LouHomey
From my favorite movies..
Robert Joyner
The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one
The_Void
Lucio Fulci will probably always be best known for his gory zombie movies; but he also directed some of the best films in the Giallo genre as well as a few other gems elsewhere. Fulci only directed three films in the popular Spaghetti Western genre; and I for one am thankful for that as it was clearly not his strong point. His first attempt at the genre, Massacre Time, was an above average western, if not especially brilliant. Four of the Apocalypse was well made but frankly dull, which brings us on to this film; which is more exciting (slightly) than Fulci's last effort, but too sappy for a western and too lacking in important areas. The plot is very typical for a Spaghetti Western and focuses on a man who, as a child, witnessed his father being killed. He grows up to become a bounty hunter going by the name of Silver Saddle and naturally he wants revenge and starts plotting once he finds the people behind his father's death. However, he ends up coming across the young son instead and after thwarting an assassination on the boy, sets off for his revenge.The music is generally a very important element of the Spaghetti Western; and again it's a place where this one is seriously lacking. The score is, simply, horrible. What we get is a singer droning on about the plot of the movie and it will do nothing but make you cringe! Ennio Morricone, this isn't. The film seems all too keen to shy away from the stuff that usually makes this genre so great - namely, violence and action, and instead decides to put its focus on the relationship between the central bounty hunter character and his enemy's nephew; a young and irritating blonde haired kid. This relationship may be interesting for some; but personally I found it very boring and it wasn't what I went into this film looking for. There are a few action scenes but nothing particularly startling and the way the film moves is rather boring far too often. Prolific Spaghetti Western star Giuliano Gemma takes the lead role and is one of the film's few saving graces as he puts in a believable performance. The ending is rather decent too and wraps things up nicely; but this is not a great western unfortunately.
dmacewen
...and which adults might enjoy, too. Fulci's best western was the imperfect but striking and alchemical "Four of the Apocalypse," which was alternately shocking and touching, and meandered along at an engaging pace, letting the viewer soak in the detail and peripheral touches. While this is not up to the standard of that film, I find Silver Saddle to be preferable to his conventional, by-the-numbers "Massacre Time" (which, for some strange reason, its director insisted on referring to as "oneiric," although there is nothing dreamlike about it). If you enjoy this film, you might want to check out "White Fang," also by Fulci.
MARIO GAUCI
The third and last of Fulci's Spaghetti Westerns (coming at the tail-end of the genre) - not up to the vintage MASSACRE TIME (1966) but preferable to the disappointing and unpleasant THE FOUR OF THE APOCALYPSE (1975) - with a distinct kiddie interest, since the violence isn't particularly graphic. In fact, even if star Giuliano Gemma (perhaps best known for two "Ringo" Westerns) is given the possibility of a couple of romances, the central relationship involves him and the young nephew of his sworn enemy! As such, it emerges as unremarkable but surprisingly engaging, with a pleasant soundtrack and able support from Geoffrey Lewis (as Gemma's sidekick, a more likable version of the slimy bounty-hunters played by Strother Martin and L.Q. Jones in Sam Peckinpah's THE WILD BUNCH [1969]), Ettore Manni (as the chief villain) and Aldo Sambrell as a Mexican bandit-leader.
Peter L. Petersen (KnatLouie)
I bought this movie in the early 1990's, saw it once, and then it had been lying on the shelf more than 10 years (approximately). When I finally brushed off the dust and decided to see it again (remembering absolutely nothing about it), I wasn't as disappointed as I first thought I would be after just looking at the video-cover and reading the words: "This is a real Gun-man Western!" and thinking it would be filled with cliches and stupid dialogue. The beginning was actually the best part in the movie, and I thought that it should have ended just when the little boy rode off into the sunset after the shootout.But no, they had to carry on for a whole hour after that!... in that hour, a romantic (meaningless of course) relationship occurs with Roy Blood and some woman (who actually looks quite pretty, I must say). Some bad guys suddenly appear from nowhere and of course feels like shooting it out with our hero Roy Blood (played by Giuliano Gemma). Geoffrey Lewis (who's the father of Juliette Lewis, and who has been in a whole bunch of Clint Eastwood-movies and other minor or major films) appears in a role as a sleazy guy called 'Snake' (I didn't even notice his name on the cast, because they had like 7 or 8 Italian no-names listed ahead of him!!), I thought he should have been at least the third-highest placed person on the cast overview list.The movie made me laugh a couple of times, even though I don't think it was intentionally by the director, except the hilarious ending which blew my mind completely!.. It was a truly amazing scene, one that saved the entire movie in my opinion...I give the first part of the movie 1/3 points (because I thought the daddy-killer looked like Johnny Cash, and he's cool), the middle section 2/4 points (because I was glad to see at least ONE familiar face in the movie [G. Lewis]), and the ending I give 2/3 (Well, you'll have to see it to believe it... even though some might think it is very ridiculous!)..All in all, a pretty average western, with a hokey plot, but okay if you don't have anything better to do with your time.5/10
