Alternative Top 20: Difference between revisions
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| '''[[ | | '''[[Quella sporca storia nel west|JOHNNY HAMLET]]''', [[Enzo G. Castellari]] (1967) | ||
Less well known than [[Keoma]], this film is considered Castellari's best by many. A retelling of Shakespeare's play which includes some genuinely beautiful images from a man better known for his bang crash kablooey approach to film making. | |||
Check out a full review of the film [[ | Check out a full review of the film [[Johnny Hamlet review|here]]. | ||
| [[File: | | [[File:Hamlet2.jpg|120px|Johnny Hamlet]] | ||
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| '''[[ | | '''[[Navajo Joe|NAVAJO JOE]]''', [[Sergio Corbucci]] (1966) | ||
Not even Burt Reynolds' hair piece can spoil this action packed bonanza. And worth seeing if only for an all too rare major role for Aldo Sanbrell and the stunning beauty of Nicoletta Machiaveli. | |||
Check out a full review of the film [[ | Check out a full review of the film [[Navajo Joe Review (Scherpschutter)|here]]. | ||
| [[File: | | [[File:Navajo joe5.jpg|120px|Navajo Joe]]]] | ||
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| '''[[ | | '''[[Blindman|BLINDMAN]]''', [[Ferdinando Baldi]] (1971) | ||
A reworking of the Zatoichi character transplanted to the old west in which Tony Anthony goes in search of his 50 women. | |||
Check out a full review of the film [[ | Check out a full review of the film [[Blindman review|here]]. | ||
| [[File: | | [[File:TA BlindmanReview Scherpschutter Poster.jpg|120px|Blindman]] | ||
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| '''[[ | | '''[[Precio de un hombre, El|THE BOUNTY KILLER]]''', [[:Category:Eugenio Martin|Eugenio Martin]] (1966) | ||
Tomas Milian's first western and one in which he exhibits one of his most understated performances along with one of the all time great dust eating death scenes. Eugenio Martin only made one great western and this is it. | |||
Check out a full review of the film [[El | Check out a full review of the film [[Precio de un hombre, El/Film Review|here]]. | ||
| [[File: | | [[File:Jpbountykillerhh5.jpg|120px|The Bounty Killer]] | ||
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| '''[[ | | '''[[California|CALIFORNIA]]''', [[:Category:Michele Lupo|Michele Lupo]] (1977) | ||
One of the latest entries into the Italian Western cycle but well worth waiting for. This film is built on decay but affords Giuliano Gemma one of his very best performances. | |||
Check out a full review of the film [[ | Check out a full review of the film [[California Film Review|here]]. | ||
| [[File: | | [[File:California05.jpg|120px|California]] | ||
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| '''[[ | | '''[[Specialisti, Gli|THE SPECIALISTS]]''', [[Sergio Corbucci]] (1970) | ||
Corbucci again. And this time complete with hippies and an entire town's population stripped naked! | |||
Check out a full review of the film [[ | Check out a full review of the film [[The Specialists Review|here]]. | ||
| [[File: | | [[File:TheSpecialist FrenchPoster.jpg|120px|The Specialists]] | ||
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| '''[[ | | '''[[Oggi a me... domani a te!|TODAY IT'S ME, TOMORROW IT'S YOU!]]''', [[:Category:Tonino Cervi|Tonino Cervi]] (1968) | ||
An excellent nuts and bolts revenge western mixed with a 'Five Man Army' element and shot in a distinctively 'unspaghetti' location. The forest of Silver Birch trees and gloomy light conditions make this a stark, memorable and highly enjoyable cinematic ride. | |||
Check out a full review of the film [[ | Check out a full review of the film [[Today It's Me... Tomorrow It's You Review|here]]. | ||
| [[File: | | [[File:Today We Kill Tomorrow We Die22.JPG|120px|Today It's Me... Tomorrow It's You!]] | ||
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| '''[[ | | '''[[Taglia è tua... l'uomo l'ammazzo io, La|EL PURO]]''', [[:Category:Edoardo Mulargia|Edoardo Mulargia]] (1969) | ||
A | A film which the term 'hidden gem' could have been created for. A drunken hero, a gay snog and Mario Brega doing a kamikaze death scene. What more could you want from an existential western? | ||
Check out a full review of the film [[El Puro review|here]]. | |||
| [[File:ElPuro FrenchPoster.jpg|120px|El Puro]] | |||
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| '''[[ | | '''[[Crudeli, I|THE HELLBENDERS]]''', [[Sergio Corbucci]] (1967) | ||
Corbucci proves he can do character study when he wants to in this atmospheric tale of a doomed and dysfunctional family. | |||
Check out a full review of the film [[The Hellbenders Review|here]]. | |||
| [[File:Image703.jpg|120px|The Hellbenders]] | |||
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| '''[[ | | '''[[Preparati la bara!|VIVA DJANGO!]]''', [[Ferdinando Baldi]] (1968) | ||
A Django prequel? Terence Hill looks uncannily like Franco Nero and here proves that he can play the dour anti hero when required. | |||
Check out a full review of the film [[Get a Coffin Ready ! / Viva Django! Review|here]]. | |||
| [[File:PreparatiLaBara DatabasePage.jpg|120px|Viva Django!]] | |||
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| '''[[ | | '''[[Black Jack|BLACK JACK]]''', [[:Category:Gianfranco Baldanello|Gianfranco Baldanello]] (1968) | ||
Robert Woods in a tale of revenge and twisted descent which, even in a genre as cynical as this, is noteworthy for its bleak outlook and dark characters. | |||
Check out a full review of the film [[Black Jack Review|here]]. | |||
| [[File:BlackJack.jpg|120px|Black Jack]] | |||
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| '''[[ | | '''[[Dio perdona... Io no!|GOD FORGIVES, I DON'T!]]''', [[:Category:Giuseppe Colizzi|Giuseppe Colizzi]] (1968) | ||
The first pairing of Hill and Spencer in a western but don't be fooled, this is no Trinity film. A much grittier dish indeed and one which was the first in what became the 'Cat Stevens' trilogy from director Colizzi. | |||
Check out a full review of the film [[God forgives... I don't! Review|here]] | |||
| [[File:Gf 1.jpg|120px|God forgives...I don't!]] | |||
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| '''[[ | | '''[[Dollaro tra i denti, Un|A STRANGER IN TOWN]]''', [[:Category:Luigi Vanzi|Luigi Vanzi]] (1966) | ||
Opinion is often split as to which is the better of Tony Anthony's 'Stranger' films but according to our poll this, the first of the series, is the one most recommended. | |||
Check out a full review of the film [[A Stranger in Town Review (Scherpschutter)|here]]. | |||
| [[File:Tony2.jpg|120px|A Stranger in Town]] | |||
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Revision as of 09:18, 13 March 2011
Overview | Essential Top 20 | Quentin Tarantino's Top 20 | Alex Cox' Top 20 | Howard Hughes' Top 20 | Alternative Top 20 | Staff favorites | Hall of Fame | Best title sequences | Top 20 Soundtracks
The Insider's Top 20 (Tip 20)
So you've been a fan for a while, you've seen most of the well known and more famous Spaghetti Westerns and you're looking for some recommendations for films that maybe fall outside the obvious canon. Well, this list is for you. Selected by our forum members, this Alternative Top 20 is derived from individual lists of favourite films which do not already sit in our Official Top 20. The idea is to highlight some of the titles which often get crowded out of lists of favourites by the films of the 3 Sergios but which are excellent and worthy of note for anyone interested in delving a little deeper into what this genre has to offer. (That said, Mr Corbucci gets a few mentions here too). Besides, in a genre that boasts literally hundreds of films, and on a site full of people who love making lists, limiting our recommendations to only 20 just didn't seem right.
The criteria for compiling the list was simply that it could not contain any film already included in the official Top 20 as of 23 March 2009 and the rating was based on a purely one point per vote system. Where films gained the same number of votes I have simply entered them alphabetically.
Finally, if you want to add your say to this list, just stroll over to our forum and add your own list. We'll update this one as the votes build. (Here's the link).
1 | $10.000 BLOOD MONEY, Romolo Guerrieri (1967)
Guerrieri's masterpiece and crammed full of more murder, sexual tension and eye make up than you can shake a stick at. Check out a full review of the film here. |
2 | RETURN OF RINGO, Duccio Tessari (1965)
The better of the two original Ringo films (although they are both superb) and an object lesson on how to use a theme tune to its very best advantage. If you haven't seen this film yet remedy the situation immediately. Check out a full review of the film here. |
3 | AND GOD SAID TO CAIN, Antonio Margheriti (1969)
Margheriti uses all his horror expertise to create possibly the Spaghetti Western's most gothic example and a lead role for Klaus Kinski to boot. Check out a full review of the film here. |
4 | JOHNNY HAMLET, Enzo G. Castellari (1967)
Less well known than Keoma, this film is considered Castellari's best by many. A retelling of Shakespeare's play which includes some genuinely beautiful images from a man better known for his bang crash kablooey approach to film making. Check out a full review of the film here. |
5 | NAVAJO JOE, Sergio Corbucci (1966)
Not even Burt Reynolds' hair piece can spoil this action packed bonanza. And worth seeing if only for an all too rare major role for Aldo Sanbrell and the stunning beauty of Nicoletta Machiaveli. Check out a full review of the film here. |
]] |
6 | BLINDMAN, Ferdinando Baldi (1971)
A reworking of the Zatoichi character transplanted to the old west in which Tony Anthony goes in search of his 50 women. Check out a full review of the film here. |
7 | THE BOUNTY KILLER, Eugenio Martin (1966)
Tomas Milian's first western and one in which he exhibits one of his most understated performances along with one of the all time great dust eating death scenes. Eugenio Martin only made one great western and this is it. Check out a full review of the film here. |
8 | CALIFORNIA, Michele Lupo (1977)
One of the latest entries into the Italian Western cycle but well worth waiting for. This film is built on decay but affords Giuliano Gemma one of his very best performances. Check out a full review of the film here. |
9 | THE SPECIALISTS, Sergio Corbucci (1970)
Corbucci again. And this time complete with hippies and an entire town's population stripped naked! Check out a full review of the film here. |
10 | TODAY IT'S ME, TOMORROW IT'S YOU!, Tonino Cervi (1968)
An excellent nuts and bolts revenge western mixed with a 'Five Man Army' element and shot in a distinctively 'unspaghetti' location. The forest of Silver Birch trees and gloomy light conditions make this a stark, memorable and highly enjoyable cinematic ride. Check out a full review of the film here. |
11 | VENGEANCE IS MINE, Giovanni Fago (1967)
Gianni Garko and Claudio Camaso are feuding brothers in this terrific tale of family drama and revenge. Check out a full review of the film here |
12 | EL PURO, Edoardo Mulargia (1969)
A film which the term 'hidden gem' could have been created for. A drunken hero, a gay snog and Mario Brega doing a kamikaze death scene. What more could you want from an existential western? Check out a full review of the film here. |
13 | THE HELLBENDERS, Sergio Corbucci (1967)
Corbucci proves he can do character study when he wants to in this atmospheric tale of a doomed and dysfunctional family. Check out a full review of the film here. |
14 | VIVA DJANGO!, Ferdinando Baldi (1968)
A Django prequel? Terence Hill looks uncannily like Franco Nero and here proves that he can play the dour anti hero when required. Check out a full review of the film here. |
15 | BLACK JACK, Gianfranco Baldanello (1968)
Robert Woods in a tale of revenge and twisted descent which, even in a genre as cynical as this, is noteworthy for its bleak outlook and dark characters. Check out a full review of the film here. |
16 | CUT THROATS NINE, Joaquin Luis Romero Marchent (1972)
More Spanish than Italian? Maybe, but this flick, notorious for its violence levels, is still a firm favourite with many fans of the Spaghetti genre. Check out a short review of the film here. |
17 | GOD FORGIVES, I DON'T!, Giuseppe Colizzi (1968)
The first pairing of Hill and Spencer in a western but don't be fooled, this is no Trinity film. A much grittier dish indeed and one which was the first in what became the 'Cat Stevens' trilogy from director Colizzi. Check out a full review of the film here |
18 | THE SPECIALISTS, Sergio Corbucci (1970)
Corbucci again. And this time complete with hippies and an entire town's population stripped naked! Check out a full review of the film here. |
19 | THEY CALL HIM CEMETERY, Giuliano Carnimeo (1971)
Question: When is a Sartana picture not a Sartana picture? Answer: When they call him Cemetery. In truth there are many who prefer this film to any of the actual Sartana flicks and Garko's screen chemistry with William Berger in one of his best performances could be the reason why. Check out a full review of the film here. |
20 | A STRANGER IN TOWN, Luigi Vanzi (1966)
Opinion is often split as to which is the better of Tony Anthony's 'Stranger' films but according to our poll this, the first of the series, is the one most recommended. Check out a full review of the film here. |
Information on this list:
- Related: This list on YouTube