This film stood on my must-see list for one reason, namely the three major names in the cast and particularly because I'm an enormous fan of Telly Savalas' naturally malignant charisma. I should have guessed, however, that Savalas' part here is not much more than an small supportive role during the last half hour and that everything else isn't worth sitting through, neither. "A Reason to Live, A Reason to Die" is a poor, dull and forgettable hybrid between Spaghetti Western and (Civil) War movie that steals ideas and stylistic aspects from numerous classics but doesn't contribute the slightest thing itself. Director Tonino Valerii carefully watched all the blockbuster hits that got released during previous years (like "The Dirty Dozen", "The Wild Bunch", "The Great Escape", "The Magnificent Seven"…) and mishmashes a familiar story of a group convicted criminals that are offered the choice between the noose or fighting along in a battle to re-conquer a lost fortress. Colonel Pembroke gave up the fortress all too easily and, in order to avoid total loss of dignity, he embarks on a crazy mission to reclaim it with an 8-headed posse of outcasts that he promised a gold treasure that isn't there. James Coburn, who looks like he's been sleeping under a bridge for two years, depicts the anti- hero Colonel, Bud Spencer – in a largely non-comical role – is one of his henchmen and the great Telly Savalas is the evil Confederate Major they have to chase out of the fortress. "A Reason to Live, A Reason to Die" is incredibly long and tedious, especially because it's mainly derivative plodding during the first hour and a half. The trek towards the fortress is full of clichéd obstacles and macho arguments, while the final battle is dire and unspectacular. Being an Italian western from the early seventies, there's an unforgivable shortness of violent action, filthy bastard characters and general nastiness.

"A Reason to Live; A Reason to Die" is a American Civil War saga about a cashiered Union colonel who commands twelve condemned men to carry out a suicide mission. Initially, this do-or-die adventure epic opens like a "Dirty Dozen" clone before it turns into quasi-"The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly." Although Colonel Pembroke (James Coburn of "Duck, You Sucker") wants to clear himself of being a traitor, he really wants to appropriate a half-million dollars in gold from impregnable Fort Holman. Pembroke's nemesis at Holman is none other than Telly Savalas! Savalas' presence bolsters the allusion to "The Dirty Dozen." As the commandant of Fort Holman, Savalas is not going to take the easy way out. Tonino Valerii of "Day of Anger" helmed this standard-issue, Spaghetti western. Rafael Azcona and Ernesto Gastaldi co-wrote the screenplay about treacherous men with Valerii. Gastaldi had penned his share of Spaghettis, including "My Name Is Nobody," "Man from Nowhere," "Arizona Colt Returns," and "10,000 Dollars for a Massacre." Previously, Azcona and Gastaldi had co-written the Bud Spencer comedy oater "I Can Be Done, Amigo." The splendid, sun-baked scenery of Southern Spain; a seasoned cast headed up by Coburn and Savalas, and Riz Ortolani's flavorful orchestral soundtrack are the chief assets of "A Reason to Live; A Reason to Die." Actually, most of Ortolani's score sounds like excerpts from his "Day of Anger" soundtrack. Valerii creates some moments of suspense, particularly when they are stringing a rope to themselves. Bud Spencer goes in undercover as a Confederate soldier to help Pembroke and his men get into Fort Holman.Interestingly, although neither the director nor the writers drew any parallels to history, "A Reason to Live; A Reason to Die" sounds something like the siege of Vicksburg. At Vicksburg, on the bluffs of the Mississippi River, Pennsylvania born John Pemberton commanded the city and forted themselves up against the Union Army and U.S. Grant. Eventually, Grant starved the Confederates out of Vickburg and Pemberton was branded as a traitor for surrendering the city. When the Union Army captured Vicksburg, they cut the Confederacy in half, severing the Eastern Theater from the Western Theater. The officers in "A Reason to Live; A Reason to Die" depicts Fort Holman as a stronghold for the Union. When Pembroke gave up the fort, he was branded as a traitor like Pemberton for losing Vicksbug. Of course, events have been changed throughout the film, but you can see the dregs of history percolate up to the surface. In this respect, "A Reason to Live; A Reason to Die" isn't strictly a western

A group of conscripted convicts formed by seven condemned , already destined for death row, are drafted to go on a near-suicide mission and attempt to recapture a Missouri fort called Fort Holzman . They must carry out the objective and reconquest the keep with the understanding that if the Confederate don't murder them, the Union Army won't, either . A two-fisted U.S. ex-officer and the ambitious drifters , join forces to rob a lot of gold located into an impressive fortress where is supposedly hidden a treasure , 500.000 dollars in gold bars taken from a Confederate bank . In the hands of hardboiled director Tonino Valeri and a tough-as-leather cast headed by the commander James Coburn , as a troublesome U.S. Army official , that's all the plot that's needed to make one rip-roaring Spaghetti Western flick. Coburn's mission is two-fold and in ¨Dirty dozen ¨ style : first turn his prisoners into a fighting unit and then turn them loose on a Southern fortress occupied by Confederate soldiers commanded by cruel Major Telly Savallas . His crime-minded characters include Bud Spencer as a chronic malcontent, Benito Stefanelli as a ready-to-blow psycho, Hugo Fangareggi as a lame-brained convict , and Reinhard Kolldehoff as Union sergeant, among others . The first half of the film allows the colorful cast of character actors to have their fun as they get their tails whipped into shape and develop shaky relationship with their leader. The final part is all action, as the culprit commandos wreck havoc and then run for their lives. Despite the fact that few of the "heroes" survive the bloodbath, the message here isn't that war is hell. Rather, it seems to be: war can be a hell of a good time... if you've got nothing to lose . Pretty good S.W. about a relentless and exciting dangerous mission set against spectacular scenery of Almeria. The relentless assignment is set against strong environment, risked mountains and hazardous trails . The dangerous pursuit includes a numerous group formed by a motley cast . It will be a long and dangerous pursuit with continuous risks . This Western is superior than subsequent entries because it displays stirring adventures, shootouts, riding pursuits and is pretty amusing. It's an exciting SW with breathtaking final showdown between the protagonists and their enemies full of explosions , machine gun and deaths . James Coburn is very fine, he ravages the screen, he steals the show as Union colonel seeking revenge . Telly Savallas as a cruelly baddie role as confederate officer is terrific , subsequently the would play similar roles in other Spaghettis . Furthermore, appears usual secondaries of Italian/Spanish Western as Benito Stefanelli , Francisco Sanz , Jose Suarez and of course special mention to Bud Spencer in a serious role . The film blends violence, blood, tension, high body-count and though the first part is slow moving , however is quite entertaining. There is plenty of action in the movie , guaranteeing a shootout or stunt every few minutes. There are many fine technicians and nice assistant direction and excellent production design with a magnificent scenario plenty of barren outdoors, dirty landscapes under a glimmer sun and a fine set on the final scenes . The musician Riz Ortalani composes a nice Spaghetti soundtrack and well conducted ; it's full of enjoyable sounds and emotive score . The film is well shot in Texas Hollywood-Fort Bravo, Almeria, Spain with a breathtaking set design at the impressive fortress which was made by Julio Molina for ¨the Condor ¨ movie , one of the best ever created and where were posteriorly filmed several Spaghetti as ¨ Blind man ¨, ¨ A man called Noon¨ and ¨Conan the Barbarian¨. Nevertheless, today the fort has been partially crumbled and only remain some ruins .Tonino Valeri's so-so direction is well crafted, here he's less cynical and humorous and more inclined toward violence and too much action especially on its ending part . Colorful and evocative cinematography by Alejandro Ulloa , reflecting marvelously the habitual Almeria outdoors . The picture is well directed by Tonio Valeri , an expert on Western as proved in ¨The hired gun ¨ , ¨My name is nobody ¨ with Fonda and Terence Hill , ¨The price of power ¨ with Giuliano Gemma and Van Heflin , ¨The day of anger ¨with Lee van Cleef and ¨ Taste of Killing¨ with Craig Hill and George Martin .

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!