Dynamite Joe (1967)

Rik Van Nutter plays Joe Ford, nicknamed Dynamite Joe. He’s a sometime federal agent, called in to handle particularly troublesome cases.

And there’s one brewing in Mineral City where gold shipments keep falling into the hands of Comancheros.

Senator Stanton believes Joe Ford and his explosive arsenal is capable of putting an end to the thievery all by himself, even if his political cronies in Washington are doubtful.

Once in Mineral City, Joe immediately suspects Senator Nensar (Renato Baldini) has something to do with the trouble. After all, he’s owner of a mine that doesn’t appear to be in operation.

And he has a pretty blonde accomplice (Halina Zalewska as Betty) who’s already tried using her feminine charms to get Joe out of the way.

Joe has some allies in Mineral City as well, including the town banker, a pretty brunette dance hall girl (Mercedes Casto as Eva), the town sheriff and a wagon driver named Swan (Bernabe Barta Barri). But can they all be trusted?

Review:

A highly entertaining tongue-in-cheek Spaghetti that opens with Joe confronting an entire gang in a nearly deserted Western town, decked out Clint Eastwood style, right down to the cigar.

But this is an exploding cigar that does away with the bandits in a heartbeat. Say hello to Dynamite Joe, a James Bond sort who loves the ladies and is a master at getting out of tight jams.

Just check out the way he escapes the mine cave-in midway through the film. The special effects aren’t all that convincing, but it’s still great fun.

Some of the film’s twist — a stagecoach made of gold — are borrowed. Some — like a fort defended by dance hall girls — seem more original. And the script piles twist upon twist upon twist to keep the viewer guessing.

Oh, and Mercedes Castro is an adorable delight as the young woman who’s infatuated with Joe, but can’t keep him tied down to one place no matter what she tries.

Directed by:
Antonio Margheriti
as Anthony Dawson

Cast:
Rik Van Nutter … Dynamite Joe Ford
Halina Zalewska … Elisabeth (“Betty”)
Mercedes Castro … Eva
as Merce Castro
Renato Baldini … Senator Nensar
Bernabe Barta Barri … Swan
as Barta Barry
Aldo Cecconi … Frank
Alfonso Rojas … Sheriff Stanton
Santiago Rivero … Senator Stenson
Dario De Grassi … Scott
Ricardo Palacios … El Sol
Claudio Scarchilli … Jack Foster
Vicente Rosa … Charlie
Saturno Cerra … Professor

Also with: Barbara Davy, Mario Pluchino, Franco Gulà, Saturno Cerra, Rufino Inglés, Giglio Gigli, Juan Olaguivel

Runtime: 90 min.

aka:
Joe l’implacabile

Music: Carlo Savina
Song: “Joe” sung by Don Powell

Memorable lines:

Telegraph operator, reading message to Joe: “The almond trees are in bloom again. And it’s signed, Uncle Sam, sir.”
Saloon girl Eva, who’s sharing Joe’s bed: “Since when? And where do you have an uncle who raises nuts?”

Politician: “Senator, I don’t see your Mr. Ford any place. Is it possible he’s left?”
Senator Stenson: “No. He’s around some place I’m sure, but he’s very busy. You see, he has a sort of obsession with the letter “g” — gold, girls and gunpowder.”

Betty, after an explosion traps her and Joe in a mine: “Are you sure we’ll still alive?”
Joe: “We’d better be. There can’t be this must dust in heaven.”

Trivia:

The first of five Westerns by Antonio Margheriti (Anthony Dawson), who was also at the helm of “Vengeance” (1968), “And God Said to Cain” (1970), “Stranger and the Gunfighter” (1974) and “Take a Hard Ride” (1975).

Rik Van Nutter also starred in 1960’s “Assignment: Outer Space,” the first film directed by Antonio Margheriti. In his only other Spaghetti, he plays Buffalo Bill Cody in 1965’s “Seven Hours of Gunfire.”

Nutter was California born and married to Anita Eckberg from 1963 to 1975. He died of a heart attack at age 76 in 2005. His 14 film roles included playing the villain Felix Leiter in the James Bond film “Thunderball” (1965).

Halina Zalewska’s other substantial Spaghetti role came in “The Ugly Ones” (1966). The Polish-born actress died in a fire in Rome in 1976 at age 36.