User Reviews

I did not know a lot about this film when I finally got the chance to watch it on an old Dutch VHS tape. It turned out to be excellent.

The plot concerns a band of bank robbers who decide to betray their leader, Jack. They torture and nearly kill him while his sister gets brutally raped by one of the men and is subsequently scalped (!) and murdered by an Indian who was hired by the villains. But leaving Jack alive was a grave mistake because after getting better his saddles up and goes for bloody revenge.

I usually prefer Italian westerns to those from the US because most of the latter are too tame for my tastes. There is a nastiness about BLACK JACK that is quite powerful and disturbing. Even on the used VHS the cinematography was great and the same has to be said about the effective score. The acting is good for this kind of film, though Jack's grief and madness sometimes border on the comical - especially when he bursts out laughing like a loon during one fight. Still, this is powerful and effective cinema and should be of interest to anyone who likes the genre or revenge films in general. It's a pity that the film is near impossible to find at the time of this writing. I hope it will get a DVD release soon. This 35 year old gem is overdue for rediscovery.

Gianfranco Baldinelli's Italian western Black Jack (1968) is hauntingly dark and violent tale of a bank robbery and revenge. A bunch of thieves rob a bank but feel their leader / mastermind Jack divides the money for his own good. This results some sudden bursts of violence and torture as their ways apart, leaving Jack to wait for his payback time. The premise is quite good, as the theme of vengeance has often been exploited in (these) films, making it look something much safer and more positive than it actually is. Margheriti's film Vengeance is interesting but never manages to express anything worthwhile about revenge and its possible results. Hossein's Cemetery Without Crosses has a great potential and characters, but ends up in rather typical and unsatisfying ending, albeit the film being very interesting visually (scripted by Dario Argento).

Black Jack has several intense and disturbing moments, and the storytelling is very effective, making the 90 minutes pass incredibly fast. There are some segments of fantastic photography in the desert, some poetic images of irreversible violence (mostly the thickening flame on front of the picture) which all make the film little closer to the masterpiece of spaghetti western, Il grande silenzio by Sergio Corbucci, and from the same year. Black Jack certainly doesn't show violence in a good or positive light (unlike Fulci's Four of the Apocalypse, for example) and it must be said it hasn't lost much of its power during these years. Some "infamous" and "shocking" westerns like Cutthroarts Nine (Joaquim Luis Romero Marchent) seem rather pathetic in front of these much more visual, also mentally violent and effective works of the genre.

Django (aka "Black Jack" Murphy in the original dubbing) plans a bank robbery which is brilliantly executed, but when it comes to sharing the loot, his partners rape and kill his sister, almost kill Django and run with the money. You guess it: only "almost" killing him was a bad mistake. The injured Django - with a walking stick! - goes after them for revenge, killing them one by one in interesting ways and enjoying it more than he should.

For many years, I only knew a censored version with a different ending, and believed this was just another violent western. Now I had the opportunity to watch the uncut original version, and this has a lot more quality and impact to offer. Only a few westerns of that period went as far as 'Black Jack' in showing how revenge destroys a man. Jack/Django only lives for revenge like one of The Walking Dead, and from the sympathetic character at the beginning turns into a sadistic monster, laughing when his enemies die. And with the different ending (no spoilers here, of course) the uncut version makes a lot more sense than the old edit. Recommended (except for the squeamish).

A passable and attractive Pasta Western , as main novelty being shot in Israel , and packing thrilling scenes , crossfire , rapid zooms and strong confrontations. A Western full of shots , go riding , crossfire , plot twists and violence . It contains a catching soundtrack , an atmospheric cinematography and spectacular production design shot in Neguev desert , Israel and Elios studios , Lazio , Rome . Acceptable Western about a merciless revenge happening after a bank robbery , in which a thief , Jack Murphy (Robert Woods) , leader of a dangerous band is betrayed by their members : Skinner (Rik Battaglia) , Reb (Larry Dolgin) , Indian Joe (Mimmo Palmara) Mathias and the brothers, Bill and Gordon . They mistreat and torture him and leave him for dead . Later on, Jack survives and goes for revenge and he kills each man of the band one by one . The unsettling and disturbing avenger attempts to hunt them , seeking justice throughout a long deadly confrontation between the tough revenger and his enemies . Jack contends his enemies at duels and ambushes in which he must use his experience and cunning . Jack is eventually supported by previous friend , and the end takes place his encounter with enemies at the town , including unexpected surprises . This is a doomed journey to hell through vengeance , murders and violence .

Ordinary Italian Western with sad atmosphere , attractive musical score and concerning the customary revenger seeking justice and vengeance . Run-of-the-mill Maccaroni Western , adding a few novelties , but also with usual elements , such as extreme baddies , betrayers , noisy action , turns and some spectacular action scenes . This reckless hero was here well played by the Spaghetti star Robert Woods who proceeds his relentless vendetta at whatever cost , acting as a judge , jury and lethal executioner . It is a habitual Spaghetti Western including thrills , regular scenarios , nail-biting action , shoot'em up , and an unexpected final twist . This motion picture was well directed by Gianfranco Baldanello packing an evocative soundtrack , evocative cinematography and acceptable production design in a medium-low budget . This exciting Western regarding an implacable hunting down , adding cruel killings against people , it should be more fun than it is , but the film seems some claustrophobic in the final part , mostly filmed at the village , as much of the action takes place at a Saloon , and the central street for the abandoned town , though including some defiles , mountains when the horseback riders are go riding . Stars Robert Wood is nice as the violent , furious pistolero who is roused to action by seeking vengeance . Robert , because of his height, he did most of my own stunts . Robert Woods gives better acting than other previous roles, because of he plays a complex character , a revenger who is really fed up with his dark and sinister past and seeks for vengeance when his sister is raped and killed . Woods played a lot of Spaghetti Westerns , some of them passable , others lousy ones , as follows : "A Dollar and a Grave , Gatlin Gun , Black Jack , El Puro, Colt in the Hand of the Devil, The Belle Star Story , My Name is Pecos , Pecos Cleans Up and Seven Guns for the MacGregors" . Along with Robert Woods in the movie appears some Spaghetti familar faces such as : Rik Battaglia , Mimmo Palmara , Goffredo Unger as Fredy Unger , Giovanni Ivan Scratuglia , Tom Felleghy and two gorgeous Eurotrash beauties : Lucienne Bridou and Sascia Krusciarska.

The music by Coriolano Gori is suitably Spaghetti in Ennio Morricone wake , with usual guitar chords and other instruments in Italian style . Adequate cinematography in Eastmancolor by Mario Fioretti , though a perfect remastering being really necessary . This Spaghetti Western was nicely shot by the Italian professional Gianfranco Baldanello . He was a prestigious assistant director to popular Italian films such as ¨Leopard of Sarawak¨ , ¨Vendetta of Ursus¨ , ¨Cavalcata selvaggia¨ , ¨David and Goliath¨ , ¨Sword of the Sarracen¨ , ¨1527 Il sacco di Roma¨ , ¨Fire Monsters Against the Son of Hércules¨ , among others . As he was assistant director/writer/editor/producer and subsequently directed some films . Gianfranco made several Spaghettis , such as ¨Uccidete Johnny Ringo¨ , ¨This man cant die¨ , ¨Son of Zorro¨ , ¨The Cry of the Wolf¨, ¨Black Jack¨ , ¨Blood River¨ and ¨30 Winchesters for El Diablo" - International title- or "Gold Train" . Being starred by usual Spaghetti genre stars as Brett Halsey , Gianni Garco , Peter Martell , Wayde Preston , Fernando Sancho , Anthony Steffen and Robert Woods . Rating : 6/10 decent Spaghetti Western . The flick will appeal to Spaghetti Western aficionados .

This is pure garbage, i have not seen such bad western for long time. The acting is bad the story is bad the filming locations are bad, simply nothing good with it.

This is an awesome spaghetti western that deserves more recognition from fans of the genre.

The story is a classic tale of revenge. The "Hero" is a villain himself, in true spaghetti fashion. He is wronged to such a severe and violent degree that one can't help cheering him on as he brutally hunts down and kills the men who betray him and leave him for dead. There isn't a single boring moment in this movie.

The acting from all the cast members is above average for a Eurowestern. I especially like Robert Woods's maniacal laughing as he torments the victims of his vengeance. It's a nice touch- definitely the kind of thing that makes these Eurowesterns so fun to watch.

Lallo Gori's music score is fantastic. It has a style all its own, and manages to sound great without trying to imitate Morricone. The organ music parts are especially cool.

There is even a little touch of Poe at the end, as the buildings begin to crumble around the tragic characters.

I really can't say enough about this movie without giving too much away, so see it for yourself if you can find it!

There really is a nasty streak to the anti-hero played by Robert Woods, in this violent revenge tale. So many of these Italian Westerns are based on the revenge plot, it gets your attention when one like "Black Jack" separates from the crowded genre. After an ultra clever bank robbery, Woods is turned on by his gang, and left with none of the stolen money, a broken leg, and the strongest of revenge motives, after his Sister is raped and scalped. The rest of the film follows Woods as he tracks down his tormentors, and cruelly dispatches them with some creative kills. The musical score is quite good, and the Israeli locations are intriguing, including what appears to be a real mine of some sort. Definitely one of the better "Non Leone Westerns." MERK.

Of all the Spaghetti Westerns I've seen, this is among the top 5 in my estimation. The acting, photography, and story are all exceptional. Robert Woods has never been better than he is in this film, IMHO.

I love surprise endings, and the darker the better. This film really has no good guys, per se, so it helps the film to standout, among so many other standard spaghetti westerns.

For what it's worth, my other top 5 films are: Deguello, White Apache, The Hills Run Red, and Hate Thy Neighbor, with Adios Hombre as a close runner-up.

If you've never seen this classic, do so, if you can. It's well-worth the effort. Too bad these classics have yet to appear on DVD, in widescreen color.

Black Jack 1968 starring Robert Woods was a fascinating SW and I agree with other posters it belongs on a top 20 list. I saw a full screen DVD copy of it with the edited ending and then saw on youtube the unedited ending. If you watch the edited version you will say "WTF" at the ending and then feel cheated like when you order fast food after seeing a commercial showing a hug full hamburger then you go in the drive thru and its half the size like that lol. Okay back to the flick... I like this movie because there is no hero only a bad guy, who gets wronged by his crew because he is greedy and double crosses them only to get hunted down and those closest to him gets hurt and murdered being left for dead Black Jack sets out for revenge badly maimed and is half crazed. It really is a great revenge flick and with amazing ending. Robert Woods really has grown on me since seeing My name is Pecos and Black Jack he is really a great character actor for the genre. The directing was great even though Baldenello is considered not a very good director but he did impress me with this one.

Black Jack (1968), directed by Gianfranco Baldanello, who also made the interesting "This Man Can't Die" (1967) is one of those rare films: A movie where the main-character is a evil and sadistic being who wants total revenge on a group of bandits who double-crossed him over a bank robbery and then tortured him. Jack Murphy, known to his enemy's as "Black Jack" is a completely unlikeable anti-hero who would be the villain in any other movie. The fact that we care what happens is down to Robert Woods astounding performance as Murphy. His role in the picture is crucial: if he is weak, the film is weak. Anything but brilliant will do in a role like this. And he pulls it off with flying colours. Woods is fantastic: He doesn't make Jack a good guy, he makes him so totally horrible that we're strangely fascinated by his actions and fate. The direction, photography and music are all fine, but Robert Woods is the true stand out here.

It took me a long time to find Black Jack and well worth it. Robert Woods played it like some raving mad version of Hamlet, a change of pace from the usual silent stranger role. The rocky, dry locations (Israel) and set design were unique and the ending a total change from the usual western.

This is an Amazing western,deserves more recognition.the story is great the music fits amazingly well.Great allround acting and the locations are beautiful its just an allround entertaining flick.Highly recommended.