Take a Hard Ride *** (1975, Jim Brown, Lee Van Cleef, Fred Williamson, Catherine Spaak, Jim Kelly, Dana Andrews, Barry Sullivan) – Classic Movie Review 8840

Director Anthony M Dawson’s 1975 Take a Hard Ride [La Lunga Cavalcata] stars Jim Brown as trail boss Pike, who agrees with wealthy employer Morgan (Dana Andrews) to deliver a stash of payroll cash to a ranch in Sonora, Mexico. Pike teams up with gambler Tyree (Fred Williamson) and they encounter prostitute Catherine (Catherine Spaak) and her martial artist companion Kashtok (Jim Kelly). But Pike reckons without nasty bandito bounty hunter Kiefer (Lee Van Cleef), who gives chase.

Dawson’s interesting, eclectic Spaghetti Western, shot in Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain, is given some zest by the very good B-movie cast, a sprinkle of humour in the script and a touch of brash style by Dawson’s direction and the second-unit direction and stunt work of Hal Needham.

It also stars Dana Andrews, Barry Sullivan, Harry Carey Jr and Robert Donner, along with Charles McGregor, Leonard Smith, Ronald Howard, Ricardo Palacios, Robin Levitt and Buddy Joe Hooker.

The director’s real name is Antonio Margheriti.

The screenplay is by Eric Bercovici and Jerrold L Ludwig {Jerry Ludwig].

The production is by Harry Bernsen, Jerrold L Ludwig and Eric Bercovici.

It runs 103 minutes but the cut version runs 93 minutes.

Hal Needham and Jim Kelly both passed away in 2013.

The Sioux City set still stands near San Augustin in Gran Canaria.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 8840

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