Cemetery Without Crosses (1969)

The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

Worth seeing just to witness how winsome it is.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

This is a violent , beautifully crafted as well as exaggerated Spaghetti and packs taciturn acting on cynical characters with bloodbaths including high body-count , sense of style and elaborate narration . It pits ¨Man with no name¨ against two families that are feuding between them , the Rogers and the Caine . As a gunslinger (Robert Hossein) saves the damsel in distress who is also his former flame (Michelle Mercier) and at the same time she is seeking revenge for death her husband . The gunman join forces with the widow pitting the nasty family who uses twisted means to chase them and it terminates in a deadly feud . The pistolero kills various bandits in a gunfight at the saloon , then he is detained and imprisoned by the sheriff . Later on , there takes place kidnapping , killings , street shootouts at a ghost town and tragic events .This classic Western titled ¨Une Corde, Un Colt..." or "Cemetery Without Crosses" or "The Rope and the Colt" contains slow and deliberating filming , elaborate shoot-outs , and portentous close-ups of grime-encrustred faces with heinous bloodbaths included . It is a strange , slow-moving and almost utterly visual picture with some surprises and well paced . Robert Hossien stars as a leather-clad gunfighter and wearing black glove , drawn into a dramatic facing off between two revengeful families . Hossein plays a drifter similarly to Clint Eastwood's ¨Man with no name¨ from ¨A fistful of dollars¨ and ¨For a fistful of dollars more¨. Fine support cast formed by Italian/French actors , all of them customary Spaghetti such as Guido Lollobrigida or Lee Burton , Daniele Vargas , Serge Marquand , Benito Stefanelli and Ivano Staccioli . Special mention to Michele Mercier as attractive as well as vengeful widow .This is a well-made French/Italian production , in spite of , there appears usual Spanish secondary players from Paella/Ravioli Western , mostly uncredited , such as Simón Arriaga , José Canalejas , Álvaro De Luna , Charly Bravo , Cris Huerta , Lorenzo Robledo and Angel Alvarez as a Barman likeness to his role in Django . Unforgettable and terrific original music by André Hossein , in Ennio Morricone style , including a catching leitmotif , one of the best of Spaghetti . Worn-out cinematography by Henry Persin , being necessary a nice remastering because of the colors are faded. This stylish , violent , laconic Western was very well shot by Robert Hossein and is dedicated to Sergio Leone , who made one of the more important scenes . Hossein did revive his career almost instantly on the strength of this film through the main role and filmmaking . Director Robert Hossein claims that Dario Argento was not involved in writing the screenplay with perhaps not more than two dozen lines of dialog ; Dario Argento is listed in the credits on the Italian and German versions but not on the French version . Robert Hossein said that the dinner scene at the Rogers house was directed by Sergio Leone. Rating : Better than average Spaghetti Western .

Robert Hossein (who also co-wrote and directed) is a brooding, ghost town dwelling sharpshooter who, for either love or money, seeks vengeance against the family who apparently stole stole an ex-friend's livestock (or were they already stolen?) and hung him for trying to get them back.One of the most cynical and grim of the Euro-westerns, this is fairly stylish, told with a minimum of dialog. It has the look and feel of a spaghetti western. However, the film owes a bit more in terms of storytelling to it's French half.As far as the movie goes, Cemetery Without Crosses was offbeat and definitely worth watching, though I didn't find it as brilliant as others make it out to be.Really puzzling is the writing credit issued to Dario Argento. If he didn't co-write the film, then why is his name on it? Does anyone else say otherwise?

Cemetery Without Crosses: a film that I have been chasing for a number of years for my DVD collection...never saw it previously. Well worth the wait...a film that stands up extremely well against the better non-Leone spaghetti westerns (Great Silence, Big Gundown, Bullet for the General, Day of Anger,Face to Face, etc) and at least as well against a Fistful of Dollars. Beginning: sepia toned, without any dialogue, three men on horseback are being chased by about 10-15 men...from the beginning, it is obvious one of the three being chased will not make it...then titles, credits, and color to the movie... A third into the movie, we come to a ghost town where our protagonist dwells...he plays roulette against himself...a former flame comes to the town and asks for his help in obtaining a measure of revenge...don't do it, he cautions... In the middle of the movie, our protagonist sits and eats with the family and employees of the men doing the chasing in the beginning of the movies...silence...knowing glances...something is about to happen... Two thirds into the movie: a woman is kidnapped and raped...tries to escape...the remaining two men who were chased in the movie are kidnapped themselves, beaten... End of Movie: the final, obligatory shoot-out... Questions abound...symbolism heavy...stayed with me a few days...well worth the journey...oh, the photography is excellent, as is the music, and there is a cameo performance by Sergio Leone himself... Very underrated film...

After finally seeing this in a very good print I believe it to be one of the best of the non Leone Spaghettis. It's a shame that a lot of these forgotten westerns are only available in multi generation copys because it really affects ones perception. I originally saw this in a VHS dub that was just a shade above unwatchable. What a difference a clear picture and sound track makes. Vintage 60's Spaghetti music and cynical noir like script. Very simple, nothing "spectacular" but everything works and it moves at a good clip. Good cast with the French leads and some Spaghetti regulars. The scene where Hossein plays the music box while brushing up on his shooting skill is a high point. Every spaghetti fan should check this out. Only available in a Japanese import. Great stuff.