Djurado (1966)

Dante Posani (billed as Montgomery Clark here) is Djurado, who rides into Silver Mine City and helps lovely Barbara Donovan (Scilla Gabel) revive Donovan’s Saloon.

Her uncle started the saloon, but was killed the day she arrived in town by town boss Tucan (Luis Induni) and his henchmen.

The saloon sits on what Tucan believes is an underground treasure of silver. So he wants her saloon and the land on which it’s located.

Reopening the saloon stirs up a new round of hostilities that includes an attack on the Donovan ranch and that convinces Djurado everyone might be better off if he left town.

But Tucan still has a grudge against the young men. Djurado is tracked down and beaten.

And while he recovers from his wounds, Tucan has his men rob a bank and leave behind a clue that points to Djurado as the guilty party.

Now he has no choice but to return to Silver Mine to try to clear his name and end Tucan’s reign of tyranny.

Dante Posani (Montgomery Clark) as Djurado, talking Barbara into reopening a saloon in Djurado (1966)

Scilla Gabel as Barbara Donovan, being questioned about Dujardo’s whereabouts in Djurado (1966)

Review:

Watch a stagecoach begin falling apart as soon as bandits start firing at it! Watch bandits rob a bank, then tie ropes around their fallen comrades and drag them out of town so they can frame someone else for the holdup!

Watch the sun cast shadows on gunmen during a shoot-out that began in the darkness of night! And watch Djurado’s lover undergo the gentlest flogging ever committed to film!

Give director Giovanni Narzisi this: In his only Spaghetti and just one of two films he directed, he keeps the action coming fast and furious, even if some of it is unintentionally funny.

He also fills the screen with pretty faces, and the prettiest might be that of our hero.

This film is miles from classic, but worth a watch, especially for those fascinated by Italian director’s perception of the West. Here, for instance, the Donovan ranch is protected on three sides by a stockade style fort and manned by dozens of Mexican peons.

Luis Induni as Tucan, trying to frame Djurado for a crime he didn’t commit in Djurado (1966)

Isarco Ravaioli as Marshal Ray Daller, finding himself fighting alongside an accused bank robber in Djurado (1966)

Directed by:
Giovanni Narzisi
as John Farrell

Cast:
Dante Posani … Djurado aka Golden Poker
as Montgomery Clark
Scilla Gabel … Barbara Donovan
Luis Induni … Tucan
Margarett Lee … Mitzy
Mariangela Giordano … Dorianne
as Mary Jordan
Goyo Lebrero … False Dollar
Isarco Ravaioli … Marshal Ray Daller
Gianni Meccia … Ricky
Mirella Pamphili … Tucan’s woman

Also with: Federico Boido as Rick Boyd, Fortunato Arena, Michele Branca, Loris Bazzocchi, Peter Adamov, Lorenzo Fineschi

Runtime 87 min. / 75

aka:
Jim Golden Poker
Johnny Golden Poker

Music: Gianni Ferrio
Song: “Solo il vento lo sai” by Gianni Meccia

Margaret Lee as Mitzy, the saloon girl who’ll do anything for Djuardo in Djurado (1966)

Mariangela Giordano (Mary Jordan) as Dorianne, distraught over another death at the hands of Tucan’s men in Djurado (1966)

Memorable lines: (from subtitles)

Barbara, when Djurado pulls a gun as a man enters the bar: “Hey, don’t be stupid. That’s just my Ricky. He’s different than all of you. He doesn’t like gunfights. He only likes to sing and play music.”

Ricky, as Djurado is losing everything, including his clothes, to Barbara at a game of dice: “Hey, stranger, use these. Barbara’s are trick dice. Besides, it doesn’t excite me to see you naked.”

Djurado, having whipped Tucan’s men in a barroom brawl: “Now get the hell away from here. You can tell your boss there’s some new music at Donovan’s Saloon.”
One of the men: “Yes, but it will be a funeral march.”

Djurado, having help saved the arriving sheriff: “I have weakness for dangerous games.”

Kangaroo, as Mitzy struggles against the ropes holding her captive: “Don’t be afraid. You’re beautiful. You’re so beautiful. I don’t want to kill you. Don’t be afraid of me. Don’t shake. Now I’ll untie you. Will you give me a kiss? Don’t be afraid of Kangaroo.”
She continues to shake, but nods her head.
Kangaroo, moments later: “You’re beautiful and kind. But I have to kill you. That’s what my master wants. I don’t want to do it Mitzy, but Tucan is kind as well.”

Goyo Lebrero as False Dollar, making another drunken proclamation in Djurado (1966)

Kangaroo, Tucan’s lead henchman, trying to win a kiss from a kidnapped beauty in Djurado (1966). Does anyone know who plays this part?

Trivia:

* In addition to appearing as Ricky, the guitar player in the film, Gianni Meccia sings the title song. He appeared in seven films, but was much better known as a singer and composer. According to the Westerns All Italiana blog site, his first hit song was arranged by Ennio Morricone.

* This marked the only Spaghetti Western and the only top-billed role for Dante Posani in a rather brief film career. He had a small part in 1963’s drama “The Leopard,” starring Burt Lancaster and Claudia Cardinale.

* Scilla Gabel started her film career as a double for Sophia Loren in “Boy on a Dolphin” and “Timbuktu,” then reportedly underwent cosmetic surgery so she’d look less like the star. A 1961 Daily Mirror column talks about her having her nose done for that purpose. Her only other Spaghetti appearance was an uncredited role in 1971’s “Bastard Go and Kill.”

Scilla Gabel as Barbara Donovan, wondering what happened to her loaded dice, and Gianni Meccia as Ricky in Djurado (1966)

Isarco Ravaioli as Marshal Ray Daller listening to a wounded Mitzy (Margaret Lee) in Djurado (1966)

Dante Posani (Montgomery Clark) as Djurado confronts one of Tucan’s men in Djurado (1966)

Dante Posani as Djurado, Scilla Gabel as Barbara Donovan and Goyo Lebrero as False Dollar in Djurado (1966)