★ 7 / 10
The last laugh
unbrokenmetal
Django (aka "Black Jack" Murphy in the original dubbing) plans a bank robbery which is brilliantly executed, but when it comes to sharing the loot, his…
Django (aka "Black Jack" Murphy in the original dubbing) plans a bank robbery which is brilliantly executed, but when it comes to sharing the loot, his partners rape and kill his sister, almost kill Django and run with the money. You guess it: only "almost" killing him was a bad mistake. The injured Django - with a walking stick! - goes after them for revenge, killing them one by one in interesting ways and enjoying it more than he should.
For many years, I only knew a censored version with a different ending, and believed this was just another violent western. Now I had the opportunity to watch the uncut original version, and this has a lot more quality and impact to offer. Only a few westerns of that period went as far as 'Black Jack' in showing how revenge destroys a man. Jack/Django only lives for revenge like one of The Walking Dead, and from the sympathetic character at the beginning turns into a sadistic monster, laughing when his enemies die. And with the different ending (no spoilers here, of course) the uncut version makes a lot more sense than the old edit. Recommended (except for the squeamish).
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★ 6 / 10
This Black Jack (1968) is a typical Spaghetti Western including common scenarios , two-fisted antiheroes and violent shootouts
ma-cortes
A passable and attractive Pasta Western , as main novelty being shot in Israel , and packing thrilling scenes , crossfire , rapid zooms and strong…
A passable and attractive Pasta Western , as main novelty being shot in Israel , and packing thrilling scenes , crossfire , rapid zooms and strong confrontations. A Western full of shots , go riding , crossfire , plot twists and violence . It contains a catching soundtrack , an atmospheric cinematography and spectacular production design shot in Neguev desert , Israel and Elios studios , Lazio , Rome . Acceptable Western about a merciless revenge happening after a bank robbery , in which a thief , Jack Murphy (Robert Woods) , leader of a dangerous band is betrayed by their members : Skinner (Rik Battaglia) , Reb (Larry Dolgin) , Indian Joe (Mimmo Palmara) Mathias and the brothers, Bill and Gordon . They mistreat and torture him and leave him for dead . Later on, Jack survives and goes for revenge and he kills each man of the band one by one . The unsettling and disturbing avenger attempts to hunt them , seeking justice throughout a long deadly confrontation between the tough revenger and his enemies . Jack contends his enemies at duels and ambushes in which he must use his experience and cunning . Jack is eventually supported by previous friend , and the end takes place his encounter with enemies at the town , including unexpected surprises . This is a doomed journey to hell through vengeance , murders and violence .
Ordinary Italian Western with sad atmosphere , attractive musical score and concerning the customary revenger seeking justice and vengeance . Run-of-the-mill Maccaroni Western , adding a few novelties , but also with usual elements , such as extreme baddies , betrayers , noisy action , turns and some spectacular action scenes . This reckless hero was here well played by the Spaghetti star Robert Woods who proceeds his relentless vendetta at whatever cost , acting as a judge , jury and lethal executioner . It is a habitual Spaghetti Western including thrills , regular scenarios , nail-biting action , shoot'em up , and an unexpected final twist . This motion picture was well directed by Gianfranco Baldanello packing an evocative soundtrack , evocative cinematography and acceptable production design in a medium-low budget . This exciting Western regarding an implacable hunting down , adding cruel killings against people , it should be more fun than it is , but the film seems some claustrophobic in the final part , mostly filmed at the village , as much of the action takes place at a Saloon , and the central street for the abandoned town , though including some defiles , mountains when the horseback riders are go riding . Stars Robert Wood is nice as the violent , furious pistolero who is roused to action by seeking vengeance . Robert , because of his height, he did most of my own stunts . Robert Woods gives better acting than other previous roles, because of he plays a complex character , a revenger who is really fed up with his dark and sinister past and seeks for vengeance when his sister is raped and killed . Woods played a lot of Spaghetti Westerns , some of them passable , others lousy ones , as follows : "A Dollar and a Grave , Gatlin Gun , Black Jack , El Puro, Colt in the Hand of the Devil, The Belle Star Story , My Name is Pecos , Pecos Cleans Up and Seven Guns for the MacGregors" . Along with Robert Woods in the movie appears some Spaghetti familar faces such as : Rik Battaglia , Mimmo Palmara , Goffredo Unger as Fredy Unger , Giovanni Ivan Scratuglia , Tom Felleghy and two gorgeous Eurotrash beauties : Lucienne Bridou and Sascia Krusciarska.
The music by Coriolano Gori is suitably Spaghetti in Ennio Morricone wake , with usual guitar chords and other instruments in Italian style . Adequate cinematography in Eastmancolor by Mario Fioretti , though a perfect remastering being really necessary . This Spaghetti Western was nicely shot by the Italian professional Gianfranco Baldanello . He was a prestigious assistant director to popular Italian films such as ¨Leopard of Sarawak¨ , ¨Vendetta of Ursus¨ , ¨Cavalcata selvaggia¨ , ¨David and Goliath¨ , ¨Sword of the Sarracen¨ , ¨1527 Il sacco di Roma¨ , ¨Fire Monsters Against the Son of Hércules¨ , among others . As he was assistant director/writer/editor/producer and subsequently directed some films . Gianfranco made several Spaghettis , such as ¨Uccidete Johnny Ringo¨ , ¨This man cant die¨ , ¨Son of Zorro¨ , ¨The Cry of the Wolf¨, ¨Black Jack¨ , ¨Blood River¨ and ¨30 Winchesters for El Diablo" - International title- or "Gold Train" . Being starred by usual Spaghetti genre stars as Brett Halsey , Gianni Garco , Peter Martell , Wayde Preston , Fernando Sancho , Anthony Steffen and Robert Woods . Rating : 6/10 decent Spaghetti Western . The flick will appeal to Spaghetti Western aficionados .
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AUDIENCE
6.0/10
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