Any Gun Can Play (1967)

Directed by Enzo G. Castellari, Any Gun Can Play (Italian title: Vado… l’ammazzo e torno) is a rollicking, genre-savvy Spaghetti Western that mixes gold heists, double-crosses, and tongue-in-cheek homages to the icons of the Wild West. With a cast led by George Hilton, Gilbert Roland, and Edd Byrnes, the film is a stylish, action-packed ride through betrayal, greed, and shifting alliances.

Plot Summary
A gang led by Monetero (Gilbert Roland) pulls off a daring train robbery, stealing $300,000 in gold. But one of his own men, Pajondo, betrays the gang and escapes with the loot. Enter The Stranger (George Hilton), a bounty hunter who’s been tracking Monetero and sees a chance to claim both the gold and the outlaw.

Meanwhile, Clayton (Edd Byrnes), a banker and secret insurance investigator, is also after the treasure. As the three men circle each other, alliances shift, identities blur, and the hunt for the gold becomes a deadly game of cat and mouse. The film’s climax is a chaotic showdown filled with gunplay, deception, and a fractured medal that holds the key to the treasure’s location.

Cast Highlights

  • George Hilton as The Stranger
  • Gilbert Roland as Monetero
  • Edd Byrnes as Clayton
  • Stefania Careddu as Marisol (credited as Kareen O’Hara)
  • José Torres, Ivano Staccioli, Gérard Herter, and Ignazio Spalla in supporting roles

Behind-the-Scenes Trivia

  • The film opens with a meta gag: Hilton guns down three outlaws dressed like Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef, and Django—a cheeky nod to genre icons
  • Italian censorship visa #49845 was issued on September 19, 1967, marking its official release
  • At the 2014 Memphis Film Festival, Edd Byrnes revealed he was frustrated that producers didn’t let him dub his own voice for the English version
  • The film was shot in Italy and Spain, with sweeping desert landscapes and stylized action sequences typical of the genre

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