THE BELLE STARR STORY / IL MIO CORPO PER UN POKER (1968)
Directed by Lina Wertmüller & Piero Cristofani
103 minutes
"One of the few Spaghetti Westerns starring – and possibly the only one directed by – a woman (Wertmüller worked under the pseudonym 'Nathan Wich' after replacing Cristofani), the film is inspired by the notorious American outlaw Belle Starr, played by Elsa Martinelli. Starr was known to ride sidesaddle wearing a black velvet riding habit and feathered hat. Martinelli's incarnation is almost never seen out of her black leather pants and jacket, but she stays true to Starr's reputation as a sharpshooter. The tale opens as Starr is outmatched and charmed by fellow gambler Larry Blackie (George Eastman). They form a violent relationship, which climaxes when she decides to beat him to the treasure in a jewel robbery." –Hannah Greenberg