Arde Baby, Arde

Here’s a spaghetti western that barely gets a paragraph in Thomas Weisser’s excellent overview of the genre---it’s THAT obscure. Much to my delight, the film is far better than Weisser’s brief synopsis implies. Lucky Johnny (as a child) is rescued by an undertaker just as a rattlesnake is about to pounce. The two of them go about their ghoulish business until they decide it’s time to strike it rich. There are two intriguing subplots involving a pair of down on their luck stage robbers and a black cavalryman who is victimised by greedy bounty hunters. The film was originally shot in Panavision, and even the crummy pan and scan TV version I caught couldn’t obscure some outstanding cinematography. Topped off with a fine score, highlighted by an excellent (uncredited) 70s soul song over the end credits, Lucky Johnny is another obscuro film waiting to be rediscovered by our good friends at Anchor Bay. I’ll be first in line for the DVD.

Movie Genres: Drama, Fantasy, Thriller, Western

Movie Released: 16 Oct, 1975

Video Length: 1 hr 37 min

Total Views: 1,117 Times

Website Rating: 0.00/5

IMDB Rating: 2.35/5 (62 votes)