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IMDbPro

A Reason to Live, a Reason to Die

Original title: Una ragione per vivere e una per morire
  • 19721972
  • PGPG
  • 1h 32m
IMDb RATING
6.1/10
1.9K
YOUR RATING
James Coburn, Telly Savalas, and Bud Spencer in A Reason to Live, a Reason to Die (1972)
Union Colonel Pembroke (Coburn) rescues seven condemned men from the gallows in order to attack Fort Holman, which is commanded by the insane Confederate Major Frank Ward (Telly Savalas, Kojak). Under the guise of seizing the fortress for its strategic location, Pembroke in fact wants revenge for Ward's cowardly murder of his son. The siege that follows pits criminals and Confederates against each other in bloody battle. On this impossible mission, against impossible odds, who will survive?
Play trailer3:23
1 Video
61 Photos
  • Western
Branded a coward for surrendering his New Mexico fort to the Confederates without firing a shot, a Union colonel attempts to redeem himself by leading a band of condemned prisoners on a suic... Read allBranded a coward for surrendering his New Mexico fort to the Confederates without firing a shot, a Union colonel attempts to redeem himself by leading a band of condemned prisoners on a suicide mission to recapture it.Branded a coward for surrendering his New Mexico fort to the Confederates without firing a shot, a Union colonel attempts to redeem himself by leading a band of condemned prisoners on a suicide mission to recapture it.
IMDb RATING
6.1/10
1.9K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Tonino Valerii
  • Writers
    • Ernesto Gastaldi(story)
    • Tonino Valerii(story)
    • Rafael Azcona(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • James Coburn
    • Bud Spencer
    • Telly Savalas
Top credits
  • Director
    • Tonino Valerii
  • Writers
    • Ernesto Gastaldi(story)
    • Tonino Valerii(story)
    • Rafael Azcona(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • James Coburn
    • Bud Spencer
    • Telly Savalas
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 19User reviews
    • 22Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 3:23
    Trailer

    Photos61

    Bud Spencer in It Can Be Done Amigo (1972)
    Bud Spencer in A Reason to Live, a Reason to Die (1972)
    James Coburn in A Reason to Live, a Reason to Die (1972)
    James Coburn and Telly Savalas in A Reason to Live, a Reason to Die (1972)
    James Coburn in A Reason to Live, a Reason to Die (1972)
    Bud Spencer in A Reason to Live, a Reason to Die (1972)
    Telly Savalas in A Reason to Live, a Reason to Die (1972)
    Telly Savalas in A Reason to Live, a Reason to Die (1972)
    Telly Savalas and Bud Spencer in A Reason to Live, a Reason to Die (1972)
    Bud Spencer in A Reason to Live, a Reason to Die (1972)
    Bud Spencer in A Reason to Live, a Reason to Die (1972)
    Telly Savalas in A Reason to Live, a Reason to Die (1972)

    Top cast

    Edit
    James Coburn
    James Coburn
    • Colonel Pembrokeas Colonel Pembroke
    Bud Spencer
    Bud Spencer
    • Eli Sampsonas Eli Sampson
    Telly Savalas
    Telly Savalas
    • Major Wardas Major Ward
    Reinhard Kolldehoff
    Reinhard Kolldehoff
    • Sergeant Brentas Sergeant Brent
    • (as René Kolldehoff)
    José Suárez
    José Suárez
    • Major Charles Ballardas Major Charles Ballard
    Francisco Sanz
    • Farmeras Farmer
    • (as Paco Sanz)
    Ángel Álvarez
    Ángel Álvarez
    • Scully the Mongeras Scully the Monger
    Mario Pardo
    Mario Pardo
    • Roger, Farmer's Sonas Roger, Farmer's Son
    Ugo Fangareggi
    Ugo Fangareggi
    • Ted Wendallas Ted Wendall
    Concha Rabal
      Benito Stefanelli
      Benito Stefanelli
      • Samuel Pigottas Samuel Pigott
      Guy Mairesse
      • Donald McIversas Donald McIvers
      Alejandro de Enciso
        Fabrizio Moresco
        • Ward's Assistantas Ward's Assistant
        Adolfo Lastretti
        Adolfo Lastretti
        • Will Fernandezas Will Fernandez
        Turam Quibo
        • Apacheas Apache
        Carla Mancini
        Carla Mancini
        Joe Pollini
        • Union Sergeantas Union Sergeant
        • Director
          • Tonino Valerii
        • Writers
          • Ernesto Gastaldi(story) (screenplay)
          • Tonino Valerii(story) (screenplay)
          • Rafael Azcona(screenplay)
        • All cast & crew
        • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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        Storyline

        Edit

        Did you know

        Edit
        • Trivia
          The homestead encountered when the group leave the train (at 43 minutes) is the same as the McBain homestead in Once Upon A Time In The West (1968)
        • Goofs
          Car tyre marks clearly visible in the dust as the group ride away from the hanging in the early part of the movie.
        • Quotes

          Colonello Pembroke: Gentlemen, I can promise you nothing, except a chance to die honorable, and possibly live. In any case, freedom at the end.

        • Alternate versions
          For its initial American release, the film was cut to 92 minutes. This version still airs on the MGM-HD Channel.
        • Connections
          Edited into Dusk to Dawn Drive-in Trash-o-Rama Show Vol. 9 (2002)

        User reviews19

        Review
        Top review
        7/10
        Little-known but rewarding
        The plot of Tonino Valerii's men-on-a-mission spagwest bears heavy resemblance to THE DIRTY DOZEN while certain sequences are undoubtedly inspired by the climax of Peckinpah's WILD BUNCH. Despite the familiarity of this subject matter, the film turns out to be an engaging little western that tells its story in a spare, lean narrative. It has a gritty, downbeat flavour, is very well shot and makes fine use of some grand sets and isolated locations. Valerii displays a real affinity with the subject matter and brings Ernesto Gastaldi's script to life in a memorable way.

        Most of the characters are sidelined in favour of the big hitters, but small wonder when this film features James Coburn and Telly Savalas as protagonist and antagonist respectively. Coburn is stoic, sardonic and a fitting hero, while Savalas plays it subdued throughout. There's also a major role for spagwest stalwart Bud Spencer. Throw in some wonderfully filmed explosions (that put anything Michael Bay's done since to shame) and an epic-feel climax and you have a film that's never less than entertaining.
        helpful•3
        1
        • Leofwine_draca
        • Apr 24, 2011

        Details

        Edit
        • Release date
          • August 6, 1973 (Spain)
        • Countries of origin
          • Italy
          • France
          • West Germany
          • Spain
        • Language
          • English
        • Also known as
          • A Reason to Live, a Reason to Die!
        • Filming locations
          • Almería, Andalucía, Spain
        • Production companies
          • Atlántida Films
          • Europrodis
          • Heritage Entertainment Inc.
        • See more company credits at IMDbPro

        Technical specs

        Edit
        • Runtime
          1 hour 32 minutes
        • Color
          • Color
        • Sound mix
          • Mono
        • Aspect ratio
          • 2.35 : 1

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        James Coburn, Telly Savalas, and Bud Spencer in A Reason to Live, a Reason to Die (1972)
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