This cynical Sergio Corbucci horse opera about the eponymous
Native American hero exacting vengeance on a murderous gang of cutthroat
renegades for murdering his woman and massacring his village qualifies as a
stalwart, traditional Spaghetti western with nonstop riding, shooting, and
killing galore. Killing constitutes a
virtual reflex action in this savage, above-average shoot'em up. “Gunsmoke” actor Burt Reynolds must have been
in the best shape of his life to pull off some of his stunts. He leaps and he lunges as if he were a born
acrobat. For example, trussed upside down by the evil villains, he gets a
little help from a sneaky city slicker and crunches up to untie his ankles. Remember
how Richard Gere did sit-ups dangling by his ankles from the ceiling of his
apartment in "American Gigolo?" Burt performs similar stunts and is
as nimble as a ninja. Masquerading as
Leo Nichols, "Fistful of Dollars" composer Ennio Morricone conjures
up another memorable, atmospheric orchestral soundtrack with traditional Indian
chanting, screaming, and steel string guitar thumping. Quentin Tarantino thought so much of it and
he sampled Morricone’s score in his two sword-wielding “Kill Bill” bloodbaths. “Hercules, Samson,
and Ulysses” lenser Silvano Ippoliti confines all the rampaging violence very
skillfully with his widescreen compositions so everything looks aesthetically cool. Some of Ippoliti’s more imaginative images
occur when he hides the identity of one of the villains during a saloon
conference scene.
"Navajo Joe" is one of a fistful of westerns where the only good Indian
isn't a dead one. Few American westerns would celebrate the Native American as
Corbucci does in "Navajo Joe." Joe is pretty doggoned smart for a
savage. Veteran Spaghetti western villain Aldo Sambrell is as treacherous as
they come. So filled with hate is he that he kills without a qualm. No sooner
has Mervyn 'Vee' Duncan (Aldo Sambrell
of "For A Few Dollars More") shot, killed, and scalped Joe's Indian
wife than Joe hits the trail in pursuit of Duncan and his gang. Gradually, Joe
begins to whittle down the opposition. Meanwhile, Duncan discovers that the
authorities in the town of Pyote where he once sold scalps have posted a bounty
of both himself and his half-brother. Just before Duncan’s blonde-headed brother
Jeffrey (Lucio Rosato of “4 Dollars of Revenge’’) drills the sheriff with his
six-shooter, the lawman informs an incredulous Duncan that he is wanted for
murder. Duncan points out that he has
been bringing the sheriff the scalps of Indians for years. “The scalps you
brought then were those of troublemakers,” the lawman points out. According to the sheriff, things have
changed. “Now, you’re attacking peaceful
tribes, killing even the women and the children.” A prominent doctor convinces
Duncan to rob a train heading for the town of Esperanza. He warns Duncan not to
try and blow up the safe because an explosion will destroy the half-million
dollars in the safe. He knows the combination and they can split the loot. This part of the “Navajo Joe” screenplay by “Fistful
of Dollars” scribe Fernando Di Leo, “Hills Run Red” writer Piero Regnoli, and “Mafia”
scribe Ugo Pirro sounds somewhat like “For a Few Dollars More” when Colonel
Mortimer persuades El Indio to let him open the safe because too much dynamite
might destroy the loot. Before Duncan
leaves town, his gang and he set it ablaze.
