Michael and Pax check out the sequel to 1969's Sabata (which they covered three years ago; how time does fly). Lee Van Cleef's character is played by Yul Brynner this time, so the fellas talk about that and other changes between the films, and attempt to reconcile the two.
Also, Michael watches Errol Flynn play General Custer in They Died With Their Boots On.
A couple of comments on the Sabata films:
ReplyDeletea. The third one is much more "circus".
b. Gianni Rizzo (who played Folgen) is in a number of spaghetti westerns and generally plays a "boss" who has underlings doing the dirty work. A fairly common trope variant in spaghetti westerns. He is in the third Sabata film as well.
c. There is a sort of Ballentine equivalent in the 3rd, but he is a bit more hapless I'd say and obvious as a comic relief foil to some degree.
d. That the main villains were Austrians was sort of interesting. Emperor Maximilian was actually Austrian (younger brother of Franz Joseph). But I don't think Austrian troops were involved in the occupation of Mexico (or stayed long if they were) as compared to French military forces as often portrayed in various movies. ("Two Mules for Sister Sara", "Vera Cruz", etc.)
Regarding Custer; _Son of the Morning Star: Custer and the Little Big Horn_ might be worth finding. There might be more modern scholarship, but this was a very good read in my opinion.
And "Vera Cruz" should be added to the list. Gary Cooper, Burt Lancaster, and a bunch of good people in early career supporting roles (Bronson, Borgnine, Cesar Romero, Jack Elam.)
They Died with their Boots On
ReplyDeleteI love Errol Flynn. I've been tracking down some of his lesser known movies recently. I've seen this movie a few times along with The Sante Fe Trail where he played JEB Stuart, another Civil War General. I know a lot about the Civil War but have yet to read a Custer biography, but I have one on my shelf. I do know that history places much blame for the massacre at the Little Bighorn on General Marcus Reno for not coming to Custer's aid. Reno was in supporting distance but was slow to move to the sound of the battle arriving only when it had ended. But, Custer's arrogance was also largely to blame due to his division of forces into three pieces and leaving behind his gatling guns because he felt they would slow him down. This is what happens when you underestimate your enemy.