The Great Silence (1968)

A mute gunfighter defends a young widow and a group of outlaws against a gang of bounty killers in the winter of 1898, as a grim, tense struggle unfolds.

Director:

Sergio Corbucci

Writers:

Sergio Corbucci (story), Vittoriano Petrilli (screenplay)

Stars:

Jean-Louis Trintignant, Klaus Kinski, Frank Wolff

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Jean-Louis Trintignant	...	Gordon / Silence (as Jean Louis Trintignant)
Klaus Kinski	...	Tigrero / Loco
Frank Wolff	...	Sheriff Gideon Burnett
Luigi Pistilli	...	Henry Pollicut
Mario Brega	...	Martin
Carlo D'Angelo	...	Governor of Utah (as Carlo D' Angelo)
Marisa Merlini	...	Regina
Maria Mizar	...	Blonde Saloon Girl
Marisa Sally	...	Black-Haired Saloon Girl
Raf Baldassarre	...	Sanchez
Spartaco Conversi	...	Walter
Remo De Angelis	...	Fake Sheriff in Flashback
Mirella Pamphili	...	Red-Haired Saloon Girl in Flashback
Vonetta McGee	...	Pauline Middleton (as Vonetta Mc Gee)

Storyline

Bounty killers led by Loco prey on outlaws hiding out in the snowbound Utahn mountains. After Pauline's husband becomes Loco's latest victim, she hires a gunman for revenge; Silence, mute since his throat was cut when he was a boy.

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Plot Keywords:

interracial sex | spaghetti western | snow | revisionist western | mute | 

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Taglines:

His voice was the silence of death!

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Genres:

Western

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

Italy France

Language:

Italian English

Release Date:

27 January 1969 (France)

Also Known As:

The Great Silence

Filming Locations:

Elios Studios, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$8,755, 1 April 2018, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$53,074, 30 August 2018

Company Credits

Production Co:

Adelphia Compagnia Cinematografica,Les Films Corona

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Sound System)

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film's Italian trailer includes an appraisal of the film attributed to 20th Century Fox (the film's distributor in Italy and other territories) co-founder Darryl F. Zanuck, which reads: ''Il migliore western all'italiana degli ultimi tempi'' (The best Spaghetti Western of recent times). In reality, Zanuck was offended by the film's grim ending, and refused to release it in the United States.

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Goofs

In one shot of Silence and Pauline's love scene, Silence's head is immediately under Pauline's arm. However, in the connecting shot, her arm is covering his forehead.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Hunter: [after Silence has killed four other bounty killers] W-Wait! I-I surrender! Don't kill me! I-I won't do it again! I'm through with bounty hunting! Don't kill me, Silence!
[Silence shoots both of the man's thumbs off; the killer moans in pain]
Hunter: Damn you! You've... crippled my hands!
[tries to shoot Silence with his pistol, but is shot in the back by Miguel]

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Alternate Versions

A happy ending was shot for North African distribution. Spaghetti westerns were popular in North Africa, but it was unacceptable to show the hero die there.

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Connections

Featured in Western, Italian Style (1968)

User Reviews

"...But nothing man can never do is wipe out the blood stains of the poor folk who fell here"

Without a doubt, one of the most overlooked films of all time. Watching THE GREAT SILENCE today, many of today's viewers may find some "cliche'd" scenes, along with some distracting dubbing. But this flick packs much more than one can bargain for.

-Plot: Bounty Hunters are collecting paychecks by snabbing up bandits in late 1880's Utah. A master gunfighter, "Silence", is out to collect dollars by killing those same bounty hunters who prey on the helpless marauders. "But who are the REAL bad guys?" is a question that carries throughout the entire film. As I mentioned before, there may be some moments in this film that seem dated and familiar, but let's focus on the un-familiar.."Silence" is mute, his throat slashed by bounty killers. Not only that, but he ALWAYS draws his gun in self-defense..Never draws first. And instead of arming himself with the traditional .38, "Silence" packs a Mauser C-96 (aka "Broomhandle") drawing fear into those who stand in his way. What else? Well, since Capt. Kirk brought forth headlines by kissing Lt. Uhura on STAR TREK, director Sergio Corbucci goes all out for a full interracial love scene (Unthinkable at the time) . What else?? This bad-boy takes place in the cold, desolated snow-bound hills, where a lot of violent stuff just seems to always happen..In fact, the blood-red violence appears much more graphic than ever in the white-frozen snow. And of course, there's the much-talked-about ending that is bound to slap EVERYONE in the face.

Here, Klaus Kinski proves that he was one of the most intense actors ever to appear in the 20th century. Just watch his movements/expressions during the last climactic scenes. Oh yeah, Ennio Morricone's incredible music is presented through-out. Want more? Please watch this film...If you can get a hold of it!