Gunfight In the Red Sands was directed by Spanish director Ricardo Blasco, who wrote the script with James Donald Prindle and Albert Band, the father of Charles. It’s also the first western to feature a score by Ennio Morricone — under the name Dan Savio — and the second to star Richard Harrison.
The family of Ricardo “Gringo” Martinez (Harrison) has discovered gold on their land. This would be good news if the youngest son, Manuel, didn’t shout about it while drunk at a saloon in Carterville. Soon enough, three masked men soon show up at the Martinez home, kill the father, wound Manuel and steal the gold — riding past the unaware Gringo who is just returning home after years of fighting with guerillas against the Mexican government.
Gringo — so called because he was a white child adopted by the Martinez family — seeks the help of Sheriff Lance Corbett to find the killers, but can only identify by their horses. That’s not going to help when the entire town of Carterville wants the gold.
As this was made back in 1963, it’s much closer to an American western than the rough and brutal movies that Italy would soon be making. Cinematographer Massimo Dallamano would go on to work with Sergio Leone and make his own movies, including What Have You Done to Solange? and What Have They Done to Your Daughters?
You can watch this on Tubi.
