A Bullet for the General
"Like the Bandit... Like the Gringo... A bullet doesn't care who it kills!"
El Chuncho's bandits rob arms from a train, intending to sell the weapons to Elias' revolutionaries. They are helped by one of the passengers, Bill Tate, and allow him to join them, unware of his true intentions.
Curator's Take
“The first great politicized western. It explores the relationship between a bandit and a refined American (who is actually a CIA assassin). It asks tough questions about revolution, loyalty, and imperialism.”
Why This Movie Is Important
The foundational text for the political 'Zapata Western'. Written with Marxist undertones, it uses the Mexican Revolution to critique American interventionism and imperialism. It is a serious, intelligent film that proves the Spaghetti Western could be a vehicle for sharp political commentary and social critique.
Production Details
A Bullet for the General is a 1967 western film directed by Damiano Damiani. Originally released in Italy under the title "Quién sabe?", the film was produced during the golden era of European westerns. Luis Bacalov composed the film's score. Cinematography was handled by Antonio Secchi. The screenplay was written by Salvatore Laurani. The film stars Gian Maria Volonté as Chuncho Munos / 'El Chuncho', Klaus Kinski as El Santo, and Martine Beswick as Adelita. Running 1 hour and 58 minutes, it is a well-paced entry in the genre. The film features a notable on-screen body count of 20 kills. It holds a solid average rating of 6.6 from 131 ratings.
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Did You Know?
The writer, Franco Solinas, also wrote 'The Battle of Algiers'. His Marxist political views heavily influenced the script, making it a critique of US intervention in foreign revolutions.
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