ironhorse_iv
While, there has been spaghetti westerns films in which both Italian movie stars, Mario Girotti AKA Terence Hill and Carlo Pedersoli AKA Bud Spencer started in, together before 1970's 'They Call Me, Trinity'; like 1967's 'God Forgives, I Don't', 1968's 'Ace High' and 1969's 'Boot Hill'. It was here in this film that really establish and introduce the comedy team of Hill & Spencer as mainstream comedy duo that would continue on, for years. The movie was written and directed by Enzo Barboni under the name, E.B. Clucher & it tells the story of drifter, turned bounty-hunter, Trinity (Terence Hill), coming to a town, where his horse-thieving half-brother Bambino (Bud Spencer) is pretending to be a real sheriff in order, to go against a local Major, Harriman (Farley Granger), who is trying to get rid of the Mormon settlers, in an attempt for land control. Without spoiling the movie, too much, I have to say, the quick on his feet, Hill and the powerhouse, Spencer really work well as a team, here, as the eponymous Trinity and juggernaut, older brother, Bambino despite not looking anything near like brothers. The story was a lot of fun with all the twist and turns in Trinity's character development. The man toward the end, is clearly, not the same laid-back guy from the beginning of the film as he grows more caring for the people, he swore to protected, even if most of it, was cause by the charms of polygamy. Despite, Trinity changed as a person, the main story is still pretty plain and standard. After all, this isn't the first western film that had defenseless people who are threatened to be driven of their land by a ruthless cattle owner. While, the enemies is kinda forgettable in this film. At least, some of the supporting villains, are somewhat memorable like Mezcal (Remo Capitani), the Mexican theft. One thing, I didn't get with the film is, is where the settling and timeframe for the film, were at. After all, it's pretty jarring to see Mexicans interact with Mormon settlers, in what I supposed, is the Utah Territory. I can somewhat see it, if the movie was placed, somewhere between 1830 to 1850, when the State of Deseret or the Mormon Corridor was somewhat of an idea and California & Nevada was in Mexico's control; however, it doesn't match up, well with the technology and clothing feature in this film. I know that, a bit of a stretch of nitpicking, but it was indeed a bit puzzling for me, to see then-Mormon be, unwilling to fight, when the majority of their early history is spent fighting with U.S Government during the Utah War of 1857. While, yes, there wasn't any actual battles. However, these men & women, weren't pushed overs. There were some casualties, mostly in non-Mormon civilians, like the Mountain Meadows massacre. Anyways, the origins and genesis of the Trinity movies are just as bit obscure. When, you hear, the word, 'trinity', you first think of 3. However, this movie only has two protagonists, then the three as it was originally attended. Somewhere, during early rewrites, somebody must had proposed to bring down the number from three to two, because it wasn't working. In my belief, I always thought that Steffen Zacharias as Jonathan was supposed to be, given a bigger role, than Bambino's servlet, but his scenes were really cut down. Another belief is that Brother Tobias (Dan Sturkie) is the third guy, because, how all three of them, called themselves, brothers. Then, there is the fact, that Trinity also related to the Bible as the Father (God), the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit—as "one God in three Divine Persons". While, the movie does have hidden religionist overtones, it's not too preachy or in your face to notice. In the end, director Enzo Barboni has always sustained that the film's two main characters reflected the two typical men obsessions, food and sex. They're supposed to represent the lazy, unreliable, unwashed, somewhat crooked heroic humors of American Western. It's no wonder, why these movie has been known as fagioli (beans) westerns. It's all, about being somewhat gross and having a good laugh. It seems from the director that he had been soliciting producers with a script for a comedy western for years, as he wasn't very fond of the brutality of shoot-outs, that the Italian western had brought into the genre. Looking for over-the-top yet, cock-eyed logic fist-fights action-packed approached, he somewhat save the Spaghetti Westerns genre with this film. Those fights are among the most elaborated ever filmed, and were the result of the years of experience of the Italian stuntmen with barroom brawls in more serious spaghetti westerns. Virtually every stuntman available was present in the movie. It was a mostly fun watch. However, while, this movie does have some funny moments; some of the humor was somewhat dated, even when this film came out. It could had been a little funnier at parts. In my opinion, the sequel, 1971 'Trinity Is Still My Name' was a lot better. Another problem with the film is the differences in various versions. Since the movie was once in the public domain, at least until 1996; many video releases were of a poor quality, often grainy, and missing key scenes like how Bambino became the sheriff or the Major going to Mexico. So watch out for that. Overall: While, this movie created a subgenre of its own, spawning an entire army of sequels, spin-offs, imitations, and others. Then, there is also the fact that other films published under the Trinity brand, not truly canon. The rest are earlier, more serious and grim films also starring Hill and Spencer but in different roles like 1969's 'Boot Hill'. So watch out for that. In the end, 'They Call Me Trinity' is a must watch for any Spaghetti Western fan. A true gem.
