Muscle-bound peplum star Richard Harrison dons a Stetson and buckles on spurs and six-shooters in Spanish director Ricardo Blasco's "Gunfight at Red Sands," one of the earliest examples of Continental westerns before Sergio Leone's "A Fistful of Dollars" kick-started Spaghetti westerns. Some of the people behind the scenes on this oater later on figured prominently in the Leone westerns, principally composer Ennio Morricone using the pseudonym 'Dan Savio,' "Fistful of Dollars" lenser Massimo Dallamano as 'Jack Dalmas,' veteran Euro-western bad guy Aldo Sambrell of "Navajo Joe," and another "Fistful of Dollars" actor Jose Calvo who owned the saloon between the Rojos and the Baxters in the Leone classic. Morricone cut his teeth on Euro-westerns with this Spanish-produced sagebrusher and the title tune that he composed with lyricist Dicky Jones could easily qualify as the anthem for spaghetti westerns, with lyrics like "Keep your hand on your gun/Don't you trust anyone/There's only one man you can trust/That's a dead man or a Gringo like me." Altogether, "Gunfight at Red Sands" ranks as a pretty fair facsimile of the American variety with heaps of hard-riding, fast-shooting action set against rugged desert scenery and a well-laid out western town.
Richard Harrison, who made several spaghetti westerns, such as "Gunfight at High Noon" (1963), "One Hundred Thousand Dollars for Ringo" (1965), "El Rojo" (1967), and "Between God, the Devil, and a Winchester" (1968), was just at home on the range as a western hero as he was in the peplum genre as a strongman. The character that he plays in "Gunfight at Red Sands" is the 'Gringo' referred to in Ennio Morricone's song. Before Gringo makes his appearance, scenarist Albert Band who helmed a couple of Spaghettis himself, "The Tramplers" (1966) and "The Hellbenders" (1967) and writer/director Blasco lay the ground work for the action. Manuel (Giacomo Rossi-Stuart) rides into Red Sands to drink and gamble, but he drinks too much and loses everything, including a pouch of gold. During his gambling spree, he mentions that his father, sister, and he have found more than enough gold to buy the saloon. Later, three masked gunslingers surprise his dad at home, shoot him in cold blood, and steal several bags of gold from a compartment in the floor. Meantime, Ricardo (Richard Harrison) has spent the last four years fighting alongside the revolutionaries in their desperate bid to rid their country of the oppressive political regime that makes their lives so miserable. White uniform clad soldiers by the dozens have Pedro (Jose Calvo) and Gringo on the run. In fact, Gringo barely escapes with his skin after Pedro and they splash across the Rio Grande back into Texas. Nevertheless, one of the troops fires a last shot and kills poor Pedro. Sickened by all this bloodshed, Gringo decides to settle down and live a peaceable life. His illusions are shattered when he rides home to find his father dying on the floor of their ranch. When Gringo launches his own investigation, he clashes with the local lawman who displays his bigotry for all things Hispanic as do several of the townspeople. Later, inquisitive Manuel discovers that Maria, a saloon hostess, has been keeping their stolen gold stashed in their safe. Manuel kills the saloon owner, escapes with the gold and a posse pursues him to the ranch. Gringo sends Manuel packing before the posse arrives. When they show up, Gringo proves that the stolen gold belonged to his father. An anti-Mexican deputy gets in a brawl with Gringo and our hero kills him in front of witnesses, providing the sheriff with a legitimate reason to lock him up.
"Gunfight at Red Sands" has several surprises and plot twists during its lean 95 minute running time. The intolerance shown toward Mexicans qualifies it as a message movie of sorts and the hero is an American who had been adopted by Mexicans and raised as one of the family. No, there are no racial epithets, but one laughing cowboy distinguishes Mexicans by their stench until Gringo roughs him up during a saloon brawl. Morricone's flavorful scores enhances the excitement and heightens the drama throughout. The dubbing appears to be rather well-done, considering that this is a Euro-western, and the performances throughout are good, too. Unfortunately, the only prints available of this landmark western are horrible public domain prints, but it is still an entertaining saga.
Richard Harrison, who made several spaghetti westerns, such as "Gunfight at High Noon" (1963), "One Hundred Thousand Dollars for Ringo" (1965), "El Rojo" (1967), and "Between God, the Devil, and a Winchester" (1968), was just at home on the range as a western hero as he was in the peplum genre as a strongman. The character that he plays in "Gunfight at Red Sands" is the 'Gringo' referred to in Ennio Morricone's song. Before Gringo makes his appearance, scenarist Albert Band who helmed a couple of Spaghettis himself, "The Tramplers" (1966) and "The Hellbenders" (1967) and writer/director Blasco lay the ground work for the action. Manuel (Giacomo Rossi-Stuart) rides into Red Sands to drink and gamble, but he drinks too much and loses everything, including a pouch of gold. During his gambling spree, he mentions that his father, sister, and he have found more than enough gold to buy the saloon. Later, three masked gunslingers surprise his dad at home, shoot him in cold blood, and steal several bags of gold from a compartment in the floor. Meantime, Ricardo (Richard Harrison) has spent the last four years fighting alongside the revolutionaries in their desperate bid to rid their country of the oppressive political regime that makes their lives so miserable. White uniform clad soldiers by the dozens have Pedro (Jose Calvo) and Gringo on the run. In fact, Gringo barely escapes with his skin after Pedro and they splash across the Rio Grande back into Texas. Nevertheless, one of the troops fires a last shot and kills poor Pedro. Sickened by all this bloodshed, Gringo decides to settle down and live a peaceable life. His illusions are shattered when he rides home to find his father dying on the floor of their ranch. When Gringo launches his own investigation, he clashes with the local lawman who displays his bigotry for all things Hispanic as do several of the townspeople. Later, inquisitive Manuel discovers that Maria, a saloon hostess, has been keeping their stolen gold stashed in their safe. Manuel kills the saloon owner, escapes with the gold and a posse pursues him to the ranch. Gringo sends Manuel packing before the posse arrives. When they show up, Gringo proves that the stolen gold belonged to his father. An anti-Mexican deputy gets in a brawl with Gringo and our hero kills him in front of witnesses, providing the sheriff with a legitimate reason to lock him up.
"Gunfight at Red Sands" has several surprises and plot twists during its lean 95 minute running time. The intolerance shown toward Mexicans qualifies it as a message movie of sorts and the hero is an American who had been adopted by Mexicans and raised as one of the family. No, there are no racial epithets, but one laughing cowboy distinguishes Mexicans by their stench until Gringo roughs him up during a saloon brawl. Morricone's flavorful scores enhances the excitement and heightens the drama throughout. The dubbing appears to be rather well-done, considering that this is a Euro-western, and the performances throughout are good, too. Unfortunately, the only prints available of this landmark western are horrible public domain prints, but it is still an entertaining saga.