In this fourteenth edition of Spaghetti Sunday, the career of Leonard Mann will be under the microscope, with various of his spaghetti western based flicks being reviewed. It’s important to note that this post will continue to grow over time, with new Leonard Mann reviews added as more of his spaghetti western flicks are watched. As with every article and review on the website, this entire series will be spoiler-free.

– The Leonard Mann Edition –

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Leonard Manzella, better known to audiences as Leonard Mann, was born on March 1, 1947, in New York, United States. Mann was discovered as an actor by film producer Manolo Bolognini, who was impressed by his facial appearance, which reminded him of Franco Nero and Terence Hill.

Despite starring in only three spaghetti westerns, Mann made a strong mark on the genre and also took on numerous leading roles in Italian cinema between 1969 and 1989.

Since retiring from acting, Leonard Mann has continued to reside in the United States, where he has worked as a social worker and become a strong advocate for prison reform within the country.

It is worth noting that Mann conducted an interview with “The Spaghetti Westerns Podcast” just a few years ago – for anyone who loves the genre, it’s an interview well worth seeking out.

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Gunman of Ave Maria – 1969

Directed by Ferdinando Baldi, Gunman of Ave Maria, also known as Forgotten Pistolero, follows a gunman named Sebastian (Leonard Mann), who learns that his father was murdered by his own mother and her new lover, ultimately setting out to confront those responsible and settle the score. At times dramatic and turbulent, this spaghetti western strays slightly away from the genre’s typically utilised formula, while also managing to showcase some striking and easy-on-the-eye production value throughout.

As touched upon, Gunman of Ave Maria presents itself as a somewhat distinctive spaghetti western, leaning more into the family drama angle, than outright action across its modest eighty-minute runtime. Additionally, it’s worth noting that there were some issues with the picture, the most notable being the sizeable cast, which made it challenging for the filmmakers to give each character the depth and development they arguably warranted.

Lacking in action and a certain amount of overall punch, Gunman of Ave Maria may not align with what most viewers expect from the genre, yet its strong production values and reasonably effective story still make it worthy of a watch.

Vengeance is a Dish Served Cold – 1971

Directed by Pasquale Squitieri and starring Leonard Mann, Ivan Rassimov and Klaus Kinski as Jeremiah, Perkins and Prescott, respectively, Vengeance is a Dish Served Cold centres around an orphan who witnesses an attack on his family’s ranch by what he assumes is an Indian tribe. After years of seeking revenge, he eventually realises that it may not have been the Indians who murdered his family, with the true culprits being local townsmen hoping to take over more land. A somewhat unique and interesting premise for the spaghetti western genre, but unfortunately, one that doesn’t come across particularly well.

There were considerable flaws here, with limited and inconsistent dialogue and voice acting, alongside unimpressive visuals, sloppy action sequences and questionable camera work. The editing was also rather abrupt, while parts of the story felt rushed and slightly illogical. A lack of background for the main characters also made it difficult to become particularly invested in them.

With such a well-known cast, featuring the likes of Leonard Mann, Ivan Rassimov and Klaus Kinski, it’s a shame that Vengeance Is a Dish Served Cold didn’t serve up something more appealing than the ninety-three-minute display audiences were given. Certainly one for the purists of spaghetti western fans, or admirers of Mann, Rassimov or Kinski.