Bullet for the general aka Quien Sabe - Argent Films Ltd.

A SPAGHETTI WESTERN ON A PAR WITH THE BEST OF SERGIO LEONE'S WORK

A Spaghetti Western on a par with best of Sergio Leone's work, A BULLET FOR THE GENERAL (aka Quien Sabe?) is a radical and politically committed film directed by Damiano Damiani (A Genius, Two Partners And A Dupe; Amityville II: The Possession) from a brilliantly powerful screenplay by Oscar nominee Franco Solinas (co-writer of the award-winning The Battle Of Algiers).

It is the height of the Mexican Revolution and a gang of bandits led by the charismatic El Chuncho (Gian Maria Volonté) are supporting the cause by stealing weapons and selling them on to rebel General Elias (Jaime Fernández). During a daring raid on a heavily armed train, a mysterious blonde gringo, Bill Tate (Lou Castel), surprisingly assists the bandits by killing the driver and stopping the train. Nicknamed Nino' by El Chuncho, Tate manages to insinuate himself into the gang, which also includes El Chuncho's brother and crazed priest, El Santo (Klaus Kinski), and the beautiful but deadly revolutionary, Adelita (Martine Beswick). But unknown to the rebels, Tate is a mercenary assassin on a mission to get close to, and kill, Elias.

Less a western and more an allegory on South American politics, A BULLET FOR THE GENERAL initiated a whole sub-genre of pro-revolutionary westerns, including Sergio Leone's own "A Fistful Of Dynamite". Scriptwriter Solinas, himself, describes the film as a more accessible version of his screenplay for "The Battle Of Algiers". Violent, stylish and with a refreshingly leftist point of view, the film wears its "Yankee go home!" message proudly on its sleeve.

Politics aside, A BULLET FOR THE GENERAL remains an impressive, epic piece of action cinema, featuring superb performances from a cast that includes Gian Maria Volonté (A Fistful Of Dollars; For A Few Dollars More), Klaus Kinski (Fitzcarraldo; Nosferatu), Martine Beswick (Dr. Jekyll And Sister Hyde; Thunderball; From Russia With Love) and Lou Castel (Irma Vep; The American Friend). Also notable is the film's remarkable score by Oscar winning composer Luis Enrique Bacalov ( Il Postino; Kill Bill 1 and 2) and musical supervisor Ennio Morricone.

Now fully restored from the original Italian negative materials this forthcoming DVD release from Argent Films is the longest and most complete version of A BULLET FOR THE GENERAL available.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• quien sabe
• bullet for the general
• spaghetti western
• gian maria volonte
• mexican revolution
• bill tate
• klaus kinski