Review of China 9, Liberty 37 (1978) by Alan W — 07 Apr 2018

Sadly I've only seen the poor-quality, heavily cut version, but the bones of a very good film are there anyway. Oates is excellent (as ever), and his gravelly voice reminds me of Kristofferson's in Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid - the look and feel of which seems to provide much of the inspiration for this film.

Testi isn't bad,either, apart from the difficulty at times of making out his heavily accented English. The two leads are both sympathetic and clearly like each other, which as in Pat Garrett sets it into the pattern of tragedy rather than revenge - and the presence of Peckinpah on-screen further emphasises the homage.

I really hope a high quality, uncut version will be released some day; I'd snap it up.