Reviews

Spara Gringo Spara is a particular favorite of this spaghetti western fan in that it combines the expected Italian western bravado and action with a respectable attempt at offering unique character relationships.

While lacking the depth and intrigue of classics of the genre, such as "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly", Spara Gringo Spara (aka Shoot Gringo Shoot) does manage to avoid the confusing plot lines and over-indulging intensity that often spoils many shoot-em-up films. Westerns, at least the better ones, more often than not revolve around a simple theme of good vs. evil. And although many recently produced old-west films successfully cloud that issue ("Open Range" for one), most films of the genre are better served remaining faithful to the standard, to-the-point presentation that exemplifies the western... keep the storyline simple and punctuate it with in-your-face, gun-blazing action.

Spara Gringo Spara delivers these elements without watering down the dialog, mixing in unnecessary plot twists, or exceeding the duration required to achieve its goals.

The bottom line... Spara Gringo Spara makes no attempt to deliver anything beyond its capabilities. Sometimes, less is more, as this movie properly demonstrates. A nice addition to any spaghetti western collection.

When commenting on The Tin Star, one need only mention one name: Henry Fonda. Unquestionably one of the finest screen actors this country has ever produced, he effortlessly weaves an enjoyable blend of wisdom, grit and compassion throughout this interesting and well-acted western. With an excellent supporting cast (including a very young Anthony Perkins), The Tin Star is a western the whole family can enjoy. Its appeal stems from two primary factors that are the basis of any quality film... acting talent at its best and an interesting storyline that is simple to follow yet captivating for its direct approach to the issues at hand. The DVD quality of this Paramount release is very good, although lacking in extra features. But after watching the movie, I found myself not wanting for anything extra... the feature presentation was left to stand on its own and, in my opinion, did just fine. It's amazing that, nearly fifty years after its release, The Tin Star can still speak to us, if we care to listen, of honest, simple values, the importance of loyalty, and how the difference between right and wrong doesn't always have to be as complicated as today's world leads us to believe. And, of course, having Henry Fonda and his incredible talent to present this package to us can only help to improve any film's chances for success. Highly recommended for any fan of Henry Fonda or westerns of the "High Noon" variety.