So much average

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

It's a movie as timely as it is provocative and amazingly, for much of its running time, it is weirdly funny.

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

Cemetery Without Crosses (1969) *** (out of 4)Manuel (Robert Hossein) is asked by his former lover (Michele Mercier) to seek out the men who murdered her husband. The gunslinger agrees to take the job so he gets some help and heads out to take the gang down.CEMETERY WITHOUT CROSSES was a French/Italian co-production that has gained much popularity over the years because it's basically a love letter to the style of Sergio Leone and the film is even dedicated to the legendary filmmaker. Hossein not only stars in the picture but he also directed it as well as co-wrote it and for the most part it's a pretty good entry for the genre. Is it in the same league as Leone? Of course not but this is certainly worth watching.The screenplay, which included Dario Argento as a co-writer, isn't all that original but what I enjoyed the most about this picture was the style. There are several long stretches where there's not a single line of dialogue spoken. There's often a lot of noise whether it's sound effects or the music score by André Hossein blaring and this allows the terrific cinematography to come to life. The camera just floats from one shot to the next with the sound effects really taking your mind off everything that is going on. This often time leads to a nice surprise with one of the best examples being a scene at the diner table.You're watching a group of men eat and we hear the sound of them chomping and then out of nowhere there's a little surprise that really works well. I won't ruin the ending but it too was quite effective because of the set up and how the director shows the final shoot out. Both Hossein and Mercier are very good in their roles with Hossein obviously trying to copy the Man With No Name role. CEMETERY WITHOUT CROSSES is a well-made little film. I think there's more style than substance but that's really not a problem here.

I'm certainly the first one not to join the incredible chorus of praises.But seriously folks !Robert Hossein's forte has always been the thriller,the film noir, and several of his efforts are really worthwhile ,particularly " Toi Le Venin" "Le Jeu De La Vérité" and "La Mort D'Un Tueur";westerns are a different matter.Just before this spaghetti-western (it's rather a French fries western ,by the way) ,he and his star Michèle Mercier hit the big time with the five "Angélique Marquise Des Anges" movies ."Une Corde Un Colt" is a bad idea gone wrong;in France it got unanimous thumbs down .The cast is essentially French and (for a French),it's impossible to believe in their "characters" .The production is the poorest of all Hossein movies ,being thin and lacking any real positive (or negative) energy.A "visual " western it may be (with a dozen of lines),and they even hire "Angélique"'s cameraman ,Henri Persin,but there's nothing really visually beautiful to film.André Hossein,Robert's brother ,provides the score,as usual,and it's rather nice,although a bit anachronistic ,sounding late fifties/early sixties

Cemetery Without Crosses: a film that I have been chasing for a number of years for my DVD collection...never saw it previously. Well worth the wait...a film that stands up extremely well against the better non-Leone spaghetti westerns (Great Silence, Big Gundown, Bullet for the General, Day of Anger,Face to Face, etc) and at least as well against a Fistful of Dollars. Beginning: sepia toned, without any dialogue, three men on horseback are being chased by about 10-15 men...from the beginning, it is obvious one of the three being chased will not make it...then titles, credits, and color to the movie... A third into the movie, we come to a ghost town where our protagonist dwells...he plays roulette against himself...a former flame comes to the town and asks for his help in obtaining a measure of revenge...don't do it, he cautions... In the middle of the movie, our protagonist sits and eats with the family and employees of the men doing the chasing in the beginning of the movies...silence...knowing glances...something is about to happen... Two thirds into the movie: a woman is kidnapped and raped...tries to escape...the remaining two men who were chased in the movie are kidnapped themselves, beaten... End of Movie: the final, obligatory shoot-out... Questions abound...symbolism heavy...stayed with me a few days...well worth the journey...oh, the photography is excellent, as is the music, and there is a cameo performance by Sergio Leone himself... Very underrated film...

From the opening sequence, as a sepia camera lens captures the pursuit of a single rider by a gang on horseback, I just knew that this film was going to demonstrate class. And, although the story itself probably has little to set it apart from many other films within the Euro Western genre, it more than makes up for it with its effective use of camera work and great character portrayal. Yes, this film has class in abundance.So to the story itself. Having witnessed her husband Ben (a brief but welcome appearance by Benito Stefanelli) executed by the Rogers family, Maria (played by stunning french actress Michèle Mercier) seeks revenge on the killers. Unable to rely on her two oafish brothers-in-law to assist, she seeks help from Ben's best friend (and, as we find out, Maria's former lover) Manuel (Robert Hossein).Manuel enlists himself as a member of the Rogers gang, enabling him to capture the only daughter. With this prisoner in her custody, Maria has the perfect ransom to deliver a perfect revenge on the Rogers gang. With the scene now set, the bloodshed and twists to the story soon commence.The character of Manuel is quite unlike any other main western lead that I have seen. Whilst demonstrating an unnerving ability with a gun, there is a definite reluctance to become too embroiled with Maria's plot. His time as a gunfighter by choice has passed - perhaps symbolically shown by him being the sole resident of "Ghost Town". However, his involvement is spurned on by his feelings for her. Hossein, who both played the part of Manuel and directed the movie, plays this solemn and complex character superbly.Hossein's direction is really eye catching too, with the camera work demonstrating more than a little nod in the direction of a certain Mr Leone (to whom there is a suitable credit in the end title sequence). This is no copycat Leone film however, and firmly stands up on its own merit. Less is definitely more, as the opening scene proves (it must be a good ten minutes before there is any real dialogue. And in reality, when the picture is this effective words are not needed).In summary, don't be put off by the simplicity of the story, as the way that this film is crafted makes such an issue completely irrelevant. It can stand quite proudly in that top echelon of Euro Westerns, and quite possibly a perfect introduction to the genre to those that have purely seen the Leone movies.