Compañeros (1970)

Compañeros is a solid effort from director Sergio Corbucci (Django, The Great Silence), bringing back Franco Nero (Django, Texas Adios, Keoma) to once again act in a Spaghetti Western with the talented director.  Also, least we forget, the incredible sound track is performed by Ennio Moricone.  With all of these things working for it, does Compañeros live up to its expectations?  Yes.  Is it the best spaghetti western ever?  No.  It is a great movie?  Yes.  It’s it Corbucci’s best?  No.  But, that doesn’t mean anyone that’s a fan of good cinema shouldn’t see this film.

Rating:

Compañeros kicks off with a rather ironic look at governmental policies in the Mexican town of San Bernadino.  The current president has an interesting way of finding out who’s voting for and against him.  This is also where we meet Vasco (Milian) who is polishing the presidents shoes, while listening to the voters as they march down a line to cast their votes.  Of course, things aren’t going to go as planned, for anyone involved, and a ruckus breaks out.

The story then changes gears, and swings over to introduce Yolif Peterson (Nero), aka “The Swede”, aka “Penguin”.  I know it has nothing to do with one another, but during the opening I couldn’t help but think of Once Upon a Time in the West.  The audience quickly finds out just how dangerous The Swede is as he makes his way from the train station to meet up with General Mongo.  Before he can meet with the General, he runs into Vasco and the two get off on the wrong foot.  Before anything can get worse, Mongo appears and quells the situation as best he can.

Now, we find out the true reason for the film.  Mongo wants the money inside the safe, in town, to help fund his “revolution”, but The Swede informs him that he must ask someone for the combo, as he cannot open the safe on his own.  Mongo sends The Swede, and then unwilling Vasco, across the boarder to snag the Professor and bring him back to open the safe.  This, of course, is fine with The Swede, but not at all OK with Vasco.  The two set out, and it’s clear from the beginning that things are not going to go well.  At all.  And, it’s because of this that so many awesome scenes happen.

Franco Nero is always a treat to watch, and, personally, one of my favorite actors.  He makes every line work, and chews up scenery like nobody’s business.  Yes, he does a horrible job doing a Swedish accent, but that makes it so much better.  His ridiculous facial hair, that seems to change from shot to shot, and his wicked smile at the worst times make The Swede a character you just can’t help but like.  He knows all the right things to say, can work ANY weapon with ease, and has absolutely no morals, but is not a bad guy.  He’s the anti-hero that you root for more than the hero.  Sorry Milian, but it is Nero we’re talking about.  Speaking of Milian, this was the first film I’ve seen him in (I’m sure I’ve seen him before, I just forgot), and he does an excellent job as playing the stubborn side-kick.  If there’s one character that has an arc throughout the film it would be Vasco!

Jack Palance also stars in Compañeros, as John, and evil drug-user that has a hawk to track down his victims.  He also controls a gang of ruthless mercenaries.  John is a creepy character that oozes with evil.  The character definitly had a feel of an Iago-type creature.  There was not one redeeming quality about him.  You had to want him dead, and that’s exactly how you felt when seeing him on screen.

Of course, with all of these subplots coming together, things are going to go wrong.  And, when they go wrong it’s not like “Oops, I messed up”, no sir, it’s more like “Oh #)($*&#)”!  Horses.  Trains.  Cars.  Gunfights.   Fist fights.  Knife fights.  Turtles.  Random boobs for no reason.  Drinking games to play with your friends.  This film has it all.  And, even though it may sound dark and foreboding, I found Compañeros to be much more light-hearted than either Django or The Great Silence (well, definitely TGS).

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