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Death Rides a Horse

Play trailer Poster for Death Rides a Horse R Released Mar 8, 1968 1h 55m Western Play Trailer Watchlist
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50% Tomatometer 6 Reviews 72% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
Having witnessed the brutal murder of his entire family by bandits at the age of 5, Bill Meceita (John Phillip Law) has spent 15 years planning his vengeance. Finding a kindred spirit in Ryan (Lee Van Cleef), an experienced gunslinger seeking his own revenge on those who framed him, the two team up to find and kill Walcott (Luigi Pistilli), a fearsome bandit on the loose. But Bill soon discovers that Ryan may know more about his tragic past than he has let on.
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Death Rides a Horse

Critics Reviews

View All (6) Critics Reviews
J. Hoberman Village Voice Petroni's direction is crude but effective. Nov 22, 2005 Full Review Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times It's hard to explain the fun to be found in seeing the right kind of bad movie. Rated: 1/4 Oct 23, 2004 Full Review Jeffrey M. Anderson Combustible Celluloid The work of director Petroni ('Tepepa') is un-flashy, and a little staid for a Spaghetti Western, but it gets the job done. Rated: 3/4 Apr 12, 2024 Full Review Fernando F. Croce CinePassion If not as luxuriant as Leone or as politicized as Corbucci, the film boasts its own blunt poetry Feb 4, 2010 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Rated: 2/5 Aug 19, 2005 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews ...the film has the allure of watching Van Cleef and Law team up. Rated: C Dec 2, 2002 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Robert T Love this movie ! Excellent movie score, plot, and action. The outstanding acting of Lee Van Cleef and John Phillip Law and their unique dynamic together make the movie for me . Rated 4 out of 5 stars 12/24/24 Full Review Nick F Death Rides A Horse is a good attempt to make a Clint Eastwood-style Western but it falls well short of the mark. It has a good storyline, Spain nicely imitates Arizona, and it also stars the always-compelling Lee Van Cleef. But it is half an hour too long, and John Phillip Law, in only his second movie, is far too clean-cut and un-menacing to convincingly carry off his role as an avenging gunman. Made in 1967, this sprawling Western has both Van Cleef and Law as gunmen both seeking - for different reasons - revenge on a band of outlaws. Their desert trek is long and dusty and often far too talkative, though when the inevitable gunplay finale arrives, the action is well staged and well filmed and delivers a couple of surprise twists. While nowhere near classic Western standards, this film still offers just enough to be worth watching. Reviewed by NICK FLETCHER Rated 3 out of 5 stars 11/20/24 Full Review Mike W The movie would have been more watchable if the "music" could be muted. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/08/24 Full Review Matthew S Very boring, slow, and hard on the eyes to watch. Idk if it's just how it is on Amazon Prime but the camera quality was awful. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 10/06/23 Full Review Audience Member The Italian title of this movie may mean As Man to Man, but in the U.S. it got the great title of Death Rides a Horse. The original title of the film was Duel in the Wind, but star Lee Van Cleef came up with the Italian title while he was discussing the movie with John Phillip Law, as he saw the movie as having a "man to man" story. Van Cleef remarked, "Why don't they call it From Man to Man?" The Italian producers liked how it sounded in Italian and used it. Directed by Giulio Petroni, who made Tepepa, an Italian western with Orson Welles and written by Luciano Vincenzoni (For a Few Dollars More, Orca, Raw Deal), it's the story of Bill (John Phillip Law), a man who once watched his entire family defiled and murdered before his eyes and their home set on fire. Now, 15 years later, he's finally gunning for vengeance. He remembers one thing about each of the five men: a tattoo of four aces, a scar, an earring, a skull necklace and only one face. As he tracks them down, he runs into Ryan (Van Cleef), a man out of jail and hunting the same men after they framed him for armed robbery. While Bill manages to kill the first, played by Anthony Dawson, Ryan wants the rest all to himself. Bill tries, but it doesn't go well. He's captured by the outlaws and buried alive with just his head emerging into the hot sun. He's rescued by Ryan, who ends up being the man with the skull necklace. While he was present during the murders, but he claims that he arrived late and did not participate. He's also the one who rescued Bill from the fire. Ryan gives a pledge to the younger man. Once the gang has been dealt with, he will face whatever justice Bill wants to dish out. An excellent film with a great Morricone soundtrack, this film saw writer Vincenzoni break away from Sergio Leone just as the director was starting The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/06/23 Full Review christopher c. m No spoilers but they play out one reveal near the end that you don't need to be Sherlock Holmes to know ahead of time, but they play it up like it's a big twist. But it's really not. But the acting is well done the story is basic revenge but it works. It's all worth the minor flaws. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Death Rides a Horse

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Movie Info

Synopsis Having witnessed the brutal murder of his entire family by bandits at the age of 5, Bill Meceita (John Phillip Law) has spent 15 years planning his vengeance. Finding a kindred spirit in Ryan (Lee Van Cleef), an experienced gunslinger seeking his own revenge on those who framed him, the two team up to find and kill Walcott (Luigi Pistilli), a fearsome bandit on the loose. But Bill soon discovers that Ryan may know more about his tragic past than he has let on.
Director
Giulio Petroni
Producer
Henryk Chrosicki, Alfonso Sansone
Screenwriter
Luciano Vincenzoni
Production Co
PEC
Rating
R (Some Western Violence)
Genre
Western
Original Language
Italian
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 8, 1968, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 16, 2008
Runtime
1h 55m
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