The spaghetti western genre was created in the 1960s and lasted to the mid to late 70s. These westerns were created by Italian filmmakers who made films that were more brutal than their American counterparts. In addition to starring Italian actors, these films also starred such notable American actors like Charles Bronson, Clint Eastwood and Lee Van Cleef. Lee Van Cleef starred in several popular spaghetti westerns such as Sergio Leone's For a Few Dollars More and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. His characters were usually of the bad guy variety or as an antihero. Even though he is better known for his character of "Angel Eyes" in the The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, I really enjoyed watching him in the Day of Anger.
This movie allowed Van Cleef to really display his acting talents and most importantly, play a really convincing bad guy. The thing about Van Cleef and most actors of his generation is that he hardly ever cursed or used excessive violence. His screen presence alone with his steely eyes and rough demeanor was enough to show bad he really was.
The basic plotline is about a kid (Scott "Mary") who lives in a small town who gets bullied by the townspeople. He works in a horse stable where he practices his quick-draw gun fighting skills. Lee Van Cleef (Talby) rolls into town and gets into a gunfight with one of Scott's bullies. Afterward, the two of them ride to another town to collect money that is owed to Talby by one of his former associates. Talby learns that his former comrade had the money but was swindled by the people of Scott's town. After a gunfight with Talby's former comrade and his gang, they both head back to Scott's town to get Talby's money back.
Talby also teaches Scott the tricks and the trade of gun fighting, from when to shoot to how to act towards others. At first you think he is trying to help Scott but he is using him for his own nefarious purposes. He also lays down 10 rules for Scott to follow:
1. Never beg another man.
2. Never trust anyone.
3. Never get between a gun and its target.
4. Punches are like bullets, if you don't make the first one you might just be finished.
5. When you wound a man you better kill him. Cause sooner or later he is gonna kill you.
6. Right bullet at the right time, well aimed.
7. When you untie a man take his gun before that.
8. Don't give a man any more bullets than what he got use for. (By Scott)
9. There are times when you have to accept a challenge or loose everything there is in life anyway.
10. When you start killing you can't stop it.
Once they return to town, Talby ruthlessly takes over all the businesses and establishments. After killing Scott's mentor, Scott has had enough and challenges Talby to a gunfight and kills him using the above rules that Talby taught him.
Watching this movie made me think of Training Day with Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke where an "experienced" shootist mentors a young upstart. It seemed like playing this role was natural for Van Cleef as if he really did not have to act the part - especially watching him overrun the town and how he manipulated young Scott. It almost seemed scary at times when he was teaching Scott how to be a gunfighter. He made it look so easy like he had done it a million times before! It amazes me how some of these actors play certain roles so well that it seems natural.
If you want to see Van Cleef at his best, I suggest you check out this movie. It's hard to find since it is so old but if you can find it, you will not be disappointed.
