Savage Guns (1971)

**_Revenge-based Spaghetti Western starring Robert Woods_**

This begins with a brutal massacre at a cantina reminiscent of the infamous ending of “The Great Silence.” The plot is predictable from there, but several entertaining bits are thrown in, such as the Marlene Dietrich-ish song and dance sequence by a French woman who sounds German, not to mention a dancing old prospector.

Dino Strano fittingly brims with arrogance as the love-to-hate villain while the daughter of the director, Simonetta (Blondell) Vitelli, was one of the most beautiful women to walk the face of the Earth at the time. She happens to play dance hall girl Fanny. I also appreciate how the tone is totally serious with zero attempts at goofy humor for which Spaghetti Westerns are sometimes known. “Acquasanta Joe” is a good example, aka “Holy Water Joe.”

There’s a curious sequence that blows the time to introduce three killers by name, detailing each’s deadly expertise, and yet they’re never seen again. But, I could be wrong; maybe they’re three of the scores of nameless silhouettes massacred in the last act?

It’s cut from the same cloth as “Death Rides a Horse,” but I’d pick this over that overlong flick any day. But that’s just me.

It runs 1h 28m and was shot in Spain.

GRADE: B-/C+