A Long Ride from Hell (1968)

Undescribable Perfection

It's complicated... I really like the directing, acting and writing but, there are issues with the way it's shot that I just can't deny. As much as I love the storytelling and the fantastic performance but, there are also certain scenes that didn't need to exist.

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

In his last film, Steve Reeves played his usual hero number (though a bit too sombre, with no glimpse of humor, as in the adventure films he starred in), doing not too different grimaces and acrobatics as the ones he performed for his incarnations of Romulus, Sir Henry Morgan, Hercules and Sandokan. It was adapted from a novel, and probably the scriptwriters (including Reeves) were too respectful of the original (written, as told by other reviewer, by a specialist in western novels) and took little advantage of the European western film craze of the 1960s. Even in the more serious western dramas (as Leone's "Once Upon a Time in the West"), there were always bizarre elements and even a bit of Brechtian estrangement, making it obvious that it was a foreign concoction turning a classic genre upside down, every now and then revealing something that had not been told in the classic American westerns (although I believe the real revisionist westerns were made by American filmmakers, as Penn, Peckinpah, Altman and Gries). This one plays it straight, and maybe Reeves wanted to do a real western, but it just comes out as an average European western without zest.

Pleasant Spaghetti Western with a Peplum usual , Steve Reeves , as starring and writer . An Italian production full of action , exaggerated characters, shootouts and lots of violence . This is the story of a man with an only obsession ¨Live for kill¨ . For money, for pleasure, for revenge , he doesn't care why he kills or how ¡ ... Some rustlers rob horses from Sturges family . The oldest son named Mike (Steve Reeves ) Sturges (homage to John Sturges ?) and his brother Roy set out in pursuit the thieves . While they are looking for the outlaws Mike sees as the Southern Pacific Railways blows up and they are accused for robbing the cash , being framed by a corrupt sheriff (Dick Palmer , aka Mimmo Palmara ) who executes a ¨Pestaggio¨ against Mike as hitting , punch and kicking . They are incarcerated in Yuma Penitentiary . There Roy doesn't bear the mistreats and humiliations , but Mike gets to getaway and seeks vendetta against nasties . He escapes and sees the atrocity over his family and the Sturges ranch is destroyed , then executes a single-handedly revenge, as he slashes, ravages and murders each person involved in the killing . Mike encounters hints about the bandits in Dragon Pass Coach Station and a box of Niagara dynamite , plus an Abisian Desert Companion bottle , all of them lead his enemies. Mike is relentless in his vendetta , deadly in his violence. The conflict is a simple one between avenger Mike Sturges , and oppressors, nasties bandits commanded by cruel sheriff and his underlings. Then Sturges is submitted a tempestuous trap and is caught and he faces the vicious bandits. Finally , in a coach station takes place a deadly showdown between Mike and his enemies .It's an exciting western all'Italiana with breathtaking showdown between the protagonist Steve Reeves against the heartless Dick Palmer and his merciless gunfighters . Steve is fine, he runs , ravages the screen, shoots, hit and run and kills but also receives violent knocks , punches , kicks and wounds . In the film premiere attained bit success , nowadays is best valued and I think it turns out to be an acceptable Spaghetti Western. Steve Reeves played ¨Hercules¨ and ¨Hercules¨ and ¨Hercules and Queen of Lydia¨ and many others muscle-men epics . He also acted in adventure genre as ¨Sandokan¨, swashbuckling as ¨Morgan the pirate¨ and fantasy as ¨The thief of Bagdag¨ . Reeves was almost retired when starred and wrote ¨ Viovo per la tua morte¨, unfortunately for Mr. Universe the picture was a failure . His riding scenes were usually carried out by the habitual stunt and double Giovanni Cianfriglia or Ken Wood . Frustrated Steve Reeves returned US and nothing more else , as he retired in his ranch . The secondary Nello Pazzafini as a cruelly warden role is terrific , he bears a hysterical and mocking smile , subsequently the would play similar characters .In the picture appears ordinary secondaries from Spaghetti as Gino Lollobrigida (or Lee Burton , Gina Lollobrigida's brother) , Ivan Scratuglia , Franco Fantasia , Enzo Fiermonte , Spartaco Conversi , and the Eurotrash goddess Rosalba Neri , and also uncredited Aldo Sambrell as a brutal bounty hunter . The film packs violence , gun-play , explosion, high body-count and it's fast moving and quite entertaining. There is plenty of action in the movie , guaranteeing some shootouts or stunts every few minutes. There are many fine technicians and nice assistants as Remo De Angelis , habitual master of arms and stunts in numerous Spaghetti Western . Good production design creating an excellent scenario with luminous outdoors , dirty and rocky landscapes under a glimmer sun and a fine set on the town . The musician Carlo Savina, composes a nice soundtrack and well conducted ; it's full of guttural sounds, sensible songs and a haunting musical leitmotif . Catching song at the beginning and ending titled ¨Go West young man¨ by Powell and Savina . Striking cinematography by Enzo Barboni - Trinity and Bambino film's director- with negative well processed and perfect remastering . Interior filmed at Elios Studios and outdoor sequences filmed in Spanish outdoors located in Almeria , Spain.Camilo Bazzoni's direction -under a pseudonym named Alex Burks , an usual cameraman- is middlingly crafted , here he's less thought-provoking and broody and more inclined toward violence and too much action , though he's an expert on cinematography . Rating : 5 acceptable and passable . The picture will appeal to Spaghetti Western fans.

I saw this recently for the first time. Reeves is great in his final film, what a shame he was unable to continue making films because of an injury. He looks good and acts well in this revenge story which is head and (very broad) shoulders above of most of the post 66 Italian western output. Reeves could have been one of the great western stars but it wasn't to be. A glimpse of what he could have achieved can been found in such films as 'Sandokan' and 'Morgan the Pirate', non-sandal films that were great fun. I was glad to discover that his post-movie life was a success and that he was a happy and wealthy man. He is much missed by his fans.

Great movie that's been down played and over looked for years. Reeves was born to make Westerns. If you loved his "Sword and Sandal" films this one won't let you down. Cool action, great shoot outs and that classic build that put's his contemporaries to shame. On the other hand, if you like the Westerns that were coming out of Italy at the time, you've got to check this one out. Not going to go so far as to say he rivals Eastwood but Reeves is heads above most of the guys who tried their hands in the genre. Best of all it shows off Revee's horse riding skills that were only hinted to in the "Hercules" type films. Very hard to find on tape but well worth the effort once you get your hands on a copy.