A Genre In Retrospect: The Western - Part 13

From the dawn of when westerns were made, a movie like ‘A Reason To Live, A Reason To Die’ (1972) was always going to be made. With the production taking place in the forts of Spain’s foot hills, this Spaghetti western takes a lot from the past. With a wonderful cast of three leading gentlemen, this movie flys by with fun. There is plenty of action and violence, with all the tropes of a western we want. Though this film seems a little too close to an even more famous film from a few years before, this is still one excellent example of how 1970’s westerns ruled the cinematic world. 

The two leads of ‘A Reason To Live, A Reason To Die’ (1972) are perhaps one of Italys most famous actors, and one of Americas most famous actors. Bud Spencer and James Coburn team up in what is a pairing we never knew we needed. Coburn leads the cast into the fort where they meet the always charming, but mostly always devious Telly Savalas. What a great contrast to the subtle protagonist, with such a loud and bombastic villain. Savalas is always a treat when on screen, and seeing him play the straight antagonist in this film is even more fun. These three men sold the movie for me, and by the time I watched it, no one disappointed.

Spaghetti western’s are some of the most fun works of genre to date. Through this genre comes from a different perspective, it still tells a lot about the time. There are typically cynical views of the west portrayed, and that’s all layered with plenty of violence. ‘A Reason To Live, A Reason To Die’ (1972) is no different. There is a mean and brutal perspective the movie gives about what it was like in the west. The lack of honesty, and cruelty of nature, and how the humans are somehow worse. There are so many things tackled onto this story in such a fun way, and the fact it can all be shown in such a short run time, with plenty of violence is all the better.

Throughout the entire movie, I started to pick up notes of where this film was trying to head. By the ending fight sequence, nothing was getting hidden. This was trying to be a rip on Sam Peckinpah’s ‘The Wild Bunch’ (1969). The fighting by the end of the movie was very reminiscent of Peckinpah’s classic western. The violence, the over the top gore, and the raid on a military fort are all clear homages to ‘The Wild Bunch’ (1969). There have been plenty of other movies that try to take from that film, and this one does a pretty good job at it. Sure, it doesn’t hold a light to how good it was, but it still does the trick for a gritty spaghetti western.

This was not a masterpiece by any means, and frankly some points were pretty sloppy. I would be damned if I didn’t say I enjoyed this film through and through though. This has all the trade makes of a 1970’s western I want, and it does them so well. The movie captures a lot of heat from the intense fighting and exciting action. On top of this, there is just a comfortable feeling to the entire thing that really makes me feel at home in the genre. I really did love this little gem, and I definitely want to go back and visit it again.