Take a Hard Ride (1975)

After selling his cattle in town, ranch owner Morgan unexpectedly dies, and his foreman Pike has to deliver the payroll to Sonora, despite the perilous journey during which he's followed by many shady characters who want the money.

Director:

Antonio Margheriti (as Anthony M. Dawson)

Writers:

Eric Bercovici (screenplay), Jerrold L. Ludwig (screenplay) (as Jerry Ludwig)

Stars:

Jim Brown, Lee Van Cleef, Fred Williamson

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Jim Brown	...	Pike
Lee Van Cleef	...	Kiefer
Fred Williamson	...	Tyree
Catherine Spaak	...	Catherine
Jim Kelly	...	Kashtok
Barry Sullivan	...	Kane
Dana Andrews	...	Morgan
Harry Carey Jr.	...	Dumper
Robert Donner	...	Skave
Charles McGregor	...	Cloyd
Leonard Smith	...	Cangey
Ronald Howard	...	Halsey
Ricardo Palacios	...	Calvera
Robin Levitt	...	Chico
Buddy Joe Hooker	...	Angel

Storyline

Rugged trail boss and reformed criminal Pike promises his honest wealthy employer Morgan that he will venture across the desert to deliver $86,000 dollars in payroll money to a ranch in Sonora, Mexico. Pike makes an uneasy alliance with smooth, yet shifty gambler Tyree in order to successfully complete his dangerous mission. During their perilous trek Pike and Tyree encounter desperate prostitute Catherine and her loyal ace martial artist half-breed companion Kashtok. Meanwhile, ruthless bounty hunter Kiefer and numerous greedy others give dogged chase.

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Plot Keywords:

spaghetti western | man murders a woman | tobacco | tequila | sonora mexico | 

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Taglines:

It Rides With The Great Westerns

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Genres:

Western

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

Italy Spain USA

Language:

English Spanish Italian

Release Date:

29 October 1975 (USA)

Also Known As:

La lunga cavalcata

Filming Locations:

Maspalomas Dunes, Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain

Box Office

Budget:

$2,300,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bernsen-Ludwig-Bercovici Production, Cine Y Television, Euro International Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The Sioux City set still stands in Gran Canaria, near San Augustin.

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Connections

Featured in The Cinema Snob: 42nd Street Forever, Volume 2: The Deuce (2013)

User Reviews

Easy to take in the right frame of mind

A western, shot in Spain, with a twist: Jim Brown and Fred Williamson, folks not normally associated with Euro-made westerns, take it upon themselves to deliver a large payroll to a ranch in Sonora, Mexico, after the ranch owner (Dana Andrews) dies while on the road. Everybody who hears of this -- and I mean everybody -- goes after them. This includes the local sheriff (Barry Sullivan), an army of drifters and gunhands, and bounty hunter Lee Van Cleef, who recognizes Brown as a wanted man from years before. Brown is given minimal dialog, which is a good thing as he is not exactly an actor. Williamson fares better as a breezy card sharp in fancy duds, who carries most of the dialog for the two of them. Not bad. The music, clearly derived from THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN, is better than the movie.