Django Shoots First – Umbrella Entertainment (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Italy, 1966
Director: Alberto De Martino
Writers: Sandro Continenza, Massimiliano Capriccioli, Tito Carpi, Vincenzo Mannino, Giovanni Simonelli, Alberto De Martino
Cast: Glenn Saxson, Evelyn Stewart, Fernando Sancho, Nando Gazzolo, Guido Lollobrigida, Erika Blanc, Marcello Tusco, Valentino Macchi, Antonio Piretti, Alberto Lupo

Release Date: March 3rd, 2021
Approximate Running Time: 95 Minutes 35 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: M (Australia)
Sound: DTS-HD Mono Italian
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $18.00

"Django's father is framed by his business partner Clusker and shot by a bounty Killer. Django inherits his fathers part of the business and a score to settle with Clusker." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.25/5

Django Shoots First comes on a 25 GB single layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 22.6 GB

Feature: 22.5 GB

Though no information is provided about this transfer source, it is in great shape and free of any noticeable source-related damage. Colors and flesh tones look correct, the image looks crisp, black levels and compression are strong, and the image retains an organic look.

Audio: 4/5

This release comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD mono mix in Italian with removable English subtitles. The audio sounds clean, clear, and balanced. Range-wise, this track is satisfactory.

Extras:

Extras are limited to reversible cover art. 

Also, there is no menu.

Summary:

Django Shoots First was directed by Alberto De Martino, whose other notable films include Operation Kid Brother, Bandits in Rome, The Counselor, and The Antichrist. Alberto De Martino was a workmanlike filmmaker who worked in most film genres. His direction for Django Shoots First is evenhanded, albeit conventional. 

The score was composed by Bruno Nicolai, a frequent collaborator of Ennio Morricone and Jesús Franco. He delivers a solid score that is in line with his other Spaghetti Western scores.

Django Shoots First is yet another revenge-themed spaghetti western. The narrative revolves around a protagonist named Glenn Garvin, aka Django, whose father is framed by his business partner, who hired a bounty hunter to kill his father. From there, Glenn stirs up trouble as he exacts his revenge.

Though the cast includes several familiar faces to fans of European cult cinema, the performances are best described as serviceable. Notable cast members include Fernando Sancho, whose familiar face is familiar to spaghetti western fans, Evelyn Stewart (A White Dress for Marialé) in the role of the backstabbing businessman's wife, and Erika Blanc (The Night Evelyn Came Out of the Grave) in the role of a barmaid. The weakest link is Glenn Saxson (Kriminal) in the role of Glenn Garvin, aka Django.

From a production standpoint, Django Shoots First is a technically sound film on all fronts. And though the premise covers well-traveled ground, The result is an entertaining film that does a good job holding your attention. The most memorable moment was a graveyard shoutout at night.

By 1966, the spaghetti western was at the height of its popularity. And Italian cinema at that time was really cranking out films. Unfortunately, this would lead to oversaturation of the genre. And though Django Shoots First is not a top-tier spaghetti western, it is firmly in the second tier.

Django Shoots First gets a strong audio/video presentation from Umbrella Entertainment.

Written by Michael Den Boer