Death Rides a Horse [Da uomo a uomo] **** (1967, Lee Van Cleef, John Phillip Law, Luigi Pistilli, Anthony Dawson) – Classic Movie Review 5723

John Phillip Law is well remembered for his role as gunfighter Bill Meceita in the Spaghetti Western Death Rides a Horse (1967) with Lee Van Cleef.

Co-writer/ director Giulio Petroni’s strong, well regarded 1967 run-of-the-range Spaghetti revenge Western stars John Phillip Law as Bill Meceita, who rides to avenge himself on his family’s killers in a mass slaughter by four robbers that he witnessed as a young lad.

He takes ex-con gunslinger Ryan (Lee Van Cleef) with him, not knowing that he is one of the bad guys who attended the murder of his parents and is after the money the other robbers owe him.

Petroni’s Western tells a familiar, unsurprising story and takes its time at a steady pace at an overlong 120 minutes. But it is an enjoyable movie, with firm and lusty handling by Petroni. And the involving performances from two welcome American stars and the lively, haunting Ennio Morricone music score are very considerable assets. Van Cleef and Law are a good double act, showing fine chemistry, in an interesting odd couple surrogate father-son relationship.

One again, though Italian financed, it is technically a paella Western, as it is made in Spain at La Calahorra, Granada, Andalucía, and at Tabernas, Almería, Andalucía.

Also in the cast are Luigi Pistilli as Walcott, Anthony Dawson as Burt Cavanaugh, Mario Brega as Walcott’s henchman One-Eye, José Torres as Pedro, Carla Cassola as Betsy, Franco Balducci (as the sheriff), Romano Puppo (as the deputy sheriff), Archie Savage as Soldier, Carlo Pisacane as Holly Spring Station Master, Luigi Pistilli as Walcott, Guglielmo Spoletini as Manuel, Angelo Susani as Paco, Giuseppe Castellano as Sheriff, Franco Balducci as Lyndon City Sheriff, Romano Puppo as Lyndon City Deputy, Walter Giulangeli as Mr Meceita, Elena Hall as Mrs Meceita, Bruno Corazzari as bartender, Natale Nazzareno as member of Pedro’s gang, Felicita Fanny as Marita, Ignazio Leone as minister, Nerina Montagnani as minister’s wife, Nino Vingelli as card player, and Remo Capitani as member of gold escort.

The film is nicely shot in Technicolor and widescreen by Carlo Carlini. The screenplay and story are by Luciano Vincenzoni, working with the director Giulio Petroni. Vincenzoni joined Petroni after falling out with Sergio Leone during the making of The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.

Death Rides a Horse [Da uomo a uomo] runs 120 minutes, is produced by Alfonso Sansone, made by Produzione Esecutiva Cinematografica (PEC) and Sancro International Film, and released by Titanus (1967) (Italy), C B Films S A (1968) (Spain), United Artists (1968) (US) and United Artists (1970) (UK).

It is available on a Region 1 DVD, Blu-ray and Amazon Video.

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 5723

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com

John Phillip Law stars in Death Rides a Horse (1967).