Boot Hill (1969)

So much average

Good concept, poorly executed.

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

The story-telling is good with flashbacks.The film is both funny and heartbreaking. You smile in a scene and get a soulcrushing revelation in the next.

This movie essentially begins with a traveling circus performing in a small town in the American West with a cowboy by the name "Cat" (Terence Hill) surrounded by several armed men out to kill him. Although he is wounded in a gunfight he manages to hide out in one of the circus wagons and subsequently evades those after him when the circus eventually leaves the town. It's then that he is discovered by one of the circus hands who then proceeds to take him in and treat his wounds. Unfortunately, when the armed men catch up to the circus in another town they find some makeshift bandages covered in blood and subsequently kill one of the performers in a fit of anger. This, in turn, infuriates the performer's father named "Thomas" (Woody Strode) who sets out to kill the people responsible. However, since there are so many of them he decides to search for Cat in the hope that he will help him. Yet even then the odds are not in their favor so Cat takes Thomas to find someone they can count on and trust—"Hutch" (Bud Spencer). Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that this was an okay film to end the trilogy which included "God Forgives…I Don't!" and "Ace High". Admittedly, the sets seemed rather cheap but then that isn't too unusual for "Spaghetti Westerns" of this type. Again, by and large it was an okay film and because of that I have rated it accordingly. Average.

This is a fairly obtuse Western, filmed altogether too dark and muddy that comes complemented by circus trapeze artists, midget clowns and dancing girls. There's also the hint of a homosexual flavor peppered throughout, with two shaggy males dancing cheek to cheek in an opening scene, and glistening male torsos swinging from bar to bar above the big top. It's an odd environment in which Cat Stevens (Terence Hill) recovers from a bullet wound while planning his revenge on an outlaw named Finch and land swindler Honey Fisher, portrayed by Victor Buono.That's about as much as I could glean from my viewing of the film, with the first third of the story a large question mark as to where things were going. It didn't help that a lot of the story seemed to be taking place in the dark, whether by accident or on purpose, with the result about the same, making it difficult to follow. As a result, the final showdown between Stevens and Finch seemed anti-climactic, as did the downfall of Fisher.Maybe a repeat viewing would help, but that's not going to happen.

I've wanted to see Boot Hill for a while now, but it's been difficult to find a watchable transfer. I realize now that I haven't been missing much. For the most part, the film is standard Spaghetti Western stuff. A group of claim jumpers, lead by Honey Fisher (Victor Buono), have everyone in a small mining town under their control. Eventually, though, one of the townsfolk gets tired of being robbed and asks for the help of his friend, Cat Stevens (Terence Hill). Using a traveling circus as cover, Stevens is able to get into town unnoticed for a final showdown with Fisher and his gang of thugs.Other than the use of the circus, the plot and action in Boot Hill aren't as original or as good as you'll find in some other films of this type. The final showdown is predictable and lacks any real tension. When Stevens finally meets up with Finch, the head bad guy, nothing much happens. Although most of the film is played straight, there are a few attempts at humor that feel out of place. For the most part, the acting is decent, but it's nothing to write home about. Hill, Bud Spencer, and Woody Strode are okay, but it's nothing special. The exception is Buono who is by far the standout in the film. Unfortunately, his screen time is limited and he doesn't even appear until the movie is half over.Where Boot Hill excels and what makes it unique are the directorial and editing decisions made with the film. There are a number of instances where scenes of violence are quickly spliced with scenes of the circus. Gunfight – a clown playing a trumpet – a man gets shot – a trapeze act – hiding in a barn – dancing girls. It's a nice touch.Finally, whether intentional or not, Boot Hill features several scenes that can best be described as homosexual in nature. From the miners dancing check-to-check in the opening to Bud Spencer calling the tall, blond, good looking cowboy he lives with "Baby Doll" to the unexplained relationship between Woody Strode and the young, good looking trapeze artist, there's an undeniable homoerotic feel underlying a lot of the movie.

The U.S. TV print of this film is awful. There is no pan and scan so there are long sequences where nothing is in the center of the screen! I found myself almost hallucinatory after an hour of this film. None of the American actors dubbed their own voices with the possible exception of Lionel Stander. Terrence Hill plays it straight here.I would be very interested to see this film in Italian, subtitled and letterboxed. If you get the Trinity box set here in the U.S., I recommend you throw Boot Hill out immediately, unwatched.