The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

By the late 1960's the Western was no longer king of the Theater, movie-goers no longer flocked to the matinees. And a Western title was not enough to guarantee a profitable picture. Studios tightened the budgets of many Westerns to eek out as much money as possible. In films such as True Grit (1969) the town and interior sets are stunningly cheap. Contrasting this trend was Sergio Leone. During the 1960's he made some of the most authentic looking and feeling Westerns ever made. In the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, the viewer can nearly smell Tuco (Eli Wallach). The sets are exquisitely detailed and the photography magnificent. Long shots of riders in the distance convey the vast space of the West (even though filmed in Spain).

The story about three outlaws; relatively described as The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. The Man With No Name or "Blondie" (Clint Eastwood) teams with Tuco to run a scam to collect bounty money. They are killers and opportunists that work both sides during the American Civil War. Mistaking Union soldiers for Rebels along a dusty trail, the fellers are jailed. There they meet an old acquaintance, Angel Eyes (Lee Van Cleef). The three have assorted bits of knowledge about a hidden treasure. The last hour of the movie details the three conniving and wrangling to get the loot.

The film reaches its zenith in the graveyard as the three bandits square-off. Sergio Leone begins a visual symphony with long shots then draws increasingly closer as the shoot-out approaches. Accompanying the dramatic scene is equally dramatic music by Ennio Morricone. The cutting and music quicken until the climax. The combination is amazing.

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly's only flaw is its crappy dubbing. Regardless, the movie is, without reservation, a Must See for any Western enthusiast.

Director: Sergio Leone

Screenwriters: Sergio Leone, Luciano Vincenzoni, Agenore Incrocci, & Furio Scarpelli

Cast: Clint Eastwood....The Man With No Name (Blondie)
Lee Van Cleef ...Angel Eyes Sentenza
Eli Wallach .... Tuco Benedito Pacifico Juan Maria Ramirez
Aldo Giuffrè .... Northern Officer
Mario Brega ....Corporal Wallace
Luigi Pistilli ... Father Pablito Ramirez
Claudio ScarchilliRada Rassimov...Maria
John Bartho...Sheriff
Enzo Petito... Storekeeper
Livio Lorenzon.... Baker
Al Mulock.... One-Armed Gunslinger
Antonio Casale....Jackson/Bill Carson
Benito Stefanelli....Member of Angel Eyes' gang

Date: 1966 161 min.
Theme Song: The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly ~ Ennio Morricone