Reverend's Colt

First of all, it's really necessary to point out that 'Reverendo Colt' is an Italian made western that came to the big screen when the top time of the genre was falling down. We must remember that almost all the classics had been made in 1971. Just as an example, the outstanding 'Django' directed by Sergio Corbucci was released in 1966 and the unforgettable 'Once Upon a Time in West' in 1968. In fact, the 'seventies' is not the best time to find out good spaghetti westerns. But 'Reverendo Colt' is not so bad. It's a simple but otherwise earnest little story of Miller Colt a gunfighter turned preacher that finds himself in the middle of a fight between two gangs for a would-be treasure. In this uncomfortable situation, Miller Cost is forced to return to his guns in order to defend a group of people ambushed by the outlaws in an abandoned military fort. Guy Madison, a veteran American actor, is Miller Colt; Mr. Madison gives a subdued performance but adequate to his character. Richard Harrison is a brawling and a bit dumb sheriff with almost nothing to do in the movie. Cris Huerta is the only one who gives a little touch of comedy to the story and German Cobos as Fred is the real sidekick of Miller Colt. Not a great movie but considering that 'Reverendo Colt' is a spaghetti western made in the declining years of the seventies, not so bad as it could have been.

Spaghetti with Chorizo Western crammed with action , shootouts and lots of violence . An Italian-Spanish co-production with interior filmed at Roman Studios and outdoor sequences filmed in Madrid and of course Almeria, Spain . It's full of action , exaggerated characters, shootouts and loads of violence . One gang deadly in his violence (Ennio Girolami , Mariano Vidal Molina) attacks a little town whose sheriff is Donovan (rather secondary role by Richard Harrison) ; a murder is committed and results to be accused a reverend , ex-gunfighter , named Miller (Guy Madison , the real starring along with German Cobos) . The priest is detained but he gets away . The gang commits atrocity and kills each person involved in their robberies . Meanwhile a diverse group (German Cobos , Alfonso Rojas , Maria Salerno , Perla Cristal , Maria Martin, Chris Huerta) travels to West when is attacked by the deadly band . They are helped by the priest and get escape and arrive in a fortified village but are suddenly besieged by the band formed to chase them . There takes place violent fights , facing off , and final duel .

It's an exciting western with breathtaking showdown between the protagonist a priest gunfighter , Guy Madison, and a band's leader , Ennio Girolami , and his hoodlums . Both of whom are fine , they ravage the screen, kill , shoot , hit and run . There is plenty of thrills and action in the movie , guaranteeing some shoot'em up or stunts every few minutes . Furthermore, there appears usual Italian/Spanish Western secondaries as Rafael Albaicin, Jose Canalejas , Mariano Vidal Molina , Alfonso Rojas , Frank Braña and Perla Cristal . Comic relief in charge of Chris Huerta , as a likable Scottish including the typical skirt . The film blends violence , high body-count and it's fast moving and quite entertaining . There is a very odd implementation of shots in the camera work during some particular scenes as the film approaches its climax , as in the ending gunfights and the customary showdown conclusion . There are fine technicians and nice production design by Jose Luis Galicia , an expert set decorator who along with Cubero designed innumerable Westerns , he creates an acceptable scenario with barren outdoors , dirty landscapes under a glimmer sun and an atmospheric set on the little town and the surrounded village . The musician Gianni Ferrio composes a nice soundtrack and well conducted . Striking cinematography by Fusi in Eastmancolor, with negative regularly processed , being necessary a perfect remastering . Interior filmed at Ballesteros Studios (Madrid), De Paolis Studios (Rome) and outdoor sequences filmed at Colmenar Viejo and of course Almeria, where in the 60s and 70s were shot innumerable Spaghetti . The motion picture produced by Marino Girolami , Ennio Girolami's father , is middlingly directed by Leon Klimovsky . Leon was a craftsman who directed all kind genres , as Terror for Paul Naschy ( Marshall of hell, Rebellion of dead one, Orgy of vampires , Werewolf shadow,Dr Jekill vs. the werewolf), Warlike (June 44 attack force Normandy , A bullet for Rommel , Bridge over Elba) and Western ( Badland drifter , Some dollars for Django, Torrejon city , Death knows no time , Two thousand dollars for Coyote , A dollar for Sartana) . Rating: 4,5 ; regular but entertaining .

Whether you are a casual viewer of westerns, or a die hard fan of the genre like I am, chances are you'll be underwhelmed by "Reverend Colt". About the only positive things about it are that it looks decent (both with photography and production values) and that it's one of the rare spaghetti westerns to have nudity (though the one scene with nudity is blatantly gratuitous). But the movie is a mess. It's often kind of confusing, taking its time to explain some details to viewers. It also feels kind of flat, with not only with not enough action, but the action there is being quite sub par for the genre. Even the music is forgettable! As for Guy Madison, he doesn't show emotion very well for the most part, and he comes across as not totally likable. It doesn't help that in the second half of the movie, his role essentially becomes a supporting player instead of being a prominent player. And Richard Harrison is pretty much wasted in a somewhat minor role. Feel free to skip this foreign oater.

How the mighty have fallen. One of my favorite screen stars, the handsome and charming Guy Madison was reduced to making no-budget Italian films in the 1960s and 1970s.

This show is nothing more then a rip-off of hundreds of other dubbed in Westerns. Lots of shooting, brawling, horse chases, and of course, bad dubbing.

Guy Madison looks tired and worn out here. Couldn't of been easy for him to make this non-classic. However, if you are a fan of Mr. Madison, the film is at least worth seeing to see him. He tries his best in what he's got, and baby, he ain't got much to work with here.