A Pistol for Ringo [Una Pistola per Ringo] *** (1965, Giuliano Gemma, Fernando Sancho, Lorella De Luca, Nieves Navarro, Antonio Casas, George Martin) – Classic Movie Review 9324

Writer-director Duccio Tessari’s highly regarded spaghetti Western A Pistol for Ringo [Una Pistola per Ringo] (1965) stars Giuliano Gemma (credited as Montgomery Wood), Fernando Sancho, and Lorella De Luca (credited as Hally Hammond).

Giuliano Gemma stars as gunfighter Ringo, called Angel Face, who is freed from prison to infiltrate a gang of Mexican bandits led by Sancho (Fernando Sancho) who, after a bank robbery, have barricaded themselves in Major Clyde (Antonio Casas)’s ranch.

Ringo asks for 30 percent of the loot in return but, when he arrives at the farm, he reveals everything to Sancho for 40 percent of the loot to rescue him and his gang. The bandits’ hostages include the local sheriff’s fiancée, who gradually falls for Gemma, but is lusted after by one of Sancho’s cronies.

There’s an excellent screenplay by Tessari, a fine score by Ennio Morricone, good action, and a useful star turn by Gemma.

It is filmed in Almería, Andalucía, Spain, partly in the Tabernas desert area, with the main location at Finca El Romeral, San José, Almería, so it is technically a paella Western as a Spanish-Italian co-production.

Also in the cast are Nieves Navarro as Dolores, Antonio Casas, George Martin, José Manuel Martín, Manuel Muñiz (as Pajarito) and Juan Cazalilla.

A Pistol for Ringo [Una Pistola per Ringo] is directed by Duccio Tessari, runs 98 minutes, is made by Produzioni Cinematografiche Mediterranee (PCM) and Balcázar Producciones Cinematográficas, is released by Cineriz (1965) (Italy), Embassy Pictures (1966) (US) and Miracle Pictures (1966) (UK) is written by Duccio Tessari, is shot by Francisco Marín, is produced by Luciano Ercoli and Alberto Pugliese, and is scored by Ennio Morricone, with Art Direction by Carlo Gentili and Juan Alberto Soler.

It is followed by the 1965 The Return of Ringo.

Almería-born Nieves Navarro was married to producer Luciano Ercoli from 1972 till his death on 15 March 2015.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 9324

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