posted March 14, 2005 03:23 PM                    

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Here is the surprise of my recent viewings. Not having seen it at the cinema, I must admit that as I fed it into my Eumig I thought: “Here goes, another run-of-the mill Western,” and settled back expecting to be bored for fifty minutes. How wrong can you be - I found it one of the most entertaining three-parters released to date! Filmed in Mexico ( 1968 ) by the French producer/director team of Jacques Bar and Henri Verneuil, it stars two tremendous box office names, Anthony Quinn and Charles Bronson. Add to these a haunting musical score by Ennio ( ‘Dollar’ ) Morricone and the result is a home cinema winner!…

…A smashing epic in every sense of the word , charged with excitement which never flags. This is one featurette where three parts are fully justified. Add to this really excellent colour and sound and you have my joint ‘pick of the month’. A rattling good yarn for any audience!

Bill Davision - Movie Maker December 1980

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This really is a great film, genuinely exciting and well acted. The story is based on a case of mistaken identity - Anthony Quinn plays a rogue who is thought to be a priest. He is adopted by the villagers of San Sebastian and despite his un-godly ways leads them to victory in the fight to save their village.

The edit is very good making the story flow with very little evidence that anything is missing. The picture is pin sharp and the sound is truly belting. Such a shame that my copy at least has started to turn red .

Mike

[ March 14, 2005, 04:26 PM: Message edited by: Mike Peckham ]

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Auntie Em must have stopped wondering where I am by now...