Death Rides a Horse (1967)

In the middle of a thunderstorm, a ruthless gang descends on a family, killing the father when he tries to defend himself, then raping the daughter and mother before gunning them down as well.

Looking on from his hiding place is a young son who catches glimpses that might help him identify the killers — a strange tattoo, a skull-head necklace, a facial scar. And one of the killers leaves behind an unusual spur.

Fifteen years later, that young man (John Phillip Law as Bill Meceita) is ready to set out on vengeance trail to track down and kill the four men who robbed him of his family.

But a stranger named Ryan (Lee Van Cleef) shows up at his family’s gravesite. And that stranger is after the same four men, for an entirely different reason.

So the question becomes: Who will track them down first?

Review:

Along with “The Big Gundown” (1966) and “Day of Anger” (1967), this is one of Van Cleef’s best Westerns minus Leone. A bit reminiscent of the latter film because Van Cleef has some wisdom to dispense to John Phillip Law’s character.

But this is an uneasy alliance between two vengeance seekers, both determined to stay one step ahead of the other. And, before the film ends, it will grow more uneasy.

Among the best scenes — the showdown between Bill Meceita and Burt Cavanaugh over a game of cards and one in which Bill finds himself buried neck deep in the dirt and forced to eat a handful of salt.

Lee Van Cleef as Ryan in Death Rides a Horse (1967)

John Phillip Law as Bill Meceita in Death Rides a Horse (1967)

Directed by:
Giulio Petroni

Cast:
Lee Van Cleef … Ryan
John Phillip Law … Bill Meceita
Luigi Pistilli … Walcott
Anthony Dawson … Burt Cavanaugh
Angelo Susani … Paco
Jose Torres … Pedro
Guglielmo Spoletina … Manuel
as William Bogart
Mario Brega … One-Eye
Franco Balducci … Lyndon City Sheriff
Felicita Fanny … Village girl
Archie Savage … Black gambler
Giuseppe Castellano … Sheriff
Carla Cassola … Betsy
Elena Hall … Mrs. Meceita
Ennio Pagliani … Mr. Meceita

aka:
Da uomo a uomo
As Man to Man
The Gunslingers

Score: Ennio Morricone

Runtime: 114 min.

Luigi Pistilli as Walcott in Death Rides a Horse (1967)

Anthony Dawson as Burt Cavanaugh in Death Rides a Horse (1967)

Memorable lines:

Warden, complimenting Ryan on remembering how many bullets he had when imprisoned years earlier: “Twenty-seven. You have a good memory.”
Ryan: “Well, sometimes it’s not difficult. I still had six in my gun and 21 in my belt. If they hadn’t double crossed me, the count would have been a little bit different.”

Ryan, to the sheriff after killing two intruders in his hotel room: “They came in through the window. It wasn’t to wish me pleasant dreams.”

Ryan to Bill: “Somebody once wrote, revenge is a dish that has to be eaten cold. Hot as you are, you’re liable to end up with indigestion.”

Angelo Susani as Paco in Death Rides a Horse (1967)

Jose Torres as Pedro in Death Rides a Horse (1967)

Ryan to Bill, after he’s prevented him from being shot: “Two lessons, son. First, watch behind you. Second, count your shots. Four bullets for one man? That’s a waste.”

Girl in village: “Run away, please. Or they’ll kill you.”
Bill: “Before anybody kills me, they got to get my OK. And I don’t think I’ll give it to them.”

Mexican bandit: “What are you trying to say? That I’m afraid.”
Bill: “You’ve got a stupid face, but you get it.”

Ryan to Bill: “Are you on your way in or out of that hole? You remind me of a groundhog that couldn’t make up its mind.”

Guglielmo Spoletini (William Bogart) as Manuel in Death Rides a Horse (1967)

Felicita Fanny as the village girl in Death Rides a Horse (1967)

Trivia:

Luigi Pistilli and Mario Brega, two of the villains here, played members of Indio’s gang in “For a Few Dollars More.” Pistilli also appeared in “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly,” playing the brother of Eli Wallach’s character.

Today, John Phillip Law is best remembered for playing the role of Pygar, the blind but oh-so-handsome angel in the sex farce “Barbarella” (1968), starring Jane Fonda.

John Phillip Law as Bill Meceita in Death Rides a Horse (1967)

Lee Van Cleef as Ryan in Death Rides a Horse (1967)