Watch Out, We're Mad

Premise for the US audience: these were kids' cult-movies; more accurately, young boys' cult movies--for those of us who grew up in Europe in the '70's. So if you're watching this looking for some clever, realistic plot, deep social commentary or a subliminal, philosophical message, this ain't it. Spoiler alert: the plot in their movies is always a thinly-disguised thread between punch-ups, which is what we, Terence and Bud fans, expected. Period. The rest is the coolness of their characters: cantankerous Bud and chatty, "simpatico" Terence. The two were every boy's heroes growing up. I remember, among the young scruffs in our bicycle gang in Northern Italy, drawing straws for who was going to "be" Terence, Bud or bad-guy Attila as we played away the afternoon after elementary school. Even 40 years later, watching these movies brings a huge grin to my face, along with the (well-concealed, of course!) tear of nostalgia for those unrepeatable years and for dear old Bud, who has left this world a couple years ago. Simply put, if you're Italian or European and grew up in that time, you've grown up on Terence and Bud; so don't touch these two guys--they're sacred to us. The duo (real names: Mario Girotti and Bruno Pedersoli) started with comedic spaghetti Westerns, the Trinity series, to be exact, albeit having starred in one Western before that that brought them together as actors. Right from the get-go, they achieved a huge success with their young (and young-in-heart) audience, who is loyal to them to this day. The two would remain a stock pair for all of their careers--as they churned out movie after movie throughout the '70's and '80's (at least), much to the delight of European audiences in Italy and the Germanic countries especially. Their legendary fist-fights are something that we all grew up with--with Terence's gymnastic boxing style and Bud's signature downward, sledgehammer-like punch. This particular movie, "Altrimenti Ci Arrabbiamo" ("Otherwise We'll Get Mad") was one of the earliest non-Westerns of Terence and Bud's career. I remember my parents taking me to the theater to watch it in (IIRC) 1973. The excuse for the punch-ups is that the two have been co-winners of a car race for which the price was a shiny, new Dune Buggy. As they try to determine whose it will be by means of a friendly beer-and-hot-dogs duel, a band of bad guys smash up the eatery and end up destroying their car. The two demand they replace the car with a new one, "otherwise we'll get mad." The mastermind bad guy is a bumbling Boss-Hogg type a bit soft in the head, who gets his advice from a Sigmund-Freud-type shifty German psychoanalyst (played by an ever-versatile Donald Pleasence). The classic cult-scenes include the gym fight, a cool motorcycle jousting scene, the scenes with the hapless sniper "Paganini," the choir-rehearsal with Bud singing bass and, of course, the massive punch-up at the end. Even the bad guys are beloved in Europe. The stuntmen who get beat up in movie are all familiar faces--every Terence and Bud fan has learned to recognize them and love them in their own right. Many of them, like Claudio Ruffini have by now left us and we mourn them almost as much as we do our dearest Bud. The whole is complemented by a catchy soundtrack by the "Oliver Onions" (De Angelis brothers), an extremely well-respected composer/singer duo that is still active in Europe. Also, these movies contain no language, no vulgarity and no toilet humor, so I wouldn't hesitate watching them with young kids, although we are in the 2020's so your mileage may vary. Bottom line: If you watch this pair for the first time, grab a cold drink and some hot-dogs, binge on them and put yourself in the mind of a young boy growing up in a less stifling age. An age in which you could still at least take part in a decent schoolyard fight (made safe, of course, by rules of decency and the ever-present vigilance of adults) and in which the young played outside on their bicycles and made up their own fun instead of bowing their head passively to videogames. Love you guys. Our young years wouldn't have been as magic without you two. Godspeed.

...red with a yellow top. Terence and Bud doing their thing in their best film by far. Everyone I show this DVD to loves it without fail!! You'll be humming the theme song for the rest of your life. This flick has an outrageous plot setup that matches perfectly to the absurdity of the music and the over the top fight scenes making this the Holy Grail of B&T films. You won't find one funnier or with better fight scenes. The great music by Oliver Onions seals the deal. Trust me, I have spent much cash trying to find another Bud and Terence film of this quality and none of the others even come close. Outside of the Trinity films, this was their Swan Song. Buy this one now and then pick up Odds and Evens. Also, a word of warning on the US Region 1 release. Its a full-screen, washed out picture. If you have a multi-region player, pick up the R4 for a clear, bright, widescreen picture. Dune Buggy lyrics: Come with me for fun in my buggy Come along let's go for the hell of it See the faces round they're all looking Wonder if they'd like to come for a ride. I'lI bet you anything now she's with me There'll be no trouble troubles around Bet you'll never ever get away Never ever get away dune buggy. See the world spin round in dune buggy String along let's scram far out off the ground Never felt so good she's a beauty Bet she's a sight for your poor old eyes. I'll bet you anything boys on their bikes Will have some trouble following us Bet they never ever catch us up Never ever catch us up dune buggy. I feel Iike a king in my buggy Just the crown is missin' but that's alright Come on people come on my buggy come and feel The power of a starry night. I'll bet you anything now she's with me . . . I feel like a king I feel like a king in my buggy . . .

Really fun! But, look out for the " Come along with me" song. Oh, my.

Ok movie..

Nice classic

Ok, the music didn't really anger me but it did get anoying after a while. For all those that are familiar w/ the Terrence Hill and Bud Spencer line of movies its not anything you couldn't stomach and for the most part laugh at. For those that are new to this particular genre of slap stick comedy, you should probably start off w/ a Trinity movie or two before you work your way up to this one. The overall quality of this transfer to DVD is good, but you'll have to adjust the volume at various points in the movie. "Two Men, One Dune Buggy, and a Mob Boss who stands between them." Good clean fun!

second best movie of the duo... behind crimebusters!

I've been a fan of this duo's slapstick since I was a youngster. Lots of silliness and laughs. Unfortunately the disc quality is poor and there are skips.

Hill and Spencer have a certain chemistry, the first the agile, quick witted, blue eyed buffoon, the latter reminiscent of a smoldering volcano that never quite blows. Hill darts in and out, dodging fists and striking like a mongoose that may have had a drink or two. Spencer wades into every battle stoically like a lumbering grizzly raining out blows with his great paws. The combination of the two is always great slapstick with a loosely held together plot. Not the greatest conversion to television, would have preferred to see it in the original letterbox format, not the best photography, but the two had a real chemistry that still brings a guffaw or two out of me.

Lots of laughs !

VERRY HAPPY THANKS !