James Newman plays Johnny Texas, who’s about to be shot at the stake by a disgruntled former partner when he’s rescued by the rangers commanded by Col. Stewart (Fernando Sancho).
Seems Stewart has a mission that only Johnny can accomplish.
A madman bandit named O’Connor (Howard Ross) has taken control of a nearby pass. The rangers can’t get men or supplies through. Wagon trains can’t get through either.
Johnny and O’Connor are old pals; Stewart thinks Johnny can reach some sort of deal with the outlaw.
He does, initially — payment in exchange for safe passage.
But O’Connor soon returns to his old ways. In fact, he’s made off with a dangerous box of explosive in his last attack.
As for Johnny? His lover Rosita (Rosalba Neri) has been murdered, prompting him to become temporarily unhinged himself.
Willy Colombini (James Newman) as Johnny Texas, watching a saucy dance in Wanted Johnny Texas (1967)
Fernando Sancho as Col. Stewart, fearing he’s been double crossed by Johnny in Wanted Johnny Texas (1967)
Review:
If body count determined the quality of a Spaghetti, this film would rank upon the classics. Unfortunately, it doesn’t and it isn’t.
Salvi directs at a frantic pace. And he must have watched lots of B Westerns from the 1940s, because he speeds up the film whenever there’s an action scene. Which makes the final showdown an unintentional hoot.
Then there are the plot holes. Or perhaps you’d call them dialogue holes. Johnny tells Stewart he needs a few days before setting out on his mission. In the next breath, he says he’ll meet Stewart “the day after tomorrow.”
And poor undercover agent Lucia Cansino has traveled 400 miles to deliver detonator caps to Johnny, who’s supposed to explode O’Connor’s explosives. They must be some very rare detonator caps.
But when the explosive are exploded, it’s done with a single round from the pistol of a character named Sam Moore, who had been told where the detonators were stashed. Ugh!
For the redeeming factors — there’s an interesting score, Sancho playing a good guy rather than being typecast as a Mexican bandit, and Monika Brugger running around in a pair of very tight pants showing off her curves. The one time Salvi slows down the slayings is when she’s doing a saucy dance after joining a wagon train.
Monika Brugger as Lucia Cansino, the agent who travels 400 miles to deliver detonators in Wanted Johnny Texas (1967)
Howard Ross as O’Connor, the deranged bandit whose men have closed the pass in Wanted Johnny Texas (1967)
Directed by:
Emimmo Salvi
Cast:
James Newman … Johnny Texas
(Willy Colombini)
Monika Brugger … Lucia Cansino
Howard Ross … O’Connor
Fernando Sancho … Col. Stewart
Rosalba Neri … Rosita
Dante Maggio … Sam Moore
Bruno Arie … Pete Lopez
Isarco Ravaioli … Mills
Ema Schurer … Blonde settler
Also with: Nerio Bernardi, Rossella D’Aquino, Agostino De Simone, Richard Kent, Faustone Signoretti, Mirella Pamphili, Franco Gula, Franco Ukmar, Fortunato Arena
Score: Marcello Gigante
Runtime: 84 min.
Dante Maggio as Sam Moore, one of Johnny’s sidekicks in Wanted Johnny Texas (1967)
Rosalba Neri as Rosita, the girlfriend who travels to see bandit O’Connor with Johnny in Wanted Johnny Texas (1967)
Memorable lines:
Johnny to Col. Stewart: “I’ll go, but first I’ve got to do something. I want you to let me go a few days. I’ll meet you day after tomorrow at Fort Neilson.”
Johnny: “I can’t understand why Col. Stewart sent you for this. This is no job for a girl.”
Lucia, tossing her head: ” I’m sorry that’s your opinion of women.”
Johnny: “Not all women.”
Lucia: “I was acting last night to cover my identity so I could accomplish my mission. I have traveled over 400 miles to deliver your detonators.”
Johnny: “You’re very beautiful when you cry.”
Lucia: “Why do you tell me about this, when you care nothing about me?”
Johnny: “Even a man without feelings may know when it’s time to act sentimental.”
Lucia: “Oh, Johnny, let’s pretend that we met someplace else, a long way away from this danger.”
O’Connor, finding himself under Johnny’s gun: “No, Johnny. Pity.”
Johnny: “Did you have any pity on Rosita, O’Connor?”
Bruno Arie as Pete Lopez, one of Johnny’s sidekicks in Wanted Johnny Texas (1967)
Dick Parker, one of Johnny’s sidekicks in Wanted Johnny Texas (1967). Anyone know who plays this part?
Trivia:
Emimmo Salvi directed nine films, getting his start in Sword and Sandal flicks. His first and only other Spaghetti was 1966’s “Three Graves for a Winchester.”
Howard Ross, born Renato Rossini, started his career playing muscle-bound characters in Italian Sword and Sandal films. He wound up with 72 credits to his name, including a starring role in Lucio Fulci’s “The New York Ripper” (1982) in which he’s the prime suspect as a killer who speaks in a Donald Duck voice while he’s slashing and disemboweling pretty women in New York. The film was so violent it was banned in England.
Isarco Ravaioli as Mills, one of Col. Stewart’s rangers in Wanted Johnny Texas (1967)
Pecos, a rival bandit leader and old friend of Johnny in Wanted Johnny Texas (1967). Anyone know who plays this part?
Major Weston, leader of the wagon train hoping to make it through the pass controlled by O’Connor in Wanted Johnny Texas (1967). Anyone know who plays this part?
Ema Schurer as one of the settler’s, jealous of Lucia Cansino in Wanted Johnny Texas (1967)
Martinez aiming to even the score with Johnny in the opening of Wanted Johnny Texas (1967). Anyone know who plays this part?
Monika Brugger as Lucia Cansino, wondering if she’s been betrayed by Johnny in Wanted Johnny Texas (1967)
Rosalba Neri as Rosita, bidding farewell to Johnny in Wanted Johnny Texas (1967)
Willy Colombini (James Newman) as Johnny Texas, being used as target practice in Wanted Johnny Texas (1967)
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