Sergio Martino’s Underrated Western Masterpiece

Director Sergio Martino is a cult favorite among fans of Italian horror, having directed such classics as Torso, Your Vice is a Locked Room and Only I Have the Key, and The Case of the Scorpion’s Tale. But he has dabbled in other genres as well, albeit to varying degrees of success. In fact, Martino made two westerns in his career as a director Arizona Colt, Hired Gun and Mannaja (aka A Man Called Blade). I’m a huge fan of spaghetti westerns, and the latter of those two is actually one of my all-time favorites. For some reason, I don’t see a lot of people talking about this one, especially when describing the best spaghetti westerns. But since it’s one of my favorites, I’d like to talk about it here.

The film is about a bounty hunter known as Blade in the English version, but called Mannaja in the credits, as well as the Italian dub. The mayor of a mining town called Suttonville hires the title character to rescue his daughter who has been kidnapped by a band of outlaws, along with his business associate. But the plot thickens, as not only is said associate in league with the outlaws, but the mayor was partially responsible for the death of Blade’s father.

One thing I love about Mannaja is the atmosphere. The opening scene takes place in a swamp, and both characters featured in that scene (Blade himself and his prospective bounty) are covered in mud. The whole opening is shrouded in fog, and it’s all incredibly ominous and atmospheric. You can definitely see Martino’s horror roots shining through. Blade feels very mythic in this opening, and when his face is finally revealed as the theme song begins, you’re instantly suckered in. The theme song, written by Guido and Fabrizio De Angelis, is very simple, but it’s very moody and somber. It gives the opening credits (which play over scenes of Blade leading his bounty across the plains) a very epic feel.

The titular hero is played by Italian action movie veteran Maurizio Merli, who starred in numerous cop thrillers, but also did a few westerns in his lifetime before tragically dying in 1989 at the age of only 49. In addition to bearing a strong resemblance to spaghetti western legend Franco Nero (star of Django and Keoma), he also had that perfect “lone gunman” quality to him that made him ideal for the role of Blade. The villain of the picture, Valler, is played by character actor John Steiner. Despite being English, Steiner is best known for the films he made in Italy, ranging from horror movies to war movies, and even appearing in Tinto Brass’s infamous Caligula. He is absolutely phenomenal is this film, with his steely gaze and sinister smirk, and he’s just clearly having the time of his life. Another noteworthy performance comes from Donald O’Brien as Burt Craven, Blade’s bounty from the movie’s opening who later reappears during the third act. He manages to steal most of his scenes with his infectious energy.

I’m a big fan of slightly bloodier westerns, such as The Wild Bunch or The Great Silence. This film also has no problem getting a bit more gruesome than many other westerns, and that’s a major selling point for me. The old west was a vicious period in American history, and I love when cinematic depictions of such an era don’t hold back. The whole reason the main character is called “Blade” is that he fights primarily with a hatchet, in addition to the traditional six-shooter, so you’re gonna see a couple people get an ax imbedded into their person. In fact, Mannaja is actually the Italian word for ax. There’s also an awesome segment in which two events are taking place simultaneously: a bloody shootout and a performance by a traveling troupe of dancers. The scene features clips of both events being intercut, going back and forth between the two. It’s a really cool, somewhat darkly comic scene, and it’s one of the highlights of the film.

Sergio Martino’s Mannaja (A Man Called Blade) is an underappreciated spaghetti western gem that deserves much more visibility. It’s violent, exciting, quirky, atmospheric, and just damn fun. Merli and Steiner are a perfect hero-villain match, and the decidedly dirty environment provides them with an excellent playground. If you love spaghetti westerns like I do, track this one down. It’s awesome!