Review of Django (1966) by Stuart K — 05 Aug 2013

Written, produced and directed by Sergio Corbucci (Minnesota Clay (1965), Johnny Oro (1966) and Navajo Joe (1966)), this ultra-violent western was made when the spaghetti western was starting to become popular.

Compared to the grand epics Sergio Leone made, Sergio Corbucci kept it small, focused and to the point, and there's a lot of bloodshed in this film, but Django became a popular character. Django (Franco Nero) is a drifter wandering around the Wild West, carrying a closed coffin with him.

He rescues Maria (Loredana Nusciak) from the clutches of the evil Major Jackson (Eduardo Fajardo), who Django has sworn revenge on after Jackson murdered Django's wife. Django tries to make a deal with Mexican General Hugo Rodriguez (José Bódalo) to steal gold from Jackson, but Rodriguez betrays Django, so Django steals Rodriguez's gold, but has his hands crushed as punishment.

But, Jackson isn't finished with Django or Rodriguez, and he plans to massacre anyone involved with either of the two men, but Django has a plan too. It's a good, sparse western, it has some good moments of action and Nero makes a good action hero as well.

There were dozens of unofficial sequels made following the success of this film, plus the title song and Nero were used for Django Unchained (2012). Oh, Quentin!!