They Call Me Trinity

They Call Me Trinity (Lo Chiamavano Trinita) (1970)

Runtime: I saw the version that is 115 minutes long

Directed by: Enzo Barboni

Starring: Terence Hill, Bud Spencer, Farley Granger, Steffen Zacharias, Dan Sturkie

From: West Film

Defining the term “laid back film.”

Those outside the United States reading this (or at least your parents) may have their eyebrows raised when they hear this but the legendary duo of Terence Hill and Bud Spencer were never a big deal in this country; from my movie obsessions I understand they were immensely popular in Europe and were well-known in some other territories. Seeing then discussing some of their work here seems like a swell idea.

At least I knew going into this Spaghetti Western sendup that it was not only leisurely paced, but the duo-playing brothers!-had an antagonistic relationship throughout. They meet up with each other in a dusty old town where Spencer is the sheriff... because he killed the man going there who was actually going to be the new sheriff in town. Bud wants the horses that the heel of the movie (Farley Granger!) possesses, and the bad guy also wants to drive Mormons off of the area they have settled in, because he is a gigantic jerk. Stereotypical Mexican banditos also get involved.


The movie is silly and juvenile-after all, there are more fists and feet used than guns; for me that was not a negative with this story. How laid back this is... that is more of an issue than anything else but for me, the charm of the two leads go a long, long way. Plus, when there is action, it is usually a lot of fun and there are enough laughs, random odd moments (a cow on the roof of a cantina, for example) and wacky minor characters where this was a good time, even at the almost 2 hour dubbed version I found... nevermind how.