Damned Pistols of Dallas (1964)

A banker named Stone is awaiting his son Clay’s return on the stage when a gold shipment arrives in Dallas.

But a gang of bandits ride into town at the same time. By the time the shooting ends, banker Stone is dead and the gold has been stolen.

Naturally, when Clay (Fred Beir) arrives in town finding those responsible becomes one of his main goals.

He suspects the gold robbery might be linked to the bandits who robbed the stage on which he was traveling, kidnapping saloon singer Kati Dior (Diana De Santis).

Clay manages to lock up Fast Draw Krenshaw (Luigi Ciavarra), the gang’s leader. He sentenced to hang.

Then the gang returns, with fliers that issue a warning. If Fast Draw hangs, Kati will return to Dallas. In pieces.

So Clay frees Fast Draw to rescue Katie, even though that’s going to put him in trouble with the law and threaten his budding romance with a former childhood friend named Estelle (Evi Marandi), who’s all grown up now.

Fred Beir as Clay Stone in Damned Pistols of Dallas (1964)

Evi Marandi (Evy Marandis) as Estelle in Damned Pistols of Dallas (1964)

Review:

Released in Italy the same year as “Fistful of Dollars” — three months after Sergio Leone’s film, in fact — this has the look, feel and a plot that more closely resembles a 1950s B Hollywood Western than the films that would make Spaghetti famous.

Fred Beir’s Clay Stone is a hero who often doesn’t wear guns and sometimes winds up with no bullets in them when he does. And while he’s willing to put himself in trouble by rescuing pretty Kati Dior, he’s too cleanclut to fall for her charms. After all, Estelle — nicknamed “Freckles” — is waiting for him back in Dallas.

Unfortunately, when the film isn’t predictable, it winds up being silly. The bandits charge into town at one point, tossing around 1,000 fliers proclaiming their threat to kill Kati. Did they really need 1,000?

When Clay demands he be given a chance to recapture Fast Draw Krenshaw — how about that name — his gambler buddy Fred Foster offers to be hanged (!!!) in Clay’s place if he doesn’t return in 48 hours.

And, in one of the most head-scratching Western scenes you’re going to see, Fast Draw’s entire gang hangs their gun belts and pistols on the pommel of a single horse’s saddle. They don’t even retrieve them when they hear strange noises around the camp.

Why? Who knows. But it sure makes it easy for Clay to disarm them when he sneaks into the camp.

Luigi Ciavarra as Fast Draw Crenshaw in Damned Pistols of Dallas (1964)

Robert Messina (Bob Messenger) as Zeke in Damned Pistols of Dallas (1964)

Directed by:
Pino Mercanti
Jose Maria Zabaiza

Cast:
Fred Beir … Clay Stone
Evi Marandi … Estelle
as Evy Marandis
Jesus Puente … Richard Corbett
Diana De Santis … Kati Dior
as Dyna De Saint
Olivier Matot … Fred Foster
Luigi Ciavarra … Fast Draw Krenshaw
as Luis Chavarro
Angel Alvarez … Goodwin, bank manager
Roberto Messina … Zeke
as Bob Messenger
Andrew Hart … Little John
Stella Monclar … Maribel Goodwin
Lucia Bomez … Marilyn
Andrea Fantasia … Sheriff Russell
Franco Daddi … Gambler

Runtime: 96 min.

aka:
Le maledette pistole di Dallas
The Return of Clay Stone

Jesus Puente as Richard Corbett in Damned Pistols of Dallas (1964)

Angel Alvarez as assistant banker Goodwin in Damned Pistols of Dallas (1964)

Memorable lines:

Preacher: “This town has the curse of Satan on it. You all get rid of all those guns or you’ll all be lost. You hear?”

Gambler to pretty blonde: “I win, you lose. Altogether now, you owe me your two stockings, your slip and your garter. Shall we continue?”
Blonde: “But o nly if we play for cash. Alright?”
Gambler: “Oh, no. From women, I only accept payment in merchandise or underwear.”

Fast Draw Krenshaw: “Throw down your club nd fight like a man.”
Clay Stone: “I don’t need a club to beat you.”

The judge to Estelle’s dad, as they watch Clay and Estelle kiss: “Dan, you’ll be a grand pappy soon.”
Gambler Fred Foster: “Pretty soon, you’ll have a full house.”

Diana De Santis (Dyna De Saint) as Kati Dior in Damned Pistols of Dallas (1964)

Lucia Bomez as Marilyn, the dance hall singer, in Damned Pistols of Dallas (1964)

Trivia:

There are some continuity problems in the available English language print, but that might be because that print runs 87 minutes, nearly 10 minutes shy of the original running time.

Fred Beir spent most of his career as a character actor on TV shows. He starred in a second Spaghetti, “Tres dólares de plomo,” filmed the same year with basically the same director and cast. He also played the lead in Lesley Selander’s 1965 Western “Fort Courageous.” He died of cancer at age 52 in 1990.

Pretty Evi Marandi’s only other Spaghetti was opposite Beir in “tres dolares de plomo.” Among her 32 screen credits was a supporting role in 1964’s “Paris When It Sizzles,” starring William Holden and Audrey Hepburn.

Dina De Santis was nearing the end of a 13-year, 42-film career when this film was made. The veteran of several Sword and Sandal outings, she played the female lead in 1966’s “Zorro, The Rebel,” starring Howard Ross.

Andrea Fantasia as Sheriff Russell in Damned Pistols of Dallas (1964)

Andrew Hart as Little John in Damned Pistols of Dallas (1964)

Fred Beir as Clay Stone with Evi Marandi (Evy Marandis) as Estelle in Damned Pistols of Dallas (1964)

Fred Beir as Clay Stone with a prisoner at gunpoint in Damned Pistols of Dallas (1964)