"Blood for a Silver Dollar" director Giorgio Ferroni's "For A Few Extra Dollars" amounts to an above-average Spaghetti western about a gold heist. Giuliano Gemma stars as a Confederate Army officer who helps the Union Army to prevent the needless massacre of Southern troops who will be wiped out while the real villains steal the gold from under the noses of the Yankees. Strong production values, rugged Spanish scenery, a sturdy cast, and plot with a little mystery to it distinguish this oater that occurs during the American Civil War. Although he fought on the opposite side, our resourceful Confederate hero, Gary Hammond (Giuliano Gemma of "Day of Anger") cuts a bargain the Colonel of Camp Davis (Andrea Bosic) where he is being held prisoner to escort two Union soldiers, Captain Lefevre (Ángel del Pozo of "Horror Express") and Sergeant Pitt (Nello Pazzafini of "A Long Ride from Hell"), through the treacherous sun-baked southwest because he knows the terrain like the back of his hand. The heavily mustached Lefevre is a ruthless Union officer who prefers to shoot first and ask questions later, especially when it involves gunmen who cannot take care of themselves. When Sergeant Pitt refuses to shoot unarmed men, Lefevre displays no qualms about killing. During their trip, they run into a band of outlaws, and Lefevre doesn't trust Hammond with a hoot. Sergeant Pitt is nothing like Lefevre, but he doesn't give Hammand an inch. When Hammond palms Pitt's revolver in an incredible sleight of hand, Pitt surprises him by whipping out a derringer. Eventually, the trio get to a town where Hammond encounters a pretty dance hall warbler, Connie Breastfull (Sophie Daumier of "Love at Sea"), who needs a pass through the territory. Once Connie obtains a pass, Hammond slips the message that the Colonel gave him into Connie's luggage. Meanwhile, Lefevre reveals his villainous interests when he sneaks away from Hammond and Pitt to talk to the chief villain, Riggs (Dan Vadis of "The Gauntlet"), who is the brains behind a gold heist. Riggs has managed to convince the local Confederates that Fort Yuma, where the gold is stored, has a smaller number of cannon. When the rebels attack the fort, Riggs and his men will access a tunnel and steal the gold while the Confederates are pulverized by sixteen artillery pieces.
Giuliano Gemma makes a stalwart hero who knows how to handle a six-gun. He endures the usual tortures that Spaghetti western heroes must face. At one point, when he refuses to divulge the whereabouts of the message that the Colonel entrusted to him, Riggs stakes him out in the sun. Miraculously, Hammond survives this obstacle course. He fools Riggs' henchmen before he wipes them out and tangles with Riggs. Ferroni stages a no-holds-barred saloon brawl with Gemma taking on a lot of henchmen. Dan Vadis is a well-dressed heel and makes a sufficiently rough-edged bad guy. Sophie Daumier supplies sex appeal. Several character actors who appeared in a large number of Spaghetti westerns show up here, including Antonio Molino Rojo, José Calvo, Benito Stefanelli, and Riccardo Pizzuti. Composer Gianni Ferrio contributes a flavorful orchestral score, with Ennio Morricone supplementing the musical soundtrack. "For A Few Extra Dollars" is also known as "Fort Yuma Gold."
Giuliano Gemma makes a stalwart hero who knows how to handle a six-gun. He endures the usual tortures that Spaghetti western heroes must face. At one point, when he refuses to divulge the whereabouts of the message that the Colonel entrusted to him, Riggs stakes him out in the sun. Miraculously, Hammond survives this obstacle course. He fools Riggs' henchmen before he wipes them out and tangles with Riggs. Ferroni stages a no-holds-barred saloon brawl with Gemma taking on a lot of henchmen. Dan Vadis is a well-dressed heel and makes a sufficiently rough-edged bad guy. Sophie Daumier supplies sex appeal. Several character actors who appeared in a large number of Spaghetti westerns show up here, including Antonio Molino Rojo, José Calvo, Benito Stefanelli, and Riccardo Pizzuti. Composer Gianni Ferrio contributes a flavorful orchestral score, with Ennio Morricone supplementing the musical soundtrack. "For A Few Extra Dollars" is also known as "Fort Yuma Gold."