Shoot the Living and Pray for the Dead
Dan Hogan and his gang have held up a bank for $100,000 in gold bars. They meet up at Jackal's Ranch, a weigh station for stage coaches. While waiting for the gold to arrive they encounter a stranger, John Webb, who wants half the gold in exchange for guiding them safely to Mexico. Reluctantly, Dan agrees and they set across the brutal desert for a race to the border with the Rangers hot on their tail. Is John who he says he is? Is he really after the gold or does he have an ulterior motive?
Curator's Take
“Klaus Kinski is a force of nature in this nihilistic gem. The plot is standard fare, a guide leading a group to gold, but the execution is surprisingly bleak and atmospheric. It feels less like an adventure and more like a descent into madness.”
Why This Movie Is Important
A film with a wonderfully cynical title that encapsulates the genre’s worldview. It’s a harsh, unforgiving look at life on the frontier, where survival is the only morality.
Production Details
Shoot the Living and Pray for the Dead is a 1971 action and western film directed by Giuseppe Vari. Originally released in Italy under the title "Prega il morto e ammazza il vivo", the film was produced during the golden era of European westerns. The soundtrack was composed by Mario Migliardi. Cinematography was handled by Franco Villa. The screenplay was written by Adriano Bolzoni. The film stars Klaus Kinski as Dan Hogan, Victoria Zinny as Eleanor, and Paolo Casella as John Webb. Running 1 hour and 35 minutes, it is a well-paced entry in the genre.
Did You Know?
Klaus Kinski's paycheck for this movie was reportedly higher than the entire rest of the budget combined. He shot all his scenes in three days and left.
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