Mr. 10 Percent
Durango (Brad Harris) is Mr. 10 percent because if you've had money stolen or a debt is unpaid he will get that money for a 10% cut of what ever he brings in. And so when he arrives in Tucson City and having turned down bank manager Ferguson (Gino Lavagetto) offer to become one of his heavies Durango sets about capturing bandito, El Tuerto (José Torres) and retrieving the bank's money he stole from the stagecoach. But with that usual 10% coming to 10,000 Ferguson (Gino Lavagetto) not only refuses to pay but has Durango arrested after accusing him of murder and setting the stagecoach robbery up. Stuck in a cell with El Tuerto he has no option but to join forces with him to escape so that he can get revenge on the crooked Ferguson.
One again "Durango Is Coming, Pay or Die" is one of those movies which whilst ticking a lot of boxes that fact only tells part of the picture. As such we have this heroic, no messing character that helps people who can't help themselves and takes a 10% cut for his bother. And doing this kind of debt collection work means we have both fist fights and gun fights as well as a variety of crooked characters from bandits to bank managers. But despite ticking a box or two this stuff is not good with Durango being not the most enthralling of characters whilst many of the action scenes especially those involving fist fights are poorly staged and edited.
What this means is that "Durango Is Coming, Pay or Die" has various things going for it but ends up weak. One of those things is the movies look as director Roberto Bianchi Montero takes advantage of the western backdrop especially the town set he uses. Another of those things is the supporting cast all of which seem quite comfortable work in the period costumes of the western era. Ironically this makes Brad Harris stand out as being uncomfortable and out of place although he certainly makes an impact when ever he takes his shirt off as rarely has there been such a muscular hero in a western.
What this all boils down to is that "Durango Is Coming, Pay or Die" is an entertaining distraction for those who enjoy spaghetti westerns. But it is a flawed one and those flaws, such as the fight scenes really let it down.
