The Worst Film Ever

This is a tender, generous movie that likes its characters and presents them as real people, full of flaws and strengths.

This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.

Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

Two men, Colonel Pembroke(JAMES COBURN)and Eli Sampson(BUD SPENCER),stand in the middle of a fortress, Fort Holman, littered with dead bodies, in the aftermath of a bloody battle. The story is told in flashback and as the two men leave the deserted and destroyed fortress, the film begins from the start and depicts the events leading up to the massacre. During the American Civil war, a disgraced Colonel Pembroke is brought back to his union superiors after having escaped from a Confederate prisoner of war camp and been arrested for looting. It turns out that Pembroke was in charge of the garrison at Fort Holman, but surrendered to Confederate Major Ward(TELLY SAVALAS)and his rebel forces without a single shot being fired, which allowed Ward to take over the Fort without a fight. Although branded a coward and a traitor, Pembroke's superior officer gives him the chance top redeem himself, by re-taking Fort Holman. Pembroke selects 6 men to take with him on his mission,4 convicts, a dubious army Sergeant and Eli, whom he met shortly after his escape from the POW camp. As the men set out on their mission, we soon find out Pembroke's personal motivation for giving up the fort, and wanting to take it back...A REASON TO LIVE,A REASON TO DIE is one of my favourite Spaghetti Westerns,the highlight of the whole film has got to be the climatic battle inside Fort Holman.The whole sequence was spectacular, exhilarating,absolutely riveting and shot in a fun, exciting way.As with every other Spaghetti western, the stunts in this sequence are awesome, the shots of masses of soldiers being gunned down by Gatling Guns and pistols and furiously flinching, falling down steps and off of walls as they got shot were fantastic and sent my pulse pounding and adrenaline surging through my veins. The massive explosions were mind blowing and the shots of the wagon sheds angrily exploding with flames tearing them apart blew me away, I was completely awestruck by how I could feel the thundering impact of every explosion as the camera shook violently every time something was blown apart. Pembroke and his men kick ass and raise hell in rollicking Spaghetti western fashion as they throw packs of Dynamite over the fort walls and into the fort, destroying the entire place and taking out dozens of men and tearing up buildings. One part in this sequence which made me laugh was when Eli grabs two soldiers manning a Gatling Gun, bashes their heads together and throws them off of the fort wall. I was extremely impressed by the Fort Holman set and awestruck just by how vast and huge it was and how expertly designed and built it was.This final battle is the only action scene in the whole film and the director does a great job in building up to this explosive, ear shattering, all-guns-blazing finale.The cinematography was incredible, with stunning shots of the rocky, sun baked mountains, as I've already stated, the excitement and energy of the final battle is captured magnificently. The shots of the Steam Engine chuntering down the track early in the film were also excellent. I thought Colonel Pembroke was a strong character and was portrayed excellently by James Coburn, even though he gets very little screen time, Telly Savalas absolutely superb as the crazed Major ward, I loved the part during the battle in which he shoots a deserting soldier before screaming "There'll be no time for court martials, EXECUTION ON THE SPOT". Bud Spencer was magnificent and the guy who played the brutal union Sergeant also gave a decent performance, I also thought the dubbing was terrific, although the voices of James Coburn and Telly Savalas sounded genuine, I thought the rough, deep voices of the characters were cool/The storyline was appealing, interesting and marvellously gritty and the pacing was satisfactory with the men constantly getting closer to the fortress. The final scene between Colonel Pembroke and Major Ward was chilling, taut and really nail biting and shot in a mind blowing, gut wrenching way, I sensed a brief anti war comment at the end of the film when Colonel Pembroke cuts down the confederate flag, then throws down his sword and takes off his gun belt and throwing it on the ground. I had no fingers left after the men scaled the cliff face, the shots here were amazing too.Riz Ortolani's score was exceptional, the title music was beautiful, it reminded me of the music in the American westerns of the 40s and 50s.The hairs on the back of my neck stood up prior to the battle as Pembroke and his men emerge on a ridge and shoot two guys before Pembroke screams "GO GET EM" and the men charge towards the fortress and begin hurling dynamite over it's walls as the epic soundtrack plays in the background.A REASON TO LIVE,A REASON TO DIE is a flawless Spaghetti Western,it has an engrossing, intriguing and intelligent civil war storyline,fantastic script and characters, stupendous and brisk camera-work, a tremendous soundtrack which sounds magnificent in the film, dozens of intense and exciting scenes which are well directed, shot and paced and an electrifying,out-of-this-world action sequence to top it all off.10/10.

The plot of Tonino Valerii's men-on-a-mission spagwest bears heavy resemblance to THE DIRTY DOZEN while certain sequences are undoubtedly inspired by the climax of Peckinpah's WILD BUNCH. Despite the familiarity of this subject matter, the film turns out to be an engaging little western that tells its story in a spare, lean narrative. It has a gritty, downbeat flavour, is very well shot and makes fine use of some grand sets and isolated locations. Valerii displays a real affinity with the subject matter and brings Ernesto Gastaldi's script to life in a memorable way.Most of the characters are sidelined in favour of the big hitters, but small wonder when this film features James Coburn and Telly Savalas as protagonist and antagonist respectively. Coburn is stoic, sardonic and a fitting hero, while Savalas plays it subdued throughout. There's also a major role for spagwest stalwart Bud Spencer. Throw in some wonderfully filmed explosions (that put anything Michael Bay's done since to shame) and an epic-feel climax and you have a film that's never less than entertaining.

The fine quality of this comic and then very dramatic Coburn & B. Spencer western was a surprise for me.This heterogeneous and satisfying western is an odd proof that Valerii was an underachiever and that he should of been one of the most respected western directors ever. The movie is, as I said, very heterogeneous; but it also shows a flawless gusto and an unfailing taste for what an action film must be, and has an admirably pure line, there is this purity of the narration that makes it especially likable.In a few words, it is the Dirty Dozen set during another war—in 1862, I think.It has been noticed that there are some WW 2 action films that are essentially westerns. Well, here we got the symmetrical situation: the Coburn western is essentially a commando flick.A commando of only eight men, all evildoers (Coburn and B. Spencer are the most familiar faces …) is sent to conquer a fort; the fort is ruled by Major Ward (i.e., Savallas). Savallas and his soldiers are Southerners. In a too small role, Savallas makes yet another of his outstanding villains.Coburn's character isn't a lowlife, but a Colonel that wants to conquer the fort that he surrendered to Major Ward.Most of the film is made in a humorous key. B. Spencer is the protagonist of all sorts of bodily jokes, there are discussions about buttocks, urinating and umbilical region. If you allow me an impious thought, who could imagine Wayne, G. Cooper or Mitchum forcing unsuccessfully to urinate, simulating vainly that they urinate, and complaining about their asses being inflamed by horse-ride? I guess it somehow depends on your particular sensibilities, yet this comic is never displeasing or misplaced or disgusting. It is simply Gargantuan joking.The very long fight scene is particularly pleasing—once the commando enters the fort, a long battle begins. The movie's end is somehow a twist—for me, it was a twist—I expected a duel, etc.. Anyway, Savallas is very good. These three actors—Coburn, B. Spencer and Savallas—give the film a particular charm. The fight scene is indeed an interesting one, though on another level than the rest of the movie—it's like the film suddenly changes—the feel, the style change suddenly, and we get one of the finest fight scenes, like an ultra—compact Dirty Dozen!During this last part of the movie—the fight—the tone becomes intensely and convincingly , seriously dramatic. One could define the film in its entirety as a very funny, comical western, excellently played, and with a long very dramatic fight scene. Coburn meeting Savallas is really chilling and thrilling—and Savallas indeed looks as if he was dying when Coburn pierces him with the sword. I dislike disclosing here the end—yet Savallas' death was of course foreseeable and on the other hand and much more important Savallas' death scene is so important and finely done and interesting that it of course deserved to be explicitly mentioned here.A Reason to Live, a Reason to Die is rather short. B. Spencer has most of the screen time. Everything seems to happen very quickly; Eli's (B. Spencer's) sabotage techniques allow for many funny things to be played. Eli and the Colonel are the only two good guys in the film; Eli is as intelligent as the Colonel, and sides with him on every occasion.The humor is of course manly and also very unsubtle; the naturalness gives charm to the comic strips story, while B. Spencer's sometimes aggressive humor is amusing in his usual buffoonish way. This '72 western comes towards the end of B. Spencer's career in the westerns—in '73 he'll launch his Piedone. He alternates placidity with aggressiveness ,having already found the formula of his action roles.On the other hand, I have to say that, with all its merits and qualities, A Reason to Live … remains a modest thrilling funny likable action western, and it's in no way the …equal of a film like The Dirty Dozen (where everything was infinitely better, worked much better, etc., there was plenty of action and suspense, the characters had their individuality and the finest actors abounded!).

Who wouldn't jump at the chance to get off a gallows and take a chance at living? The motivation is, of course, gold...lot's of it. James Coburn does a very good job of portraying a soldier seeking justice for his murdered wife, and goes after Telly Sevallis with a vengance, using condemmed men as his team. Much like the Dirty Dozen, but without the military structure of WWII. Liked this movie but the sound track is typically Italian...overmodulated and scratchy. When I first saw this film I thought I was watching a Sergio Leone spaghetti western...even the music sounded the same. In spite of the similes and plagarised plots from other films in this genre, this one still turned out well. Good photography and special effects. Hope someday someone will remaster the sound and turn out a smashing DVD. Enjoy!