Mikes Film Talk

God’s Gun, a 1975 Spaghetti Western is an odd one. Of course by this time, the sub genre was past its glory days. There really is only one Sergio Leone and even he faltered after losing Clint Eastwood. This film, directed by Gianfranco Parolini has a sterling cast. The making of this one though was plagued with problems.

The powers that be decided to dub Richard Boone’s voice when he walked off the production. This meant that no dialogue looping could be done. That is the first of many jarring moments in the film. Boone had a very distinctive voice. He speaks his first line in the film and, surprise, it’s not the actor speaking. It could have been good ole Mickey Knox, but it is not likely. Knox was a professional voice over artist and his work was legendary.

The God’s Gun Story

Father John, a small town priest, takes on a band of ruffians. He dies and his twin brother, an infamous retired gunfighter, comes to even things up.

The Cast

Lee Van Cleef is Father John.

Jack Palance is Sam Clayton.

Richard Boone the Sheriff.

Sybil Danning is Jenny.

Leif Garrett is Johnny.

Let’s Talk God’s Gun

Director Gianfranco Parolini, and co-writer, of this one was no neophyte to the western genre. This is the man who brought Sabata (1969) to the big screen. That popular anti hero was played by Lee Van Cleef.

Cast is King and Queen

Van Cleef, according to the internet, made a number of Spaghetti westerns. It has been guessed that the iconic screen “bad man” made around a dozen.

Jack Palance, another iconic villain, (Remember Shane? His taunting and killing of Elisha Cook Jr is almost immortal.) is in this one. Palance, like Charles Bronson, was a real life tough guy. Anyone recall those one arm push ups at the Oscars; live? *A hint, the year was 1992. Jack was 73 and had won for City Slickers. If you missed it, look at the clip below.*

Richard Boone. Paladin. Have Gun Will Travel. The lead kidnapper in Big Jake. Boone was a regular in the celluloid world of the Western. Small screen or big screen, this actor was there. He specialized in playing villains. He even appears in John Wayne’s final film, The Shootist. Sadly, like many other creative folks in the industry, he developed a drinking problem. He also had issues, apparently, with controlling his anger. It was this issue that, allegedly, caused him to walk off the production of God’s Gun.

Sybil Danning, criminally underused here, could be called the most beautiful woman in Hollywood. She has many credits under her belt and clearly, Parolini had no idea of what to do with her.

Leif Garrett, teen heartthrob. This was his second film with Van Cleef. Both films were westerns and filmed in Israel. The holy land filled in nicely for Almería, Spain.

All the above talent listed shows that the director had the tools he needed. So in essence, the film’s problems had little to do with the cast.

Problems

There are problems with this film. The budget, the dialogue and the continuity all have issues. Of course it may not really be any of these things that combine to make this film less attractive.

Clearly Parolini, who directed Sabata under the name of Frank Kramer, has lost his lust for the genre here . This may be the real reason the film jars so badly.

However. In terms of the budget? That “tin star” that Boone’s Sheriff wears looks like gold aluminium foil. Also, harking back to Boone and his alcoholic dependence, this is why his voice was dubbed. Badly. He left before “looping” his dialogue. On a side note, was this horrendous dubbing a form of “punishment” for Boone’s deserting the ship?

Speaking of dialogue, though, everyone sounds dubbed here. Van Cleef sounds high pitched, losing that guttural bass undertone. Palance has a similar issue. He sounds almost wispy here. You can hear “tones” of the actor’s voices, but they do not match how these folks really sound.

It is clearly a looping, aka; ADR issue. If you watch Van Cleef in Sabata, for example, he sounds like himself. Different film, same director, Did Parolini, AKA; Kramer not watch the final edits.

The Story Works

In terms of simplicity, the story here works. The non violent priest Father John is a good character and a deviation for Van Cleef. The violent gunfighter, also played by Van Cleef, is on par with his other characters.

However, all the characters are somewhat like cardboard cutouts. This was a problematic and consistent issue in this sub genre. For all that, the film entertains, in a somewhat nostalgic way. It also shows just why the Spaghetti Western, even Israeli versions of it, were doomed to extinction.

The Verdict

God’s Gun is a nostalgic treat. A look back at simpler cinematic times. Where anti-heroes were introduced and applauded. The film is an oddity, though. The production values are pretty appalling (Remember that badge?) and the dubbing is pretty sad.

Despite all these aforementioned negatives, the film earns a solid 3.75 stars. It is certainly a “novelty” western. Although no more so that the Django films with Franco Nero. Gatling gun anyone?

The film is streaming right now on Prime.

Footnote

Perhaps the saddest thing about this film is Richard Boone. The actor was, by all accounts an intelligent erudite gentleman. The torpedoing of his career, most likely self imposed because of his WWII PTSD, exacerbated his drinking problem. The man was a talent to be recognized. Sadly, his career was on it own downward trajectory by the time this film was made.

The Trailer