BLINDMAN (1971)

Now I'm sure most of you know about Superman, Batman, and Spiderman, but how many of you know about that western hero called Blindman? You know. That ugly looking twat who kept on bumping into things in this 105 minute movie made in 1971! It was Directed by Ferdinando Baldi, and Starred: Tony Anthony, Ringo Starr, Lloyd Battista, with Magda Konopka.


Blindman : The Film - The Poster

THE STORY:

Hey! Domingo (Lloyd Battista). Stop clowning around with your banditos, amigo. Come over here because I have something I want to show you.

Now do you see what I have in my pocket? No. Not my pocket with my gun in, silly. I'm talking about my other pocket. The one with a piece of paper in it! Well, on this piece of paper is a written contact that states I've got to take those fifty women you've kidnapped back to Texas with me. And you, being the nice Mexican gringo that you are, are going to allow me to do just that.

Huh? What's that you say, Domingo? You'd rather go blind than allow me to do such a thing? Ha! It's funny that you should mention being blind, because I am you know. I am a Blindman (Tony Anthony). And if you don't do as I say, I promise you that you will never see your Brother Candy (Ringo Starr) alive again. Cause I've kidnapped him whilst he was trying to mess around with that very pretty blonde lady called Dolce (Magda Konopka).

Still. I suppose that's why what next transpires all goes to pot when you double cross me and I end up in the slammer with a sleazy general (Raf Baldassarre). As two prisoners contradict - fifty women get licked - a brother won't go to Eton - and at the end of the day the blind man who shoots first won't get beat-on.

THE REVIEW:

What stuck me nigh on straight away when I first sat down and watched 'Blindman', was how this film came across like a second-rate Sergio Leone knock off. Now I'm sure you know the type of thing I'm referring to, folks. As it had all of that over-the-top operatic music, complemented by the slow pacing, the flimflam story-line, plus the close-up / far-away style of camerawork.

However, once I allowed myself to just go along with the flow, suddenly, I saw this film in a much better light. You see, without putting too finer point on it, if you put to one side the rather substandard production values, what you'll find is that this is a pretty good Spaghetti Western that isn't that bad.

Granted, I myself wasn't very keen on how the main protagonist handled himself throughout this adventure. In many ways he wasn't very heroic, and he kept on getting himself into the same sort of predicament time and time again.

For example, first he would bumble on into an arduous situation. Then he'd get beaten up and captured by his opponents. And finally, he'd somehow manage to make an escape before doing the said-same thing again, and again, and again.

Admittedly, not everything with this flick is all doom and gloom. On the reverse side of my negativity, I have to say that I did enjoy watching the performances of all the main players -- particularly a dubbed Ringo Starr -- who looked and seemed very Mexican I thought. Plus in contrast to what I've said previously, I did warm up to the 'Blindmans' more jovial and humane antics. Like how his horse acted like a guide-dog for instance, as well as how he always came up with a witty one liner during times of stress.

But apart from that, though... well... yeah... this isn't a bad film all in all. And it did have a very pleasant way about it that was one part innovative and one part charming. Here, folks. Check out these filmic-facts for something else just as charming. (1) 'ABKCO Music and Records' first screened this production in Italy, on the very same day a man-made earth-slide killed fifteen people in Kawasaki, Japan -- the 15th of November, 1971. (2) Loosely translated, this project was entitled 'The Punisher Blind' in Brazil; 'The Blind Avenger' in Denmark; and 'Blind Killer' in Finland. (3) The majority of this movie was shot at 'Cinecittà Studios', Italy, as well as throughout numerous parts of Spain, most notably, in Almería, Andalucía. (4) Ferdinando Baldi, who directed this flick, was in the business from 1953 to 1988, and in total he has directed nearly forty films throughout his noted career. (5) Not only did Tony Anthony and Lloyd Battista play the two title roles in this adventure, but on top of that, they also co-wrote it with Vincenzo Cerami and Pier Giovanni Anchisi. (6) Ten years after this movie was unleashed -- 1981 -- Tony Anthony, Lloyd Battista, and Ferdinando Baldi decided to remake it anew. This time, though, they did it without the rest of the cast associated with the original production. It was called 'Comin' at Ya!', and it was done in 3D. (7) The tagline used to promote this picture, was, 'Blindman, Blindman, what did he do? Stole 50 women that belong to you'. (8) After this Western doffed its sombrero, Tony Anthony starred in the Italian crime-drama, 'Piazza Pulita'; Ringo Starr starred in the David Essex musical, 'That'll Be the Day'; and Lloyd Battista starred in the ongoing television series, 'Love, American Style'.

Overall I'd say 'Blindman' was a movie that sorely needed a pair of spectacles. The story-line had no sense of direction. The actors seemed to eventually find there way. Yet at the end of the day I'd bet by bottom dollar Sergio Leone his good self wouldn't be too keen on how this movie lost its focus.

Nuff said.

THE RATING: B+