Pierre Brice is Barrett, a businessman determined to own all the land around Albacruz.
And he has a longtime friend and gunman named Calder (Antonio Molino Rojo) to help him enforce his will.
The murder of a homesteader named Morris finally prompts the local sheriff to act.
He asks the government for help, and they send special agent Ted Marshall.
And so Marshall sets about finding proof to show Barrett is behind the homesteader’s death and all the dirty dealing that’s been going on around town.
In the process, he befriends a prospector named Sebastian, who has just struck it rich.
Of course, striking it rich near Albacruz can be fatal.
Because it Barrett wants all the land around town, he’s certain to want a profitable mine as well.
Steven Tedd as Ted Marshall, the agent sent to Albacruz in Federal Man (1974)
Fernando Sancho as Sebastian, the miner who finds gold in Federal Man (1974)
Review:
An unexpected plot twist and a couple of unexpectedly violent scenes late in the film allow you to reach the end without thinking you’ve totally wasted your time.
But before all that happens, there sure are some head-scratching moments. Like why does Calder suddenly start wearing a small bell on his spur to announce his arrival? Why does Mrs. Morris blame Sebastian for her husband’s death?
And most confounding of all, why does the director not film Calder’s face during his showdowns early in the film, as though trying to hide his identity. We already know who he is.
Our federal man, Giuseppe Cardillo (as Steven Tedd) has been groomed to look like Elvis Presley. And for as deadly as he is, Antonio Molino Rojo brings absolutely no charisma to his role as Barrett’s top gunman. Fernando Sancho, given a chance to play a sympathetic character for a change, does much better.
Pierre Brice as Barrett, the businessman determined to own all the land around in Federal Man (1974)
Antonio Molino Rojo as Calder, Barrett’s top gunman in Federal Man (1974)
Directed by:
Manuel Esteba
Cast:
Pierre Brice … Barrett
Giuseppe Cardillo … Ted Marshall
as Steven Tedd
Fernando Sancho … Sebastian
Antonio Molino Rojo .. Calder
Monica Randall … Lola
Marta Flores .. Catherine
Raul Aparici … Preacher
Gaspar Gonzalez … Pedro
Moises Rocha … Blacksmith
Ferruccio Viotti … Captain York
Miguel Muniesa … Sheriff
Also with: Sergio Aparici, Manuel Muniz, Alberto Vila, Juan Fairen, David Rocha, Jose Nieto
aka:
Una cuerda al amanecer
You Are a Traitor and I’ll Kill You
Cry of Death
You Are Carrion and I Will Kill You
Score: Basili Kojucharov
Runtime: 76 min.
Monica Randall as Lola, the saloon girl who winds up with Barrett in her bed in Federal Man (1974)
Moises Rocha as the blacksmith, hoping more peaceful days return to Albacruz in Federal Man (1974)
Memorable lines:
Ted Marshall: “The marshal said I could pick out a horse. OK?”
Blacksmith: “OK. Take the white one.”
Sebastian to his mule: “Morganito, you stay here. Stupid asses won’t let you in the bar.”
Calder of Sebastian: “That old weezer cares more for gold than he does for his own skin. What do we do with him, Garrett?”
Garrett: “Why don’t we cook him a little bit, hey, boss? Maybe just his feet.”
Gasper Gonzalez as Pedro, one of Barrett’s gunmen in Federal Man (1974)
Fernando Sancho as Sebastian, the miner with a mule for a best friend in Federal Man (1974)
Trivia:
Yes, the role of Barrett is played by the same Pierre Brice who starred as the Indian chief Winnetou in 10 European Westerns. Born in France, this marked one of his last film roles. Most of his work from the mid-1970s on was on German television shows.
Antonio Molino Rojo had small roles in all four of Segio Leone’s Westerns and was one of widow Nieves Navarro’s ranch hands in that memorable scene from “Big Gundown” starring Lee Van Cleef.
Some of the plot inconsistencies here are likely the result that there are two versions of the film — a Spanish version with a completely different mystery gunman and the Italian version, which is the only one that was dubbed into English.
Miguel Muiesa as the sheriff who needs a helping hand in Albacruz in Federal Man (1974)
Marta Flores as Catherine welcoming her father, Capt. York, to her home though it will mean a new assignment for her husband in Federal Man (1974)
Monica Randall as Lola, looking to correct the mistake she makes in Federal Man (1974)
Giuseppe Cardillo (Steven Tedd) as Ted Marshal, promising better days ahead in Federal Man (1974)
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