The Big Gundown is a 1966 movie directed by Sergio Sollima.
WHAT HAPPENS?
A lawman pursues a peasant wanted for the murder of a young girl.
ONE LINE REVIEW
The Big Gundown is a raw, stylish Euro Western featuring two terrific acting performances.
THE ACTORS
Lee Van Cleef and Tomas Milian respectively star as unofficial lawman John Corbett and infamous bandit Cuchillo. Each actor gives what is probably their greatest Euro Western performance – which given their lengthy filmographies, is an impressive statement.
Van Cleef presents his usual stoic, sardonic toughness. He’s grim and measured but retains a maniacal edge. Yet he distinguishes himself in this role by showing decidedly human traits. Power broker Brokston will reward Corbett with a Senator position if he captures Cuchillo. Throughout the pursuit, Van Cleef’s character is continually tricked and needs help to accomplish his mission.
Milian is a scene stealer as the crafty, enigmatic Cuchillo. Few actors are more expressive with their faces and body – or more willing to get dirty. Milian’s physical prowess is extraordinary – he flees from a charging bull, collapses from a series of lashings and dives face first into pig filth. His Cuchillo is a potent fighter – he drops from the ceiling like a monkey and heaves a knife into a henchman.
THE DIRECTOR
Sergio Sollima creates a simple but effective cinematic Western environment. He uses several overhead shots to show the brutality of the desert. Similar to other Euro Western directors, there’s plenty of mud and blood – along with terrific shootouts and duels. Sollima distinguishes himself with fewer close ups on his characters’ faces – instead, they are framed in a more naturalistic manner that emphasizes the brilliant action sequences. Sollima further enhances his settings with some of the best costumes seen in the genre.
THE BEST – Cuchillo’s Escapes
Van Cleef’s best one-liner defines Milian’s character: “You must have come out of your mother running.” Milian’s Cuchillo evades Van Cleef throughout the movie – including fleeing from a shootout, tricking Corbett into a snake bite and escaping from prison. The narrative perfectly matches the character and is enhanced by Milian’s physical gifts.
THE BEST Part 2 – The Austrian Bodyguard
Gerard Herter is wonderfully bizarre as Brokston’s bodyguard – an immaculately precise hired gun adorned with a monocle. His introduction foreshadows an eventual showdown with Van Cleef’s Corbett – but it’s played perfectly as the two only share a few interactions.
THE BEST Part 3 – Oh Those Mormons
Cuchillo attempts to run off with a young Mormon girl early in the movie – she shoots Corbett. We later learn that the “young girl” is a Mormon man’s “fourth wife.”
THE BEST Part 4 – Movie Deaths
Walter Barnes’ Brokston is a terrific villain – his passions in life are making money and hunting. His ambitions to profit from building a railroad implicate Corbett and Cuchillo – a point wrapped up in the movie’s final duel. Corbett gets his revenge as Barnes performs a tremendous gunshot death. Cuchillo’s knife victims experience similar outcomes – brilliant, sudden deaths that aren’t comically exaggerated.
THE WORST – Chet Shows Up Out of Nowhere
Angel Del Pozo’s Chet is an effective drunken brute who delivers a memorable scene. He’s an intriguing villain but unfortunately, his character doesn’t appear until later in the movie. Chet proves to be a major influence on the story’s direction – which proves to be one of the few flaws in an otherwise solid movie.
THE WORST Part 2 – The Usual Problems
It’s a symptom of both 1960’s filmmaking and history in general: women are treated badly. In an attempt at authenticity, these issues are unfortunately amplified. In this respective case, the actions barely advance the overall narrative and are unnecessary.
FOX FORCE FIVE RATING – 4.25/5
The Big Gundown ranks among the best Euro Westerns ever made. Sollima is an excellent action director, Van Cleef is solid and Milian is extraordinary. A must watch.
