The Great Silence

Rating:
Summary: An Apocalyptic Spaghetti Western
Review: "Il Grande Silenzio" is surely one of the starkest, most brutal, and most pessimistic of the Euro-Westerns (a 1968 product of Italy and France, thus explaining the presence of the great Jean-Louis Trintignant, his only foray into the Western genre). Fans of "The Wild Bunch" and "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" are quite aware that down-beat endings are possible (if not common) in a Western film. But Sergio Corbucci's "outsider" status (as probably the greatest Italian-born director of Westerns after Leone) helps to bring a truly de-mythicizing and de-romanticising vision to the film, one quite different from the nostalgic conclusion of the two above mentioned American films. The snow-bound setting, apart from neatly distinguishing the film from its hoard of competitors, is a perfect allegory for the ruthless (yet at times starkly beautiful) story. The violence is often sensationalistic (although not nearly as excessive as it is in some of Corbucci's later Westerns), but always grounded in the slowly unfolding inexorability of the narrative itself. And the tender affection between Trintignant and an outstanding Vonetta McGee (her first role; she plays the wife of a victim of the ruthless bounty killers) gives the film an unexpected element of tragic humanity. Klaus Kinski is all cold calculation-- a terrifying symbol of rampant capitalism's dehumanisation. And Frank Wolff (otherwise best known to spaghetti Western fans as Brett McBain of Leone's "Once Upon a Time in the West," murdered with the rest of his family at the opening of the film by Henry Fonda) gives a gem of a performance as an idealistic (and hopelessly naive) sheriff who displays much more compassion than one would ever expect in such a film. But the movie's transcendence of its generic limitations lies in its unflinching and uncompromising conclusion-- perhaps more honest in its brutality of frontier life and death than just about any American Western. Not only do the innocent and the just fail to triumph--here they aren't even given the ghost of a chance. But that, in a nutshell, is the story of so many who pursued the hope of the "American dream"...

Rating:
Summary: An Excellent Western
Review: A mute whose family was killed by evil bounty hunters makes his way as a hired gun for those who want to avenge bounty hunter murders. He's a good guy who could use a little more brains (as someone else said, some of the decisions toward the end were dumb).

This is an excellent spaghetti western filmed in mountains and snow. At first it didn't seem like the movie would pull off the premise of snow, horses and guns. But, the atmosphere of it all eventually consumes you - an almost claustrophobic feeling to it.

Klaus Kinski is simply brilliant as the villain, a combination of mean and smart that provides some explanation for the fact that he comes out on top.

I would have given this 5 stars except for the fact that we only got an over-dubbed version (not sure if anything else is available). If there were the actual audio and subtitles, this movie would have been significantly better. Also, the hero was too stupid to be believed at times. All in all, an excellent movie.

Rating:
Summary: One of the best spaghetti westerns made
Review: After having sat through the tedium of Texas, Adios and Vengeance, it was a terrific pleasure to see this film. The setting is unusual for a Western (mountains full of snow), the score by the great Morricone is tops, and the international casting is inspired.

Jean Louis Trintignant (French) plays the title role, a mute (hence his name) in the role of the force for good who carries an unusual gun for the time. Klaus Kinski (German) is the heavy and while his dubbed-in voice can grate on one's nerves, his actions and facial expressions leave no doubt as to who and what he is. Vonetta McGhee (American) is the black widow who becomes, briefly, the Great Silence's love interest. So it was also good to see this unusual development--a black-white couple, rare for its time as well.

While I agree with others that Leone is the best in the genre, this film has to be very close to that quality. The extremely downbeat ending is another plus, a crushing blow to the expected typical Western fare. However, in retrospect, some of the actions of the main characters leading up to this finale seem either naive or stupid. Hence, the three stars. If you can buy into the "good guys" being too trusting for their own good, then I guess this would work.

So the minuses are Kinski's dubbed-in voice, and the possibly non-credible naivete of the "heroes". But if you weigh those against the pluses, which are many, you have overall a solid film, definitely worth seeing, if not owning.

Rating:
Summary: Should have done a better job
Review: Although this is atop the list as one of the finest westerns ever, I was very disappointed at the overall quality of the dvd. There are some definite rough spots, pauses, and glitches as well as an average audio track. I am among a group af true Kinski fans and while I enjoyed the dvd and REALLY liked the fact that they had the alternate ending (is it Klaus or isn't it?) of the film along with some nice extra features, we feel more attention should have been paid to doing a more professional job of digitally mastering the film. It deserved better. Don't let it stop you from buying it. Although at 25 dollars it is definitely over-priced, it is hightly unlikely that anyone will go to the trouble of doing a better job on the mastering. All things being equal, this is the best available version around. But a five star movie deserves better than a 1 star digital mastering.

Rating:
Summary: Klaus Kinski's best role
Review: An excellent movie featuring Klaus Kinski in his best role ever. The score of Ennio Morricone is brilliant and in line with his most famous western compositions. The DVD will feature the long lost "alternate ending" among the extras (Loco is killed by the returning Sheriff, Silence shoots the remaining Bounthunters and liberates the Outcasts). But this (positive) ending was never used officially, since Corbucci always insisted on the negative ending.

One of the most important spaghetti western ever made.

Rating:
Summary: Definite European Western
Review: As a big fan of the Clint Eastwood trilogy, and a fan of European films, I greatly looked forward to this movie. The other reviews do it justice, and I did enjoy it.

I'll concisely wrap up the pros and cons here:

Pro: WONDERFUL soundtrack; beautiful scenery and a good quality picture, and a love making scene that was quite daring for its time, when you consider mixed race relationships, and society's opinion of them in the 60s.

Cons: Dubbed, which usually isn't a good thing. An ending that I would have wanted to be different, but then again, I'm not the director.

Probably the one thing, referring back to the Pros, is the romantic interlude. It was very touching and although not very flawlessly done, possessed a wonderful tenderous, accompanied by a fantastic score.

If you're a die hard Spaghetti western fan, I would recommend it.
It's not my favorite western, but a good one, and a much different one.

Rating:
Summary: Definite European Western
Review: As a big fan of the Clint Eastwood trilogy, and a fan of European films, I greatly looked forward to this movie. The other reviews do it justice, and I did enjoy it.

I'll concisely wrap up the pros and cons here:

Pro: WONDERFUL soundtrack; beautiful scenery and a good quality picture, and a love making scene that was quite daring for its time, when you consider mixed race relationships, and society's opinion of them in the 60s.

Cons: Dubbed, which usually isn't a good thing. An ending that I would have wanted to be different, but then again, I'm not the director.

Probably the one thing, referring back to the Pros, is the romantic interlude. It was very touching and although not very flawlessly done, possessed a wonderful tenderous, accompanied by a fantastic score.

If you're a die hard Spaghetti western fan, I would recommend it.
It's not my favorite western, but a good one, and a much different one.

Rating:
Summary: A very unusual, powerful and largely overlooked gem!
Review: I watched The Great Silence for the first time last night.
There is no doubt in my mind that this film is easily amongst the best spaghetti westerns ever made. I do feel this is better than Django. The Sergio Corbucci films I'd previously seen seemed very hit and miss. The photography sometimes looked rough, complete with shaky zooms. The photography in The Great Silence however is generally superb. Some wonderful wide shots and a number of other beautiful shots, the camera does pan about very well.
The film is set on a snow swept landscape and it looks terrific, it also contains a wonderful, haunting score from Ennio Morricone.

On an unforgiving, snow-swept frontier, a group of bloodthirsty bounty hunters, led by the vicious Loco (Klaus Kinski) prey on a band of persecuted outlaws who have taken to the hills. As the price on each head is collected - one - by - one, only a mute gunslinger named Silence (Jean-Louis-Trintignant) stands between the innocent refugees and the greed and corruption that the bounty hunters represent.

It's hard to believe this film was made in 1968, it is very impressive for many reasons. First it does not follow most genre conventions, it simply follows it's own set of rules, the ending is especially different. It's well cast, I thought both of the male leads were perfect. There is a very good moment where the mute gunslinger and a coloured woman make love. This scene is really unusual and quite daring for the time. This is a very bleak film, which may put some people off. I happen to think the ending is brilliant.

The Great Silence is such a wonderful film. The English dubbing is sometimes poor, but this is only a small flaw.

I'm very pleased with the DVD of this film. Not only have they found a very decent print of the film, it's a new digital widescreen 1.66:1 transfer. Print damage is minimal, there are a few shots which look to have aged but on the whole it's very good, grain is rarely evident. The sound wasn't so good, there is background noise and it can often be heard over the dialogue.

If you are a fan of spaghetti westerns, this film is essential viewing. It is better than Sergio Corbucci's own Django which is a very good spaghetti western in it's own right. A very unusual, powerful, bleak and largely overlooked gem.

I picked up the DVD due to the positive reviews I read here.
The Amazonians here did not let me down, most of the reviews are spot on.

Highly Recommended.

Rating:
Summary: The Three Star Kid
Review: I'm sorry for not giving this movie five stars, but a lot of times people have a habit of over reacting when something this rare pops up in America with such a great transfer. The movie looks better than ever (I've only seen it before on foreign bootlegs) and the "happy ending" was a great addition. Klaus Kinski is great as always. I love that the main character carries a broom-handle Mauser. And the ending is just as wild and shocking as everyone says it is. Then why only three stars? I love Sergio Corbucci---everything like Sonny and Jed, The Hellbenders, The Mercenary, Super Fuzz, Navajo Joe, etc.---but the guy just wasn't a five-star director--though Django comes mighty close. He filmed fast and furious, and a lot of times the script was made up as he went--and it shows. His style, like a lot of guys working in Italian exploitation, is very choppy. Way too many crazy zooms and cloe-ups intrude on the action. You have to be prepared to forgive a lot when watching this stuff, and people not tuned in to the whacked-out world of spaghetti exploitation will be thoroughly confused. Not too mention that the guy dubbing Kinski's voice sounds like a moron.

Though Corbucci was the second best spaghetti Western director of all time, there's still miles and miles between him and the great Leone--who I think was the most visual director in the history of film.

But if spaghetti expoitation is your thing, then this is the movie for you. It's one of the best. Just too bad I've outgrown my high-school phase of devouring movies from guys like Lucio Fulci, Vincent Dawn, Anthony Dawson and the like.

Rating:
Summary: One of the greatest (and least known) Italian Westerns
Review: No Italiuan Western deserves the deluxe DVD treatment more than Corbucci's masterpiece THE GREAT SILENCE (IL GRANDE SILENCIO). This is the first time the film has been released in the U.S. in any shape; its violence, political content, and lack of an American star (plus strange rumors of an American version) prevented it from being released here back in the late 60s, and no one has bothered to release it to a home video format until now. Trust me, get this film, even if you claim you don't like Westerns.

THE GREAT SILECNE shares much in common with other Italian Westerns, with its stoic, quiet (in this case, mute), inscurtable hero, grimy cutthroat villains, political overtones, and extreme violence. But there is much about it that is unique, even among Corbucci's films. Instead of the story playing out in the scorching Mexican-American deserts, GREAT SILECNE takes place in a frozen mountain wasteland. And, while most of Corbucci's films emphasize comedy and comic book antics (such as COMPAÑEROS and DJANGO), this film is nearly humorless and unrelentingly grim. But it is nonetheless a hypnotic and gripping experience, and unlike any Western you are likely to see in the U.S. or anywhere else.

Klaus Kinski plays ruthless bounty hunter Tigrero ('Loco' in the English dub), whose men prey upon the "bandits" in the mountains (actually the poor, struggling to survive by stealing food), and Jean-Louis Trintignant (star of A MAN AND A WOMAN) is the mysterious hired gunman Silence who intercedes in this struggle between the haves and the have-nots. The score is one of composer Ennio Morricone's masterpieces, based on a haunting, repetitive harpsichord melody that perfectly evokes the snowy, heartless landscape.