Films in the spghetti western genre varied in quality from very good to very bad and, yes, everything in between. DJANGO DEFIES SARTANA probably falls in the low end of the spectrum, though I didn’t think it was as bad as some reviews I found. It would fit nicely as a B-movie. Low brow script with a number of paint by numbers scenes. Low budget. Hammy acting, not to mention the niece’s overwrought, face twisting disgust at the trampling of the bad guy’s girl friend.
Unlike a lot of films at the time riding the coattails of successful franchises, this wasn’t one where the names Django and Sartana were just slapped onto the title when in other countries but Italy.
It was cult actor Tony Kendall’s first spaghetti. He was Djando. George Ardisson was Sartana and in his fourth movie in the genre. José Torres was the most experienced actor in the cast, playing the mute Loco. His character was very good at playing the scared little peon until called for more, being very good with knife or machete.
Each of the principals received early scenes to demonstrate their prowess. Remember I mentioned paint by numbers.
Django and his men confront a band of outlaws, shooting it out until the leader challenges Django’s manhood for a showdown, having his lone surviving gang member set up to ambush Django. Our hero of course gets them both.
Sartana’s introduction has him facing off against the vain young gunman that wants to enhance his reputation. Sartana tries to ignore him until he has to grab the idiot’s gun when he gets to close and teach him a lesson.
The plot here is Django’s straight brother Steve(John Alvar), a bank executive, is set up to look like he helped Sartana rob the bank and ends up getting lynched, with a reward put out on Sartana. You see, the bank manager Singer(Bernard Faber) is killed, his niece(Adler Gray) kidnapped, supposedly by Sartana, though it obviously wasn’t him. The wagon was brought in by one of Singer’s men who said before Singer died, he named both Steve and Sartana. The body is quickly buried.
Django hunts down Sartana and the two beat the hell out of each other until neither can stand. Then the talking begins and the pair team up to find the real criminal and clear Steve’s name.
It was far to easy to figure out the bad guy.
Nothing is ever said about bringing the lynch mob to justice.
Despite it’s pedestrian script, I enjoyed it. The music by Piero Umiliani was pretty decent.