Find a Place to Die

1968 [ITALIAN]

Drama / Western

Rotten Tomatoes Critics - Rotten 17%
Rotten Tomatoes Audience - Spilled 17% · 50 ratings
IMDb Rating 5.5/10 10 584 584

spaghetti western grave digging rock slide fight in water

Plot summary

An outcast Confederate soldier protects a woman from bandits trying to steal her gold mine.

Director

Giuliano Carnimeo Photo
Giuliano Carnimeo

Top cast

Umberto Di Grazia Photo
Umberto Di Grazia as Bandit
Nello Pazzafini Photo
Nello Pazzafini as Fernando
Remo Capitani Photo
Remo Capitani as Eagle's Nest Lookout
Piero Lulli Photo
Piero Lulli as Paul Martin
720p.BluRay
817.74 MB
1280*692
Italian 2.0
NR
Subtitles us  
23.976 fps
1 hr 29 min
Seeds ...

Movie Reviews

Reviewed by 7 / 10

"Did we come this far only to… find a place to die?"

Released in 1968-69, but not in the USA until 1971, "Find a Place to Die" is a Spaghetti Western starring Jeffrey Hunter as a dishonored ex-officer drinking his woes away in Mexico when a beautiful woman (Pascale Petit) hires him and several others to save her husband and their gold mine claim from a band of local bandits. Daniela Giordano is on hand as the beautiful Juanita at the cantina. The plot is obviously borrowed (or, more accurately, ripped off) from 1954's "Garden of Evil" and combines it with a pensive Spaghetti Western flavor, lacking the goofiness and moral hollowness of, say, 1966's "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly." The melancholy is heightened by a moving song Juanita sings at the cantina in the first act; the tune is reminiscent of Jerry Goldsmith's excellent acoustic piece for 1970's "Rio Lobo." Too bad Giordano (as Juanita) didn't have a bigger role, but it's big enough.There are several other things that propel "Find a Place to Die" above most Italo oaters: The group Lisa (Petit) compiles consists of a few interesting people, including an ex-con turned minister who seems to be sincere but is dubious at the same time. Secondly, their ordeal becomes almost a survival situation and I favor survival flicks. Thirdly, the story arc of the disgraced ex-Confederate (Hunter) is almost inspiring. Lisa says she's naturally drawn to him because she knows he's not like the other worthless cutthroats. The warmth of love slowly wakens the laconic loner out of his brooding stupor and draws the best in him out. Love is power and, when you find it, you need to plug into it if you want to live. Only a fool rejects it or, worse, abuses it. Lastly, being shot in Italy at some kind of ancient ruins, particularly the notable building of the cantina, the movie has a unique look for a Pasta Western, which of course were typically shot in Spain. The movie is lean at 89 minutes. GRADE: B
Reviewed by 5 / 10

Exciting Spaghetti Western contains noisy shoot'em up , thrills , double-crosses and violence

Ravioli Western with a prolific Italian director , Anthony Ascott or Giuliano Carmineo , and an American main actor , Jeffrey Hunter known for King of Kings . Entertaining Spaghetti Western with crossfire , action , violence and entertainment . The story is similar to previous classic ¨Garden of evil ¨ (1954) by Henry Hathaway about a desperate group of adventurers recruited by a gorgeous woman being chased by enemies , but this ¨Joe... Cercati un Posto per Morire!" or international title "Find a Place to Die" is realized in Spaghetti style . It deals with an outcast Confederate soldier, Joe Collins ,(the early deceased Jeffrey Hunter) redeems himself by defending a woman called Lisa Martin (Pascale Petit who plays some nude scenes) against vengeful bandits willing to kill for her goldmine claim defended by her marooned husband (Piero Lulli , customary villain in lots of Spaghettis) . The husband called Paul Martin is wounded in a gold mine on a dangerous territory surrounded by nasty outlaws led by Chato . They followed her for the gold and her body but they didn't get the gold.Ordinary Spaghetti Western being leisurely and deliberately paced , at times thrilling and tense whose plot follows hazardous trails , though is sometimes slow moving . The movie gets the usual Western issues , as ambitious bandits , violent facing off , exaggerated baddies and spectacular gun-play , among them . It's a thrilling western with breathtaking gunfight between the protagonist , Joe Collins played Jeffrey Hunter , against the heartless Chato and his ominous hoodlums and a moving ending shootout . It's an entertaining story with a touch of peculiarity , some usual characters, a lot of shoot em'up and an amazing musical score . The basic plot is typical spaghetti western fare as ambition , betrayal and robbing , but what makes this movie peculiar is its style . The picture is well starred by Jeffrey Hunter , he played three Spaghetti Western such as ¨Joaquin Murrieta¨ , ¨Joe Navidad¨ and this one . His acting is often accused of being wooden, but in many manners is ideally suited to playing the steely-faced gunslinger synonymous with the genre . Very bad cinematography , being necessary a correct remastering because of the colors are faded . It was filmed by cameraman Riccardo Pallottini on location in Ostia, Lazio , Rome . The musician Gianni Ferrio composes a nice soundtrack and well conducted , this turns out to be one of the most memorable parts of the movie; as it's full of enjoyable sounds and haunting musical background , it contributes tremendously to the atmosphere of the film,The picture was middlingly directed by Anthony Scott or Giuliano Carmineo and some versions was credited Hugo Fregonese , also producer . Hugo was an Argentinian director who emigrated to Hollywood, then became technical adviser on latino themes at Columbia Studios in Hollywood, and subsequently under contract at Universal from 1950 to 1952 filming ¨Man in the attic¨ with Jack Palance , ¨Blowing wild¨with Gary Cooper , ¨Decameron Nights¨with Joan Fontaine , ¨Harry Black and the tiger¨with Steart Granger . Spent the rest of the decade in Europe directing Euro-westerns as ¨Savage Pampas¨ and potboilers as "The Death Ray of Dr. Mabuse" , Terror as "Dracula vs. Frankenstein" before finishing his career back in the country of his birth . And Giuliano Carmineo made several Spaghetti as ¨The moment to kill¨, ¨Find a place to die¨ , ¨They call him Cemetery¨ , ¨They call me Hallaluya¨ , and the Sartana movies : "Have a Good Funeral, My Friend, Sartana Will Pay" , ¨Sartana the gravedigger'(69) ,"Sartana's Coming, Get Your Coffins Ready" , ¨Light the fuse Sartana is coming¨(71) , among others .
Reviewed by 7 / 10

Solid spaghetti

Though somewhat standard "gang hunts for gold" spaghetti western fare, it is well-directed and has solid performances. The score is also well-done, one of the better non-Morricone ones I've heard. Fast-paced with several nice action scenes, with a couple of great, cold-blooded sudden shootings. The VCI DVD is ok, letterboxed but the transfer is soft and rather noisy throughout, with a lot of grain in dark scenes. The mono sound, though, is rich and well-recorded. The film is definitely worth a look for anyone looking for an entertaining, obscure western.
Read more IMDb reviews

No comments yet

Be the first to leave a comment