not really a comedy western per se and but it doesn not take itself too seriously and either . take place in revolutionary mexico during wwi . the swede ( franco nero ) agree to sell gun to guerrilla general gen. mongo but first they have to break into a safe in order for him to get pay and only the professor ( fernando rey ) know the combination . or so we be lead to believe . the professor also lead a rival rag tag army of student who be fight both the mexican army as well a mongo men with lola ( iris berben ) a the professor second in command . it turn out the professor be be hold by the american in texas and the swede and el vasco ( tomas milian ) and mongo right hand man and have to accompany him north to free him . however an ex partner of the swede and john ( jack palance ) show up and have other plan for the swede . the psychotic john like to smoke a lot of dope and have a pet falcon name marsha ( . ) who land on john prosthetic hand after every scouting mission . this be one of corbucci well western in spite of the ridiculous political overtone he give it . the story be entertain and move swiftly along for 2hrs . without me get bore by any of it . i do not rate it as highly a the leone similarly theme duck you sucker ( 1971 ) and but it well worth watch all the same . the standout here for me be jack palance and i wish his part be big . he really do chew up the scenery and the part where he torture milian with a rat in a basket tie around his stomach and be a hoot . ever notice how one of palance sidekick and the little oriental guy and have an old telephone receiver strap onto his ear a a hearing aid . nice touch . and the end where nero throw a large cross under the boxcar fill with explosive and a detonator and blow up palance in the process and be a welcome end to one of the main baddie of the film . the lighthearted morricone score fit this film very well and i like the musical cue that be sprinkle throughout that alternate between that familiar fuzz guitar and whistle banjo playing that happen while the action have quiet down . anchor bay be up to it usual standard use an excellent widescreen anamorphic print with nary a hair or scratch through it . it look like it be make yesterday . some of the dialog be in italian with subtitle because it be take from a euro print and be never dub into english . however the transition between euro and american version be seamless . there also a fairly interesting 15 minute interview with franco nero and tomas milian and ennio morricone where they recount their experience while they be involve in this film . positive .