Oats is worth watching in my book. Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/31/23 Full Review s r Tacky, simple and mostly pointless. Rated 2/5 Stars •  Rated 2 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member don't know why they keep losing my reviews!!! #3 4 this 1 Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Audience Member 120115: Warren Oates & a good looking unknown, at least to me; Jennifer Agutter; star in this neat little spaghetti western. I absolutely love the sound of these Italian westerns, both the effects; which make it seem like the mics are attached to the characters feet; and the music. An unbelievably classic line is used in this film; "As long as I have a face, you have..." as well as an equally, unbelievably bad cowboy hat; worn by Oates' nemesis, Clayton. Enjoyed this one. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews

China 9, Liberty 37

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