Blood at Sundown

{{Short description|1966 film by Alberto Cardone}} {{Infobox film | name = Blood at Sundown | image = Mille dollari sul nero.jpg | alt = | caption = | director = [[Alberto Cardone]] | producer = | writer = | screenplay = {{plainlist|*[[Ernesto Gastaldi]] * Vittorio Salerno * [[Rolf Olsen (actor)|Rolf Olsen]]<ref name="archivio">{{cite web|url=http://www.archiviodelcinemaitaliano.it/index.php/scheda.html?codice=AG1908|title=1000 dollari sul nero (1966)|language=Italian|website=Archvio del cinema Italiano|accessdate=September 22, 2018}}</ref>}} | story = {{plainlist|*Ernesto Gastaldi * Vittorio Salerno * Rolf Olsen<ref name="archivio" /> }} | based_on =  | starring = {{plainlist|*[[Anthony Steffen]] * [[Gianni Garko]] * [[Erika Blanc]] * [[Carlo D'Angelo]]}} | music = Michele Lacerenza<ref name="archivio" /> | cinematography = Gino Santini<ref name="archivio" /> | editing = Romeo Ciatti<ref name="archivio" /> | studio = {{plainlist|* Metheus Film * [[Lisa Film]]<ref name="archivio" />}} | distributor = Indipendenti Regionali<ref name="archivio" /> | released = {{Film date|df=yes|1966|12|18|Italy}} | runtime = | country = {{plainlist|*Italy * West Germany<ref name="filmportal">{{cite web|url=https://www.filmportal.de/en/movie/sartana_ea43d4a721c45006e03053d50b37753d|publisher=[[Filmportal.de]]|title=Sartana|accessdate=September 22, 2018|language=German}}</ref>}} | language = | budget = | gross = }} '''''Blood at Sundown''''' ([[German language|German]]: '''''Sartana'''''; {{langx|it|1000 dollari sul nero|lit=''1000 dollars on the black''}}) is a [[Spaghetti Western]] film directed by [[Alberto Cardone]]. The film is notable as the primary inspiration for the [[Sartana|''Sartana'' film series]], starring [[Gianni Garko]] as an [[antihero]]ic incarnation of the villainous character he previously portrayed in ''Blood at Sundown''.

==Plot== Johnny Liston heads back to his hometown after 12 years in jail, during which time his ruthless brother Sartana (Garko) has taken over control of the town. Johnny is determined to battle Sartana and bring him to justice.

==Cast== * [[Anthony Steffen]] as Johnny Liston * [[Gianni Garko]] as Sartana Liston (as John Garko) * [[Erika Blanc]] as Joselita Rogers * [[Carlo D'Angelo]] as Judge Waldorf (as Charles of Angel) * [[Sieghardt Rupp]] as Ralph * [[Roberto Miali]] as Jerry Holt (as Jerry Wilson) * [[Carla Calò]] as Rhonda Liston (as Carrol Brown) * [[Angelica Ott]] as Mary * [[Daniela Igliozzi]] as Manuela Holt * [[Franco Fantasia]] as Sheriff * [[Gianni Solaro]] as Forrester * [[Chris Howland]] as Doodle Kramer * [[Gino Marturano]] as Man in bar * [[Sal Borgese]] as Mexican in bar * [[Ettore Arena]] * [[Mario Dionisi]]

==Release== ''Blood at Sundown'' was released in Italy as ''1000 dollari sul nero'' on 18 December 1966.<ref name="filmportal" />

==Legacy== {{further|Sartana}} The character of Sartana proved to be so popular that when ''Blood at Sundown'' was released in [[Germany]], it was re-titled to simply ''Sartana''.{{sfn|Grant|2011|p=255}} On noting the film's success, Italian producer [[Aldo Addobbati]] and a German producer wanted Garko to continue making films as the Sartana character, but as a hero rather than a villain, with the actor accepting a contract to star as Sartana in several [[Spaghetti Western]] films, with a clause granting him script approval;{{sfn|Grant|2011|p=255}} looking to portray a different type of character compared to those he had played in ''[[Ten Thousand Dollars for a Massacre]]'' and ''[[Vengeance Is Mine (1967 film)|Vengeance Is Mine]]'', which were not very popular with audiences, Garko turned down several scripts with a [[Revenge|vengeance]] theme, before accepting one by [[Renato Izzo]] envisioning Sartana as a smart, non-sentimental character that profits by putting himself between two rival groups, which would become ''[[If You Meet Sartana Pray for Your Death]]''.{{sfn|Grant|2011|p=255}}<ref name="SartanaCycle">{{Cite magazine|title='A First Class Pall-bearer!': The Sartana/Sabata Cycle in Spaghetti Westerns|last=Fridlund|first=Bert|year=2008|magazine=[[Film International]]|volume=6|issue=3}}</ref>{{sfn|Curti|2018|p=18}}<ref>{{cite interview|last=Garko|first=Gianni|subject-link=Gianni Garko|interviewer=Inga Seyric|title=Interview with Gianni Garko|work=If You Meet Sartana Pray for Your Death DVD|publisher=Wild East Productions|year=2005}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

===Works cited=== * {{Cite AV media notes |title=The Complete Sartana |year=2018 |chapter=If You Meet Sartana... |last=Curti |first=Roberto |type=Booklet |publisher=Arrow Video |id=FCD1762 / AV151}} * {{cite book |last=Grant |first=Kevin |title=Any Gun Can Play |year=2011 |publisher=[[Fab Press]] |ISBN=9781903254615}}

==External links== * {{IMDb title}} * [http://www.spaghettiwestern.altervista.org/garko.htm Spaghetti Western database] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080830012655/http://www.spaghettiwestern.altervista.org/garko.htm |date=2008-08-30 }}

[[Category:1966 films]] [[Category:West German films]] [[Category:1966 Italian-language films]] [[Category:1966 Western (genre) films]] [[Category:Spaghetti Western films]] [[Category:Films directed by Alberto Cardone]] [[Category:Films shot in Almería]] [[Category:Films with screenplays by Ernesto Gastaldi]] [[Category:1966 Italian films]]