Watch A Town Called Hell For Free

As Good As It Gets

It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.

Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

Released in 1971 and directed by Robert Parrish, "A Town Called Hell" (originally titled "A Town Called Bastard") is a Euro Western about a Mexican town in 1915, which is more of a stone fortress than a conventional Western town, where everyone is seeking a man called Aguila, a mysterious revolutionary who massacred members of the town a decade earlier. Robert Shaw stars as the priest, Martin Landau as a brutal Mexican colonel, Stella Stevens as a vengeful widow and Telly Savalas as the corrupt mayor.While Italians had nothing to do with this movie it smacks of a Spaghetti Western. Thankfully, it's thoroughly austere and lacks the goofiness of some Italo oaters. The grim atmosphere is palpable with dust and heat. Typical of Euro Westerns, the score by Waldo de los Ríos is notable. There's a constant sound in the background, almost like the chirping of crickets, but obviously manmade, which I've never heard in a movie before. The cast is great, highlighted by Stevens' beauty. Speaking of whom, why does she sleep in a coffin like a corpse? The story's another matter, however. The first half of the movie involves everyone looking for this guy named Aguila. Then shortly after the midway point we discover who he is but, no, he's not really Aguila; and so the search continues as the movie shares flashbacks. At the very end one of the characters seems to find Aguila and shouts out his name, but who cares? I'm sure if you re-watch the movie and pay close attention you might be able to put the pieces together, but the mumbling dialogue (with no subtitle option) would make it a difficult task. Still, the solemn ambiance, quality cast and interesting score make "A Town Called Hell" worth catching for those who favor creative Westerns. Unfortunately, just because something's creative doesn't mean it's good.A UK/Spanish production, the film runs 87 minutes (some prints run about 5 minutes longer) and was shot in Spain.GRADE: Borderline C/C- (4.5/10 Stars)

The priest is actually a sort of corrupt revolution leader. He has followers and the people loved him. That explains for why they don't give him up while they are being hung, and it also explains for all the organized action scenes on the military or police led by him. It's actually a great lead character role and story, plus the details of the story and movie are actually pretty impressive. But its down fall is: 1, it is made pretty poorly; bad editing, poor audio in some parts, and out dated even for its time. 2, It is a bit confusing because they don't explain any of the stories details but you can understand by paying attention (and its actually a really cool and original story.) 3, Its misleading with the previews and marketing, posters etc. It realllly is the kind of movie I think would be a great remake. Change the time period a little earlier and make it more comprehensive with better writing and directing. Add some good lead and supporting actors. My friends we would have a golden contemporary western film. I give it the 8 because of the story and the characters, and the details of the movie, like art direction and dialogue. But everything else besides the acting sucked.

This offbeat film starts with a violent attack on a town by a revolutionary group , they murder a priest and his Christian followers . Later on , the leader (Robert Shaw) appears like a boozy-addicted priest in the town called Bastarda . There arrives on a hearse , a beautiful woman named Alvira (Stella Stevens) suited in black and lying into a coffin , the carriage is driven by a strange deaf-mute gunfighter named Espectro (Dudley Shutton) . The widower attempts the revenge from her husband's murderer named Aguila and offers to Carlos (Telly Savalas) , a violent ruler , a reward if he hands over her the killer . Then , the town is invaded by the Mexican army ruled by a cruel colonel (Martin Landau) , he also intents to encounter Aguila and threatens to hang and shoot inhabitants , unless he's delivered . Meanwhile , it is narrated a rare flashback with Paco (Michael Craig) in some sequences of hall dance and catching music , being pursued by the revolutionary character (Robert Shaw), posteriorly become priest .The film contains Western action , shootouts , tortures , disturbing characters and lots of violence with strong hanging . It's developed on impressive sets , an enormous and old ruined fortress-town . Good performance by Robert Shaw as priest with a dark past , Martin Landau as a ruthless colonel , a mysterious Stella Stevens with a strange flashback like a vampire dreamed by the priest and Telly Savalas at a cynic and violent characterization , promptly finished for execution by one of his own henchmen , Al Lettieri . The movie gets usual Spaghetti Western elements , as greedy antiheroes , violent facing with revenger roles , quick Zooms and excessive close-up . Besides , appearing in secondary roles , habitual in Italian western genre , thus : Fernando Rey as the old blind man , Aldo Sambrell (Sergio Leone's ordinary) , Tito Garcia , Cris Huerta , Antonio Mayans , among others . Inclusively the starring Telly Savalas , though in a short-role , played various spaghetti (Pancho Villa , A reason to live a reason to die , Land raiders , Criminal story of an outlaw couple) . Colorful cinematography by Manuel Berenguer , he's a customary cameraman of US productions filmed in Spain (King of kings , Son of gunfighter , Pyro , Krakatoa). Cheesy and inappropriate musical score by Waldo Rios , he composed fine soundtracks (Murders in Rue Morgue , Bad man's river , Island of damned) until his early dead , but he committed suicide . The motion picture was regularly (it contains some cuts , flaws and gaps) directed by Robert Parrish . He was an Academy Award winning , film editor , won an Academy Award for ¨Body and soul (1947) and directed numerous films of all kind of genres , Sci-Fi (Doppelganger) , Western (Saddle the wind , The wonderful county) , action comedy (Casino Royale) and warlike (his main success : Purple plain with Gregory Peck) .

An early 70's western, entirely financed in Europe (more particularly Spain) AND starring Telly Savalas as a sadistic crook?? Yes, please! It already starts out terrific, with a merciless massacre of an entire town by vile looking bandits. Without knowing why, you see how women, elderly people and even a priest get butchered in a small church! What an intro!! The story continues with eerie images of how a young beauty (Stella Stevens) lying in a hearse is driven into the same town by a deaf-mute gunslinger… The coffin she brought with her is reserved for the person who killed her husband, but she still has to find out who that is. "A Town called Hell" is a western in the purest sense of the term. It's rough and ugly looking, the unbearably hot climate reflects through the screen and it's filled with despicable characters that cannot be trusted. Everyone in this town (also referred to as "Bastardo") betrays everyone and the smallest conflict is resolved with a gunfight. Telly Savalas is excellent as the bandit without a conscience, but even the whiskey-addicted priest (great role for Robert Shaw) and the greedy colonel (Martin Landau) are prominent madmen. As the story develops, "A Town Called Hell" becomes very complex and messy and it's likely that you'll be more confused than satisfied when it ends. Yet, it remains fascinating because the character drawing is disturbing like you've never seen it before in a western. This definitely isn't a movie for the squeamish, as the camera zooms in on vile hangings and nasty bullet wounds every five seconds. Too bad that most of the editing and elaboration is so bloody awful; otherwise this would have been a most wanted gem among western fanatics.