May God Forgive You... But I Won't (1968) User Reviews

Well shot in Almeria and starred by various Spaghetti Western stars : Ardisson , Ghidra , Martell and Sanchez

[ma-cortes · 6/10 · 1 September 2022]

Chiedi perdono a Dio... non a me(1968) , this is a sequel to Cjamango (1967) by Edoardo Mulargia starred by Ivan Rassimov ; dealing with Cjamango (George Ardisson) he's away from his ranch when six cutthroats attack and murder all the members of his family . When MacDonald family is killed , disrupted by this tragedy Cjmango sets out to take his vendetta . Cjamango hunts down the murderers in this typical vengeance story . One by one he kills the bandits and learns along the way who's the true killer : the Smart Brothers : Jack Smart (Peter Martell) and his is older brother Dick Smart (Anthony Ghidra as Dick Smart, this name is the same as an Eurospy movie directed by Francesco Prosperi in 1967) who gets a lot of henchmen together now and pursues Cjamango . Before, Barrica (Pedro Sanchez) from a hill watched how the heinous killers carried out the gruesome slaughter , so he helps Cjamango in exchange for the bounty reward. For money, for pleasure, for revenge , he doesn't care why he kills or how ¡ .

This is a simple and plain story about typical Spaghetti plot , as a slaughter and atrocity takes place , then Cjmango executes a single-handedly revenge , as he slashes , burns , ravages and kills each person involved in the massacre . It is plenty of action in the movie , guaranteeing shootouts or stunts every few minutes .It is an exciting western with breathtaking showdown between the tough protagonist George Ardisson and the nasty enemy , villain Anthony Ghidra and his gun-toting hoodlums . Ardisson is fine but very serious , as he ravages the screen , he jumps , leaps, hits and runs ; besides receiving violent punches , kicks , lashes and strong tortures . Stars George Ardisson (1931-2014) as a two-fisted , trigger-happy gunslinger who's relentless in his vendetta , deadly in his violence . He used to play Spaghetti Westerns , Peplum and especially Euro-spy sub-genre , known for Agente S3(1965), As de pic , Operation Contraespionage , Hércules in the haunted world , Django defies Sartana, Erik the Conqueror , Gold of the Bravados , he was a second-class actor , here enjoying as a merciless revenger . Co-stars Yugoslavian actor Dragomir Bojanic-Gidra or Anthony Ghidra who starred various Spaghetti Westerns , and , another known face : Peter Martell and adding special mention for Pedro Sanchez who used to play similar roles to Fernando Sancho , here he performs a bounty hunter who helps our starring in exchange for the reward , to take the price on the heads of most outlaws wanted dead or alive .

There are many fine technicians and nice assistant direction and adequate production design , it benefits from spectacular outdoors shot on location in Desert of Tabernas, Almeria , Spain , creating an excellent scenario withwith breathtaking chases and go riding through the barren outdoors , dirty landscapes under a glimmer sun with appropriate sets . The musician Felice Di Stefano , composes a nice soundtrack and well conducted ; it's full of Spaghetti sounds in Ennio Morricone style. Striking and colorful cinematography by cameraman Mario Manzini. The motion picture was professionally produced and directed by Spaghetti expert Vincenzo Musolino . In fact , his career expanded in Pasta Western genre , producing six Spaghetti Westerns : Quintana , Chiedi perdono a Dio... non a me , Non aspettare Django, spara , Cjamango , Vete con Dios, gringo and Why Kill Again? Or And Stop the Slayings. And he directed two of them : Quintana and Chiedi perdono a Dio... non a me (1968). Rating : 6/10 . Acceptable and passable Spaghetti . The picture will appeal to aficionados .

Cjamango vs the Smart Brothers

[unbrokenmetal · 5/10 · 17 December 2008]

Old MacDonald had a farm... and a son called Cjamango (Django in some dubbed versions). When MacDonald is killed, Cjamango (George Ardisson) hunts down the murderers in a typical revenge story. Jack Smart (Peter Martell) drinks too much, doesn't live up to his name and is killed quickly. His older brother Dick (Anthony Ghidra) gets a lot of men together now and chases Cjamango. Barrica (Pedro Sanchez) knows that there is a price on the heads of most pursuers, so in exchange for the bounty money, he helps Cjamango. After the courteous exchange of various brutalities between Cjamango and the smarter Smart brother, Cjamango remembers a friend of his father owns a machine gun from the civil war. Guess what? The first 30 minutes are not very encouraging to watch the rest, especially since the camera work is a bit static, but as soon as Cjamango meets the main villains, the action becomes a bit more lively (or rather, deadly), and in the end you get a typical, violent genre movie, not more than average but not less either. Some locations are familiar from "For A Few Dollars More", by the way.

Watchable, but stilted

[thomayre · 6/10 · 13 April 2024]

Right off the bat, the title of "God May Forgive, But I Won't" sets a deliciously dramatic tone that promises gunslinging and grudges, and it doesn't disappoint. The film, a lesser-known Spaghetti Western from 1968, delivers on its name with a delightful use of its own title in a pivotal moment-an absolute treat for any cinephile.

George Ardisson stars as the stoic Cjamango McDonald, bringing a performance that, unfortunately, lacks the depth and versatility one might hope for. Comparatively, he makes Anthony Steffen seem like a master of subtlety, which is saying something. Despite Ardisson's wooden delivery, the film manages to hold the viewer's interest thanks to a more convincingly portrayed Mexican antagonist played by Ignazio Spalla and the reliable Gidra, who adds a touch of quality to whatever scene he graces.

The storyline itself is a bit of a hodgepodge, typical of revenge-themed narratives but with enough twists to keep it engaging. I never once felt the urge to switch off; the pacing and energy somehow keep you hooked, curious to see how the tangled paths of vengeance will unravel.

Visually, the film doesn't reach the artistic heights of the genre's best, but the cinematography is more than competent.

In summary, while "God May Forgive, But I Won't" might not be a masterpiece, it's a watchable entry into the Spaghetti Western canon. If you can get past some stiff performances, you might just find yourself enjoying this rough-around-the-edges tale of retribution.

Mainly for die hard fans

[Wizard-8 · 23 April 2013]

It becomes pretty clear a few times in this spaghetti western that it was trying to ape the original "Django" movie, not just for the fact the hero in this movie has a name similar to "Django". That didn't concern me that much, especially since for the most part the movie seems to be trying to do its own thing. The movie does have some interest here and there - a good musical score, a story that goes in a few unexpected areas, and a decent action climax. But the movie has some significant problems. One of the main problems is that the motivations of some key characters remains vague or simply not explained at all. Another problem is that the movie unfolds at a somewhat slower pace than you usually get for a revenge western. Fans of spaghetti westerns will probably get enough enjoyment out of it, though it isn't one that should be actively sought out.

Somewhat watchable despite a common theme

[jordondave-28085 · 6/10 · 19 December 2023]

(1968) May God Forgive You...I Won't/ Chiedi perdono a Dio... non a me DUBBED SPAGHETTI WESTERN

Produced, written and directed by Glenn Vincent Davis. It opens with Cjamango McDonald (George Ardisson) seeing his dad, sister and brother off, while he was heading into town to finish paying off for a piece of paper. That piece of paper we find out later is to the deed of the MacDonald's property. And although both Cjamango and Virginia Stuart (Cristina Iosani) are attracted to one another, both of their families would not approve of of their relationship. After stopping by at the bank he was just heading toward to see Virginia's father for the final payment to obtain the deed. While this was happening, six gunmen entered into the property, shooting and killing Cjamango's dad, sister and brother. And as soon as the gun men leave the MacDonald's property, they are seen from a distance with a guy looking through a telescope. By the time Cjamango comes back and finds them dead, he goes to obtain that deed from Virginia's father, Stuart (Luigi Pavese), before he takes off again. It was at this point, the guy who witnessed the killing chases after Cjamango, and introduces himself as Garcia Ramirez (Ignazio Spalla) or for short Barrica. And Barrica wants to help him, as we find out later that his motive was for money since the men who who did it were wanted men, and appear to have bounty on their heads. The first three were easy kills, as he succeeds in drawing first killing two in a saloon and another one in another Mexican village. However, before Cjamango kills the third person, he gives him two names he never expected to hear about- the names of "Smart" and "Stuart". It is only when he crosses paths with Dick Smart (Anthony Ghidra) is when his plans of revenge become complicated. When Cjamango succeeds in shooting Dick's brother, Jack Smart (Peter Martell) first before he does in a fair gun fight. Since Jack Smart is supposed to be quick on the draw with a $5,000 bounty on his head. Dick finds out about this, he and his 50 or so gunmen then head back to Stuart's ranch for the purpose of demanding for more money. Only to force him by the hand and his gun men to kill Stuart and take whatever money he could find. At the same time go after the person who gunned his brother down.

For a movie that is about a hour and a half, it is still quite watchable despite a common theme.

Ardisson out for vengeance.

[jameselliot-1 · 6/10 · 11 August 2019]

Standard violent revenge story. Ardisson was always good as an action man in the 60s and early 70s and who doesn't love Sanchez in his usual jovial roles? The use of music from Goldfinger unfortunately took me out of the story when it appeared. There's less female pulchritude than usual for a Euro western. Cristina Iosani's exotic and busty sex appeal, on display in Robert Woods' My Name Is Pecos, is covered up in long dresses here as she plays Ardisson's love interest. The Gatling gun sequence is loud but bloodless, like it is in most westerns and US TV shows with the exception of The Wild Bunch.

Above average pasta

[haskel-72951 · 9/10 · 12 August 2019]

Ardisson should have done more spags. He had the look and the chops to pull off the laconic protagonist. This film is a stark reminder of what might have been, as director Musolino passed away at a young age after making only two films (this being the better one). It is well made, with a style that reminds of Leone without completely ripping the master off.

This is a good one

[pmtelefon · 8/10 · 17 December 2023]

"May God Forgive You...But I Won't" is a rock solid spaghetti western. It's a good looking movie. It tells its story well and its action is well staged. George Ardisson does a nice job as the hero. The supporting cast also does a nice job. "May God Forgive You...But I Won't" does go off the rails once in a while but it quickly gets back on track. I've been watching a lot of spaghetti westerns these past couple of years. They are a hit or miss kind of thing. This movie goes on the plus side of the ledger. (IMDB has a six hundred character minimum so I have to ramble on a little bit longer. How was your day?)

Gritty But Entertaining Spaghetti Revenge Opera

[zardoz-13 · 8/10 · 27 October 2016]

"Quintana: Dead or Alive" writer & director Vincenzo Musolino's Spaghetti western "May God Forgive You . . ., I Won't" epitomizes the blood vengeance that the swift-shooting protagonist extracts from the gang of cold-blooded killers that massacred his defenseless family at the McDonald Ranch while he was away in town on an errand. George Ardisson is sufficiently rugged in both appearance and reputation as Cjamango (in the character's second film), and nothing thwarts this flinty hero in his quest for revenge. Before he learns about the massacre of his family, Cjamango goes to the devilish dastard who held the mortgage on the McDonald spread, Stuart (Luigi Pavese of "For A Few Dollars Less"), and paid the villainous jackal off. This doesn't prevent Stuart from hiring the Smart brothers and his gun-toting army to finish off Cjmango. Although Cjmango is invincible, he finds himself more often than not an underdog who must submit to an obstacle course of pain and suffering when he confronts the elder Smart, Dick Smart (Anthony Ghidra of "Hole in the Forehead") and his trigger-happy bunch of six-gun toting sadists. Our hero shows the murderers a black & white photograph of his family before he executes them. The first gunfight occurs in a saloon during a poker game. The second takes place in a private residence where our hero doesn't even give the villain a chance to defend himself and ultimately murders him. The third shootout transpires in another saloon with gunslinger Jack Smart (Peter Martell of "Long Days of Hate") wiping out three gunmen who challenge him. Not long afterward, Cjamango comes calling and blasts Jack off his feet. Musolino stages the gunfight with Jack standing at the top of a staircase and Cjamango below him on floor level. Naturally, genre stalwart Pancho Sanchez provides comic relief as Garcia Ramirez 'Barrica.' Basically, he claims the bodies of the dead men that Cjamango kills and turns them in for the reward money on their heads. Predictably, Cjamango undergoes torture at the hands of the elder Stuart. At one point, Stuart's henchmen gang up on our hero, repeatedly punch him out, and then force him to walk with ropes bound to each wrist. He escapes from his captors but putting his bound hands into a fire to burn his restraints away. Eventually, our hero escapes, and he finds himself a weapon to even up the odds against the Smart gunmen: a multi-barreled Gatling Gun.

As my synopsis indicates, "May God Forgive You . . ., I Won't" boasts all the key ingredients of a typical Italian western: revenge, a high body count, a blonde tough guy hero who is beaten and tortured by dastardly unrepentant villains, and a Gatling gun. Photographed in splendid widescreen by "Vengeance Is My Forgiveness" lenser Mario Mancini, this entertaining horse opera horse opera benefits not only from the strikingly cenic but austere Spanish terrain, but also Giovanni Fratalocchi's colorful art direction and Giovanni Fratalocchi's atmospheric set decoration. Mancini creates some interesting visuals with his use of Dutch-tilt angles, especially during the second attack on the McDonald ranch. Composer Felice Di Stefano's orchestral soundtrack is good, but sometimes—particularly during the first duel—what we hear are clips from John Barry's music from the James Bond thriller "Thunderball." Mancini's harsh lighting accentuates his flavorful oater. Clocking in at 86 minutes, Musolino stages several brisk and bloody shootouts that should please Spaghetti western plans.