The Taste of Vengeance (1968)

Gianni Garko is Brian Clarke, a former Rebel soldier whose wife is killed and his home burned by Union vigilantes shortly after he returns from the Civil War.

He’s rescued by Daniel (Ivan Rassimov), who has his own problems. His brother is being held captive by outlaws who are demanding a $5,000 ransom Daniel doesn’t have.

Brian helps free the brother, then the three ride off to Silver City together.

Brian is determined to avenge his wife’s death, but can’t remember any details of the vigilantes’ attack except for the fact that one man was wearing a silver badge.

But his quick gun quickly attracts a job offer from another fellow Confederate named Murray, who will give Brian $3,000 to kill a rival rancher named Blake. Seems they’re wrestling for control of Silver City.

By the time the shooting ends, three members of the Blake family are dead. So is Murray. Brian has caught the eye of a pretty young woman named Julie, though she’s frightened by his violence.

She rides off with Daniel and his brother, Robert, both of whom reject Brian’s eagerness to shed blood.

Blake’s former henchmen aren’t nearly so squeamish. They agree to ride behind Brian.

All paths lead to Fort City, where Daniel becomes sheriff, Robert becomes his deputy and the Army is looking for a killer named Brian Clarke.

Oh, he shows up as well, partly because there’s a bank full of money in Fort City, partly because he can’t stop thinking about pretty Julie.

Review:

A pretty neat twist on the revenge for a murdered wife theme because Gianni Garko’s character never does catch up with the killers, or learn their identity, turning into a crazed killer instead.

He, Ivan Rassimov and Roberto Miali as brother Robert all turn in solid performances. Garko’s Sartana films are better known, but he shows more acting skill here.

The nonsensical part of the film involves the role of Julie. Clarke, supposedly grief stricken over his late wife, kisses her minutes after meeting her. She resists, then succumbs to his charm.

What’s confusing is why she continues to stick with him in spite of outbursts that include killing a wounded member of his gang and smacking her around during his fits of rage.

Note that the English version of the film is missing about 15 minutes after Brian becomes sheriff. If you watch that shortened version, you’ll be scratching your head trying to figure out who played several roles in the film.

Directed by:
Mario Siciliano
as Marlon Sirko

Cast:
Gianni Garko … Brian Clarke
as John Garko
Ivan Rassimov .. Daniel
as Sean Todd
Elisa Montes … Julie
Roberto Miali … Robert
as Jerry Wilson
Manuel Galiana .. Young Blake
Miguel Del Castillo … Tom Blake
Julio Pena … John Murray
Luis Induni … Tom, Blake foreman
Frank Brana … Rod, Blake hired hand
Susanna Martinkova … Brian’s bride
Dale Cummings … Fort City Captain
Jose Jaspe … Phil ‘Filthy Bottom’
Maria Mizar … Fort City saloon owner
Carlo Calo … Mother Douglas
as Carrol Brown
Giovanni Ivan Scratuglia … William Douglas
Luciano Pigozzi … Bill Perkins
as Alan Collins

Also with: Lorenzo Robledo, Gino Marturano, Saturno Cerra, Luis Barboo
aka
I vigliacchi non pregano
Cowards Don’t Pray
The Wolf, the Tiger and the Vulture

Score: Gianni Marchetti

Runtime: 100 min.

Memorable lines:

Daniel to Brian, as he’s about to shoot one of Robert’s captors: “Don’t. This one’s going to answer to justice.”
Brian: “Daniel, I used to believe in justice. I was a law-abiding citizen. I keep trying to recall their faces. The only thing I can bring to mind is the bright metal star he was wearing. And murder and pain and fire. Nothing else. So if you speak to me of justice, I’ll go crazy!”

Robert: “With a man like you, we should have won the war.”
Brian: “I just got into it a little late.”
Murray, hinting at what’s to come: “Don’t make that mistake again.”

Blake: “Suppose you know you’re as good as dead.”
Brian: “A good lookin’ girl is hard to resist.”
Blake: “She’s something special. You, you filthy coyote, you ain’t good enough to be her doormat.”

Daniel: “Let’s talk about my brother. Man to man.”
Brian: “What do you want me to tell you? That he was a gutless law lover like you? OK, let’s talk ’bout your brother.”

Fort City commander: “Unfortunately, our authority ends here. The other side of the line is Mexico. Brian is safe.”
Daniel: “Him safe? Nah. There’s no place on this whole earth where Brian can go to escape my vengeance.”

Trivia:

Elisa Montes appeared in a number of Spaghetti Westerns and 1966’s Magnificent Seven sequel, “Return of the Seven.” She was born Elisa Penella, but took her acting name from a musical work “El gato montes” (“The Wildcat”) that was composed by her grandfather.

There’s a 15-minute segment in the middle of the film, once Daniel becomes sheriff of Fort City, that has been cut from most English prints of the film. In the version I watched, all the dialogue for that part, featuring a feud between the Douglas family and Collins family, was in Italian.

Susanna Martinkova has an uncredited role here as Brian’s bride. The Czechoslovakian actress and Gianni Garko met on the set of this film, were later married, remained so from 1973 to 1986 and had a daughter named Maria.

To say this film is Mario Siciliano’s Spaghetti gem is an understatement. His only other Spaghetti Westerns were attempts at comedy — “Trinity and Sartana Are Coming” and “Alleluja and Sartana Are Sons … Sons of God.” Both were released in 1972.

Martinkova as Brian’s wife, wary when vigilantes show up at their home in The Taste of Vengeance (1969)

Julio Pena as John Murray, the man who hires Brian to kill off the Blakes in The Taste of Vengeance (1969)

Carlo Calo (Carroll Brown) as Mother Douglas, determined to see her son get a fair trial in The Taste of Vengeance (1969)

Luciano Pigozzi (Alan Collins) as Bill Perkins, at odds with the new Fort City sheriff in The Taste of Vengeance (1969)

Jose Jaspe as Phil ‘Filthy Bottoms’ ordering two drinks in the Fort City saloon in The Taste of Vengeance (1969)

Maria Mizar as the Fort City saloon owner in The Taste of Vengeance (1969)

Giovanni Ivan Scratuglia as William Douglas, testifying at his trial while Robert (Roberto Miali) looks on in The Taste of Vengeance (1969)

Ivan Rassimov (Sean Todd) as Daniel, discussing a way around killing Brian with brother Robert (Roberto Miali as Jerry Wilson) in The Taste of Vengeance (1969)

Gianni Garko as Brian Clarke, with a gun aimed at former friend Daniel in The Taste of Vengeance (1969)

Elisa Montes as Julie, facing a critical moment with Brian Clarke (Gianni Garko) in The Taste of Vengeance (1969)