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Blood for a Silver Dollar

Blood for a Silver Dollar (Un dollaro bucato)

Movie · 1965 · 4 people

Known in Italian as Un dollaro bucato, the spaghetti western Blood for a Silver Dollar was directed by Giorgio Ferroni and made in 1965 as an Italian-French production. Counted among the early Italian westerns, it is also Giuliano Gemma's first film in the genre, with Gemma in the lead. The roughly 90-minute picture has music by Gianni Ferrio and was produced by Robert Dorfmann.

The story is set in 1865, just after the end of the American Civil War. Gary O'Hara is a soldier returning from a prisoner-of-war camp; before his release the barrel of his pistol was cut off, so the gun cannot shoot straight. In town he agrees to kill the outlaw Blacky, said to be terrorising the area, only to realise too late that his target is his own brother, something the men who hired him knew all along. After the duel both brothers are taken for dead and loaded onto a wagon. A silver dollar in Gary's pocket saves his life, and once he recovers he sets out to avenge his brother. Ida Galli, Giuseppe Addobbati, Pierre Cressoy and Franco Fantasia appear, along with Benito Stefanelli, Nello Pazzafini and Sal Borgese.

Giorgio Stegani wrote the screenplay with Ferroni. English-language listings credit Calvin Jackson Padget as director, with Montgomery Wood and Evelyn Stewart as stars.

DirectorGiorgio Ferroni

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Ida Galli Ida Galli Film actor · born 1939 Benito Stefanelli Actor · died at 71 Nello Pazzafini Nello Pazzafini Actor · died at 62 Sal Borgese Sal Borgese Actor · 89 years old

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Action & Thriller Fan Puts pace, tension and set pieces first; little patience for slow drama.

A soldier coming home with a pistol whose barrel has been cut off, so it can't shoot straight: what a setup. Gary realising too late that he has been hired against his own brother gives the duel real weight. The revenge stretch that follows is classic stuff, but it does the job. Giuliano Gemma is full of energy in his first lead in the genre. The pace dips a little in between, yet the roughly ninety minutes go by without dragging.

Cinephile Looks at script, editing and directing choices; keeps a distance from formula films.

Giorgio Ferroni's film comes from the early days when the Italian western was still writing its own rules, which makes it an interesting transition point. The script opens with a classic homecoming set just after the American Civil War and hardens into a tragedy between brothers; the hired gun's target turning out to be his own brother is a strong dramatic hook. Gianni Ferrio's score carries the mood. On the other hand, the revenge structure of the second half leans on familiar patterns, and the antagonists never gain much depth. As Giuliano Gemma's first lead in the genre, it lets you spot some trademarks of later spaghetti westerns in embryo. That English-language listings credit Calvin Jackson Padget as director and Montgomery Wood and Evelyn Stewart as stars is a curious detail of those years.

Yeşilçam Nostalgic A viewer raised on the classics, looking for warm storytelling and strong acting.

A fate that turns brother against brother is the most human thing about this film. It may be a hard, dusty western, but brotherhood and loyalty sit at its centre, and Gary's road to revenge is a story of grief as much as anger. Gianni Ferrio's music keeps that feeling company. Even so, a story that puts revenge so far forward feels a little cold to an eye that loves warm storytelling. Don't expect the mercy or forgiveness of a classic Yeşilçam drama.

These are not reader reviews: they are short editorial takes written from different viewer perspectives with AI assistance. Reader reviews are below.

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