El chuncho, quien sabe? (1966)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Damiano Damiani

Writers:

Salvatore Laurani (story)
Franco Solinas (adaptation)

Release Date:

September 1968 (USA)

Genre:

Western

Tagline:

Like the Bandit... Like the Gringo... A bullet doesn't care who it kills!

Plot:

El Chuncho's bandits rob arms from a train, intending to sell the weapons to Elias' revolutionaries...

Plot Keywords:

Mexican | Revolutionary | Spaghetti Western | Assassination | Beautiful Woman

Cast

Gian Maria Volontè	...	El Chucho
Klaus Kinski	...	El Santo
Martine Beswick	...	Adelita
Lou Castel	...	Bill 'Niño' Tate
Jaime Fernández	...	General Elías
Andrea Checchi	...	Don Feliciano
Spartaco Conversi	...	Cirillo
Joaquín Parra	...	Picaro
Aldo Sambrell	...	Teniente Alvaro Ferreira
José Manuel Martín	...	Raimundo
Santiago Santos	...	Guapo
Valentino Macchi	...	Pedrito
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Vicente Roca	...	Hotelier (uncredited)
Antonio Ruiz	...	Young Mexican at train station (uncredited)

Directed by
Damiano Damiani

Writing credits
Salvatore Laurani		(story and screenplay)
Franco Solinas		(adaptation and dialogue)

Produced by
Bianco Manini	....	producer

Original Music by
Luis Enríquez Bacalov		(as Luis Bacalov)
Ennio Morricone

Cinematography by
Antonio Secchi		(director of photography) (as Tony Secchi)

Film Editing by
Renato Cinquini

Production Design by
Sergio Canevari

Costume Design by
Marilù Carteny

Production Management
Ferrucciole Martino	....	production manager
Ofelia Minaldi	....	assistant production manager

Music Department
Ennio Morricone	....	music supervisor

Production Companies

• M. C. M.

Distributors

• AVCO Embassy Pictures (1968) (USA) (theatrical) (dubbed)
• Argent Films (2004) (UK) (all media)
• International Film Distributors (1970) (Canada) (theatrical) (dubbed)
• Nora (1968) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (2000) (USA) (VHS)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• ClassicLine (2002) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Dixie Bell (2004) (Australia) (DVD)
• Koch Media (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
• Koch Media (2007) (Germany) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2000) (USA) (VHS)
• Reserva Especial (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)

Also Known As:

A Bullet for the General (USA)
Quién sabe? (Italy) (short title)

Runtime:

135 min | UK:77 min | Spain:107 min | Argentina:120 min

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Germany:18 | Spain:18 | UK:15 (DVD rating) | UK:18 (re-rating) (1986) | UK:X (original rating) | Singapore:PG | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Argentina:13 | West Germany:18 (nf) | Finland:K-18 | Sweden:15 | USA:M | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Company:

M. C. M.

Quotes:

[last lines]
El Chuncho: [to a beggar he gave money to earlier] Don't buy bread with that money, hombre! Buy dynamite! Dynamite!

Movie Connections:

Featured in Denn sie kennen kein Erbarmen - Der Italowestern (2006) (TV)

Another Spaghetti Western that hits the mark

I first read about this film in a great book about Spaghetti Westerns wherein every Italian western was presented in complete detail. It was a scholarly approach to the genre and has made me a fan for years. Known in the U.S. as A BULLET FOR THE GENERAL, it has a darker mood than Sergio Leone's DOLLAR trilogy and his masterpiece, DUCK, YOU SUCKER! (a.k.a. FISTFUL OF DYNAMITE), more angst ridden than Sergio Corbucci's A PROFESSIONAL GUN (a.k.a. THE MERCENARY) and more bleak than Corbucci's masterpiece, DJANGO (which spawned countless sequels that had nothing to do with the original and the only one worth mentioning is: DJANGO KILL!) which is difficult since the western was awash in a sea of mud that was the stage where the characters ruthlessly slaughtered each other.

I love the Italian approach to westerns because they create an atmosphere where John Wayne is not welcome. If the Duke were to enter their world, he would be shot in the back by some crazed revolutionary/bandit who wouldn't wait for a showdown in the street. Plus the Duke probably wouldn't be fast enough on the draw. A BULLET FOR THE GENERAL has plenty of mood, crazed revolutionaries/bandits, double-crossings, contempt for "gringos" (which makes me wonder about how the Italians think of us--are these films suppose to be "political statements" too?), gun fights and endless desolate landscapes that would make Sam Peckinpah drool with delight. There is no happiness to be found in this film and every fan of Spaghetti westerns would revel in it's excess.

A BULLET FOR THE GENERAL is great on this level and should have multiple viewings (check out Klaus Kinski as the bible thumping revolutionary who spouts credo with gunfire and Lou Castel as the cold-hearted gringo who doesn't drink, smoke, look at women but LOVES money). The only Spaghetti Western regulars missing from this one are: Franco Nero and Lee Van Cleef. Director Damiano Daminani has made a Spaghetti western cult classic in his own right. I want to see his other westerns. See it and you won't be sorry.