...is from 1969's THE STRANGER'S GUNDOWN, a/k/a DJANGO THE BASTARD. A unique combination of spooky Euro-Goth Horror combined with Spaghetti Western, this flick has the reputation of being the inspiration for Clint Eastwood's "High Plains Drifter". Anthony Steffen, the tall, lanky, somewhat wooden-faced Euro-Western veteran, was a co-writer of the script here; the picture is pretty much an ideal match for his particular skill. That is to say, it requires someone to be tall, imposing, bad-ass, and a little morose; with out any emoting or histrionics. He does a great job.
A mysterious figure arrives in town to seek revenge on the men responsible for a long-ago crime. The stranger, who was believed to have died, stalks and haunts the men, in and out of their homes, seemingly coming and going at will. For this reason, they come to fear that they are being trailed by his ghost, literally returned from beyond to avenge their crime.
The film is set in motion with a brilliant opening sequence, which has quickly become one of my favorite scenes from any Spaghetti Western, and is one I show to anyone curious to learn the particular mysterious and seedy appeal of the genre. Allow me to break it down:
As the winds howl through the streets of a seemingly deserted town, we see a tall, black-clad figure stride slowly across the screen. First a POV shot of the Stranger's boots crunching down on the dirt with each step, then a wide-angle shot seen through the spokes of a wagon wheel, finally, a dramatic, panoramic overhead shot. The Stranger, wearing a hat pulled low and a black cloak, keeps his face hidden from the camera. Finally he comes to stop in front of a grimy saloon, and from chest-level we see him pull back his cloak to reveal a wooden cemetery cross bearing a name and a date. With a bold thrust, the Stranger plants the cross into the ground so that it is visible from the saloon. Inside, the liquored-up roughnecks are aghast: the name on the cross is one of them and the date is today. As the toughs stumble out to challenge the Stranger, he sloooowly lifts his head until his face and eyes are visible from under the brim of his hat. The Stranger, all grimy, unshaven, and steel-eyed, repeats the name on the cross in a low voice. The victim's eyes grow wide and we see a quick flashback of unarmed men being gunned down. The victim realizes in an instant that the stranger is here to avenge his crime of long ago. The thugs each attempt to drunkenly pull their guns out but are quickly dispatched by the Stranger in a lightning-quick hail of gunfire.
