Alternative Top 20

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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 is simply that it must not contain any film already included in the official Top 20 as of 22 August 2011 and the rating is based on a purely one point per vote system. The exception to this rule is that the film placed at #20 in our official list is now accepted for this list as it can, and does, change quite regularly. This list will be updated regularly to ensure that no film appears at any time of both lists but that a film which drops out of the Official list can be recognised here without a complete recount. Where films gain the same number of votes I will simply enter 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.

$10.000 Blood Money
2 THE SPECIALISTS, Sergio Corbucci (1970)

It's Corbucci. And this time complete with hippies and an entire town's population stripped naked!

Check out a full review of the film here.

The Specialists
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.

And God said to Cain
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.

Johnny Hamlet
5 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.

Blindman
6 LIGHT THE FUSE...SARTANA IS COMING, Giuliano Carnimeo (1970)

The last of Garko's outings as Sartana. And despite, or maybe because of the heightened outrageousness of the gadgetry, this is often cited as the most popular of the series.

Check out a full review of the film here.

Light the Fuse...Sartana is Coming
7 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.

Navajo Joe
8 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

God forgives...I don't!
9 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.

California
10 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

Vengeance is Mine
11 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.

El Puro
12 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.

The Bounty Killer
13 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.

Today It's Me... Tomorrow It's You!
14 TRINITY IS STILL MY NAME, Enzo Barboni (1971)

The second and even more successful of the Trinity films. More tongue in cheek fun from Trinity and Bambino so, if you liked the first one, you are bound to dig this one too.

Check out a full review of the film here.

Trinity is Still My Name
15 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.

Cut Throats Nine
16 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.

They call him Cemetery
17 TASTE OF DEATH, Sergio Merolle (1968)

An effective cast and great score make this atmospheric winner another entry into the 'hidden gem' club.

Check out a full review of the film here.

Taste of Death
18 DJANGO THE BASTARD, (1969)

Also widely known as The Stranger's Gundown, this vengeful slice of spaghetti pie from 'the fourth Sergio' has a large supernatural element running right through it and may or may not have influenced Clint Eastwood's later, High Plains Drifter. Either way Garrone delivers a fine macabre western and Anthony Steffen gives one of his most effective performances.

Check out a full review of the film here.

Django the Bastard
19 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.

Black Jack
20 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.

The Hellbenders

Information on this list:

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