Brad Harris plays Sabata, who hears shots ring out and rushes to the side of a mortally wounded man.
The man turns out to be the brother of the man who sold Sabata his ranch. And he dies just before witnesses show up, accusing Sabata of murder.
All four men testify at Sabata’s trial. He’s sentenced to hang.
Then someone intervenes, slipping a gun to Sabata through the jailhouse window, allowing him to escape.
Friends and family urge him to flee, perhaps to Mexico. Sabata is determined to stay and clear his name.
The culprit — Jim Sparrow (Vassili Karis) — soon reveals himself.
He’s the man who sold Sabata his ranch; he was in the process of poisoning Sabata’s stock so he couldn’t pay off the final $1,000 when his own brother happened by. Sparrow is the one who fired the fatal shot.
A bounty hunter, Sparrow now plans to kill all those who testified against Sabata, driving up the reward on his head as high as possible before cashing in.
Brad Harris as Sabata, trying to evade capture in Wanted Sabata (1970)
Vassili Karis as Jim Sparrow, out to settle an old score and a new wrong in Wanted Sabata (1970)
Review:
First off, this is a Sabata film in name only. Brad Harris’ Sabata bears little resemblance to the Lee Van Cleef character.
This Sabata wears a Mexican style pancho, not a black overcoat. This Sabata wants to live a peaceful life on his ranch. He’s anything but a schemer, looking to cash in others’ misdeeds.
And this Sabata spent a considerable amount of time living among Indians, so much so that he’s considered an outsider by most whites in the area.
As for the plot, it starts slowly. But stick with it, and the film gets better as the extent of Sparrow’s scheming if revealed.
Elena Pedemonte plays Sabata’s wife, who seems to have no trouble finding her husband even when no one else can.
Maria Luisa Sala is Chiquita, the woman who helps spring him from jail, if not from trouble.
Elena Pedemonte as Evelyn, Sabata’s wife in Wanted Sabata (1970)
Luisa Maria Sala as Chiquita, a woman tramautized by tragedy in Wanted Sabata (1970)
Directed by:
Roberto Mauri
Cast:
Brad Harris … Sabata
Vassili Karis … Jim Sparrow
Elena Pedemonte … Evelyn
Gino Lavagetto — Sheriff
Maria Luisa Sala … Chiquita
Paolo Magalotti … Mike Houston
Emilio Zago … Thomas, printer
Gino Turini … Fred Mulligan
Roberto Messina … Conrad Hilton
Pietro Fumelli … Judge Joe Curley
Irio Fantini … Sam
Also with: Luigi Pusineri, Claudio Trionfi, Bruno Paris, Ezio Vergari, Eleonora Marchianti
Runtime: 87 min.
Music: Vasili Kojucharov
Gino Lavagetto as the sheriff in Wanted Sabata (1970)
Pietro Fumelli as Judge Joe Curley, who presides over Sabata’s trial in Wanted Sabata (1970)
Memorable lines:
Sheriff, tossing Sabata in a cell: “You change in there. We cure types like you all the time.”
Jim Sparrow of Sabata: “I shot him in the leg. But he didn’t even feel it, such was the insantiy, the fury that devoured him.”
Evelyn: “The bounty has gone up, and everyone wants it. Even those who believe you’re innocent.”
Sartana: “Yes, the bounty takes away any friends. I know. It’s human nature.”
Jim Sparrow to Sabata: “They’re more scared of you than the plague.”
Jim Sparrow to Chiquita: “If i see you getting close to him, I’ll strangle you like a calf.”
Gino Turini as Fred Mulligan, one of the witnesses against Sabata in Wanted Sabata (1970)
Paolo Magalotti as Mike Houston, one of the witnesses against Sabata in Wanted Sabata (1970)
Trivia:
Director Roberto Mauri and actor Vassili Karis were frequent collaborators. Karis starred in three Holy Ghosts/Spirito Santo films directed by Mauri, including “They Called Him the Holy Ghost” (1971), “The Return of the Holy Ghost” (1972) and “Gunman and the Holy Ghost” (1972).
This was one of four Spaghetti appearances for Maria Luisa Salsa, usually in supporting roles. She also appeared in “And God Said to Cain” and “Price of Power.”
Elena Pedemonte appeared in just five films, according to IMDb. She also played a bride in “Blindman” and a role in “They Call Me Trinity.”
Roberto Messina as Conrad Hilton, one of the witnesses against Sartana in Wanted Sabata (1970)
Emilio Zago as Thomas, the printer who has to keep raising the reward on his posters in Wanted Sabata (1970)
Brad Harris as Sabata, out to clear his name in Wanted Sabata (1970)
Elena Pedemonte as Evelyn, fearing for her husband’s safety in Wanted Sabata (1970)
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