hanging for django

The success of the original Django in 1966 prompted a flood of unofficial sequels overseas, many of them simply slapping “Django” on the poster even though there were no characters with that name in the film. It was marketing by association, pure and simple. Tarantino’s Django Unchained (2012) at least gets the name right but isn’t a direct sequel either, which one supposes is part of the post-modern charm. What’s more surprising is that history did not repeat itself this time around. Meaning even though there’s a stockpile of Django films in some Raiders of the Lost Ark-style warehouse waiting to see the light of day on home video, very few companies were quick to capitalize on the name recognition.

Raro Video is a bit late to the party with their release of Hanging for Django, but it exemplifies all the aforementioned qualities of a latter-day Django imitator. As directed by Sergio Garonne, the film is much more in line with Leone’s revisionist Westerns starring Clint Eastwood, spinning a familiar story of rival bounty hunters and damsels in distress with a pinch of political commentary in the form of the villainous Fargo (Richard Garrone), a ruthless businessman shipping Mexican immigrants over the Texas border – but stealing their money and dumping their bodies before they ever get there. Once again, there’s not an actual “Django” in sight, only Brandon (Anthony Steffen) and Preacher (William Berger), a pair of bounty hunters who compete for cash by turning in the “Wanted” members of Fargo’s gang to the law…usually more dead than alive.

There are few surprises in the plot, which goes through the predictable Spaghetti Western motions, albeit with a pleasingly brisk pace and more shootouts than a full season of Gunsmoke. Garonne, better known for his gothic touches and horror-tinged style, is in full tribute mode here, likely taking the most audience-friendly approach, putting commercial appeal over personal expression. But he does utilize the early winter scenery, full of twisted limbs and high mountain deserts, to good effect.

The most memorable aspect of Hanging for Django, besides the curiously poor musical cues which repeat in an endless loop, is William Berger’s performance as Preacher, made up of sparse bits of dialogue quickly interrupted by deafening gunfire from his six-barreled repeating rifle (one of those impossible Western weapons that made Spaghetti Westerns so much more fun than their American counterparts). Thanks to the language barrier, the Italians understood that at the box-office a memorable name and face won out over a memorable script more often than not. Hanging for Django is Exhibit A.

Raro Video’s blu-ray offers up a great hi-def transfer, despite some other online reviews to the contrary. A 15-minute film historian interview only confirms the film’s status as “good but not great.” And some detailed liner notes fill in the main participants’ cinematic history. Overall, a solid purchase if you have some room in your Spaghetti Western collection.