Day of Anger

{{short description|1967 film by Tonino Valerii}} {{for|the "Day of Anger" in Egypt|2011 Egyptian protests}} {{Infobox film | name = Day of Anger | image = Day-of-anger-italian-poster.jpg | caption = Italian [[film poster]] | director = [[Tonino Valerii]] | producer = Alfonso Sansone Henryk Chrosicki | screenplay = [[Ernesto Gastaldi]] Tonino Valerii Renzo Genta | based_on = ''Der Tod ritt dienstags'' by Rolf Becker {{small|(as Ron Barker)}} | starring = [[Lee Van Cleef]] [[Giuliano Gemma]] [[Walter Rilla]] [[Christa Linder]] | music = [[Riz Ortolani]] | cinematography = [[Enzo Serafin]] | editing = [[Franco Fraticelli]] | studio = Sancrosiap Corona Filmproduktion Divina-Film | distributor = Consorzio Italiano Distributori Indipendenti Film (CIDIF) | released = {{Film date|df=yes|1967|12|19|Italy|1968|1|12|West Germany}} | runtime = 114 minutes | country = {{plainlist|*Italy *West Germany<ref name="filmportal" />}} | language = | budget = | gross = [[Italian lira|₤]]1.977 billion }} '''''Day of Anger''''' ({{langx|it|I giorni dell'ira}} {{IPA|it|i ˈdʒorni delˈliːra|}}, lit. "The Days of Wrath") is a 1967 [[Spaghetti Western]] film directed and co-written by [[Tonino Valerii]] and starring [[Lee Van Cleef]] and [[Giuliano Gemma]], and features a musical score by [[Riz Ortolani]].<ref>Hughes, p.91</ref> The film credits the novel ''Der Tod ritt dienstags'' ("Death Rode on Tuesdays") by Ron Barker (Rolf O. Becker) as its basis, although Valerii and screenwriter [[Ernesto Gastaldi]] have attested that this credit was primarily included to appease the [[West Germany|West German]] co-producers, and that although some scenes are partially borrowed from it, the film is not an adaptation of Becker's novel.<ref>{{cite web | title=Day of Anger | work=[[DVD Talk]] | url=http://www.dvdtalk.com/dvdsavant/s616anger.html | access-date=2007-04-13}}</ref><ref name="Blu-ray">{{cite video| title = Day of Anger (Interview with Screenwriter Ernesto Gastaldi)| medium = Blu-ray| publisher = [[Arrow Films]]| location = Hertfordshire, UK| date = 1967}}</ref>

''Day of Anger'' was Valerii's second film, as well as his second Spaghetti Western, following ''[[Per il gusto di uccidere|Taste for Killing]]''. Valerii went on to film his third Spaghetti Western, ''[[The Price of Power]]'', also featuring Gemma, in 1969. The 86" version was released on home media as ''Days of Wrath''.

==Plot== Scott is a young man working as a [[street sweeper]] in the town of Clifton, [[Arizona]]. Scott is looked down upon by the town people, as he has never known his father and only knows his mother's first name was Mary. The only two people who show him respect and friendship are Murph Allan Short, a former gunslinger, and Blind Bill, a partially blind old beggar. When Frank Talby rides into town and kills Perkins, one of Scott's bullies, Scott realizes the opportunity to change his life, and decides to prove his worth as a [[gunfighter]] to him. Talby soon leaves town to go after Wild Jack, his former associate, who owes him 50,000 dollars of a planned robbery. Scott follows him and Talby reluctantly lets him tag along and agrees to teach him ten essential rules about gunfighting.

Talby and Scott find Wild Jack, but the criminal tells the pair that he does not have the money anymore, as he was double-crossed by a group of Clifton's most seemingly respectable citizens, the same citizens who despised and mistreated Scott. A gunfight ensues and Scott manages to convince Talby of his skills with a [[revolver]]. After taking care of Wild Jack's gang, the pair return to Clifton, where Scott changes his name to "Scott Mary", after Talby's suggestion. Scott showcases his shooting skills to those who resented him, and quickly becomes a feared man.

With Scott's help Talby takes over the town, killing first Perkins' gang and later the inner circle who runs Clifton and conspired to kill Talby when he revealed their dirty secret. Talby becomes the ''[[de facto]]'' town manager and Scott his second-in-command. Nevertheless, Scott's old friend Murph, who taught Scott how to shoot, explains to Scott that his [[Fast draw|fast draw and accuracy]] has now become a threat to Talby, who is aging and wants to settle in Clifton. Soon after, Murph takes the [[Sheriffs in the United States|Sheriff's badge]] and [[Gun prohibition|forbids the carrying of guns]]. Scott warns Talby not to mess with his former mentor, but Talby obliquely says that he won't back down.

Murph knows that he can't defeat Talby in a duel, but he still decides to face him, as he also knows that in doing so Scott will finally realize that Talby and his ruthless ways are not Scott's true path. When Murph comes to take Talby's gun with Scott watching, Talby shoots and kills him in cold blood. Accordingly, Scott flees in anger and decides to settle things in a shoot-out. Scott finds that Murph left him famous gunfighter [[Doc Holliday]]'s gun, adjusted for quick fire, as well as some instructions on how to defeat Talby. Scott defeats Talby's gang by taking advantage of the rules Talby once taught him, and then kills Talby in an open [[duel]]. Triumphant but despondent, Scott discards his gun and walks away from the scene of the duel with Blind Bill.

==Cast== {{col div}} * [[Giuliano Gemma]] as Scott Mary * [[Lee Van Cleef]] as Frank Talby * [[Walter Rilla]] as Murph Allan Short * [[Andrea Bosic]] as Abel Murray * [[Al Mulock]] as Wild Jack * [[Lukas Ammann]] as Judge Cutcher * [[Anna Orso]] as Eileen Cutcher * [[Ennio Balbo]] as Turner * [[José Calvo|Pepe Calvo]] as Blind Bill * [[Christa Linder]] as Gwen * Giorgio Gargiullo as Sheriff Nigel * [[Yvonne Sanson]] as Vivien Skill * [[Benito Stefanelli]] as Owen White * [[Franco Balducci]] as Slim * Paolo Magalotti as Deputy Cross * Ferruccio Viotti as Sam Corbitt * [[Romano Puppo]] as Hart Perkins * [[Vladimir Medar]] as Old Man Perkins * [[Ricardo Palacios]] as Bowie Bartender * [[Nazzareno Natale]] as Wild Jack's Henchman * [[Román Ariznavarreta]] as Wild Jack's Henchman * Virgilio Gazzolo as Mr. Barton * Eleonora Morana as Mrs. Barton * [[Fulvio Mingozzi]] as Bank Teller * Giancarlo Bastianoni as Talby's Henchman * Angelo Susani as Talby's Henchman * Nino Nini as Doctor Cullen * [[Karl-Otto Alberty|Hans Otto Alberty]] as Blonde Deputy with Harmonica * Omero Capanna as Perkins' Henchman {{col div end}} '''Source:<ref name="Blu-ray 2">{{cite video| title = Day of Anger (Booklet)| medium = Blu-ray| publisher = [[Arrow Films]]| location = Hertfordshire, UK| date = 1967}}</ref>'''

==Release== ''Day of Anger'' was released in Italy on December 19, 1967 and in Germany on January 12, 1968.<ref name="filmportal">{{cite web|url=http://www.filmportal.de/en/movie/der-tod-ritt-dienstags_ea43d4a73ab75006e03053d50b37753d|publisher=Filmportal.de|title=Der Tod ritt dienstags|access-date=February 16, 2015|language=German}}</ref> Westerns were especially popular in Italy in 1967.<ref name="aeaf-15">{{Cite AV media notes | title = Day of Anger: Angel Eyes Meets Angel Face | year = 2015 | page = 15 | author = Hughes, Howard | type = booklet | publisher = [[Arrow Films]] | id = AV004 }}</ref> Among the top 15 films of the year, eight were Westerns.<ref name="aeaf-15" /> The highest-grossing film of the year was ''[[God Forgives... I Don't!]]''; the second was ''Day of Anger'' which grossed a total of 1,997,440,000 [[Italian lire]] domestically.<ref name="aeaf-15" />{{sfn|Curti|2016|p=195}}{{sfn|Curti|2016|p=49}} The Italian board of censors rated ''Day of Anger'' as V.M.14, meaning it was forbidden to audiences under 14 years of age.{{sfn|Curti|2016|p=49}} In February 1968, Sansone and Chrosicki submitted another version of the film cutting it down to 111 minutes and 11 seconds opposed to the originals 115 minutes and 18 seconds which toned the violent scenes which passed with a "Per Tutti" rating allowing it to be viewed by all audiences.{{sfn|Curti|2016|p=49}}

''Day of Anger'' opened in the United States in 1969 with two different versions: a longer one rated M and another one cut to 85 minutes which was re-titled ''The Days of Wrath'' and ''Gunlaw''.{{sfn|Curti|2016|p=49}}

===Home video=== ''Day of Anger'' was released on DVD and Blu-ray by [[Arrow Video]] on March 31, 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://arrowvideodeck.blogspot.ca/2015/05/arrow-video-usa-release-calendar.html|publisher=[[Arrow Films]]|title=Arrow Video USA Release Calendar |date=20 May 2015 |access-date=September 13, 2016}}</ref> ''[[Video Watchdog]]'' commented that the release was "a substantial improvement over the older "PAL-converted, non-anamorphic release"<ref name="watchdog">{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Video Watchdog]]|title=Day of Anger|date=November 2015|issue=180|pages=12–13|last=Charles|first=John}}</ref> and that "The 2K scanned 2.35:1 presentation looks spotless and extremely sharp, with nicely saturated colors and excellent detail."<ref name="watchdog" />

The release includes a shorter (by 28 minutes) cut of the film distributed internationally, and was described by ''Video Watchdog'' as "a poor re-edit of the movie that all but ruins it."<ref name="watchdog" /> The ''Day of Wrath'' version includes one extra scene not in the longer version of the film.<ref name="watchdog" /> The review concluded that it "may be welcomed by [completists], but we would recommend avoiding it."<ref name="watchdog" />

==Reception== In contemporary reviews, the ''[[Monthly Film Bulletin]]'' stated that "Until about halfway through this is a quite likable variation on an old Western theme." but that as Talby's involvement in the story becomes less prominent, "plot interest wanes" and "as credibility takes off into wish-fulfilment and interest dwindles to vanishing point".<ref name="day-of-anger">{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Monthly Film Bulletin]]|title=Giorni dell' Ira, I (Day of Anger)|page=128|volume=37|issue=432|year=1970|publisher=[[British Film Institute]]}}</ref> [[Roger Greenspun]] (''[[The New York Times]]'') found the film to be "strange and muddled [...] very long and mostly boring, depending for its plot upon notions of class and caste that seem foreign to the genre if not to real history."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9E0CEFD61038E336A05756C0A9649D946190D6CF|work=[[The New York Times]]|title=Screen::City Under Sea|date=December 5, 1970|first=Roger|last=Greenspun|authorlink=Roger Greenspun|access-date=September 18, 2016}}</ref> "Robe." of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' found the film to give Lee Van Cleef "a bit more character than the Italo-Western usually provides" and that "technical credits are generally excellent with one of those Riz Ortolani scores which he must grind out overnight" eventually concluding that the film was "No better, no worse, than predecessors"<ref name="variety-book">{{cite book|title=Variety's Film Reviews 1968-1970|volume=12|publisher=R. R. Bowker|isbn=0-8352-2792-8|year=1983|at=There are no page numbers in this book. This entry is found under the header "November 5, 1969"}}</ref>

From retrospective reviews, in his investigation of narrative structures in [[Spaghetti Western]] films, Fridlund ranges ''Day of Anger'', together with ''[[Death Rides a Horse]]'' as prime examples of a "tutorship variation" that further develops the play on age/experience between the protagonists in ''[[For a Few Dollars More]]'', with [[Lee Van Cleef]] playing the older partner in all three films. In the "Tutorship" films a younger protagonist seeks the more or less reluctant partnership of an older one, but differences of motivation eventually bring them into conflict.<ref>Fridlund, Bert: ''The Spaghetti Western. A Thematic Analysis''. Jefferson, NC and London: McFarland & Company Inc., 2006 pp. 165-7.</ref> [[Kim Newman]] (''[[Sight & Sound]]'') noted that the film "unusually combines the mythic characterisation frequently found in the genre with a more nuanced, complicated vision of society and violence." and that Gemma's character of Scott is "a rare spaghetti-western hero with a character arc" and that the ending is "deeply ambiguous". <ref name="day-of-anger2">{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Sight & Sound]]|title=Day of Anger|page=96|volume=25|issue=6|date=June 2015|publisher=British Film Institute|last=Newman|first=Kim|authorlink=Kim Newman}}</ref> Newman commented on the secondary characters as "all thing archetypes" but that Gemma, Van Cleef and Rilla are "impressive."<ref name="day-of-anger2" />

==Bibliography== * {{cite book|last=Hughes|first=Howard|title=Spaghetti Westerns|publisher=Kamera Books|year=2010|isbn=978-1-84243-303-4 |location=Harpenden}} * {{cite book|last=Curti|first=Robert|title=Tonino Valerii: The Films|publisher=McFarland|year=2016|isbn=978-1476664682}}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * {{IMDb title|0061709}}

[[Category:1967 films]] [[Category:German Western (genre) films]] [[Category:West German films]] [[Category:1967 Italian-language films]] [[Category:Spaghetti Western films]] [[Category:1960s buddy films]] [[Category:1967 Western (genre) films]] [[Category:Films directed by Tonino Valerii]] [[Category:Films scored by Riz Ortolani]] [[Category:Italian buddy films]] [[Category:Italian films about revenge]] [[Category:Films based on German novels]] [[Category:Films shot in Almería]] [[Category:Films with screenplays by Ernesto Gastaldi]] [[Category:1967 Italian films]] [[Category:1967 German films]] [[Category:Films set in Arizona]] [[Category:Clifton, Arizona]]