California
At the end of the Civil War, a Union soldier is released from prison and travels with a fellow prisoner to Missouri where his travelling companion is shot and hung for horse stealing. California decides to take the dead companion's belongings to his family's ranch, where he falls in love with his friend's sister. But then the "ghosts" of the war return in an unexpected way haunting him again.
Curator's Take
“Giuliano Gemma again, this time in the post-Civil War ruin. It’s a slow-burn road movie about a man just trying to go home. It feels more like 'New Hollywood' drama than a typical Spaghetti Western.”
Why This Movie Is Important
A late masterpiece that serves as a funeral dirge for the Spaghetti Western. It is a rainy, muddy, melancholy film about a soldier trying to go home. It strips away the style and coolness of earlier films, replacing them with a stark, painful realism that feels like a final goodbye to the fantasy of the West.
Production Details
California is a 1977 western film directed by Michele Lupo. The film features a score composed by Gianni Ferrio. Cinematography was handled by Alejandro Ulloa. The screenplay was written by Roberto Leoni. The film stars Giuliano Gemma as Michael 'California' Random, William Berger as Mr. Preston, and Miguel Bosé as Willy Preston. Running 1 hour and 38 minutes, it is a well-paced entry in the genre. The film features a notable on-screen body count of 20 kills.
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Did You Know?
During filming in Spain, constant rain turned the set into a bog. The director decided to incorporate the gloom into the story rather than waiting for sun, giving the film its uniquely somber look.
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