Noble, shrewd, and lethal ace gunslinger Minnesota Clay (an excellent and convincing performance by Cameron Mitchell) breaks out of a federal labor camp while serving time for a crime he didn't commit. He tracks down evil corrupt sheriff Fox (nicely played with smooth oily charm by Georges Riviere), who let Clay go to jail by withholding evidence that would have exonerated him at his trial. Moreover, Clay's gotta work fast to exact revenge on Fox because his eyesight is rapidly fading. Director Sergio Corbucci, who also co-wrote the absorbing script with Jose Gutierrez Maesso, relates the engrossing story at a steady pace, maintains a fairly gritty and serious tone throughout, and stages the stirring shoot outs with real skill and aplomb. Moreover, there's no sappy sentiment or disruptive silly humor to detract from the no-nonsense revenge premise. This film further benefits from sound acting from an able cast: Mitchell impresses as a sympathetic protagonist, Riviere makes for a deliciously mean and hateful villain, plus there are commendable contributions from the luscious Ethel Rojo as the sultry, fiery, and duplicitous Estella, Diana Martin as the sweet and fetching Nancy, Antonio Roso as affable, jocular young buck Andy, the always great Fernando Sancho in one of his trademark greasy bad guy parts as vile and grubby Mexican bandit leader General Ortiz, and Antonio Casas as Clay's loyal friend Jonathan. Jose F. Aguayo's sharp widescreen cinematography offers several graceful gliding tracking shots and plenty of lovely panoramic images of the dusty landscape. Piero Piccioni supplies a moody and effective score. The big climactic confrontation with a blind Clay using his hearing to pick off Fox and his flunkies is extremely tense, gripping, and thrilling. A worthwhile movie.
Review of Minnesota Clay
