Blood for a Silver Dollar [Un dollaro bucato] *** (1965, Giuliano Gemma, Evelyn Stewart, Pierre Cressoy) – Classic Movie Review 9345

Co-writer/ director Giorgio Ferroni’s 1965 Italian-French Spaghetti Western film, Blood for a Silver Dollar [Un dollaro bucato], also known as Le dollar troué, One Silver Dollar, and Un dólar agujereado, stars Giuliano Gemma and Evelyn Stewart [Ida Galli]. It is written by Giorgio Stegani (billed as George Finley) (story and screenplay) and Giorgio Ferroni (billed as Calvin Jackson Padget) (screenplay).

Gemma plays Confederate soldier Gary O’Hara who returns from the US Civil War and arrives in Yellowstone where, he meets the unscrupulous wealthy landowner and banker McCoy (Pierre Cressoy), who hires Gary to kill outlaw Black Jack. But Gary discovers too late that Black Jack is actually his brother Phil O’Hara (Nazzareno Zamperla). Seeking vengeance, Gary turns on his employer and his hired henchmen.

Good plot, score (Gianni Ferrio), performances, action, direction, photography (Antonio Secchi, billed as Tony Dry), Art Direction (Arrigo Equini, billed as Harry Horse), locations and Spaghetti Western atmosphere add up to a strong, satisfying Italian Western movie.

Most of the cast members and production team had their names changed for the American audience.

The title song had a hit cover version by Nini Rosso.

It is shot at Elios Studios in Rome

The title music, composed by Gianni Ferrio, was used in Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds. Ferrio’s themes are also featured in the videogame Red Dead Revolver.

The cast are Giuliano Gemma (billed as Montgomery Wood) as Gary O’Hara, Ida Galli (billed as Evelyn Stewart) as Judy O’Hara, Pierre Cressoy (billed as Peter Cross) as McCory/ Max Cory/ McCoy/ Aloysius MacKenzie, Giuseppe Addobbati (billed as John Mac Douglas) as Donaldson , Franco Fantasia (as Frank Farrel) as Sheriff Anderson, Tullio Altamura (billed as Tor Altmayer) as Peter, Massimo Righi (billed as Max Dean) as Brad, Francisco Fantasia (billed as Frank Farrel) as Sheriff George Anderson, Andrea Scotti (billed as Andrew Scott) as Slim, Nazzareno Zamperla (billed as Nicholas Saint John) as Phil O’Hara/ Black Jack/ Black Eye, Giuseppe Addobbati (billed as John MacDouglas) as Donaldson, Alfredo Rizzo as Buddy, Benny Reeves as Jim, Nello Pazzafini as Henchman, Sal Borgese ass Henchman, Ignazio Spalla (billed as Pedro Sanchez) as Henchman, Moises Rocha (billed as Jack Rocha) as Henchman, Franco Lantieri (billed as Frank Liston), Gino Marturano (billed as John Martin), Bernard Faber (billed as Benny Farber), Luigi Tosi, Pietro Ceccarelli, Bruno Arie, Fortunato Arena, Giulio Maculani, and Osiride Pevarello.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 9345

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