Mannaja

From The Spaghetti Western Database
Revision as of 07:49, 21 September 2014 by Jans (talk | contribs) (→‎External Links)
Jump to: navigation, search

Mannaja (Italy 1977 / Director: Sergio Martino)

Mannaja DatabasePage.jpg
Contents:
  • Runtime: 95 min
  • Release Date: 13.8.1977
  • Filming Locations: Rome

Also known as

A Man Called Blade (U.S.A.) | Mannaja - das Beil des Todes (Germany) | Der letzte der Bounty Killer (Germany) | Mannaja - L'homme à la hache (France) | El Valle De La Muerte (Spain) | Mannaja - mannen med köttyxan (Sweden) | Cego por vinganca (Brazil) | Manaja (Yugoslavian)

Cast and Crew

  • Cast: Maurizio Merli ("Mannaja"/"Blade"), John Steiner (Theo Waller), Donal O'Brien (Burt Craven), Sonja Jeannine (Deborah McGowan), Philippe Leroy (Edward M. McGowan), Martine Brochard (Angela), Salvatore Puntillo (Johnny Johnny), Nino Casale, Enzo Fiermonte (government agent), Rik Battaglia (Gerard Merton), Nino Casale (Dahlman), Enzo Maggio (old timer), Sergio Tardioli (bartender), Sophia Lombardo (Lucy), Nello Pazzafini (Waller henchman), Riccardo Petrazzi (Waller henchman), Claudio Ruffini (Waller henchman), Aldo Rendine, Jose Yepes, Elio Angelucci
  • Screenplay: Sergio Martino
  • Cinematography: Federico Zanni (Eastmancolor, Cinemascope 2,35:1)
  • Second Unit Director of Photography: Nino Celeste
  • Music: Guido & Maurizio De Angelis
  • Songs: "Wolf" + "Snake" sung by Dandylion
  • Producer: Luciano Martino

Synopsis

Blade gets involved with an unscrupulous mine owner, his daughter and his henchman, a wanted outlaw, and a saloon girl in the town of Suttonville.

Comment

Despite coming along fairly late in the cycle, this spaghetti western is one of the genre's best. Maurizio Merli plays Blade, a bounty hunter who captures outlaw Burt Craven (Donald O'Brien) by throwing his hatchet and chopping off Craven's hand. In the nearby town of Suttonstead, Blade wins a poker game against Waller (Caligula's John Steiner), and -- because he can't get a reward for Craven -- frees his captive. Later, Waller ambushes Blade in the wilderness, burying him up to his neck and sewing his eyelids open so his eyes will be burnt out by the sun. Craven discovers Blade and repays his freedom by saving the now-blinded gunman, who learns to shoot by sound rather than sight. Director Sergio Martino is best known for stylish thrillers and uses his considerable visual style to give this violent, grandiose film an almost mythical resonance. Fans of gritty realism in spaghetti westerns may not relate to Martino's flamboyant style, but most Euro-devotees will find it immensely appealing. Martine Brochard, Rik Battaglia, and Philippe Leroy co-star.

External Links

Cookies help us deliver our services. By using our services, you agree to our use of cookies.