Beyond the Law

1975
6.1| 1h49m| PG| en
Details

A thief takes the job as a town sheriff in order to rob a silver shipment before his ex-partner can grab it.

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Reviews

SunnyHello Nice effects though.
Dynamixor The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.
Inmechon The movie's only flaw is also a virtue: It's jammed with characters, stories, warmth and laughs.
Erica Derrick By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.
Leofwine_draca Here's an example of the spaghetti western genre at its finest, with a complex and twisting plot, multiple characters, good action, and some of the finest actors that the genre has to offer. The combined result makes for watchable and entertaining viewing with a movie that always has something interesting going on. Things start off predictably enough as we are introduced to the eminently likable Lee Van Cleef, as a cheeky thief who steals the payroll belonging to a mining corporation which is brought to town by a very young-looking Antonio Sabato. Van Cleef finds himself on the right side of the law for a change as he befriends Sabato and helps fight off a gang of ruthless bandits who are also after the money. He even finds himself made the town sheriff. However, when the bandits turn up, led by the ruthless Gordon Mitchell, and kidnap the town's womanfolk, Van Cleef finds himself leading a full-scale battle against the enemy.The biggest fault is probably with director Giorgio Stegani, who is at the opposite end of the talent spectrum from master director Sergio Leone. His film totally lacks style or charm so it lies on the actors to make things entertaining. Thankfully, Fernando Di Leo's script is fairly complex with some degree of characterisation and there are lots of interesting people in the tale who interact with each other in different ways. The plot is fast-paced and while there are no really impressive or memorable shoot-outs or gun-downs, a wealth of action-orientated scenes keep things moving and the full-scale battle at the film's close is both well-shot and exciting.The cast is what makes this film really good. First of all we have genre icon Lee Van Cleef in the likable leading part of a character who begins the film as a ruthless bad guy and undergoes a complete transformation into becoming a good-natured heroic sheriff! Van Cleef is excellent in the part and really sympathetic, especially in his doomed relationship with the exceptionally pretty Graziella Granata. Secondly we have Antonio Sabato as the fresh-faced European stranger who comes to take care of the town's mining operation; you can't help but like his character and he does well with what is a rather underwritten and one-dimensional part. There's solid comic support from Lionel Stander and Herbert Fux as a pair of greedy robbers who figure in the film's surprise twist ending and the aforementioned Graziella Granata is fine as the female romantic interest. However, stealing the show is one Gordon Mitchell who has a really impressive and sinister entrance as the scary chief villain, Burton. It's surprising how much he resembles Peter Cushing in TWINS OF EVIL in his part and he relishes the opportunity to kill innocent folk and snarl orders at his men - a really nasty role. The casting and the story combine to make this a must-see for spagwest fans.
ma-cortes This especial Italian western blends violence, action western , plot twists, shoot'em up with high body-count , it's fast movement and for that reason is entertaining . This is the story of the ex-bandit who'd worn it -till he'd faced one gun too many...the young , novice engineer he had to teach to wear it- or watch to die and the young who lived only to wear one of his own ! .. and for some dollars a month -that's what they gave you for protecting people who ran like rabbits when the going got roguish ! ¨ . The picture deals with a beginner young engineer (Antonio Sabato , of course father of known TV actor Antonio Sabato Jr) who persuades veteran rogue (Lee Van Cleef) and his hoodlums (the veteran Lionel Stander) to help him to rid a little town of bandits who have robbed 12.000 dollars belonging to payroll of the miners . Then , the thief turns into sheriff of the little town called Silver City where is guarded the silver treasure from the mine and the baddies led by Burton ( particular performance by a Peplum-hero as Gordon Mitchell dressed in black with cloak and hat ) want to rob . Meanhile the old gunslinger now upright sheriff falls in love with a beautiful girl (Graziella Granata) .It's an acceptable Spaghetti film with dazzling shootouts between the protagonists and the contenders . This meaty Western contains interesting plot , violence , shootouts and is quite entertaining , though drags at times in ups and downs . This average Western balances noisy action , suspense and drama with tragic final in which happens a sad , dramatic showdown . It's a classic recounting about teaching an unexperienced young finely played by Antonio Sabato who is in charge of a silver mine and a veteran roguish become marshal . Agreeable performance by Lee Van Cleef changing his usual characters , here as a honorable sheriff who defends the villagers and even confronts his friends at an amazing ending . Secondary cast formed by habitual Spaghetti/Peplum players as Carlo Gaddi, Romano Puppo, Herbert Fux, Enzo Fiermonte and including Bud Spencer in a serious role as foreman . Enjoyable score by Riz Ortalani who composed lots of Spaghetti Western scores , it contains a sensible musical leitmotif .There are many fine technicians and nice assistants as the cameraman Enzo Serafin who makes a nice photography with barren outdoors, dirty landscapes under a glimmer sun shot of course on Almeria , Spain , though is mostly filmed at Italy . However , being necessary and urgent remastering because of the original is washed-out . The motion picture is professionally directed by Giorgo Stegani , though with no originality . He's is an expert writer of Giallo and Western as ¨Blood of a silver dollar¨ and ¨ Beyond the law ¨ and occasionally Western director as ¨Gentleman killer¨and ¨Adios Gringo¨ . Rating : 5,5 acceptable but mediocre Spaghetti that will appeal to Lee Van Cleef fans .
rmahaney4 3 rogues steal a mining company's payroll from Antonio Sabato's Czechoslovakian mining engineer at the beginning of this rather routine Spaghetti Western. They then spar with the black-clad villain Burton. The story of the transformation of Lee Van Cleef's Cutlip from criminal to marshal is interesting and could have made a really good film, but it is poorly executed with unimaginative direction and music. However, a few of the scenes, particularly those with the hostages, are effective. If you like SW, then you will find something in this film to enjoy. I did. But if you do not, then avoid. I saw a rather poor quality pan and scan VHS. The film would really benefit from widescreen.Lee Van Cleef's performance is good, but as usual with SW there are some priceless dubbed lines like, "I never saw nor heard so many b*****ds in all my life. All you men got families that came from all over the world, right? The kid just got here and gets and little bad luck and you treat him like a dog. Who the hell do you think you are? You act like you all got hit in the head with a horse!"Top spaghetti western list http://imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=21849907Average SWs http://imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=21849889 For completists only (bottom of the barrel) http://imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=21849890
Mark-371 This movie was ok.....i thought it would be good since lee van cleef was in it and so was lionel stander......mainly i bought it because Bud Spencer was in it......i thought he was a main character but he was only in the movie for about 10 minutes.....the story wasn't bad....it was about a guy who came from europe to the states to deliver money to some miners but its stolen....he has to get it back and he asks lee van cleef for help...but lee was the person who robbed him! i would give this movie a 5/10

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