The Deserter [La Spina Dorsale del Diavolo] [The Devil’s Backbone] ** (1970, Bekim Fehmiu, Richard Crenna, Chuck Connors) – Classic Movie Review 10,639

Director Burt Kennedy’s 1970 Italian/ Yugoslav/ US co-production The Deserter [La Spina Dorsale del Diavolo] [The Devil’s Backbone] [Ride to Glory] is a violent Spaghetti Western with the usual revenge tale – cavalryman hunts the Indians who have killed his wife.

It is written by the capable Clair Huffaker (adaptation and screenplay), it has the right director in Burt Kennedy and extremely able co-stars, but Bekim Fehmiu doesn’t have the stuff as the hero, Army deserter Captain Viktor Kaleb, who has to lead a raid against an Apache stronghold into Mexico.

Also in a remarkable cast are John Huston, Richard Crenna, Chuck Connors, Ricardo Montalban, Ian Bannen, Brandon De Wilde, Slim Pickens, Patrick Wayne, Woody Strode, Albert Salmi, Fausto Tozzi, Mimmo Palmara, John Alderson, Doc Greaves and Lucio Rosato.

Also remarkable is the high body count of 95.

It is filmed in Almeria, Andalucía, Spain; El Torcal de Antequera, Málaga, Andalucía, Spain; and in Rome, Italy.

It is made by Dino de Laurentiis Cinematografica, Jadran Film and Heritage Enterprises, and released by Paramount Pictures (1971) (US) and Paramount British Pictures (1971) (UK).

It is based on a story by Stuart J Byrne, William H James and Massimo D’Avak.

It was released in Italy on 4 December 1970.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 10,639

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