Western Wednesday: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly was released in 1966 and is the third film in Sergio Leone's 'Dollars Trilogy', with the others being A Fistful of Dollars and For a Few Dollars More*.

This one takes much of what worked from the previous two installments and puts it all together into a 3hr epic Western. The plot really isn't too complicated; Set during the Civil War, it's essentially about three gunslingers (played by Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef, and Eli Wallach) who are competing with one another to find a large sum of Confederate gold that is buried in a grave at the Sad Hill Cemetery.

So, what makes the film so good? Well, a couple of things: The cinematography is top-notch and Leone's signature style of long shots, and tension filled close-ups, not only works well in this film, but has since become synonymous with the genre. This is by far the longest of the three movies, but it clicks along at steady and entertaining pace. The score perfectly compliments and enhances the mood of the film throughout. The final showdown at the Sad Hill Cemetery is a thing of beauty, and one of my favorites in any Western. Also, like the other films in the trilogy, Clint Eastwood's performance is fantastic.

  Add all of that up and the result is not just one of best Westerns ever made, but one of the all-time great films in general. Whether you're a big fan of the genre, or just enjoy occasionally watching a Western, this one is a must-see.
   

 I give this iconic film a 5 out of 5.


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*Click here for my For a Few Dollars More review: http://onlyinthemoviesblog.blogspot.com/2016/10/a-look-back-at-for-few-dollars-more-1965.html

A Look Back At 'For a Few Dollars More' (1965)

‘Where life had no value, death sometimes had its price. That is why the bounty killers appeared.’

Director Sergio Leone’s 1965 follow up to 1964’s ‘A Fistful of Dollars’ (and second film in the ‘Dollars trilogy’) is one of the all-time great Westerns.

Clint Eastwood and Lee Van Cleef both play bounty hunters, and both are looking to take down the wanted fugitive El Indio and claim the $10,000 reward. The two quickly form a partnership after realizing that El Indio has whole gang of murderous bandits working for him, and it would be easier to take them down if they work together.

Though not often as well remembered as ‘A Fistful of Dollars’ or ‘The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly’, ‘For a Few Dollars More’ is just as good as the other iconic films in the trilogy. From the haunting score, to Clint Eastwood’s steely-eyed glare, to the shootout at the end, to the great villain, this film is a perfect example of everything that is great about the genre.

Whether you’re a fan of Westerns or are just curious and looking for a few films to introduce yourself to the genre, I definitely recommend this one.

It’s a 5 out of 5 film.

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