Requiem for a Gringo

Requiem for a Gringo is a 1968 Western directed by Eugenio Martin and Jose Luis Merino.

Requiem for a Gringo tells the story of Ross Logan, a bounty hunter and astrologist, who seeks vengeance for his brother’s death. Logan relies on his gun-fighting skills and celestial intuition to defeat a band of cruel bandits.

There is something endlessly appealing about a Western that strays from convention. While Requiem for a Gringo features a formulaic blueprint, it is a wildly stylish, unique and violent movie.

Lang Jeffries has the face and manner of a nondescript Western lead. He’s stoic and at times professorial. There’s rarely a time his Logan Ross is not dominating the crew of bandits who murdered his brother. Yet, he’s an astrologist adorned in a leopard print shawl who plans his ultimate revenge based on an eclipse.

The real flavor of Requiem for a Gringo comes in the eclectic collection of hired guns working for the oafish Carranza.

Aldo Sambrell is a scene stealer as Charley Fair, the superstitious, oily, menacing thug who is constantly popping his silver teeth into place. He’s gritty and effectively brutal throughout the movie until Logan challenges him with a tiny black kitten. Sambrell’s manic reaction – stroking his rabbit foot and signaling the cross – is a highlight of the movie.

Sambrell is joined by Ruben Rojo, who plays Tom Leader. Leader is the defacto brains of the muscle outfit – he schemes with Femi Bunussi’s Alma to steal Carranza’s bounty of jewels. Rojo sends up the stereotypical effeminate baddie role with a melodramatic flair. His scenes with Bunussi are overtly sensationalized.

Carlo Gaddi plays Ted Corbin, the most vicious of the bandits. He represents another Western trope, as he’s a cold-blooded, black leather-clad gunman. He lives to terrorize Nina, a local girl who works in the fields. He murders Dan, Logan’s brother, and then implies that he will rape Nina. While Charley and Tom offer some quirky charm, Gaddi’s Corbin is purely vile.

Carranza fits another Western archetype. Fernando Sancho plays the bandit boss as a slovenly, greedy, piggish oaf prone to violent outbursts. However, there’s an odd vulnerability to his character. He is reluctant to show his declining gunfighting skills in front of his crew and relies on jewels to coerce Alma into affection.

The storytelling is both inventive and rudimentary. Logan’s character is an astrologist and he plans his vengeance in accordance with a coming eclipse. He announces his attention by ominously carving a date into a bar counter. The final shootout scene occurs in eerie, windy darkness – it rivals the atmosphere of a horror movie. It’s an effective, moody device not typically found in Westerns.

There is a clunkiness in the movie’s resolution that is sweetly endearing – especially given the experimental nature of the sub-genre. Logan tells of Tom, Ted and Charley’s demises in a series of carefully arranged flashbacks. The formerly crazed Carranza has to calmly suspend belief while the thorough Logan recounts his stories.

Similarly, the directors heavily rely on extreme closeups of their actors’ faces throughout the movie. Initially, this technique adds some quirky character to the story. However, during the climactic final scenes, there’s almost a glitch that occurs. As Carranza senses his empire crumbling, the camera zooms in and out at a comical, jarring fever pitch.

The BEST – Carranza’s Box of Jewels

Outside of Charley’s good luck charms, this is the best prop in the movie. Carranza continually digs into his box for a quick currency. He loads down Alma with a ridiculous amount of necklaces and jewels – all in the pursuit of his amorous goals.

The BEST Part 2 – Mysterious Lupe

Lupe is the main attraction at the local whore house, but she’s more intriguing for her guitar skills and discreet presence. Her first scene indicates she will factor more into the celestial side of the story, but then she fades into the background – quietly chopping vegetables amidst the coming storm.

The BEST Part 3 – The Acid Soaked Opening Credits

Sometimes, the highlights of old Westerns begin and end with a great opening song. Requiem for a Gringo features a cool Technicolor opening sequence, then follows up with a terrific movie.

The WORST – Astrologists Are Also Magicians

Logan is given supernatural powers simply because he’s interested in the stars. During his pursuit of Tom, Ted and Charley, Logan appears more as a shapeshifter than gunfighter – effortlessly appearing and reappearing in the shadows to easily defeat the bandits.

The WORST Part 2 -Kung Fu Death Squad

Alma meets her end as an unnamed Carranza heavy judo chops her to death. It’s an unfortunate and violet end for the character (although Carranza’s open hand slap of her was much worse), yet we’re only left with questions as to why this baddie wasn’t featured more.

FOX FORCE FIVE RATING – 4/5

Requiem for a Gringo is everything you could ask of a European Western. The movie features a unique style, quirky bad guys and an inventive plot device. There are laughable moments of melodrama, atrocious acting and bizarre technical feats – all of which combine to create the kind of unique experience this imaginative sub-genre is known for.