Excellent but underrated film

Simple and well acted, it has tension enough to knot the stomach.

Blistering performances.

.Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

Cemetery Without Crosses (1969) *** (out of 4)Manuel (Robert Hossein) is asked by his former lover (Michele Mercier) to seek out the men who murdered her husband. The gunslinger agrees to take the job so he gets some help and heads out to take the gang down.CEMETERY WITHOUT CROSSES was a French/Italian co-production that has gained much popularity over the years because it's basically a love letter to the style of Sergio Leone and the film is even dedicated to the legendary filmmaker. Hossein not only stars in the picture but he also directed it as well as co-wrote it and for the most part it's a pretty good entry for the genre. Is it in the same league as Leone? Of course not but this is certainly worth watching.The screenplay, which included Dario Argento as a co-writer, isn't all that original but what I enjoyed the most about this picture was the style. There are several long stretches where there's not a single line of dialogue spoken. There's often a lot of noise whether it's sound effects or the music score by André Hossein blaring and this allows the terrific cinematography to come to life. The camera just floats from one shot to the next with the sound effects really taking your mind off everything that is going on. This often time leads to a nice surprise with one of the best examples being a scene at the diner table.You're watching a group of men eat and we hear the sound of them chomping and then out of nowhere there's a little surprise that really works well. I won't ruin the ending but it too was quite effective because of the set up and how the director shows the final shoot out. Both Hossein and Mercier are very good in their roles with Hossein obviously trying to copy the Man With No Name role. CEMETERY WITHOUT CROSSES is a well-made little film. I think there's more style than substance but that's really not a problem here.

After the worldwide success of Sergio Leone's "A Fistful of Dollars" (1964) and "For a Few Dollars More" (1965), Robert Hossein, an honorable French actor and director which had a previous Western "The Taste of Violence" (1961) in his credits, is trying one more time his luck in the same genre. The music, signed André Hossein (father of Robert Hossein) it's a reminiscent of Ennio Morricone's music from Leone's films. Benito Stefanelli, who played in the two aforementioned films of Leone, has a role here too. The same José Canalejas, Lorenzo Robledo, Álvaro de Luna. Many other elements of Leone's movies are present in this Cemetery Without Crosses (1969) too, Michèle Mercier is dressed and even resembles Marianne Koch from A Fistful of Dollars but, however, despite the charm of the two main actors, Hossein and Mercier (they have been together also in the successful "Angélique" series), the film is a total failure. So, I'm sorry Mister Hossein, I love you very much in many other films but, this one is not spaghetti, c'est de la merde.

I'm certainly the first one not to join the incredible chorus of praises.But seriously folks !Robert Hossein's forte has always been the thriller,the film noir, and several of his efforts are really worthwhile ,particularly " Toi Le Venin" "Le Jeu De La Vérité" and "La Mort D'Un Tueur";westerns are a different matter.Just before this spaghetti-western (it's rather a French fries western ,by the way) ,he and his star Michèle Mercier hit the big time with the five "Angélique Marquise Des Anges" movies ."Une Corde Un Colt" is a bad idea gone wrong;in France it got unanimous thumbs down .The cast is essentially French and (for a French),it's impossible to believe in their "characters" .The production is the poorest of all Hossein movies ,being thin and lacking any real positive (or negative) energy.A "visual " western it may be (with a dozen of lines),and they even hire "Angélique"'s cameraman ,Henri Persin,but there's nothing really visually beautiful to film.André Hossein,Robert's brother ,provides the score,as usual,and it's rather nice,although a bit anachronistic ,sounding late fifties/early sixties

This is a very good eurowestern that will have you in its grip from start to finish.It is beautifully filmed with lots of desolate wide open desert, and impressive mountain scenery. The film has a feeling of loneliness as much of it takes place in a deserted ghost town which has apparently become the home of the protagonist.The movie is populated with bitter characters that are primarily motivated by revenge. There are no happy endings here. This definitely wasn't "the feel good movie of the year," which is a good thing. The female lead is a beautiful woman in black with little left to live for other than seeing her husband's killers pay for his death. Her relationship with Manuel, the man she goes to for help with her plan, is a very intriguing one. This is because we are left to wonder what their history is until close to the end of the film when it is finally revealed.The music score is excellent. The opening/closing theme is a great spaghetti western ballad with vocals. The music during the film is mostly guitar designed to create feelings of suspense and sadness. There's also a touch of organ thrown in for good measure. It all works wonderfully with the film.This is a high-quality spaghetti western that is riveting and entertaining. I highly recommend this one. If you get the chance to see it, don't pass it up.