Faccia a Faccia (1967) | Sergio Sollima’s gripping cult worthy Western saga

Director Sergio Sollima’s Western saga Faccia a Faccia (1967) casts Gian Maria Volonté as a tubercular Boston history professor who unexpectedly falls in with a Texan bandit gang led by Tomas Milian‘s outlaw. Volonté later usurps Milian as leader, but the cruel violence that accompanies Volonté’s transformation into a cold-blooded fascist dictator ultimately causes Milian to take up arms against the once-timid professor.

Faccia a Faccia (aka Face to Face) has garnered a bit of a cult following thanks to its inspired narrative. Though full of brutality, it’s an accomplished morality tale about the power of violence and a gripping parable about the rise of fascism. The film also benefits from the stellar performances of Volonté (For A Few Dollars More) and Milian (he appeared in the violent Django Kill! the same year); being produced by Sergio Leone’s Clint Eastwood trilogy partner Alberto Grimaldi and production designer Carlo Simi, and having a memorable score by the incomparable Ennio Morricone. This is definitely one for your cult film collection.

Faccia a Faccia is out on Blu-ray and DVD in the US from Kino Lorber from 18 August 2015, and was released in the UK from Eureka! Entertainment in 2011