Giù la testa (1971)

A low-life bandit and an I.R.A. explosives expert rebel against the government and become heroes of the Mexican Revolution.

Director:

Sergio Leone

Writers:

Sergio Leone (story), Sergio Donati (story)

Stars:

Rod Steiger, James Coburn, Romolo Valli

1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Rod Steiger	...	Juan Miranda
James Coburn	...	John H. Mallory
Romolo Valli	...	Dr. Villega
Maria Monti	...	Adelita, Coach Passenger
Rik Battaglia	...	Santerna (as Rick Battaglia)
Franco Graziosi	...	Governor Huerta
Antoine Saint-John	...	Gutierez / Col. Günther Reza (as Domingo Antoine) (as Jean Michel Antoine)
Vivienne Chandler	...	Coleen, John's Girlfriend
David Warbeck	...	Nolan, John's Friend
Giulio Battiferri	...	Miguel
Poldo Bendandi	...	Executed Revolutionary
Omar Bonaro	...	Revolutionary
Roy Bosier	...	Landowner on stagecoach
John Frederick	...	American on stagecoach
Amato Garbini	...	First Policeman on Train

Storyline

Packed with sticks of dynamite, the Irish rebel and explosives expert, John H. Mallory, finds himself in Revolution-torn 1913 Mexico, on the run from the British government. Riding a dusty, V-twin Indian motorcycle, John crosses paths with the short-fused Mexican bandit, Juan Miranda, and his gun-toting family of outlaws, and before long, his expertise in explosives becomes evident. Now, bent on putting Mallory's skills to good use, devious Juan forms an uneasy partnership with John to rob the impregnable Mesa Verde National Bank. Instead, what seemed like an unmissable opportunity to get rich will become a trap, enmeshing the unlikely duo in the Revolution, having no other choice but to fight together with the troops of Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata against the evil Colonel Günther Reza. Can John's dynamite get them out of the tight spot?

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Plot Keywords:

explosive | mexican revolution | explosion | bandit | revolutionary | 

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Taglines:

JAMES COBURN - A fast talking, motorcycle riding bomb, with a quick temper and a short fuse, blasts his way across the screen.

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Genres:

Drama | War | Western

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Did You Know?

Trivia

The theatrical release title of this film in the UK was "A Fistful of Dynamite."

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Goofs

In the train, the automatic pistol that Juan Miranda uses is a Browning GP35. As its names suggests, this model has become available in 1935 (so contemporary of the mentioned MG42).

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Quotes

[first lines]
Stagecoach driver: [shouts various commands to the horses in Spanish, eventually making theme stop near a water trough]
Juan Miranda: [runs to the stagecoach] Señor! Señor! Señor...
Yankee, Stagecoach Driver: [to the Mexican driver] Tighten up that girth.
Juan Miranda: Señor, I... I must go to San Felipe... my mother is dead!
Yankee, Stagecoach Driver: Straight down the road, about fifty miles.
Juan Miranda: [pats his shoulder, and hands him some money] Please?
Yankee, Stagecoach Driver: [pushes him] Eh, get outta here.
[Juan begins to walk away, crying]
Yankee, Stagecoach Driver: Hey. Hey, amigo. Come here.
[...]

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Crazy Credits

Antoine Saint-John is credited as 'Dominigo Antoine' on Italian prints, while English prints refer to him as 'Jean Michel Antoine'. 'Vivienne Maya' and David Warbeck are not credited for playing John's girlfriend and Nolan respectively on Italian prints, but are credited on English prints in that order.

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Alternate Versions

The version of the film called Duck You Sucker ends with Juan saying "What about me?" while the version called A Fistful of Dynamite end with him not saying anything.

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Connections

Referenced in Death Is Beautiful: Michele Soavi Directs Dellamorte Dellamore (2006)

User Reviews

100 proof dynamite action film by genre master Leone

Excellent action film with Steiger over-the-top but Coburn right on the money as bandit/revolutionaries in Mexico. More gunfire and explosions and less balmy confrontations than in other Leone pics. I'm stuck on a second viewing by how much of a "70s" film this is, and how much real cinematic value and interesting ideas Leone has put into the film despite its basic action-film plotline. Rumors say Malcolm MacDowell was the original lead -- very intriguing possibility. The look on Steiger's face after he finds out he's risked his life to rescue a bunch of dirty prisoners is priceless.

Details

Country:

Italy Spain

Language:

Italian Spanish

Release Date:

29 October 1971 (Italy)

Also Known As:

A Fistful of Dynamite

Filming Locations:

Howth Castle, Howth, Fingal, County Dublin, Ireland

Box Office

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$980

Company Credits

Production Co:

Rafran Cinematografica, Euro International Film (EIA), San Marco

Technical Specs

Runtime:

157 min 120 min (initial US release) 154 min (Laserdisc)

Sound Mix:

Mono Stereo (original Italian prints)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1