I bandoleros della dodicesima ora (1972)

Director:

Alfonso Balcázar

Writers:

Alfonso Balcázar (screenplay)
Alfonso Balcázar (story)

Release Date:

23 December 1972 (Italy)

Genre:

Western

Plot Keywords:

Gun | Gunslinger | Farm | Spaghetti Western | Widow

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Michael Forest	...	Amen / Sacramento
Fernando Bilbao	...	Jim (as Fred Harrison)
Malisa Longo	...	Barbara / Jenny Mckinley
Paolo Gozlino	...	Sheriff
Luigi Bonos	...	Tequila
Gaspar 'Indio' González	...	Tony (as Gaspar Gonzalez)
Manuel Muñiz	...	Man in cemetary (as Pajarito)
Antonio Almorós
Antonio Molino Rojo	...	Mr. Cray
Fernando Rubio
Juan Fairen		(as Johnny Fairen)
Luigi Antonio Guerra
Juan Torres
Manuel Bronchud
Mario Del Vago

Also Known As:

Desperado
Hijos de pobres, pero deshonestos padres... Le llamaban Calamidad (Spain)
Les llamaban Calamidad (Spain)
Now They Call Him Amen
Now They Call Him Sacramento (USA)

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

Spain | Italy

Language:

Spanish

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Certification:

Norway:15 | Sweden:15

Company:

Balcázar Producciones Cinematográficas

Good natured comic spaghetti western

This is a serviceable comic spaghetti western which doesn't take itself too seriously. Three bandits rob the train of the settlers' money (allowing their cohort, the evil local banker (is there any other kind in spaghetti westerns?), to seize the settlers' land). Our three not so upright heroes rob the robbers but, needless to say, get distracted by the settlers' womenfolk.

When I watched this film my first impression was that it was an absolute rip-off of the Terence Hill/Bud Spencer westerns (i.e. They Call Me Trinity). Only here we have Michael Forest in the laconic never ruffled Terence Hill role and Fred Harrison, bringing his fist down on the top of people's heads, in the Bud Spencer role. Once you get by the comparison you can accept Forest and Harrison's generally good natured approach to the roles. I found Paolo Gozlino to be a bit aggravating as their sidekick but mugging for the camera is an honored practice in spaghetti westerns. Malisa Longo is very attractive, but largely wasted, as the head of the settlers. The three not so bright bandits are played very broadly.

There is no surprises in the plot (i.e. the money keeps passing back and forth between the bandits and our heroes). The comedy is more good natured than original (although Michael Forest and his horse should be seen). The movies ends with a rousing 15-20 minute fight/tear the town down scene that will leave spaghetti western fans satisfied.

I came across this movie on DVD under the title "Now They Call Him Sacramento" (which isn't a title listed in IMDb). Technical credits on the DVD were excellent.