The Grand Duel (1972) (DVD Review)
Director: Giancarlo Santi
Starring: Lee Van Cleef, Horst Frank, Jess Hahn, Alberto Dentice,
Rated: R/Region: 0/Widescreen/Number of disc: 1
Available from Blue Underground
Philipp Wermeer has been framed for the murder of a powerful figure known as The Patriarch. Wermeer escapes, but the three Saxon brothers, sons of The Patriarch, have arranged for a large bounty on Wermeer’s head. Clayton is a grizzled ex-sheriff stripped of his office in Jefferson after refusing to acknowledge Wermeer’s guilt. During a series of fire-fights, Clayton contrives to help Wermeer escape from attacks of bounty-hunters. Together, the two make their way to Jefferson, where they can confront the three powerful Saxon brothers, and reveal the surprising truth about who killed The Patriarch.
This movie also has the title “The Big Showdown” and that title comes with very good reason. We have a film with classic characters and a classic theme that we heard in the more recent Kill Bill films. Of course this one of the more stylish western films you will find as it mixes both style and violence to make what I feel is the blueprint for Spaghetti Western films. This film gives great performances and some very cool action that should make it a joy for anyone. I think if anyone who has ever seen this film goes on to make a list of their favorite westerns that this movie would be surely be ranked high on their list.
This is a film that is owned by Lee Van Cleef. I’m not saying this wouldn’t have been a good movie with someone else in his role, but I’m certain it wouldn’t have been as good of a film without him here. There are are few iconic names that come to mind when thinking of iconic western movie characters and I do think Sheriff Clayton is one of the better ones. If you haven’t seen this standout film from 1972, then by all means give this release by Blue Underground a watch.
– Audio Commentary with Journalist C.Courtney Joyner and Henry Parke
– Trailer
– Spaghetti Western Trailer Reel
