_**Violent Western with Raquel Welch, Robert Culp and… the Three Stooges**_
After three squabbling scumbags (Ernest Borgnine, Jack Elam & Strother Martin) harass a couple at a remote ranch in the Southwest, the woman (Raquel Welch) hooks-up with an infamous bounty hunter (Robert Culp) to learn gun skills and, hopefully, enact revenge. Christopher Lee plays a gunsmith and Stephan Boyd a mysterious man-in-black.
“Hannie Caulder” (1971) was made by a British company (Tigon), shot in Spain with an American main cast & Director (Burt Kennedy). As such this is essentially a Spaghetti Western even though Italians had nothing to do with it. However, it’s superior to the typical Italian oater from the period. Welch may not be the best actress, but she looks great here, especially early-on with her poncho. Meanwhile Culp provides capable assist with his acting chops and interesting character. Plus the coastal locations where the gunsmith lives are outstanding, reminiscent of “One-Eyed Jacks” (1961).
Unfortunately, the serious events are oddly offset by the bumbling trio of vicious villains who, evidently, were intended to work as comic relief, but don’t belong in the same picture. “Hannie Caulder” was remade-in-spirit as “6 Guns” by The Asylum in 2010. It’s just as good and arguably better since it omits the supposedly-amusing rogues angle.
The film runs 1 hour, 25 minutes, and was shot mostly in Almería, Andalucía, Spain.
GRADE: B-/B
