A Reason to Live, a Reason to Die (1972)

James Coburn is Col. Pembroke, a disgraced Union officer who escapes a Confederate prisoner of war camp with one goal in mind — retaking Fort Holman.

Pembroke once commanded the fort, a key to control of the southwest, but surrendered the nearly impregnable post to Confederate Maj. Ward (Telly Savalas).

As a result, Pembroke has been branded a coward.

Now he wants a second chance. Give him 10 men, he says, and he’ll accomplish his mission. Union Maj. Charles Ballard gives him six men, most of whom are about to be hanged for various misdeeds.

They agree to go on Pembroke’s suicide mission, but start thinking mutiny the minute they set out.

Then Pembroke tells them the real goal of his mission: $500,000 in Confederate gold buried in the fort.

But the most loyal of the bunch, a brute of a man named Eli Sampson (Bud Spencer), suspects there’s another reason behind Pembroke’s determination — an old score to settle.

James Coburn as Col. Pembroke in A reason to Live, a Reason to Die (1972)

Bud Spencer as Eli Sampson, looking for a meal in A Reason to Live, a Reason to Die (1972)

Review:

This comes from the director who gave us “Day of Anger,” “Price of Power” and “My Name is Nobody” and it simply doesn’t measure up.

It’s a variant on the old Dirty Dozen theme, features forgettable performances by James Coburn and Telly Salvas and an opening scene that pretty much tells you what’s going to happen before you begin the journey to Fort Holman.

The final assault is pretty well staged. But when Bud Spencer steals the show in your film … well, you suspect this could have been much better.

Of course, the original runtime was 119 min. Today’s versions check in at 92 minutes, so we’re left wondering if the extra 27 minutes would have helped or hurt.

Telly Savalas as Maj. Ward in A Reason to Live, a Reason to Die (1972)

Reinhard Kolldehoff as Sgt. Brent in A Reason to Live, a Reason to Die (1972)

Directed by:
Tonino Valeri

Cast:
James Coburn … Col. Pembroke
Telly Savalas … Maj. Ward
Bud Spencer … Eli Sampson
Reinhard Kolldehoff … Sgt. Brent
as Ralph Goodwin
Guy Mairesse … Donald MacIvers
as Robert Burton
Adolfo Lastretti … Will Fernandez
as Guy Ranson
Ugo Fangareggi … Ted Wendell
as William Spafford
Joseph P. Persaud … Jeremy (Half-Breed)
Benito Stefanelli … Samuel Pickett
Georges Geret … Conf. Sgt. Spikes
as Allen Leroy
Jose Suarez … Union Maj. Charles Ballard
as Joseph Mitchell

Also with: Fabrizio Moresco, Angel Alvarez, Francisco Sanz, Joe Pollini, Sharin Sher, Rudolf G. Boevini, Carson Drew, Christopher Hill, David Landau, Carla Mancini, Bill Norden, Turam Quibo, Joseph P. Persaud

aka
Una ragione per vivere e una per morire
Massacre at Fort Holman

Score: Riz Ortolani

Runtime: 92 min. (originally 119 min.)

Adolfo Lastretti as Will Fernandez in A Reason to Live, a Reason to Die (1972)

Benito Stefanelli as Samuel Pickett in A Reason to Live, a Reason to Die (1972)

Memorable lines:

Pastor on gallows: “The Lord is my shepherd.”
Maj. Penbrake: “Vengeance is mine, sayeth the Lord.”
Pastor: “Sayeth the Lord.”

Maj. Ward: “What else do you want?”
Eli Sampson: “I request permission to remain here overnight in the fort, sir.”
Confederate officer: “Report back to your unit.”
Eli: “My butt is awful sore, sir.”
Confederate officer: “Don’t get smart with me soldier.”
Eli: “Major, I respectfully request permission to show the cheeks of my tail.”

Ugo Fangareggi as Ted Wendell in A Reason to Live, a Reason to Die (1972)

Guy Mairesse as Donald MacIvers in A Reason to Live, a Reason to Die (1972)

Trivia:

The most commonly known version of this film clocks in at 92 min. The theatrical release was 109 minutes in length; the full length version checked in at just over two hours.

You might notice a couple of familiar sets in this film. When Coburn and his men get off a train, you’ll notice the McBain homestead used in One Upon A Time In The West (1968). And the climax was filmed in the same fort used in El Condor (1970).

Joseph P. Persaud as Half-Breed in A Reason to Live, a Reason to Die (1972)

Jose Suarez (Joseph Mitchell) as Union Maj. Charles Ballard, the man who approves of Penbrake’s plan in A Reason to Live, a Reason to Die (1972)

James Colburn as Col. Pembroke and Bud Spencer as Eli Sampson in A Reason to Live, a Reason to Die (1972)

Georges Geret as Sgt. Spikes in A Reason to Live, a Reason to Die (1972)

Bud Spencer as Eli Sampson in A Reason to Live, a Reason to Die (1972)

James Coburn as Col. Penbrake explains his plans for retaking Fort Holman in A Reason to Live, a Reason to Die (1972)