Legendary gunfighter Ringo(GIULIANO GEMMA)returns home from years of military service in the American Civil war. Hardened by his wartime experiences, Ringo is angered to find his hometown in the thrall of a large bandit family. The bandits, headed by Esteban Fuentes(FERNANDO SANCHO)and his brutish son Paco(GEORGE MARTIN),oppress the mostly American townsfolk and kill anyone who crosses them. The alcoholic sheriff(ANTONIO CASAS)refuses to act as he too is controlled by fear. Ringo is further shocked to find that all his friends, including his wife Hally(LORELLA DE LUCA),presumed he had been killed. He becomes more embittered when he learns that his father, a respected senator, was murdered in standing up to the bandits.However,things get even more personal when Ringo discovers that Esteban and his men have taken over his home and that Paco is going to marry Hally and father his child. The gunslinger is subsequently prompted to turn his fight for honour and crusade against injustice into a personal mission of revenge. In doing so, he takes up his guns once again...
Duccio Tessari had thrilled me with the first Ringo film. A PISTOL FOR RINGO was outstanding. Although you can't improve on excellence, the pains of Tessari's labour triumphed and THE RETURN OF RINGO is my favourite of the two. This second Ringo film seems to have no relation to the first, even the character of Ringo is a completely different person. He is not the charming, free spirited Angel Face of the first film but rather a tough,seasoned,jaded ex soldier who has "seen it all before". Here he is a former Union army Captain. His cheek even twitches throughout the film which I thought was a brilliant touch. Maybe it was a side effect of the war?.This type of character fits the tone of the film like a tight leather glove. Some cast members return from the first film, like Fernando Sancho and George Martin,although they play different characters. It appears that the two Ringo films are both "stand alone" with a "different Ringo" in this second film. This film is rather dark and serious and focuses on themes like retribution and redemption which I liked very much. The humour and one liners from the first film are not present here and comic relief is scarce, which is good as such things would have been out of place in this film. Both the storyline and script are robust and tight, the plot is based on the ancient Greek story The Odyssey which makes the film all the more interesting. There's nothing I can't resist more than films about heroes and this film is a prime example of why I find the theme so appealing. It depicts Ringo, a man with iron courage, fighting for both himself and everything he believes in, standing up for what is right when everyone else is too scared to do so.He is being driven by both love and hatred, which I find compelling and inspiring.Ennio Morricone is a musical genius and his chilling soundtrack really evokes the heroic underdog theme. It complemented the film brilliantly,particularly in the emotional scenes.Maurizio Graf's vocals gave me butterflies, especially in the final scene, it roars in the background as Ringo and Hally embrace in the aftermath of the final shootout. I was also very impressed by the other orchestral pieces.
Once again,Giuliano Gemma is amazing as Ringo. He immortalises the action hero by running, jumping and rolling in the path of gunfire as he shoots his opponents. In the final shootout he comes crashing through the roof of a house after shooting two bandits on top. The set pieces in this final shootout were absolutely fantastic, but I'll explain that later. Fernando Sancho was great as Esteban.He's different from the roaring oaf he played in the first film. Here he's a lot more restrained and much more brutal, but still extremely likable, whereas Antonio Casas looks like he just walked off the set of an American B western.The camera-work was rather stylish, with the lens panning 360 degrees round rather than just cuts. The film's action sequences were really muscular and packed with rollicking stunts and set pieces. Most of the action doesn't occur until the end of the film but the final two shootouts were the greatest. The one in the street reflected the spirit of the American western whilst the other at Ringo's house was an absolute riot!. The latter was most spectacular as the bandits utilise a type of Gatling gun to fight off Ringo and his motley band of townsfolk. Ringo dons his Union army uniform and fights back using his six shooters, Winchester and exploding flower pots!. In the heat of the fighting guys fall from roofs, out of windows and from trees as they are shot, some complete with cringeworthy,but hilarious death screams. The climatic fistfight between Ringo and Paco was furiously exhilarating and made for a ferociously satisfying and finger biting climax.
Tessari surpassed himself with this awesome follow up to the magnificent A PISTOL FOR RINGO.Although the pace is much slower than the previous film, this second part is an engrossing tale of bravery and one man's emotional journey which builds to a gripping finale. The film's foundations are formed by a staunch script, granite hard moral and intelligent plot. It is full of superb characters and performances as well as a gorgeous soundtrack.Cast iron suspense and taut, adrenaline pumping action and stunts, not to mention a delightfully brutal final confrontation between the hero and the villain form a strong concrete surface.10/10.
Duccio Tessari had thrilled me with the first Ringo film. A PISTOL FOR RINGO was outstanding. Although you can't improve on excellence, the pains of Tessari's labour triumphed and THE RETURN OF RINGO is my favourite of the two. This second Ringo film seems to have no relation to the first, even the character of Ringo is a completely different person. He is not the charming, free spirited Angel Face of the first film but rather a tough,seasoned,jaded ex soldier who has "seen it all before". Here he is a former Union army Captain. His cheek even twitches throughout the film which I thought was a brilliant touch. Maybe it was a side effect of the war?.This type of character fits the tone of the film like a tight leather glove. Some cast members return from the first film, like Fernando Sancho and George Martin,although they play different characters. It appears that the two Ringo films are both "stand alone" with a "different Ringo" in this second film. This film is rather dark and serious and focuses on themes like retribution and redemption which I liked very much. The humour and one liners from the first film are not present here and comic relief is scarce, which is good as such things would have been out of place in this film. Both the storyline and script are robust and tight, the plot is based on the ancient Greek story The Odyssey which makes the film all the more interesting. There's nothing I can't resist more than films about heroes and this film is a prime example of why I find the theme so appealing. It depicts Ringo, a man with iron courage, fighting for both himself and everything he believes in, standing up for what is right when everyone else is too scared to do so.He is being driven by both love and hatred, which I find compelling and inspiring.Ennio Morricone is a musical genius and his chilling soundtrack really evokes the heroic underdog theme. It complemented the film brilliantly,particularly in the emotional scenes.Maurizio Graf's vocals gave me butterflies, especially in the final scene, it roars in the background as Ringo and Hally embrace in the aftermath of the final shootout. I was also very impressed by the other orchestral pieces.
Once again,Giuliano Gemma is amazing as Ringo. He immortalises the action hero by running, jumping and rolling in the path of gunfire as he shoots his opponents. In the final shootout he comes crashing through the roof of a house after shooting two bandits on top. The set pieces in this final shootout were absolutely fantastic, but I'll explain that later. Fernando Sancho was great as Esteban.He's different from the roaring oaf he played in the first film. Here he's a lot more restrained and much more brutal, but still extremely likable, whereas Antonio Casas looks like he just walked off the set of an American B western.The camera-work was rather stylish, with the lens panning 360 degrees round rather than just cuts. The film's action sequences were really muscular and packed with rollicking stunts and set pieces. Most of the action doesn't occur until the end of the film but the final two shootouts were the greatest. The one in the street reflected the spirit of the American western whilst the other at Ringo's house was an absolute riot!. The latter was most spectacular as the bandits utilise a type of Gatling gun to fight off Ringo and his motley band of townsfolk. Ringo dons his Union army uniform and fights back using his six shooters, Winchester and exploding flower pots!. In the heat of the fighting guys fall from roofs, out of windows and from trees as they are shot, some complete with cringeworthy,but hilarious death screams. The climatic fistfight between Ringo and Paco was furiously exhilarating and made for a ferociously satisfying and finger biting climax.
Tessari surpassed himself with this awesome follow up to the magnificent A PISTOL FOR RINGO.Although the pace is much slower than the previous film, this second part is an engrossing tale of bravery and one man's emotional journey which builds to a gripping finale. The film's foundations are formed by a staunch script, granite hard moral and intelligent plot. It is full of superb characters and performances as well as a gorgeous soundtrack.Cast iron suspense and taut, adrenaline pumping action and stunts, not to mention a delightfully brutal final confrontation between the hero and the villain form a strong concrete surface.10/10.