Twice a Judas

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Nando Cicero directs. Francisco Marín behind the camera. Carlos Pes scores. Renato Cinquini cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in Italy, Spain. Dialogue in Italian.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

• 158 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
• 2International production across 2 countries: Italy, Spain.
• 3Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
• 4Directed by Nando Cicero, shot by Francisco Marín. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
• 5Original score by Carlos Pes. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
• 6Editor Renato Cinquini shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
• 7Antonio Sabàto and Klaus Kinski and José Calvo carry the top of the cast.
• 8Marketing tagline: "No man stands in his way !".
• 9IMDB entry: tt0062915 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
• 10Only 21 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

The technical file

Cinematography

Francisco Marín

Original score

Carlos Pes

Editing

Renato Cinquini

Runtime

96 min · 1h 36m

Status

Released

Original language

IT

Certification (US)

16

IMDB

Twice a Judas (1968) ↗

Also by

Nando Cicero

• 
  Lo scippo

  1965 · ★ 7.0
• 
  Who Gave You the License?

  1970 · ★ 6.8
• 
  Long Live the Seal

  1982 · ★ 6.4
• 
  Let's Arm Ourselves and Go!

  1971 · ★ 6.3
• 
  Professionals for a Massacre

  1967 · ★ 5.8
• 
  Last of the Badmen

  1967 · ★ 5.7

Community reviews

What people are saying

• John Chard2017-06-17
  ★ 8/10

  Who's Dingus? Due volte Giuda (Twice a Judas/Shoot Twice/They Were Called Graveyard) is directed by Nndo Cicero and written by Jaime Jesús Balcázar. It stars Antonio Sabàto, Klaus Kinski, Pepe Calvo and Franco Leo. Music is by Carlo Pes and cinematography by Francisco Marin. An amnesiac wakes up in parched land next to a dead body, he must now find out what has (is) happening and who the hell he is?! It has something of a mixed reputation among Spaghetti Western fans, and for sure it's a tricky one to recommend with great confidence, so really you have to roll the dice and take your chance. Personally I'm glad I did. The amnesia angle is most interesting seen in the spag-western sphere, whilst ensuring as it does that there's a huge mystery element to the narrative. For two thirds of the pic it's slow going, with a story cross stitched in near complex terms so as to ask the viewer to follow closely. Trickily there are some threads that don't really make sense since they serve no evident purpose to the story as a whole, which is frustrating even if it adds to the dreamy feel of the plot. Once the character dynamics are set up - well sort of - film kicks on a pace, unfurling the flags of double crosses, greed, mistrust and machismo fuelled behaviour. Kinski (splendidly edgy and unsympathetic) Sabàto (likable performance blending cool and confused) leading the way as pic plays its hands. The action is well staged, with barn yard and canyon shoot-outs most appealing, while the addition of an awesome canine and the use of some sort of ball-bearing blunderbuss take the final third up another notch. Pat on the back as well to the stunt men, nifty work on show chaps. Photography and musical score are safe enough, with the print I viewed on British cable in very good order. It asks for patience and forgiveness for its silly sins, but all told it's a rather good pasta piece worthy of viewing. 7/10

  Read full review ↓

Production companies

Who made it

• CO

  Colt Produzioni Cinematografiche

  IT

• ME

  Medusa Produzione

• 

  Balcázar

  ES

Key crew

• EditorRenato Cinquini
• Camera OperatorJoe D'Amato

Themes & keywords

What it's about, really

• spaghetti western

Release history · US

When it landed

• Theatrical1970-02-2716

Also known as

International titles

• They Were Called GraveyardUS
• Zweimal JudasDE