A Man Called Sledge

"When SLEDGE hits town it stays hit!"

1970 1h 33m EN

😐

6.1

MID

★6.1TMDB · 41

Western

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

James Garner is Luther Sledge, the leader of a pack of rebels who are planning to steal a stash of gold. But after the thieves actually manage to get away with the bounty, they soon discover that the enemy lies within their midst. As they begin to bicker over who should get the biggest cut, the stage is set for a deadly showdown. Claude Akins and John Marley co-star in this Italian Western directed by Vic Morrow.

“When SLEDGE hits town it stays hit!”

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Cast

James Garner
Luther Sledge
Dennis Weaver
Erwin Ward
Claude Akins
Hooker
John Marley
Old Man
Laura Antonelli
Ria
Wayde Preston
Sheriff Ripley
Ken Clark
Floyd
Tony Young
Mallory

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Vic Morrow
Writers: Frank Kowalski, Vic Morrow, Massimo D'Avak
Languages: English
Countries: Italy, United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

56 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: Italy, United States of America.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Vic Morrow, shot by Luigi Kuveiller. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Gianni Ferrio. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Renzo Lucidi shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

James Garner and Dennis Weaver and Claude Akins carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "When SLEDGE hits town it stays hit!".

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0066050 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Vic Morrow directs. Luigi Kuveiller behind the camera. Gianni Ferrio scores. Renzo Lucidi cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in Italy, United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

156 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
2International production across 2 countries: Italy, United States of America.
3Directed by Vic Morrow, shot by Luigi Kuveiller. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Gianni Ferrio. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Renzo Lucidi shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6James Garner and Dennis Weaver and Claude Akins carry the top of the cast.
7Marketing tagline: "When SLEDGE hits town it stays hit!".
8IMDB entry: tt0066050 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
9Only 41 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

The technical file

Cinematography: Luigi Kuveiller
Original score: Gianni Ferrio
Editing: Renzo Lucidi
Production design: Mario Chiari
Costume design: Elio Micheli
Makeup / hair: Giuliano Laurenti
Stunt coordinator: Remo De Angelis
Runtime: 93 min · 1h 33m
Status: Released
Original language: EN
Certification (US): R
IMDB: A Man Called Sledge (1970)

Also by

Vic Morrow

Trailers & featurettes

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Community reviews

What people are saying

John Chard2017-07-23
★ 8/10
Luther Sledge. A Man Called Sledge is directed by Vic Morrow and Morrow co-writes the screenplay with Frank Kowalski. It stars James Garner, Dennis Weaver, Claude Akins, John Marley, Laura Antonelli, Wayde Preston and Ken Clarke. Music is by Gianni Ferrio and cinematography by Luigi Kuveiller. Luther Sledge (Garner) is a wanted outlaw who upon hearing about a huge gold shipment stored in a prison, promptly assembles his gang and sets about executing a daring robbery. A Pasta Western filmed in Technicolor/Techniscope out of Andalucia in Spain, A Man Called Sledge is a most interesting and entertaining addition to this splinter of Westerns. From the off we are in no doubt that Garner is serving up a character not of his normal portrayal varieties, here he's not heroic, all American or a lovable rogue, he's a bad egg, gruff, rough and tough, and driven by law breaking activities. Added into the mix is a rather cheeky premise, that of gold being stored in a working prison, which is naturally heavily fortified, protected and seemingly impossible to breach, but Sledge and his cohorts have other ideas that gives the narrative and dramatic drive much strength. You couldn't take it with a pope! In spite of the odd flecks of humour, such as a terrific organ sequence and Akins' constant cynical asides (both orally and visually), pic is grim in texture, there will be blood and the unfurling of other hateful human traits. Morrow knows his Pasta Oaters, both as regards visual ticks and via characterisations. So we get camera zooms, low level up-tilts and spins, while the characters range from the foolish to the greedy - to the twitchy and the dumb - and even a howling man! The story plays out through differing back drops, be it a snow storm, an arid landscape or a sweaty bar - not least the imposing prison at the centre of the plot - Morrow is taking his story through visual variations. I would have died for you Sledge! There are a number of great scenes to enjoy, usually where action is concerned, not least the quite exhilarating show-piece involving a jailbreak, where here we are treated to top stunt work as dynamite and a Gatling Gun join the usual bullets and blood carnage. Cards are a big feature, as are crosses - cum - crucifixes, the latter providing some striking (and scary) imagery. While all the time Ferrio's varied musical score hits all the right Pasta Western notes. Hell! even the irritating theme song is hauntingly chaotic and thus fitting once the pic reaches its denouement. With the mostly American cast turning in good perfs, and Morrow proving deft at genre compliance, this is very much an under valued pic and worthy of either seeking out for a first time view or for reevaluation purpose. 7.5/10

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