The Great Silence (1969)

FilmFour claimed that this was a UK television premiere, but I have a sneaking feeling that I had seen this spaghetti western before.  Unfortunately, like most of the movies in this genre, it was dubbed with only the black actress, Lonetta McKee, as a natural English-speaker, but I soon overlooked this fault given the film's other strengths.  For a start it was beautifully filmed in a completely snow-covered landscape -- in itself an unusual setting.  The Morricone music was, as always, outstanding.  However the film's high point was the selection of the lead antagonists playing rival gunmen -- Klaus Kinski as Loco (yes, the name is a giveaway), a merciless bounty hunter and Jean-Louis Trintignant as a mute hired killer seeking justice and revenge. The amazing thing about this movie which really sets it apart is that the bad guys win, and the brutal ending is one that will stick in the viewer's mind near enough forever.