THE SAVAGE GUNS
US/Spain, 1962, 83 minutes, Colour.
Richard Basehart, Don Taylor, Alex Nicholl, Paquito Rico, Fernando Rey, Jose Nieta.
Directed by Michael Carreras.
The Savage Guns is considered to be one of the earliest of the spaghetti westerns, produced by British film makers, directed by Michael Carreras, son of Jimmy Carreras, one of the major producers at the Hammer Studios. This was an attempt to branch out, using Spanish locations (Almeria, the site of the filming of How I One the War) and a Spanish cast.
However, there are three American stars who had worked with Carreras. Richard Basehart, a Hollywood star of the 1940s and 1950s, as well as appearing in La Strada, is the gunslinger. Don Taylor, actor turned director, who was to make his own spaghetti Western, Five Man Army, in 1969 and Alex Nicholl, usually a villain, also star. Veteran actor and star of many Bunuel films, Fernando Rey has a cameo role.
The film has many of the usual ingredients – the difference being that Don Taylor plays the Confederate soldier who has seen too much blood shed, as he explains in long speech, and has decided to never use his gun again.
1. An early spaghetti Western? The Spanish locations for the West? The desert, the towns, suggestions of Mexico and the Aztecs? Musical score and atmosphere?
2. The total, the literal savage guns, Michael and he is pacifism after the Civil War?
3. The basic plot, the greedy upstart, taking over the land from the owners, shooting the tenants, coveting other land? His henchmen and their brutality? The lone gunmen, arrival, helping the owner of the ranch, the fights with the second-in-charge, the final shootout? And the final subsequent confrontation with the henchmen, and the pacifist shooting?
4. The opening, the land, the family, the gang, shooting the landowner? Reporting to Ortega?
5. The background of his taking the land of Signor Fernan, Frechea going to see him, his promising to hold the meeting, his death?
6. Steve Fallon, in the desert, the collapse of his horse, the riders seeing him, Ortega ignoring him? His walking, arriving at the homestead, his gun, asking for food and water, Michael and his suspicions, fracture and her welcome, the young girl and the attraction? His staying, helping? In town, the confrontation with Danny, overcoming him, shaming him? The friendship with Michael, with Frechea? His staying for the shootout, Ortega wounding his hands? Reported dead? Ready for the final confrontation, ready to die, Michael saving his life and shooting Danny?
7. Danny, working for Ortega, his brutality? The fight with Steve, the humiliation? Thinking Steve was dead, confronting Ortega, wanting all his possessions, shooting him? Living in luxury, discovering Fallon was still alive, writing to the ranch, the confrontation with Fallon, Michael shooting him?
8. Ortega, the Baron, upstart, greed, living in luxury, wanting power, all the land, the shootings? Trying to buy the land from Michael? Sending Danny? Danny and his greed, shooting Ortega?
9. Michael, the Civil War, Confederate soldier, marrying Frechea, his ranch? Not wanting to take up a gun again? Frechea trying to persuade him? Suspicion of Fallon? Going into town, supplies, seeing Fallon defeat Danny? The buildup to the final fight after refusing to sell to Ortega? His taking up the gun, shooting Danny? Saying it was against his principles, that someone does something wrong and lives to regret it, throwing down his rifle?
10. The women in the West, Michael’s wife, her concern? Juana, in the house, attracted to Fallon, his being old enough to be her father?
11. Standard material which was to become core to the spaghetti westerns?
