A Stranger in Paso Bravo (1968)

Anthony Steffen is Gary Hamilton, the stranger who arrives in Paso Bravo not wearing a gun, refusing to drink whiskey, enduring the abuse of henchmen working for a man named Acombar, who pretty much controls the area.

Hamilton is looking for answers. Specifically, he wants to know who was responsible for a fire at a ranch that killed four people, including his wife and daughter.

When the signs start to point toward the Santamaria brothers, who work for Acombar and now own the property where the ranch stood … well, the next time Acombar’s men start pushing, Hamilton isn’t nearly as reluctant to pick up a Winchester.

Soon Acombar wants Hamilton as much as Hamilton wants the person responsible for the death of his loved ones.

And both have weaknesses the other can exploit.

For Acombar, that’s a fun-loving son who will someday inherit the small empire he’s building.

For Hamilton, it’s Anna Sheridan, sister of his deceased wife.

Review:

One of the best Steffen Spaghettis, even if some of our questions are never answered. For instance, why was Hamilton in jail when his wife and daughter died? And why would Acombar want them dead?

But the film has more interesting characters than you’ll find in most Spaghettis, including Jose Calvo as the peddler who takes advantage of, then befriends Hamilton; saloon owner Rosie, who thinks all men are side-winders, but makes an exception for Gary; Danny, her clad-all-in-black protector who loves her and is jealous of Hamilton; and Anna Sheridan, who first resents Gary for not being around to protect her sister, then resents her husband for hiding the truth about the fire.

The ending is also one of the better staged final shootouts in a film not directed by someone named Sergio.

Directed by:
Salvatore Rosso

Cast:
Anthony Steffen … Gary Hamilton
Eduardo Fajardo … Acombar
Vassili Karis … Danny
Giulia Rubini … Anna Sheridan
Jose Jaspe … Paquio Santamaria
Adriana Ambesi … Rosie
Jose Calvo … Peddler
as Pepe Calvo
Jesus Tordesillas … Donovan
Antonio Cintado … Sheriff
Claudio Biava … Clark
Franco De Rosa … Jose Acombar

Also with: Corrado Olmi, Renato Pinciroli, Miguel del Castillo, Luis Gaspar, Josefina Serratosa, Bruno Arié, Jose Canalejas, Nicola Di Gioia as Nick Roman, Armando Bottin, Mario Morales, Consalvo dell’Arti, Rosolino Bua, Salvatore Rosso

aka:
Uno straniero a Paso Bravo

Score:
Angelo Francesco Lavagnino

Memorable lines:

Rosy, indicating a photo on the wall: “You like her?”
Gary Hamilton: “Who is she?”
Rosy: “A legend in these parts. She was my mother. And the whole territory was in love with her. Oh, she made men go out of their minds. Of course, that was because she was the only woman here.”
Gary: “Well, she must have had quite a lot of fun.”
Rosy: “All kidding aside, she could have been rolling in a sea of gold dust. And she could have left that sea of gold to Rosy. But everybody took advantage of her. Because poor mother was right generous. Men are snakes. Sidewinders. Every one of them. And, Rosy, you keep that in mind. The only thing that counts is money. Lots of it.”

Santa Maria: “I swear on the body of my brother you will pay for this, gringo. Acombar will spit on your carcass. Then I will throw you to my dogs.”

Acombar: “Here I am, Gringo. Now you have met Acombar. I hear you are after me for some reason. Tell me, did you imagine just how I would look? Or am I much different?”
Gary Hamilton: “What difference is there? You imagine the filthy smell of a rat. What’s the difference when you run across one? It smells filthy any way you look at it.”
Acombar: “Either you have courage. Or you have no brains in your head.”

Trivia:

“And God Said to Cain” also has characters named Gary Hamilton, Acombar and the Santamarias in generally the same roles. But the plots also have enough stark contrasts that it’s hard to consider the latter film a remake.

In the scene where Gary and Rosie wind up in bed for the first time, she asks what he thinks of her mother, referring to an old photograph on the wall. It’s a famous old photograph of Calamity Jane.

Ascencion, one of young Jose Acombar’s lovers in A Stranger in Paso Bravo (1968). Does anyone know who plays this part in A Stranger in Paso Bravo (1968)

Jesus Tordesillas as Donovan, the blacksmith who gives Gary a job, then helps him against Acombar in A Stranger in Paso Bravo (1968)

Corrado Olmi as Jonathan Sheridan, a Paso Bravo shopkeeper and husband of Anna in A Stranger in Paso Bravo (1968)

Antonio Cintado as the sheriff with his deputy, wondering whether to side with Gary Hamilton in A Stranger in Paso Bravo (1968)

Anthony Steffen as Gary Hamilton, prepared for a final showdown with Acombar in A Stranger in Paso Bravo (1968)

Adriana Ambesi as saloon girl Rosie, flanked by Vassili Karis as Danny, her protector in A Stranger in Paso Bravo (1968)