Navajo Joe *** (1966, Burt Reynolds, Aldo Sambrell, Nicoletta Machiavelli, Fernando Rey) – Classic Movie Review 13,895

Burt Reynolds stars as a Navajo Indian who takes on the bandits who killed his tribe, in director Sergio Corbucci’s lusty, action-packed 1966 spaghetti Western film Navajo Joe.

Burt Reynolds stars as the titular Navajo Indian, the sole survivor of a bloody massacre, who vows revenge on the group of scalp-hunting bandits responsible for killing his wife and the rest of his tribe, in director Sergio Corbucci’s lusty, action-packed 1966 spaghetti Western film Navajo Joe.

The highlight is Ennio Morricone’s absolutely brilliant and totally crazy title theme, later known from the 1999 film Election, and score, including ‘Silhouette of Doom’, reused as a crucial theme in Kill Bill Vol 2.

The powerful vocalist Gianna Spagnulo is a highlight of the score. The backing chorus is Cantori Moderni (Modern Singers) led by Alessandro Alessandroni.

It is shot in Almería, Andalucía, Spain, at Mini Hollywood, Tabernas, and the Desierto de Tabernas.

Burt Reynolds was lucky to land the role at the time. Producer Dino De Laurentiis cast Reynolds because he felt he resembled Marlon Brando whom he had promised as star to Sergio Corbucci.

Clint Eastwood introduced his friend Reynolds to De Laurentiis, who was looking for an actor who could do his own stunts. Reynolds went to Italy in April 1966. He recalled: ‘The only thing today for an American actor is to go to Europe for $350,000, crinkle up the film, jump up and down a couple of times and you’ve got it made.’

Reynolds said the Italian crew did not know what ‘real Indians’ looked like and that his wig made him look like Natalie Wood. The physical aspects of the role did not worry him, but his costumes did. He added: ‘Of course when you play a half-breed you have to be stoic – and you can’t get funky – and you have to have a deep voice. Apparently there are no Indians with high voices. And you have to shave your arms all the time. It’s easy to get the left but just try and reach the right.’

Reynolds said the film was ‘so awful it was only shown in prisons and airplanes because nobody could leave. I killed ten thousand guys, wore a Japanese slingshot and a fright wig.’

The cast are Burt Reynolds as Joe, Aldo Sambrell [Alfredo Sánchez Brell] as Mervyn ‘Vee’ Duncan, Nicoletta Machiavelli as Estella, Fernando Rey as Father Rattigan, Tanya Lopert as Maria, Franca Polesello as Barbara, Lucia Modugno as Geraldine, Peter Cross as Dr Chester Lynne, Roberto Paoletti as Sheriff Johnson, Nino Imparato as Chuck Holloway, Lucio Rosato as Jeffrey Duncan, Valeria Sabel as Hannah Lynne, Mario Lanfranchi as Jefferson Clay, Angel Alvarez as Oliver Blackwood, Rafael Albaicin as Mexican scalphunter, Lorenzo Robledo as Robledo, Álvaro de Luna as Sancho Ramirez, Duncan Gang Member, Valentino Macchi as Gringo Scalphunter, Maria Cristina Sani as Joe’s Wife, Gianni di Stolfo as Sheriff Elmo Reagan, Simon Arriga as Monkey. Cris Huerta as El Gordo, Angel Ortiz as El Cojo, Roderick Auguste as Ciudadano, Dianick [Dyanik Zurakowska] as Swedish settler.

Sergio Corbucci directed sword and sandal movies beginning with 1961’s Goliath and the Vampires and Duel of the Titans [Romolo e Remo], but later was one of the mainstays of 1960s and 1970s Spaghetti Westerns. His most notable films include the original Django (1966), Navajo Joe, The Great Silence, The Mercenary, and Compañeros.

Corbucci said he made ‘European Westerns the way they like them over here. Plenty of action. Little talk.’

It is also known as Savage Run (US), Joe, el implacable (Spain), An seinen Stiefeln klebte Blut (West Germany), Joe, o Pistoleiro Implacável (Brazil), En dollar pr. hoved (Denmark), Navajo Joe – 1 dollari päänahasta (Finland).

Aldo Sambrell is best known as henchmen in Sergio Leone’s Spaghetti Western films A Fistful of Dollars (1964), For a Few Dollars More (1965), The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966) and Once Upon a Time in the West (1968). Sergio Leone was his best man at his wedding in 1964.

© Derek Winnert 2026 – Classic Movie Review 13,895

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