Last night we watched the 1973 mock western My Name is Nobody. It’s a great spoof on the Western as well as a lovingly playful homage to Sam Peckinpah’s The Wild Bunch (1968). In fact, the amorphous “villain” in this film is a rag-tag group of 150 bandits that are referred to as the “Wild Bunch” throughout, and there is an equally insane shootout to end the film replete with slow motion deaths as an overt nod to Peckinpah.
It’s also Henry Fonda’s last Western, and he remained one of the greats of the genre right up to the end—but for me it’s the Italian comedic actor Terence Hill that makes this film. His slapstick humor paired with bizarre moments wherein magical realism meets the Western by way of film speed manipulation makes him truly the fastest draw in Western film ever. And below is the celluloid proof in the form of animated GIFs.
I remember a film prof I had once describing this as an existentialist comedy, and made a note to try and see it… Yet to this point in my life, I have not. Thanks for the prod.
Nice gifs!
Brian,
I can totally see the tag of existentialist comedy on this, Terence Hill is also part of another crazy film that this WFMU post reminded me of this one from the 1980s that was always on cable: Super Fuzz. It would make an awesome double feature, I love to see them both on the big screen. Terence Hill is the great comedic actor of the 60s, 70s, and 80s too few people know about.
I remember seeing this movie on the television as a kid. I loved it and have continued to love it with each repeated viewing through the years.
Never heard of Super Fuzz but if it’s recommended by both the WFMU and the Bava then it’s a must see. Wonder if I can find a VHS of it in Japan.
@Scottlo,
I bet you can find it on a torrent site 🙂
http://thepiratebay.org/torrent/4042471/Super_Fuzz__Super_Snooper_or_Poliziotto_superpiu_(1980_)
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