Savage Guns (1962)

It’s Sonora, Mexico, in 1870, and the residents are being terrorized by a land baron named Ortega and his band of hired guns, led by Danny Pose (Alex Nicol).

Among the most stubborn farmers is a former Confederate officer named Mike Summers (Don Taylor), who has a lovely Mexican wife (Franchea) and an equally lovely sister-in law (Juana).

After his experience in the Civil War, Summers would rather flee the farm than pick up a gun again; Franchea is equally insistent that they not allow her family’s farm to fall into the hands of Ortega.

Into this mix stumbles Steve Fallon, a quick gun looking for somewhere, anywhere that his reputation won’t hound him.

The ladies in the Summers’ household appeal to him for help; young Juana falls for the much older man.

As Ortega’s injustices and victims pile up, Fallon finds himself drawn into the conflict. His gun helps even the score, until he can’t use it anymore. Then Ortega’s victims will have to look elsewhere for help.

Review:

An uninspired film, with some pretty uninspired acting — especially from Basehart and Taylor – and even worse action footage. It’s saved by a couple unexpected twists.

And Nicol turns in a strong performance as a dressed-all-in-white bad man with a sadistic streak and a knack for picking on those weaker than him when they’re at their weakest.

The film was made in Spain and is widely considered one of the first modern Spaghetti Westerns. While three U.S. actors have lead roles, it also includes actors who would become familiar faces to Spaghetti fans, including Jose Manuel Martin (one of Ortega’s henchmen), Fernando Rey (an elder statesman among the smaller land owners) and Joe Nieto (as Ortega).

That said, there’s none of the flair that would become the trademark of the genre.

Directed by
Michael Carreras

Cast:
Richard Basehart … Steve Fallon
Paquito Rico … Franchea Summers
Don Taylor … Mike Summers
Alex Nicol … Danny Pose
Fernando Rey .. Don Hernan
Maria Granada … Juana
Jose Nieto … Ortega
Felix Fernandez … Paco
Francisco Camoiras … Manolo
Antonio Fuentes … Capt. Baez
Sergio Mendizabal … The Mayor
Jose Manuel Martin … Segura

Runtime: 83 min.

Memorable lines:

Ortega henchman: “Sanchez, a message from Ortega. No protection money, no protection.”
He shoots Sanchez dead.

Ortega: “I don’t make war on women and children.”
Danny Pose,laughing: “No. You just leave them widows and orphans.”

Danny Pose, upon hearing how fast Fallon is : “Talk’s built reputations before. It just takes one bullet to finish them.”

Summers to Fallon, who just gunned down three of Ortega’s men: “That was cold-blood killing.”
Fallon: “What other kind is there?”

Ortega: “Don’t you want to own land, Danny?”
Danny Pose: “The only land a man can be sure of is the six feet he’s buried in. And I don’t aim to claim that yet.”

Trivia:

One of four Western outing for Maria Granada, who also appeared in “Gunfighters of Casa Grande,” “Son of a Gunfighter” (starring Robert Taylor) and “The Big Gundown” during a short film career.

This marked the only Western helmed by British director Michael Carreras.