Django (1966)

Director: Sergio Corbucci

Starring: Franco Nero,

More info: IMDb

Plot: A coffin-dragging gunslinger enters a town caught between two feuding factions, the KKK and a gang of Mexican Bandits. That man is Django, and he is caught up in a struggle against both parties.

My rating: 7.5/10

Will I watch it again?  Yes.

#117 on Drive-In Delirium Volume 2 (part of the TRAILER TRASH PROJECT)

Naturally, after watching DJANGO UNCHAINED (2012) I had to revisit the picture that started the Django craze.  This film became such a hit that it attracted imitators and opportunists worldwide.  There was only ever one true sequel, THE RETURN OF DJANGO (1987) which also starred Franco Nero, but there are dozens and dozens of movies that took advantage of the Django name and used it in their titles with a lot of them having the name in the title but failing to have a single character named that in the film.

for 1966 this was a different kind of Spaghetti Western.  It's dirtier (the muddy streets, for example, were unusual for the time), more violent and it's got a guy who drags a coffin around.  When he finally reveals what's in it, it's fucking ON!  That scene where he opens it is an air punch moment.  Luis Bacalov's score is magnificent (and at least one cue was effectively used in DJANGO UNCHAINED).  I can't leave without at least mentioned how badass Franco Nero is.  Good looking, blue-eyed bastard.  I love this guy.  It's too bad  the English dub has someone else's voice that just doesn't work.  You're better off watching it in Italian (with Nero's voice) and English subtitles.  Ever since I first saw it I wished that Nero would record an English track to replace the existing one.  Even when he made this flick his English was good enough to use.  Oh, well.  I'll have to slap in the sequel sometime soon.  It's on the Blue Underground DVD with the original film and I've had it for years.  It's about time I think.