His Name was Pot … But They Called Him Allegria (1971)

Peter Martell is Pot and Gordon Mitchell is his brother Ray. They pull off a bank robbery, but get separated.

Pot winds up in Black City, where he meets a gang leader named Steve (Lincoln Tate) and begins planning another bank holdup.

This time, the plan is a bit more elaborate and will include Ray and the local gravedigger, who prepares his burial plots by blasting holes in the ground with dynamite.

The gravedigger will set off an explosive to rob the bank, but will disguise it with a larger explosion at the general store. Meanwhile, Steve’s gang will create a diversion by starting a brawl at the local saloon.

The plan works to perfection as the sheriff and his men rush to the general store while the bank is being robbed. The quartet of robbers split the loot — the gravedigger gets a single silver dollar — and head their separate ways.

That’s when the double dealing begins. Steve’s men figure to track down Ray and Pot and steal their shares back. They locate Ray pretty quickly.

Meanwhile, Steve has run into trouble with another bandit named Lobo who wants the loot from the Black City bank job. In fact, Lobo has taken Steve back to his hideout until he decides to reveal the location of the stolen money.

Unaware of the double-cross involving his brother, Pot sets out to rescue Steve.

Peter Martell as Pot shows off his late brother’s charm to a man he’s been seeking in His Name was Pot … But They Called Him Allegria (1971)

Lincoln Tate as Steve, strung up by Lobo’s men to get information on the loot in His Name was Pot … But They Called Him Allegria (1971)

Review:

Talk about uneven. The film starts out like another of those insipid buddy comedies — a la “Jesse and Lester” — turns serious once the bank is robbed, then turns light-hearted again with an ending that’s certainly unique in the world of Spaghetti Westerns.

None of it is handled very well. There are two extended barroom brawls in the first 30 minutes. There’s another extended fight in a pool of mud involving Gordon Mitchell that I could swear I saw in another film.

As for the title, it’s quite literal. Allegria is Italian for cheerful. And, sure enough, throughout the film, everyone calls Pot by his nickname, “Cheerful.”

So why was the Italian word used in the English title. Who knows? Who cares?

The best thing about the film is the part of the old-timer, who loves cooking, loves blowing things up, is every bit as cheerful as “Cheerful” and doesn’t even balk when his share of the bank loot is a measley silver dollar.

The English version I watched listed Dennis Ford as director, but multiple sites indicate Demofilo Fidani had a hand in directing as well. The elaborate dances of death during the film’s gun battles are certainly Fidani-like.

Xiro Papas as Lobo, the Mexican bandit leader looking for Steve and the loot from the Black City bank robbery in His Name was Pot … But They Called Him Allegria (1971)

Gordon Mitchell as Ray, talking about a non-existent bank account in front of a confused teller who’s about to be robbed in His Name was Pot … But They Called Him Allegria (1971)

Directed by:
Demofilo Fidani as Slim Alone
Lucio Giachin as Dennis Ford

Cast:
Peter Martell … Pot
Lincoln Tate … Steve
Gordon Mitchell … Ray
Xiro Papas … Lobo
Daniela Giordano … Mexican girl
Americgo Castrighella … Steve’s henchman
as Custer Gail
Carla Mancini … Girl at fiesta
John Deker … Damon
Alberigo Donadeo … Deputy
Fulvio Pellegrini … Innkeeper

Also with: Marcel Maniconi as Marcel McHoniz, Luciano Conti as Lucky McMurray, Giuseppe Scrobogna as Joseph Scrobogna. Franco Coros as Frankie Coursy, Benito Pacifico, Sterling Ross, Federico Boido as Rick Boyd, Erika Blanc

Runtime: 99 min.

aka:
Il suo nome era Pot… ma… lo chiamavano Allegria
Il suo nome era Pot
Hero Called Allegria
Lobo the Bastard

Music: Nico Fidenco (using his soundtrack from John the Bastard)

The old man, gravediffer and dynamite expert who helps Pot and Steve rob the Black City bank in His Name was Pot … But They Called Him Allegria (1971). Does anyone know who this actor is?

Peter Martell as Pot, using some six-gun persuasion to withdraw money from a bank account that doesn’t exist in His Name was Pot … But They Called Him Allegria (1971)

Memorable lines:

Ray: “Hey, when we get to the bank, are we going to deposit or withdraw?”
Pot, laughing: “Let’s deposit lead and withdraw gold.”

Ray: “Remember, don’t get too near the bank clerk or they’ll tell by the odor you ain’t one of the customers they know.”
Pot: “Don’t worry, I’ll rub up against my horse before I go in.”
Ray: “That’ll be sure to get his dander up.”

Pot: “I don’t figure to move on til I make my fortune.”
Steve: “You think two boxes of cartridges is enough for that?”
Pot: “If they ain’t, I’ll buy some more.”

Pot: “You’re a mean hand with explosives.”
Grave digger: “See that slope there. It used to be a mountain ’til I got to it.”

Mexican girl to Pot, about Lodo: “He’s not hard to find. But no one would ever try — purposely. I’m telling you for your own sake. Where Lobo has walked, not even the horses will eat the grass.”

Daniela Giordano as the pretty Mexican girl warning Pot to steer away from Lobo in His Name was Pot … But They Called Him Allegria (1971)

Americgo Castrighella as Custer Gail, Steve’s lead henchman, with a foe under his gun in His Name was Pot … But They Called Him Allegria (1971)

Trivia:

* Considering the quality of the film, the score is surprisingly good. Guess what? It’s recycled Nico Fidenco; the same score was first used in the film “John the Bastard.” But it does fit the mood of this film well.

* Daniela Giordano is the top-billed female, but doesn’t even get a name in the English version of the film. Pot saves her from some barroom ruffians early in the film. He later encounters her again on his way to rescue Steve. She warns him to avoid the Mexican bandit Lobo.

Lincoln Tate as Steve, accosted by Lobo’s henchmen in the middle of a nap in His Name was Pot … But They Called Him Allegria (1971)

Peter Martell as Pot, aka Cheerful, in a not so cheerful mood during a gunfight in His Name was Pot … But They Called Him Allegria (1971)