A Bullet for the General

A Bullet for the General
American theatrical release poster
Directed by	Damiano Damiani
Produced by	Bianco Manini
Written by	Salvatore Laurani Franco Solinas (Adaptation and dialogue)
Story by	Salvatore Laurani
Starring	Gian Maria Volontè Klaus Kinski Martine Beswick Lou Castel Jaime Fernández
Music by	Luis Bacalov Ennio Morricone (Musical supervisor)
Cinematography	Antonio Secchi
Edited by	Renato Cinquini
Production company	M. C. M.
Distributed by	M. C. M. (Italy) AVCO Embassy Pictures (US) Warner-Pathé (UK)
Release dates	7 December 1966
Running time	118 minutes (Italy) 115 minutes (US)
Country	Italy
Language	Italian Spanish English

A Bullet for the General (Es. Quién sabe?), also known by its international title El Chucho Quién Sabe?, is a 1966 Italian Zapata Western film directed by Damiano Damiani, written by Salvatore Laurani and Franco Solinas, and starring Gian Maria Volontè, Lou Castel, Klaus Kinski and Martine Beswick. The film tells the story of El Chuncho, a bandit, and Bill Tate (or El Niňo), who is a counter-revolutionary in Mexico. Chuncho soon learns that social revolution is more important than mere money. This is one of the more famous Zapata Westerns, a subgenre of the spaghetti western which deals with the radicalizing of bad men and bandits into revolutionaries when they are confronted with injustice. Others in this subgenre include Compañeros, The Mercenary and perhaps most famously Duck, You Sucker!

Some parts of the soundtrack, composed by Luis Enríquez Bacalov, are featured in the videogame Red Dead Revolver.

Plot

The two Mexican brothers Chuncho and Santo and their mutual US-American friend Bill support the revolution in Mexico by delivering stolen guns to a rebel leader. Their mutual contempt for the current government unites the three men, but Chuncho only strives for maximum profit, whereas Santo is driven by political idealism. In the course of action their motives prove being incompatible. The brothers split up and then even oppose each other. Bill has to choose sides.

Cast

• Gian Maria Volontè – 'El Chuncho' Munoz
• Klaus Kinski – El Santo
• Martine Beswick – Adelita
• Lou Castel – Bill 'Niño' Tate/The Gringo
• Jaime Fernández – General Elías
• Andrea Checchi – Don Felipe/Feliciano
• Spartaco Conversi – Cirillo
• Joaquín Parra – Picaro
• Aldo Sambrell – Lieutenant Alvaro Pereda
• José Manuel Martín – Raimundo
• Santiago Santos – Guapo
• Valentino Macchi – Durango train engineer
• Guy Heron – Pedrito
• Carla Gravina – Rosaria
• Rufino Inglés – Captain Enrique Sanchez Compoy
• Vicente Roca – Hotelier
• Antoñito Ruiz – Chico
• Sal Borgese – Bandit
• Richard McNamara – Opening Narrator (International version)

Reception

Damiano's film has been called a "serious statement about the Mexican Revolution" and has been recognised as an accomplished blend of "tension, action, politics and history".

References

Bibliography

External links

• A Bullet for the General at IMDb