Set in the unfamiliar snow-covered mountains of Utah, United States, a mute gunslinger, known only as Silence (Jean-Louis Trintignant) is hired by a young widow to extract revenge after the death of her husband. The killer is part of a ruthless gang of bounty hunters, led by the cold-blooded Loco (Klaus Kinski). Despite being released almost sixty years ago, The Great Silence remains an incredible watch that holds up well today.

Director: Sergio Corbucci
Writers: Sergio Corbucci, Vittoriano Petrilli, Mario Amendola
Starring: Jean-Louis Trintignant, Klaus Kinski, Frank Wolff, Luigi Pistilli, Vonetta McGee

Prior to starting, I must note that spaghetti westerns don’t often receive the full review treatment on the website, but every so often, a film comes along that demands a closer look. The Great Silence is one of those flicks – a much-discussed and powerful western that has a strong reputation as being one of the best of its era. Directed by Sergio Corbucci, a leading figure in the spaghetti western movement, the film stands out for its boldness, presenting a story far darker than most action-packed spaghetti westerns of the time. In fact, some scenes were considered so bleak that alternate versions were even shot for different international markets.

One of, if not the primary strength of The Great Silence, would have to be the story told throughout the modest one-hundred and five-minute runtime. It carries some political undertones, touching on corruption, greed and how the law can be twisted to leave ordinary people exposed and in positions of destitution, but it remains easy to follow and rarely gets convoluted at any point. As previously touched upon, the flick also includes moments that are far more brutal and far darker than typical for this genre, making The Great Silence so memorable decades later.

It’s also worth noting that The Great Silence feels a level or two above most spaghetti westerns of this time. While many other releases could feel clunky, rushed, predictable or just poor in terms of production value, this one manages to avoid all those things. The winter setting is beautiful and unique, fitting nicely with the cold and tense atmosphere that the filmmakers put forward. The camerawork and overall cinematography are also noteworthy, as well as the impactful soundtrack, which worked perfectly with the visuals.

In terms of the cast, Jean-Louis Trintignant adopted the role of Silence, with quiet intensity and proving that an actor can provide a strong performance despite not saying a single word throughout the entire flick. Support came primarily from Klaus Kinski, who portrayed Loco, a calm, calculating and at times flamboyant bounty hunter. Elsewhere, there were strong appearances from Frank Wolff, Luigi Pistilli and Vonetta McGee, adopting the roles of the Sheriff, Henry Pollicut and Pauline Middleton, respectively.

Overall, The Great Silence is one of the most memorable and powerful spaghetti westerns ever made, that in my eyes, rivals the likes of Django (1966) and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966). It’s worth noting that other spaghetti westerns do appear on the website, but they rarely receive full, standalone reviews. Instead, they are usually featured in the ‘Features -> Western Wednesday’ section, where roles from actors like Klaus Kinski and Lee Van Cleef have been covered in shorter write-ups.

“I don’t think you’re going to get old. Sooner or later, you’re going to meet up with someone faster than you.”

Sheriff – The Great Silence