This film, or at least the version I saw, has the shoddy, grainy quality, film school camera pans and zooms, wince-inducing dubbing, and laughably syrupy fake blood of the typical 60's spaghetti western. I might also add that I'm a female in my mid-20's and there's probably few other cinematic genres that will get me to sleep with more efficiency than a western. Sorry. Sergio Leone was a genius? Um, sure. John Ford's talent, legendary? Ok, I'll take your word for it. That said, there's something about this movie that captures my interest - Klaus Kinski (the Bad Guy, naturally) is amusingly smarmy and creepy, yet without the usual KInskian displays of mania and psychotic aggression. The female lead - virtually the only female in the film - is played by a black woman, doe-eyed Vonetta McGee, who is lovely and displays a sympathetic resourcefulness and strength. Jean-Louis Trintignant is the Silence of the title, and despite having no dialogue, he does convey emotion (particularly sensitivity) a bit beyond the 'strong, silent cowboy' caricature. Maybe it's the French thing. Also, - if you'll allow me to get completely shallow for a moment - despite not being in Leading Man mode (a la
A Man and A Woman) here, the cowboy stubble and unwashed hair suits him. That helps, as does the lovely Ennio Morricone score. Points as well for having an (probably
scandalous, for 1968) interracial coupling whose swift consummation has no real basis in logic.
This is probably a better film to watch while under the influence of something. I'm just hazarding a guess.