THE BIG GUNDOWN (VSC, 1966) D: Sergio Sollima, w/ Lee Van Cleef, Tomas Milian. Rating: NNNN Blu-ray/DVD package: NNNNN Rating: NNNN
The Big Gundown has the sweeping vistas, epic feel, bravura set pieces, iconic characters and classic Ennio Morricone score of one of Sergio Leone’s classic Fistful Of Dollars trilogy.
But director Sergio Sollima has a more political sensibility than Leone, so elements of racism and class struggle inform this tale of an unofficial American lawman (Lee Van Cleef) hunting a Mexican peon (Tomas Milian) in Mexico for the rape and murder of a 12-year-old girl.
There’s fun in the contrast of Van Cleef’s gimlet-eyed rectitude and Milian’s broad terror and glee, and a bit of genre-bending unease when you notice that the bad guy is smarter and more charming than the hero.
You can hear Morricone’s score – guitar, trumpet, voice, galloping rhythm, creative percussion and a killer title song – on a music-only track with an optional commentary presented in subtitles and on a CD.
You also get the 110-minute Italian and 95-minute American versions. The longer adds visual and character richness and leaves the score intact.
Milian, Sollima and screenwriter Sergio Donati all give solid interviews that touch on the movie, their craft and careers.
EXTRAS Commentary, two Sollima interviews, two Donati interviews, Milian interview, commentary, isolated music track, soundtrack CD, more. Italian audio with English subtitles on Italian version. English audio, no subtitles on U.S. cut.
