''Sabata'' is a series of

Spaghetti Western The Spaghetti Western is a broad subgenre of Western films produced in Europe. It emerged in the mid-1960s in the wake of Sergio Leone's film-making style and international box-office success. The term was used by foreign critics because most o ...

films released between 1969 and 1971, directed by Gianfranco Parolini, and starring Lee Van Cleef in the first, '' Sabata'',

Yul Brynner Yuliy Borisovich Briner (russian: link=no, Юлий Борисович Бринер; July 11, 1920 – October 10, 1985), known professionally as Yul Brynner, was a Russian-born actor. He was best known for his portrayal of King Mongkut in the ...

in the second, ''

Adiós, Sabata ''Adiós, Sabata'' ( it, Indio Black, sai che ti dico: Sei un gran figlio di..., lit. "Indio Black, you know what I'm going to tell you... You're a big son of a...") is a 1970 Italian Spaghetti Western film directed by Gianfranco Parolini. It is ...

'', and Van Cleef returning for the third, ''

Return of Sabata ''Return of Sabata'' ( it, È tornato Sabata ... hai chiuso un'altra volta, lit=Sabata is back ... you're finished again) is a 1971 Spaghetti Western film directed by Gianfranco Parolini. The third film in ''The Sabata Trilogy'', it features the ...

''.

Overview

''Sabata'' (1969)

Lee Van Cleef stars as a mostly silent lone gunman who foils a plan by some leaders of a small Texas town to rob their own bank and sell the town to the railroad. William Berger co-stars as Banjo, an opposing gunman.

''Adiós, Sabata'' (1970)

With

cast in the lead role, this film was originally going to be entitled ''Indio Black'', but the title was changed after the first ''Sabata'' film proved successful and had inspired many imitators. Lee Van Cleef, star of the first ''Sabata'' film, had been offered the role, but had to decline because he was committed to ''

The Magnificent Seven Ride! ''The Magnificent Seven Ride!'' (also known as ''The Magnificent Seven 4'') is a 1972 Western film and is the third and last sequel of the 1960 western, ''The Magnificent Seven''. It stars Lee Van Cleef as Chris Adams, succeeding Yul Brynner and ...

'' in the role of Chris Adams, which Brynner had made famous in '' The Magnificent Seven''. ''Adiós, Sabata'' is set in

Mexico Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...

under the rule of Emperor

Maximilian I Maximilian I may refer to: *Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor, reigned 1486/93–1519 *Maximilian I, Elector of Bavaria, reigned 1597–1651 *Maximilian I, Prince of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen (1636-1689) *Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria, reigned 1795� ...

, and Sabata is hired to steal a wagonload of gold from the Austrian army.

''Return of Sabata'' (1971)

Lee Van Cleef returns to the role of Sabata, who goes to a small Texas town and seeks revenge on a robber baron, determined to steal back some money that the man has stolen from the towns people.

Cast and characters

Crew

DVD release

''The Sabata Trilogy'' was released on DVD by

MGM Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., also known as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and abbreviated as MGM, is an American film, television production, distribution and media company owned by Amazon through MGM Holdings, founded on April 17, 1924 a ...

/ UA in October 2005.

Other ''Sabata'' films

As was common with successful

franchises, such as the '' Dollars Trilogy'', '' Django'' or ''

Sartana ''Sartana'' is a series of Spaghetti Western films which follows the adventures of the title character, a gunfighter and gambler who uses mechanical gadgets and seemingly supernatural powers to trick his rivals. The series features five official ...

'' series, several other ''Sabata'' imitators were released. None of these are considered part of the "official" series. They include: *''Wanted Sabata'' (1970) directed by Roberto Mauri and starring Brad Harris. *'' Arriva Sabata!'' (1970) directed by

Tulio Demicheli Tulio Demicheli (born August 15, 1914, Buenos Aires, Argentina - d. May 25, 1992, Madrid, Spain) was an Argentina, Argentine film director, born Spanish film director, screenwriter and film producer of the classic era. Born as Armando Bartolomé ...

and starring

Peter Lee Lawrence Peter Lee Lawrence born Karl Hyrenbach (21 February 1944 in Lindau, Germany – 20 April 1974 in Rome, Italy), was a German actor and a citizen of France. He enjoyed brief fame as a prolific leading man of Spaghetti Westerns before dying at th ...

. *'' Dig Your Grave Friend... Sabata's Coming'' (1971) directed by Juan Bosch and starring

Raf Baldassarre Raf Baldassarre (17 January 1932 - 11 January 1995) was an Italian film actor. Life and career Born Raffaele Baldassarre in Giurdignano, Lecce, Apulia, he started his career in the late 1950s, being cast in many peplum and adventure films, a ...

. *''

Watch Out Gringo! Sabata Will Return ''Watch Out Gringo! Sabata Will Return'' ( es, Judas... ¡toma tus monedas!) is a 1972 Spanish western film directed by Alfonso Balcázar and Pedro Luis Ramírez, scored by Piero Piccioni and starring Vittorio Richelmy, George Martin and Fernando ...

'' (1972) directed by Alfonso Balcázar and Pedro Luis Ramírez, and starring

George Martin Sir George Henry Martin (3 January 1926 – 8 March 2016) was an English record producer, arranger, composer, conductor, and musician. He was commonly referred to as the "Fifth Beatle" because of his extensive involvement in each of the B ...

References

External links

* {{The Sabata Trilogy Spaghetti Western films Italian film series 1960s Italian-language films 1970s Italian-language films United Artists films Films directed by Gianfranco Parolini Sabata