China 9, Liberty 37 | Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes

Movies / TV

    Celebrity

      No Results Found

       View All       Movies Tv shows Shop News Showtimes

      China 9, Liberty 37

      R 1978 1h 42m Western List
      Reviews 43% Audience Score 50+ Ratings Already sentenced to hang, gunslinger Clayton Drumm (Fabio Testi) is given the opportunity to redeem himself by agreeing to murder obdurate prospector Matthew Sebanek (Warren Oates), whose refusal to sell his land is standing in the way of a railroad. Drumm agrees to the killing, only to find that he likes Sebanek, and likes his wife, Catherine (Jenny Agutter), even more. He doesn't do the hit but does give in to temptation, and is obliged to flee as both Sebanek and the railroad pursue him. Read More Read Less

      Where to Watch

      China 9, Liberty 37

      Prime Video

      Rent China 9, Liberty 37 on Prime Video, or buy it on Prime Video.

      Critics Reviews

      View All (1) Critics Reviews
      Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews “Lacks the rigors of Hellman’s other brilliant westerns, sharing the brilliance only in a tight minimalist narrative and in a created humorous absurdist world. Rated: B Jun 13, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

      Audience Reviews

      View All (9) audience reviews
      Audience Member Sadly I've only seen the poor-quality, heavily cut version, but the bones of a very good film are there anyway. Oates is excellent (as ever), and his gravelly voice reminds me of Kristofferson's in Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid - the look and feel of which seems to provide much of the inspiration for this film. Testi isn't bad,either, apart from the difficulty at times of making out his heavily accented English. The two leads are both sympathetic and clearly like each other, which as in Pat Garrett sets it into the pattern of tragedy rather than revenge - and the presence of Peckinpah on-screen further emphasises the homage. I really hope a high quality, uncut version will be released some day; I'd snap it up. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/13/23 Full Review eric b The title may suggest some other genre, but don't be fooled -- this is a spaghetti western. Director Monte Hellman returns to the West (via Spain and Italy) and works with grizzled Warren Oates yet again, crafting a well-photographed tale of guns and a love triangle. The locations are pretty and co-star Jenny Agutter is even prettier, but the story is just too simple to sustain much tension. A handsome, sharp-shooting wanderer is hired to take out Oates, but has second thoughts after befriending him and his wife Agutter (who is abundantly naked throughout the film, thank you very much). Which man will she choose? Alas, sheer intelligibility is a substantial problem -- star Fabio Testi is a mumbler with a heavy Italian accent and, even worse, the overstressed musical score often drowns out the dialogue. A shame. The legendary Sam Peckinpah pops up in one scene, portraying a crafty writer out to wring some folklore out of Testi's life. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Typically offbeat western from director Monte Hellman about condemned man Fabio Testi being given a reprieve if he kills Warren Oates who's holding up the progress of railroad barons. Jenny Agutter plays Oats beautiful young wife who then falls to Testi, creating a "Postman Always Rings Twice" type of situation leading to murder, revenge and good old fashioned cowboy, or at least Italian Spaghetti Westernized, action. However, this film moves at a trudging pace, much like Hellman's other offbeat westerns, and like his other westerns suffers for it. On the plus side, you do get Sam Peckinpah as a wild west dime novelist in one scene, which is mildly entertaining. Overall, despite it's painfully slow pace, this western is handsomely filmed by Hellman and anything with Warren Oats is worth watching in my book. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/31/23 Full Review s r Tacky, simple and mostly pointless. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member don't know why they keep losing my reviews!!! #3 4 this 1 Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Audience Member 120115: Warren Oates & a good looking unknown, at least to me; Jennifer Agutter; star in this neat little spaghetti western. I absolutely love the sound of these Italian westerns, both the effects; which make it seem like the mics are attached to the characters feet; and the music. An unbelievably classic line is used in this film; "As long as I have a face, you have..." as well as an equally, unbelievably bad cowboy hat; worn by Oates' nemesis, Clayton. Enjoyed this one. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

      Cast & Crew

      Show Less Cast & Crew Show More Cast & Crew

      Photos

      View All China 9, Liberty 37 photos

      China 9, Liberty 37

      China 9, Liberty 37 (1978) China 9, Liberty 37 (1978) View more photos

      Movie Info

      Synopsis Already sentenced to hang, gunslinger Clayton Drumm (Fabio Testi) is given the opportunity to redeem himself by agreeing to murder obdurate prospector Matthew Sebanek (Warren Oates), whose refusal to sell his land is standing in the way of a railroad. Drumm agrees to the killing, only to find that he likes Sebanek, and likes his wife, Catherine (Jenny Agutter), even more. He doesn't do the hit but does give in to temptation, and is obliged to flee as both Sebanek and the railroad pursue him.
      Director
      Monte Hellman
      Screenwriter
      Tony Brandt, Jerry Harvey
      Production Co
      Aspa Producciones, Compagnia Europea Cinematografica
      Rating
      R
      Genre
      Western
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Jan 4, 2016
      Runtime
      1h 42m
      Most Popular at Home Now