This atmospheric but low-budget Spaghetti western about a gunslinger who turns in his own father for the reward on his head is worth watching at least once. Mind you, I don't think it qualifies as a classic Spaghetti western. While it cannot compare with classics such as "Fistful of Dollars," For a Few Dollars More," "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly," "Death Rides A Horse," "Django," "Navajo Joe" or the "Sabata" movies, "Django Shoots First" is adequate enough for fans to appreciate. Rugged, virile-looking Glenn Saxson cuts an appropriately heroic figure as the protagonist, while chubby Spaghetti western stalwart Fernando Sancho appears ideally cast as Garvin's loyal sidekick Gordon. Imagine a thickly-mustached Andy Devine without his wheezing laughter but armed-to-the-teeth, and you've got an adequate description of Fernando Sancho. No, Sancho isn't cast again as a ubiquitous Mexican bandit as he is in some many other continental horse operas. Gordon has his own reasons for riding with Garvin as he points out half-way through their sagebrush shenanigans: "You're one in a thousand. You're the performing kind. Why I'd walk a long way just to see your act." An elegantly attired former physician (Alberto Lupo of "Son of Cleopatra") with a cane that he wields when he makes a point joins . Shoot-outs and fistfights galore ensue. "Operation Kid Brother" director Alberto De Martino lacks the Leone touch, but he doesn't drag things out unnecessarily in this 82-minute outing. Scenarists Sandro Continenza of "For A Few Extra Dollars," Massimiliano Capriccioli of "Wanted," Tito Carpi of "Any Gun Can Play," Vincenzo Flamini of "$100,000 for Ringo," Giovanni Simonelli of "Johnny Yuma," and De Martino weave sufficient humor into the storyline to take the edge off some of the cruelty. This isn't a mean-spirited Spaghetti western. "The Five Man Army" musical director Bruno Nicolai's vibrant orchestral score enlivens the proceedings. "Massacre Time" lenser Riccardo Pallottini makes this western look better than it deserves, and the scenery looks spectacular. Genre regular George Eastman has a cameo near the end that is amusing.
As the action unfolds in "Django Shoots First," Garvin (Glenn Saxson of "Go with God, Gringo") guns down Ringo, (José Manuel Martín) the black-clad, bounty hunter who shot his father for a $5-thousand reward. The ill-fated bounty hunter rides into Garvin's campsite, and Garvin guns him down. Afterward, Garvin takes the body of his father back into town and collects the loot. Garvin is surprised when he learns that his father owned half of the town with another man named Ken Cluster. The dastardly Cluster wants Garvin out of the way and dispatches his gunslingers to kill him. Eventually, Cluster frames Garvin for the murder of a bank cashier after one of his henchmen brings him the same knife that our hero uses to kill one of Cluster's henchmen during a nocturnal shoot-out in the desert. Rather than surrender to the local authorities, Garvin shoots it out with them and skedaddles out of town with a posse on his tail.
The posse pursues Garvin to Cluster's ranch where Mrs. Jessica Cluster (Evelyn Stewart of "Adios Gringo") allows him to hide in her bubble bath when the sheriff storms into her house. An amusing moment occurs when Garvin parades around in a dressing gown with his gun belt strapped thwart his hips. Cluster assembles a small army of gun hands to track down Garvin. Doc warns Garvin not to trust Jessica, and he reveals that Jessica is really his wife. Jessica rides to where Ward (Guido Lollobrigida) is hiding and instructs him to deposit the loot in her name in a bank. Garvin,Doc, and Gordon prepare a little reception for Cluster's men. After our heroes ambush Cluster's men, Garvin rides after Ward. These scenes resemble something out of an American B-movie western with the hero catching up with the fleeting outlaw, bull-dogging him off his horse, and the two smashing each other with their fists. Eventually, Garvin and Gordon conceal the loot that Kluster stole from his own bank, but Jessica discovers the money, too. The ending is clever because our heroes believe that they have made off with the loot for Mexico.
"Django Shoots First" is an average Spaghetti western.
As the action unfolds in "Django Shoots First," Garvin (Glenn Saxson of "Go with God, Gringo") guns down Ringo, (José Manuel Martín) the black-clad, bounty hunter who shot his father for a $5-thousand reward. The ill-fated bounty hunter rides into Garvin's campsite, and Garvin guns him down. Afterward, Garvin takes the body of his father back into town and collects the loot. Garvin is surprised when he learns that his father owned half of the town with another man named Ken Cluster. The dastardly Cluster wants Garvin out of the way and dispatches his gunslingers to kill him. Eventually, Cluster frames Garvin for the murder of a bank cashier after one of his henchmen brings him the same knife that our hero uses to kill one of Cluster's henchmen during a nocturnal shoot-out in the desert. Rather than surrender to the local authorities, Garvin shoots it out with them and skedaddles out of town with a posse on his tail.
The posse pursues Garvin to Cluster's ranch where Mrs. Jessica Cluster (Evelyn Stewart of "Adios Gringo") allows him to hide in her bubble bath when the sheriff storms into her house. An amusing moment occurs when Garvin parades around in a dressing gown with his gun belt strapped thwart his hips. Cluster assembles a small army of gun hands to track down Garvin. Doc warns Garvin not to trust Jessica, and he reveals that Jessica is really his wife. Jessica rides to where Ward (Guido Lollobrigida) is hiding and instructs him to deposit the loot in her name in a bank. Garvin,Doc, and Gordon prepare a little reception for Cluster's men. After our heroes ambush Cluster's men, Garvin rides after Ward. These scenes resemble something out of an American B-movie western with the hero catching up with the fleeting outlaw, bull-dogging him off his horse, and the two smashing each other with their fists. Eventually, Garvin and Gordon conceal the loot that Kluster stole from his own bank, but Jessica discovers the money, too. The ending is clever because our heroes believe that they have made off with the loot for Mexico.
"Django Shoots First" is an average Spaghetti western.