If you’re like most Americans your exposure to the famed spaghetti western was limited to the Clint Eastwood films of the 60s. That trio of films would form the basis of these films that for far too many ended there. It also made a star out of Eastwood. But there were a vast number of other westerns made from studios in Italy and most shot in Spain. Some played second bill at drive-ins and others ended up at grindhouse theaters across the country. It wasn’t until recently that they respect they deserved began. One of the companies making that happen has been Arrow Video.
In the past few years Arrow has released some amazing films from the genre. With releases like KEOMA, the Django series of films and the Ringo films fans of westerns have had the opportunity to see these films like never before. And now they’ve added another great collection. VENGEANCE TRAILS gathers together four more classics from the genre.
MASSACRE TIME is directed by Lucio Fulci, the famed horror director who proves he could do more. The film stars Franco Nero (who made more spaghetti westerns than Eastwood) and George Hilton as a pair of brothers not fond of one another. They duo must unite to take down a corrupt and powerful businessman and his sadistic son who now control their home town.
MY NAME IS PECOS is the second film in the set. A mysterious stranger who calls himself Pecos, played by Robert Woods, enters a town and sets in motion a violent outcome. The focus of his attacks is a racist gang boss who killed his entire family and left him for dead years ago. As the gang searches for a missing load of stolen gold, Pecos set out to complete his revenge.
BANDIDOS is next. An expert marksman who was maimed by his protégé after helping robs a train. He now takes on a new student with the intent of getting his revenge against the same man who left him battered and bloody.
Lastly is AND GOD SAID TO CAIN. This item features Klaus Kinski as a man sent to prison for a crime he did not commit. Released ten years later he sets out to wreak havoc on the men who framed him and took away those ten years of his life.
All four films have that revenge theme going for them here which makes sense when you consider the name of the package. All four also have solid storylines in them as well as top production values from the cinematography to the direction. And each features the acting of some of the most well-known stars of the time, in particular those who made a name for themselves in these westerns.
Do I need to keep talking about how fantastic a job Arrow Video does with their releases? Of course I do! All four films are 2K restorations from the original 35mm camera negatives, with Massacre Time, My Name is Pecos and Bandidos newly restored by Arrow Films for this release. There are galleries for all four films, an illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing by author and critic Howard Hughes, a fold out double sided poster featuring newly commissioned artwork by Gilles Vranckx and limited edition packaging with reversible sleeves featuring original artwork and slipcover featuring newly commissioned artwork by Gilles Vranckx.
But the extras don’t stop there. Each individual title has their
own collection of interviews and commentary tracks. They each have their own
individual extras as well. This is a collection that is full of so many items
that it makes them worth having for any and all fans of westerns and in
particular those who have come to find the joy in spaghetti westerns. If you’ve
only been exposed to the films of Eastwood then you should do the genre the
honor of watching this collection of films. It is one worth adding to your
movie shelf.
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