Deaf Smith & Johnny Ears

Deaf Smith & Johnny Ears

91 mins | Western | March 29, 1973

In this unusual spaghetti western departure for exploitation filmmaker Paolo Cavara (La Tarantola dal Ventre Nero), two friends help Sam Houston work for Texas statehood. Johnny Ears (Franco Nero) and his deaf-mute sidekick Erastus "Deaf" Smith (Anthony Quinn) go after a Mexican general (Franco Graziosi) under orders from Germany to agitate the populace. The film looks terrific, thanks to cinematography by Tonino Delli Colli (Once Upon a Time in America), but is often lacking in the story department. Perhaps part of the blame belongs to co-screenwriter Harry Essex, fresh off the dreadful sci-fi flop Octaman (1971). Pamela Tiffin appears as a prostitute, and the film co-stars Tom Felleghy and Renato Romano.

Deaf Smith & Johnny Ears

91 mins | Western | March 29, 1973

Deaf Smith & Johnny Ears
In this unusual spaghetti western departure for exploitation filmmaker Paolo Cavara (La Tarantola dal Ventre Nero), two friends help Sam Houston work for Texas statehood. Johnny Ears (Franco Nero) and his deaf-mute sidekick Erastus "Deaf" Smith (Anthony Quinn) go after a Mexican general (Franco Graziosi) under orders from Germany to agitate the populace. The film looks terrific, thanks to cinematography by Tonino Delli Colli (Once Upon a Time in America), but is often lacking in the story department. Perhaps part of the blame belongs to co-screenwriter Harry Essex, fresh off the dreadful sci-fi flop Octaman (1971). Pamela Tiffin appears as a prostitute, and the film co-stars Tom Felleghy and Renato Romano.
IMDb rating 5.5
Producers Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Idea Film, Compagnia Cinematografica
Original title Los Amigos
Directors Paolo Cavara
Writers Lucia Brudi, Augusto Finocchi, Paolo Cavara, Harry Essex, Oscar Saul

Cast

Franco Nero

as Johnny Ears

Anthony Quinn

as Erastus 'Deaf' Smith

Pamela Tiffin

as Susie the hooker

Ira von Fürstenberg

as Hester McDonald Morton

Adolfo Lastretti

as Williams

Franco Graziosi

as General Lucius Morton

Antonino Faà di Bruno

as The Senator

Renato Romano

as J.M. Hoffman

Francesca Benedetti

as Mrs. Porter the Madame

Conchita Airoldi

as Rosita McDonald

Romano Puppo

as Bull, Morton's Goon

Luciano Rossi

as Moss