(280) NIGHT OF THE SERPENT (1960) Giulio Petroni | Magda Konopka
4951DVD
original
Italian title: LA NOTTE DEI SERPENTI [The Night of the Serpent]
also known as NEST OF VIPERS
director: Giulio Petroni
starring: Luke Askew · Luigi Pistilli · Magda Konopka · William Bogart
· Chelo Alonso
Lieutenant
Hernandez, commander of a garrison in San Esteban, seizes an opportunity
to steal a large inheritance by killing the intended recipient, a orphaned
child named Manuel. In order to make the plan work, the Lieutenant seeks
the help of a local outlaw boss who is willing to sacrifice one of his
own men in the gallows for the murder of young Manuel. That patsy is Gringo,
a washed up, alcoholic gunfighter. But things don't go according to plan
when Gringo decides to clean himself up and challenge both the gang and
the Lieutenant.
This
sprawling Spaghetti Western originally got lost-in-the-shuffle during
the glut of product coming out of Italy in 1969. But, today, it proves
to be one of the best examples of the genre. It also gives further credence
to the exceptional work of director Giiulio Petroni, a filmmaker who has
been woefully ignored. His legendary western DEATH
RIDES A HORSE and the erotic thriller LIPS
OF LURID BLUEare mandatory fare for all fans of European Cult
Cinema. Mr Petroni died from natural causes in January 2010 at age 92
without ever receiving the recognition he deserved.
Luke
Askew was an American character actor who had chosen wisely, predominately
featured in numerous cult hits from Easy Rider to Cool
Hand Luke to Green Berets punctuated by playing
Johnny Ringo on TV's High Chaparral. This flurry of screen
activity caught the attention of Euro producer Gianni Minervini and he
was brought to Italy for this film. But Luke missed Hollywood. He immediately
returned to Los Angeles after the shoot, continuing his work in American
television. Askew stayed busy with numerous TV projects (50+ from Rockford
Files to Fantasy Island) but also found time to
make a few movies (featured in Magnificent Seven Ride!,
Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid, Rolling Thunder,
among others). Despite his 'good guy' role here, Luke most always played
the villain. He died from lung cancer at age 80 in March 2012.
An
Italian film with optional English subtitles; widescreen format, uncut
105 minutes,
DVD encoded for ALL REGION NTSC WORLD FORMAT. Extras include original
theatrical trailer.
Sexual
Themes/Violence/Sexual Brutality
for Mature Audiences
