This special limited edition spot gloss slipcover (designed by Tony Stella) is limited to 4,000 units and is only available on our website and at select indie retailers. Absolutely no major retailers will be stocking them.
Welcome Vinegar Syndrome Labs (VSL) to the VS Sub-Label family! As with each of our sub-labels we are hoping to expand and defy expectations with the diversity of films we restore and release. As the name implies, VSL will serve as a kind of testing area for releasing genres and eras of film that one might not immediately expect to come from VS. The ultimate objective of VSL will be to see if these types of films will find an audience, and if so, pursue and release more of them…and even if not, still serve as a means of restoring more of the weird, rare, and unusual movies you might not expect from Vinegar Syndrome.
In the harsh desert landscape of 1860s Mexico, two outcasts cross paths. Richard Roundtree (Shaft, Crack House) is a former Union soldier, desperate and on the run after killing a superior officer. Roy Thinnes (Airport 1975, Rush Week) is a crippled Native American of mixed race, who lives as a pariah away from any tribe. Identified only as The Black Man and The Indian, the two deal with mutual hatred and mistrust before forming a strange partnership until a vicious bounty hunter played by Nigel Davenport (Phase IV, Nighthawks) finds his way to them. How long can they last holed up in this brutal desert, stalked by both Davenport and Mexican bandits, and reliant on an uneasy relationship that borders on madness?
An unusually racially-focused entry in the canon of the ""anti-Western"", director Don Chaffey's (Jason and the Argonauts) CHARLEY ONE-EYE came during a flurry of English Westerns of the era. Recalling the work of Sam Peckinpah, it lays on both allegory and graphic violence liberally, with stunning performances from its two leads. Shot in Spain's famed Almería, a shooting location of many Eurowesterns, CHARLEY ONE-EYE is scored with a sparse, haunting soundtrack by John Cameron (Psychomania). Newly scanned in 4K and restored to its fully uncut version, Vinegar Syndrome Labs proudly presents this intense and unique character-driven tale of raw survival.
directed by: Don Chaffey starring: Richard Roundtree, Roy Thinnes, Nigel Davenport, Aldo Sambrell 1973 / 107 min / 1.85:1 / English Mono
Additional info:
Region A Blu-ray
Newly scanned & restored in 4K from its 35mm original camera negative
Commentary track with film historian Toby Roan
"Chicken Shoot" (34 min) - a making-of featurette with first assistant director Nick Granby, first assistant editor Geoffrey Mackrill, boom operator David Stephenson, and continuity supervisor Ann Skinner
"One Eye on the Neg" (25 min) - an interview with first assistant editor Geoffrey Mackrill
"Twixt, Orchestral, and Minimalist" (18 min) - an interview with composer John Cameron
"A Force to be Reckoned With" (16 min) - blaxploitation film historian Josiah Howard on Richard Roundtree’s career
"Richard Roundtree's Final Film" (10 min) - a conversation with Thelma director Josh Margolin
Trailer
16-page booklet with an essay by film writer Jourdain Searles
Reversible sleeve artwork
English SDH subtitles
Overall rating: 4.5319147 / 5 from 94 reviews.
AI Generated Review Summary
Charley One-Eye, a restored 4K film, is praised for its stunning picture quality, exceptional performances, and beautiful cover art. Customers appreciate the film's restoration and the unique storytelling, making it a highly recommended collection piece.
"Great hidden gem of western movies recommended for all who love westerns Great slipcover good quality picture and sound" — Gary M.
"A nihilistic and unheralded film starring the great Richard Roundtree with good supporting performances." — Tyler M.
"Great VSL release with beautiful slipcover art." — Stephen H.
Reviews
Another stellar VS find
"I was only familiar with Don Chaffey’s work in the 1960’s - ‘One Million Years B. C. ,’ ‘Jason and the Argonauts,’ ‘The Prisoner’ TV show. Thanks to VS for this find."
— Lee W. (5/5)
Shaft out west
"Unique, entertaining Western with the legend Richard Roundtree."
— Kevin G. (5/5)
The Call Him One-Eye!
"Great release of an otherwise hard to get to see blaxploitation western (yes, you heard me!). Definetely worth picking up if you're into that sort of a thing!"
— Anders A. (4/5)
Not so thrilled
"To be fair, this isn't generally my kind of movie. Got this as part of the mystery bundle. Not a big fan of westerns but this one was entertaining enough . I'm sure the movies never looked better. Lots of special features and bonus points for having a booklet!"
— Anthony L. (4/5)
Slight
"Slight arthouse western."
— Jonathan G. (3/5)
existential Western
"Sparse but worthwhile Western thriller."
— Kevin F. (5/5)
Chicken revenge
"A bit of a slow burn, but it grows on you. You don't like either gent at the beginning, but they become (sort of) likeable by the tragic end. Set in the old west, but not your typical western by any means. Mostly a character study of two polar opposite men with a few bursts of violence or mayhem. Hard to fully recommend, but there's an audience for this type of film. Probably never cared about a chicken so much in my life. As usual, VS puts all the love and care into every release like it was their only one."
— Jesse B. (4/5)
The Best
"Classics old school movie"
— JIMMY H. (4/5)
Charley One-Eye
"Super brutal and mean western. I was not suspecting this tone but it was a very rewarding watch."
— Erich H. (4/5)
A huge upgrade to the recent UK release
"A huge upgrade to the recent UK release. The best the film has ever looked and ripe for rediscovery"
— craig g. (4/5)
Q&A
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