A Spaghetti Western set during the chaotic time period of the Mexican Revolution (1910-1920), 1967’s A Bullet for the General (sometimes known by its original Italian title Quién sabe?, in English – Who Knows?), directed by Damiano Damiani, is a lesser known gem found within the subgenre best known for titles like The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, Once Upon a Time in the West, and Django.
Written by Franco Solinas – the famed Marxist political writer who a year earlier scribed The Battle of Algiers, his screenplay is filled with the tension, violent action, and the politics of this historical time period. . . and, to add a layer on top of a layer, this film is considered the first Zapata Western – a subgenre of the Spaghetti Western that delves into this era in Mexico, usually juxtaposing the themes of intense revolution with cold hard cash.
Following a band of rebels led by El Chuncho Muños (Gian Maria Volantè). . . all of them loyal to revolutionary leader General Elìas (Jaime Fernádez), their goal is rather plain and simple – to wreak as much havoc on the Mexican military while also collecting as many guns as possible for their cause.
Aided by his priest brother El Santa (Klaus Kinski – For a Few Dollars More), their sole female compatriot in Adelita (Martine Beswicke – Thunderball), her romantic partner Pepito (Guy Heron), as well as a slew of others loyal to the cause, they go from target to target in short order. When the movie begins, we follow a sequence revolving around a rather harrowing train robbery, and it is there that they pick up a strong silent type of an American named Bill Tate a.k.a. El Niño (Lou Castel – Orgasmo) – a man claiming to be a prisoner of the army who for some reason always carries with him a golden bullet.
Gaining their loyalty, he accompanies them through thick and thin, slowly forming a close bond with El Chuncho, while perhaps also catching the eye of the already taken Adelita. Despite their successes, the camp begins to form into two separate groups, one with the brothers happy to stay in the recently won town of San Miguel and become local protectors of the downtrodden townsfolk, while the rest, including the American, Adelita, and Pepito, are more interested in selling their collection of rifles to the General and stay focused on their original rebellious plan. What will come of this successful group of united people? Might the call of money come between them and their original goals? Could their good luck finally run out? Or might Bill Tate be more than he seems to be on the surface?
Martine Beswicke, who stars as Adelita in A Bullet for the General, with Filmizon.com’s Nikolai Adams
Awe inspiring thanks to its striking locations, engaging cast, and stunning action (Martine Beswicke confirmed to me that she did her own riding, stunts, and even smoking), Damiani is aptly able to capture the essence of the time, place and people – both in loyalty and treacherousness, freedom and restrictiveness, as well as life and death during this tumultuous era.
A western worth adding to your watch list, A Bullet for the General concludes with a memorable two pronged ending that won’t be easily forgotten. Lastly, also keep an eye out for a cameo from the director himself – as a journalist seen with General Elìas. So, be a rebel by tracking down this dynamite Spaghetti Western, ‘who knows’ what you’ll think.
This film can be watched in both its International Version with English subtitles or in its U.S. English version