Mega
Rare Ultra-Violent Spaghetti Western
featuring Paul Naschy in his only Genre Appearance
director: Gianni
Puccini
starring: Peter Lee Lawrence · Cristina Galbo · Peter
Martell · Luis Induni · Paul Naschy
Here's
a rare Spaghetti Western filled with action, gunplay, brutality and
wonderfully exaggerated characters including [spoiler alert]
the appearance of the gun-wielding Grim Reaper (see pic below
right). This genre classic boasts of considerably more violence than
other entries from the period. The story deals with two warring families
- the Mounters and the Campos - who live in an eternal face-off. Peter
Lee Lawrence plays Johnny, the youngest surviving member of the slaughtered
Mounter family, who attempts to bring justice to his frenzied hateful
world. During his avenging trek, Johnny meets the beautiful Campos daughter,
Giuletta, and the two (in Romeo/Juliet fashion) conduct a torrid
love affair that seems destined for disaster.
The
film is chiefly known for being the only Spaghetti Western appearance
for future Spanish terror icon Paul Naschy, uncredited in one of his
very first screen appearances. Baby-faced actor Peter Lee Lawrence delivers
probably his best performance, the first of his 25 Spaghetti Western
endeavors before committing suicide at age 30 (April 1974) after being
diagnosed with incurable cancer. At the time of his death, he was married
to his co-star here, Cristina Galbo of RESIDENCIA
(House That Screamed) and LET
SLEEPING CORPSES LIE fame. After making 35+ movies, Ms Galbo
retired from acting to become a World-Touring Flamenco dancer in 1980.
Director
Gianni Puccini - the son of Italian author Mario Puccini - started as
an assistant director in 1949, moving to the director's chair in 1951.
FURY OF JOHNNY KID would be his final film (after
18 movies); Mr Puccini died in an auto accident in December 1968. He
was 54 years old.
An
Italian film with English subtitles; widescreen format, totally
uncut version (98 min.), DVD encoded for ALL REGION NTSC, playable on
any American machine. Extras include trailers.
