God's Gun
"Two Brothers... One Took the Cross... The Other Took the Gun."
Priest turned vigilante Father John hunts down a gang of criminals, led by Sam Clayton, who killed a man in a local bar. On the gang's return to the town, they kill the priest, leaving a young parishioner Johnny behind. He now seeks revenge for the death of the holy man.
Curator's Take
“Jack Palance and Lee Van Cleef together should be amazing, but this is a strange, disjointed movie. Worth watching just for the star power and some truly bizarre editing choices.”
Why This Movie Is Important
A polarizing but fascinating film from the genre's twilight years. Seeing legends like Lee Van Cleef and Jack Palance in a lower-budget setting gives it a melancholic meta-textual quality. It serves as an artifact of the industry's decline, struggling to recapture the magic of the golden age but still possessing a strange, compelling atmosphere.
Production Details
God's Gun is a 1976 action and western film directed by Gianfranco Parolini. Originally released in Italy under the title "Diamante Lobo", the film was produced during the golden era of European westerns. The film features a score composed by Sante Maria Romitelli. Cinematography was handled by Sandro Mancori. The film stars Lee Van Cleef as Father John / Lewis, Jack Palance as Sam Clayton, and Richard Boone as The Sheriff. Running 1 hour and 37 minutes, it is a well-paced entry in the genre.
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Did You Know?
Lee Van Cleef plays a dual role: a priest and his twin brother, a gunfighter. The wig used for the 'gunfighter' brother was reportedly the same one used by Jack Palance in another film.
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