They Call Me Hallelujah

They Call Me Hallelujah

Original Title: Testa t'ammazzo, croce... sei morto! Mi chiamano Alleluja

AKA: Heads You Die... Tails I Kill You / Deep West

Genre: Spaghetti Western

Director: Giuliano Carnimeo
Year: 1971

A Yankee gunman, Hallelujah, is hired by Mexican Juarista, General Ramirez to confiscate a case of jewels to fund the revolution. For this, Hallelujah will receive a percentage. But other parties are interested in the case and when they turn out to be fakes, it all deteriorates into a cat and mouse style game with Hallelujah, gunrunners, the French, and a Russian outlaw(!) all searching for the real jewels.

George Hilton: Smooth criminal

They Call Me Hallelujah is a indifferent yet entertaining Western with comedic elements. It stars George Hilton who is wonderful as the character named Allelujah. He plays it in the kind of way Harrison Fold plays Indiana Jones, always one step ahead of his enemies using all kinds of inventive ways to get one over people whilst in sticky situations. The violence is light-hearted in fun kind of way & never feels dangerous. The tone of the film suits Hilton's character very well & director Giuliano Carnimeo uses some unusual shots that keep the film visually appealing. Unfortunately the script probably lets the film down a little, there's too many twists & too many characters. A film which certainly would of benefited from a more simplified plot. 

Overall it is a mixed bag, yet the action scenes and Hilton alone are enough to make it worthwhile. Though Giuliano Carnimeo's A Bullet for a Stranger (which came out the same year & tonally is very similar) is probably worth seeking out before this.

Rating: ★★★