Viva! Django (1971)

Designed to cash in on the success of 1966's Django, this unofficial Django movie directed by Edoardo Mulargia is very unoriginal with its plot. It just carbon copy, the previous film's plot. Instead of stealing gold, like the last movie. Django (Anthony Steffen) in this film, steals guns. Instead of chasing down one man; he's chasing down a team of men, with the help of a horse theft, Carranza (Stelio Candelli) whom can identify the members of the gang that kill his wife. While, a lot of people might think, his wife was raped. Seeing, multiplies copies of the film. I can clearly let this rumor to rest, that she does not. Even with all that, the movie plot is still pretty generic, predictable and tiresome. The funny thing about this film, is how little, the producers seem to have a minimum knowledge of Sergio Corbucci's work on Django. While, the main character in question, does wear black; there is nothing about his character, that makes us, think, he is the same man as the original film. There is no iconic coffin, no tombstones or crosses made for his victims, and most of all, no spooky or dark themes. Unless, you count, the hero hiding behind corpse. This movie seem to recycles more elements of the "Trilogy of the Dollar" by Sergio Leone than Corbucci's film series. For example, the hanging scene, and the music box. The acting is alright for the most part. Anthony Steffen has this unique manner to Django. Steffen looks like he could be the laboratory clone of Henry Fonda. He has that likable and engaging screen main star presence. Stelio Candelli plays up the Tuco-inspired character of Carranza with grinning glee. Both Steffen and Candelli display a winning chemistry in the leads and the movie kinda works, because of them. The only problem is that, the movie seem to lack, a good main villain. Chris Avram as the lethal Jeff and Riccardo Pizzuti as the dastardly Thompson were lackluster. The movie made them, look like idiots, than men that could honestly, be a threat to the heroes. This movie is surprising, very light-hearten. There was tons of funny silly pranks pull against the villains, like the bed or fake arm scenes. Still, there were some tricks that were a little unrealistic. Some good examples are, the scene where he disable most of the shotguns or loosen all the bad guys' sandals. Where did he get time for that? Some scenes seem to have come out of a cartoon, like the one where a guy throws a stick of dynamite in Django, only to have it, backfired, with him half stunned, fuming and with his face and clothes scorched by the blast! Is this, a Looney Toons's episode or a Spaghetti Western!? Anyways, there were some moments that wasn't supposed to be funny, but it just comes across, as hilarious, due to the film, low budget production like the stunt dummy being tossed over the cliff, the over the top, one shot kills or the editors reusing shots like the man jumping through the window, during an explosion. This movie has tons of LOL moments. Note that this film came out in 1971, a time when the spaghetti western tried to reinvent itself by appealing to the comic, burlesque and the absurd, that came from the success of 1970's film, 'They call me, Trinity'. The writers for this movie, was hoping to do the same with this movie, but it didn't mash well, due to some really unusual framing choices. A good example is how they portray saloon owner, Paco (Donato Castellenata). They made him into a great likable supporting character, but also add dark scenes of him, slapping women and being forced to gun fight. WTF! It doesn't know, if it wants to be serious or be a comedy film. In terms, of death toll, this is one of the most violent titles of Django series. 57 out of 90 men are killed by Django. It's really over-blown, seeing that he just wanted to get revenge with four men. While, the movie has plenty of gun fights, none of them were graphic. There were a lot of scenes that go nowhere, like Django eyeing Lola (Esmeralda Barros), while looking at a nude painting. While, the luscious Esmeralda Baldi supplies some really needed eye candy. Her scenes seem a bit wasted in the film, as nothing is establish, between her and the leads. Another framing mistake is how a car shows up out of nowhere. The film never tells us, what year, is the movie event, taking place. So, it look out of place. The dialogue is whack as well. Bartender saying that hanging isn't a Christian way to die, but tells a story about a Native-American saying about souls comes out of the mouth. What? There is some confusion with the movie title as some distributors renamed as "Viva Django", unaware that by that title was also used by director Ferdinando Baldi for his 1968's film, 'Django, Prepare a Coffin". I like the great psychedelic credit sequence with Piero Umiliani's melodic score. It create a perfect musical backdrop to this enjoyably fast-paced, late period spaghetti western. I didn't like the twist ending with that awkward freeze-framing. It made it look like the movie was cut-short. It is curious to note that this film is the last "sotto-Django", in the Golden Age of Spaghetti Westerns. It is very easy to find the movie on the internet. If not, there are plenty of DVDs, worth checking out. Just note, that some versions are not in high quality. There is a 'Django' double feature DVD from Shout Factory/Timeless Media Group features this movie and Sartana's Showdown in the West that is easily high recommendation due to the quite good transfer. Overall: Eduardo Mulargia manages to put together a decent Spaghetti Western. While, this movie didn't outdo the original Franco Nero's film; it was still very entertaining.

¨Ravioli¨ Western with two top-of -the range ¨Macaroni¨ players as Anthony Steffen and Chris Avram . Italian production full of action , exaggerated characters , shootouts and lots of violence . A good example of Latino western genre from Italy . For money, for pleasure, for revenge, he doesn't care why he kills or how . Django (Anthony Steffen) is on the trail of some renegade outlaws who raped and killed his spouse . En route, he saves a horse thief named Carranza (Stelio Candeli) from an impromptu hanging . He learns the man knows who committed the killing , as three bandits named Jeff (Chris Avram) , Ibanez (Benito Stefanelli) and Thompson (Riccardo Pizzuti) . The two men team up and head west for vendetta . Django goes out to avenge his wife battling murderous and executes a single-handedly revenge , as he shoots , ravages and kills each person involved in the killing .This meaty Western contains an interesting but well known plot , violence , shoot'em up and results to be quite entertaining , though drags at times , balancing in ups and downs . This moving Spaghetti packs noisy action , thrills , drama with exciting final . Ordinary Spaghetti Western follows the Sergio Leone wake and it is proceeded in violent style . The film packs violence , shootouts , high body-count and it's fast moving and quite entertaining . It's a thrilling western with breathtaking confrontation between the protagonist Anthony Steffen against the heartless Chris Avram , Riccardo Pizzuti and his underlings . Anthony Steffen is fine , he ravages the screen , hit and run and kills . This movie is a lot of fun to watch . It's an acceptable story with a touch of peculiarity , some particular characters, and an amazing music score . The picture is a tale of justice and revenge, as a man returns home , a border little town and looks for vendetta against the wife's killers . The basic plot is typical spaghetti western fare , but what makes this movie stand out is its style . This is an exciting film, plenty action , thrills, fights , gun-down and breathtaking outdoors from Lacio , Rome , and interiors in Elios Studios . In the picture appears Spaghetti habitual secondaries playing brief interventions such as Riccardo Pizzuti : ordinary in Terence Hill-Spencer movies , Giovanni Cianfriglia or Ken Wood as a henchman , Benito Stefanelli , Fortunato Arena and Simone Blondell : Demofilo Fidani's daughter , known as the Italian Ed Wood . The notorious Spaghetti actor , Anthony Steffen is good in his usual tough role . The pic is well starred by Anthony Steffen-Antonio De Teffe- , he began playing secondary roles into typical examples of popular Italian films of the late 50s as sword and sandal epics, comedies, adventures and was with spaghetti westerns that renamed achieved worldwide stardom . photo) Anthony Steffen may be a name best remembered by Spaghetti Western aficionados, but in his day, from the mid-'60s to the early '70s, Steffen was one of the most popular actors of the genre — at the time cheap B movies, now revered cult classics . The handsome, Italian-born — actually at the Brazilian embassy in Rome — Antonio Luiz de Teffè von Hoonholtz began working in films as a studio messenger for Vittorio De Sica. From there, Steffen began acting in sword-and-sandal epics, later moving onto the Western genre, where he found his niche. Unlike fellow Spaghetti star Clint Eastwood, however, Steffen never became a top international box-office attraction. His acting is often accused of being wooden, but in many manners is ideally suited to playing the steely-faced gunslinger synonymous with the genre . His others successes include well liked features as Seven Dollars to Kill, The last Mohican¨, ¨Train for Durango¨, ¨Gentleman Jo¨ , ¨Four dollars for Django¨, ¨Shango¨, ¨Arizona colt¨, ¨Apocalypse Joe¨ and several others .There is plenty of action in the movie , guaranteeing some shoot'em up or stunts every few minutes. There is a very odd implementation of shots in the camera work during some particular scenes as the film approaches its climax , as in the final gunfights and the customary showdown conclusion . The movie gets the usual Western issues, such as avenger antiheroes , violent facing off , exaggerated baddies, soundtrack with Morricone influence , among them . The sense of pacing is such that his film can be counted on to move quickly and smoothly . Good production design creating an excellent scenario with luminous outdoors, dirty and rocky landscapes under a shinning sun and fine sets . Good cinematography by Marcello Masciocchi , including a nice remastering . Great musical score by Piero Umiliani , furthermore a catching and emotive leitmotif . This motion picture was well and professionally directed by Edoardo Mulargia though with no originality. Edoardo Mulargia directed a lot of Spaghetti as ¨W Djianjo¨, ¨El Puro¨ , ¨Django Spara¨ Cjamngo¨ , ¨Shango¨ , ¨Vete con Dios , Gringo¨, most part starred by Robert Woods or Anthony Steffen . Rating : 6. Acceptable and passable Western that will appeal to Spaghetti fans .

Cunning ace gunslinger Django (a solid and engaging performance by Anthony Steffen) enlists the assistance of loud-mouthed thief Carranza (an equally sturdy and amusing portrayal by Stelio Candelli) after his wife is raped and killed by a band of vicious renegades. Carranza is the sole person who can identify said killers. Director Edoardo Mulargia, working from a compact script by Nino Stresa, relates the fun story at a snappy pace, stages the plentiful gunfights with rip-snorting verve, and tops everything off with nifty touches of goofy humor. Steffen and Candelli display a winning chemistry in the leads; they receive sound support from Chris Avram as the lethal Jeff, Donato Castellenata as the friendly Paco, and Riccardo Pizzuti as the dastardly Thompson. Luscious brunette stunner Esmeralda Baldi supplies some tasty eye candy as the fetching Lola. The surprise ending is a pip. Marcello Maciocchi's dynamic cinematography injects lots of extra invigorating energy. Piero Umiliani's robust sweeping score hits the lively stirring spot. A cool little oater.

This spaghetti western has a typical but well executed storyline. The relationship between the two main characters is reminiscent of Blondie and Tuco from "The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly." It also has pretty decent acting, an awesome music score from Piero Umiliani, and one of the coolest endings I have ever seen.I probably would have rated it even higher if it was dubbed in English. I don't mind subtitles in other kinds of movies, but for some reason I prefer to watch westerns in English, even if the dubbing is bad.Still, it's a really enjoyable flick, and I recommend it to all die-hard spaghetti western fans.