It's hard to gauge this because the dubbing into American accents was not so good. Twas a distraction and would have been better with subtitles. The dubbing on its own is bad but that also throws the sound off at times. What's great about this spaghetti western is definitely the snowy scenery of the Dolomites in northern Italia. What a production filming in such conditions. Our protagonist (Jean-Louis Trintignant) and antagonist (Klaus Kinski) are both solid in their performances. Interesting social undertones with a fine hero out to destroy a terrible villain. But all that gets shot down, literally, at the end. In American westerns you know who wins. American westerns I love and have seen perhaps 1,000 of. So the ending here left me shocked. Many westerns come and go, to be forgotten about for all time. Not this one! --A Kat Pirate Screener

Sergio Corbucci's 1968 masterpiece is in my opinion the best non Leone spaghetti western. while the film for its downbeat ending and the usual dark and grimy feel its contrasting shot in beautifully snowy locations. the story revolves around a town where the justice of he peace Pollicut has but a price on a group of Mormon bandits who have been refused work in the village. Pollicut has hired bounty hunters led by loco to pick them off so he can give them reward money then claim plus interest repayment from the government. Pauline, wife of one of the victims, hires the mute hero Silence to get revenge. the films mute hero Silence is brilliantly portrayed by Jean Louis Trintignant who can only use facial expressions and body movements to show the emotional conflicts the character suffers during the film. While Klaus Kinski is fantastic as Loco the polite and smiling, but utterly ruthless villain. The likable frank wolf plays the sheriff sent to fix the town and his probably the most decent character in the film which means in this film means he's not going to be sheriff for very long. Vonetta McGee is excellent in her film debut as the doomed heroine. Spaghetti western favourite Luigi Pistilli is slimy perfection in the role of the Pollicut the film other primary villain while Mario Brega is great in his usual role of the chief henchman. The rest of the cast do well in their small roles.Sergio Corbucci made many spaghetti westerns and is best remembered for the classic film Django but this is his best film.

I love spaghetti Westerns but have never seen one filmed in 'snow-filled mountains' The long distance shots were fantastic and this must have been a grueling film shoot not only for the actors and crew, but especially the horses! When I'd see a horse collapse in the snow I thought, "I sure hope that 'no animals were harmed in the making of this film'! The horses were trudging though 3 - 4 feet of snow sometimes and there were a couple of 'snow-blind' camera shots where you couldn't even see anything. The gun shot sounds were the usual 'small cannon Italian gun echo'y sound' but that didn't bother me and is just standard in an Italian Western. Music was haunting and the dubbing wasn't bad at all. Throw in evil giant blue eyed psycho Kinski (playing the character 'Loco')and you've got yourself a hit! Lastly and most importantly is the ending. I can't say enough for the ending to this epic saga of good vs. evil. I just sat their astonished at the ending and realized that I don't think I've ever seen an ending that 'Realistic'!? I'm sure a lot of you would not agree (but some of you film fan purists would, and it threw me 'way off guard' but I came to like the ending and thought it really rang true! One of the best 'truest' Western endings I've ever seen! I don't want to give away any spoilers but seriously, I have never seen a film end in 'such a manner'. Stick with this movie and you will be rewarded. If not rewarded at least this movie will make you think or kind of bother you for a couple of days and those are my favorite kind of films!! Fantastic 1968 Film and glad I finally got to see it in 2010!

What?! This is probably the most weird western i've ever seen in my whole life! What happened at the end of the movie?? Honestly i really hate this kind of ending (well...the hero @ SILENCE died at the end??) However, i still have to admit that the ending was very very good (even though i didn't like it), and probably one of the best western movie i've ever watch. This one really kick Django out of the game and as good as the 3 other Clint Eastwood Italian movies ; THE GOOD BAD & UGLY, FOR A FEW DOLLARS MORE, and A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS. The acting is superb with Klaus Kinski proves that he is one the finest actor in western Italian! He is the reason why i watched this movie, it is really fun to see Klaus Kinski as a villain. And today people will still love this movie for there are no any better movies created in this 20th century. I doubt if there is any movies today could be as good as this one..