The Spaghetti Western Collection (Run Man Run / Mannaja / Django Kill / Django)

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
Starting with its very name, the bizarre international hybrid known as the spaghetti Western was always a bit of a joke--but a joke that packed a wallop, and left viewers with jaws dropping in a combination of disbelief, astonishment, and sometimes admiration. The stylistic hallmarks, nihilistic tone, weirdly Latinate atmospherics, and postmodern self-consciousness of its imaginative universe made for an intoxicating breed of pop entertainment that changed not only the Western genre but also popular culture at large.
Its vogue lasted a decade and then some, from Sergio Leone's 1964 A Fistful of Dollars (released in the U.S. in 1967) to Monte Hellman's 1978 art film China 9/Liberty 37. Often, fully half of the 300 films turned out by Italian companies in any given year were spaghetti Westerns, which could be trusted to sell tickets the world over--under a delirious variety of titles from market to market. They tended to be shown in sleazy grind houses, via spliced and tattered prints. What a pleasure to report that Blue Underground has gone back to the original, mostly pristine materials to produce the crystal-clear, gorgeously color-saturated, widescreen DVDs in this boxed set. Few audiences ever saw these movies looking better than they will on the home screen.
The present quartet affords an admirably varied and illuminating cross-section of the spaghetti Western as entertainment phenomenon and mirror of its troubled time. Sergio Corbucci's Django (1966), with a Gypsy-named protagonist (Franco Nero) dragging a coffin through a mud world of bigotry and double-cross, spawned sequels ad infinitum; this release is the first in more than 30 years to be struck from the original camera negative. Django, Kill! (1967) isn't "Django" at all--it's If You Live, Shoot! (how's that for existential absurdism!), a wildly transgressive fever dream set in "a totally guilty town" and boasting a band of flagrantly gay gunslingers, director Giulio Questi's variation on Mussolini's Black Shirts. The gem of the collection, Sergio Sollima's Run, Man, Run! (1968), features an infectiously funny performance by Tomas Milian as a knife-throwing scalawag who became an icon to late-'60s student radicals; this film of almost Leone-class visual grandeur has rarely been seen outside Italy. Director Sergio Martino claims that Mannaja: A Man Called Blade (1977) was "the last, perhaps next-to-last" of the spaghetti Westerns. The strain was showing--but even this preposterous fantasia about a hatchet-throwing eco-avenger (Maurizio Merli) exerts a goofy fascination.
Incidentally, the short documentaries spotlighting each film are very enjoyable in their own right. The scruffily aged Tomas Milian is a particular delight. --Richard T. Jameson
Description
Saddle up and strap on your holsters for this outrageous quartet of Spaghetti Western classics! Along with "Django, Kill!" (1967, 117 min.), "Run Man Run" (1968, 121 min.), and "Mannaja: A Man Called Blade"(1977, 96 min.), exclusive to this collection is the new special edition of Sergio Corbucci's classic, "Django" (1966, 90 min.), restored for the first time from the original camera negative recently discovered in a Rome vault untouched for over three decades! Franco Nero stars as the lone, coffin-dragging stranger who roams the West towards a destiny ruled by vengeance. A landmark classic packed with indelible images and some of the most shocking brutality of any Spaghetti Western ever made, this is the still-controversial epic that defined a genre, launched a phenomenon and inspired over 50 unofficial sequels! Also included for the first time is the optional Italian audio track featuring Franco Nero's own voice. Following two years of extensive restoration, this is the most stunning and complete version of "Django" you'll ever see in a powerhouse box set that'll blow you away!
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Once Upon a Time in Italy - The Spaghetti Western Collection (A Bullet for the General / Companeros / Four of the Apocalypse / Keoma / Texas Adios)
Starring: Gian Maria Volontè , Klaus Kinski , Martine Beswick , Lou Castel , and Jaime Fernández (II) Director: Damiano Damiani , Lucio Fulci , and Enzo G. Castellari Manufacturer: Anchor Bay ProductGroup: DVD Binding: DVD Similar Items:
ASIN: B0000YTPF2 Release Date: 2004-02-10 |
Description
Once Upon A Time In Italy, a generation of visionary filmmakers hijacked the genre of the American Western. Suddenly, standard stories of cowboys and Indians became a hyper-stylized opera of immoral heroes, ruthless action and extreme violence. These startling new films became known as Spaghetti Westerns, and movies have never looked or sounded the same since!In BULLET FOR THE GENERAL, Gian Maria VolantE9 (of A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS fame) co-stars with Klaus Kinski in one of the most politically daring and viciously intense westerns ever made. The legendary Franco Nero stars in TEXAS ADIOS, a tale of lawmen out for justice where vengeance knows no borders. And Spaghetti Western icon Tomas Milian stars with Fabio Testi and Michael J. Pollard in FOUR OF THE APOCALYPSE, the brutal revenge epic directed by Maestro Of Gore Lucio Fulci. The action-packed COMPAD1EROS brings together superstars Tomas Milian and Franco Nero for the first time ever, along with acclaimed director Sergio Corbucci (DJANGO), a stunning score by Ennio Morricone and a jaw-dropping performance by Jack Palance. Franco Nero returns in the mind-blowing KEOMA, directed by Enzo Castellari and considered to be the last true masterpiece of the entire genre. These five classic films are all presented totally uncut, uncensored and loaded with exclusive Extras for the absolute ultimate in Spaghetti Western mayhem!
Customer Reviews:
if you like spaghetti westerns... you best be owning this box, yo!.......2007-05-13
5 classic Spaghetti Westerns given the Anchor Bay treatment!!!.......2007-03-29
a great collection of spaghetti westerns and all widescreen.......2006-05-06
Good Collection of Italian Westerns.......2005-06-25
terrific quality.......2005-03-25
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Beyond the Law / The Grand Duel (Spaghetti Western Collection Vol. 10)
Starring: Lee Van Cleef Manufacturer: Wild East Productions ProductGroup: DVD Binding: DVD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000CETW58 Release Date: 2005-11-15 |
Customer Reviews:
One outta two isn't bad...........2007-05-12
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Fort Yuma Gold (Spaghetti Western Collection Vol. 17)
Starring: Giuliano Gemma Director: Calvin J. Paget Manufacturer: Wild East Productions ProductGroup: DVD Binding: DVD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000MV9EVS Release Date: 2007-01-25 |
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Clint the Nevada's Loner / A Noose is Waiting for You Trinity (Spaghetti Western Collection Vol. 17)
Starring: George martin Director: George martin Manufacturer: Wild East Productions ProductGroup: DVD Binding: DVD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000QRID2O Release Date: 2007-05-15 |
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Day of Anger (Spaghetti Western Collection Vol. 3)
Starring: Lee Van Cleef; Giuliano Gemma Director: Tonino Valerri Manufacturer: Wild East ProductGroup: DVD Binding: DVD Similar Items:
ASIN: B0002XNPQ6 Release Date: 2003-05-02 |
Product Description
Lee Van Cleef, star of The Good. The Bad, and The Ugly, shoots up the screen in his most violent western yet! Van Cleef stars as the sadistic Talby who rides into town and takes on the young outcast Scott Mary as an apprentice gunfighter. Scott learns his deadly lessons well and eventually realizes that someone has to stop his mentor Talby from taking over the town. Pupil faces teacher in a violent climatic showdown! Wild East Productions is proud to present for the first time the uncut, widescreen version of the classic Spaghetti Western DAY OF ANGER on DVD for your viewing pleasure. The film has been digitally remastered from a pristine, original 35 mm print to the best possible quality. DAY OF ANGER has never been seen in this form since its initial theatrical release.Customer Reviews:
Day of Anger.......2007-06-15
Captain Apache was more enjoyable...........2007-05-21
I Own All Wildeast DVD's And Never Had Any Problems!.......2007-04-26
A warning about Wild East Entertainment.......2006-09-17
days of wrath.......2006-07-07
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A Reason to Live, A Reason to Die! (Spaghetti Western Collection Vol. 16)
Starring: Telly Savalas and Bud Spencer James Coburn Director: Tonino Valerii Manufacturer: Wild East ProductGroup: DVD Binding: DVD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000HXDM7S Release Date: 2006-08-29 |
Customer Reviews:
No so engaging..........2007-06-23
MAN,THIS SATISFIES!.......2006-11-18
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The Dirty Outlaws (Spaghetti Western Collection Vol. 12)
Starring: Chip Corman Director: Franco Rossetti Manufacturer: Wild East Productions ProductGroup: DVD Binding: DVD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000EHPXOW Release Date: 2006-01-31 |
Customer Reviews:
john b.......2006-09-23
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Gentleman Killer (Spaghetti Western Collection Vol. 13)
Starring: Antonio De Teffè , Eduardo Fajardo , Silvia Solar , Mariano Vidal Molina , and Benito Stefanelli Director: Giorgio Stegani Manufacturer: Wild East Productions ProductGroup: DVD Binding: DVD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000FKO024 Release Date: 2006-05-01 |
Customer Reviews:
A warning about Wild East Entertainment.......2007-04-01
john b.......2006-09-20
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Taste of Killing (Spaghetti Western Collection Vol. 15)
Starring: Craig Hill Director: Tonino valerii Manufacturer: Wild East productions ProductGroup: DVD Binding: DVD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000FVG8YG Release Date: 2006-05-23 |
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If You Meet Sartana Pray For Your Death (Spaghetti Western Collection Vol. 11)
Starring: John Garko Director: Frank Kramer Manufacturer: Wild East ProductGroup: DVD Binding: DVD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000CS4420 Release Date: 2005-12-13 |
Customer Reviews:
A warning about Wild East Entertainment.......2007-04-01
J BRADSHAW.......2006-10-27
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