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The Good, The Bad And The Ugly
1966
Set during the American Civil War, the story deals with three mean desperadoes who have their eyes on a $200,000 treasure. Besides battling with the local authorities, they also have to contend with each other... Read more
| Starring | Clint Eastwood, Eli Wallach, Lee Van Cleef, Mario Brega |
|---|---|
| Director | Sergio Leone |
| Genres | Action/Adventure |
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Critics' reviews (3)
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This concluding part of the “Dollars” trilogy is not only the most graphically violent of the three, but also ups the compassion and dark humour quota of the first two Sergio Leone films. The stylised violence of the genre is thrown into shocking relief by the bloody futility of the American Civil War that intrudes on the lives of drifters Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef and Eli Wallach. There is nothing new about the buried treasure plotline, but it is a deceptively simple story, through which Leone dexterously interweaves different strands of small- and large-scale human drama, drawing superb performances from his leads and providing a compelling feast for the viewer.
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An operatic Western that shows the genre at its most hyperbolic, with splendid set pieces, including a final shoot out in an arena-like cemetery.
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Hard to tell who's good, bad or ugly in this bitterly cynical portrait of America during the Civil War, with the three... read more on Time Out
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Most helpful members' reviews (3)
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16 out of 18 people found this review helpful
BEST Western ever made
The best epic westerns ever made and the ultimate male macho movie. This was the first DVD I purchased. (Even b4 I had a DVD Player!) Three men whose lives cross when they search for confederate Gold. This film is long, even by today's standards, but worth watching just for the 3-way gunfight at Sad-Hill cemetary to discover which grave holds the dirty loot. Sergio Leone's use of close-ups of the characters with sweeping backgrounds and Ennio Morricone score are legendary.
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11 out of 11 people found this review helpful
BEST Western ever made
The best epic westerns ever made and the ultimate male macho movie. This was the first DVD I purchased. (Even before I had a DVD Player!)
Three men whose lives cross when they search for confederate Gold. This film is long, even by today's standards, but worth watching just for the 3-way gunfight at Sad-Hill cemetery to discover which grave holds the dirty loot.
Sergio Leone's use of close-ups of the characters with sweeping backgrounds and Ennio Morricone score are legendary. -
9 out of 9 people found this review helpful
Wonderful film
I like most Clint Eastwood films, but I wouldn't say he's a good actor. Eli Wallach, on the other hand, is outstanding in this film. It's surprising that once Clint Eastwood started making movies himself, he didn't use Eli Wallach at all until a minor part in Mystic River, almost forty years later.
This is still a great movie today. It's not only my favourite western (I'm not particularly a fan of the genre), it's one of my top five favourite films overall.
If you've been put off westerns by the self-righteous, tough-guy, American-hero type of rubbish that comes from Hollywood, I urge you to try this one.
This is the third in the series of The Man With No Name tilogy of spaghetti westerns by Sergio Leone. The story is set during the American Civil War (although filmed mostly in Spain), but it isn't a war film. It's a simple story of hidden treasure and the greed of three chancers trying to beat each other to find it.
The other two films in the trilogy are A Fistful of Dollars and For A Few Dollars More. Don't worry if you haven't seen either of them, the movies aren't dependant on each other.
A lot is said about the Ennio Morricone score, and rightly so. I just don't think this film would be the same without it, and I can't think of any movie with a more fitting soundtrack than this. It emphasises the storyline and directs your emotions perfectly.
I wouldn't usually use the word 'experience' when talking about a movie, but that's really what watching this is, an experience. It's a fascinating story, shocking at times and funny at others but always totally captivating. The outstanding performance by Eli Wallach, the perfectly suited soundtrack, the incredible cinematography and the almost impeccable direction are what secures its status as an all-time classic. -
Most recent members' reviews (2)
View all -
9 out of 9 people found this review helpful
Wonderful film
I like most Clint Eastwood films, but I wouldn't say he's a good actor. Eli Wallach, on the other hand, is outstanding in this film. It's surprising that once Clint Eastwood started making movies himself, he didn't use Eli Wallach at all until a minor part in Mystic River, almost forty years later.
This is still a great movie today. It's not only my favourite western (I'm not particularly a fan of the genre), it's one of my top five favourite films overall.
If you've been put off westerns by the self-righteous, tough-guy, American-hero type of rubbish that comes from Hollywood, I urge you to try this one.
This is the third in the series of The Man With No Name tilogy of spaghetti westerns by Sergio Leone. The story is set during the American Civil War (although filmed mostly in Spain), but it isn't a war film. It's a simple story of hidden treasure and the greed of three chancers trying to beat each other to find it.
The other two films in the trilogy are A Fistful of Dollars and For A Few Dollars More. Don't worry if you haven't seen either of them, the movies aren't dependant on each other.
A lot is said about the Ennio Morricone score, and rightly so. I just don't think this film would be the same without it, and I can't think of any movie with a more fitting soundtrack than this. It emphasises the storyline and directs your emotions perfectly.
I wouldn't usually use the word 'experience' when talking about a movie, but that's really what watching this is, an experience. It's a fascinating story, shocking at times and funny at others but always totally captivating. The outstanding performance by Eli Wallach, the perfectly suited soundtrack, the incredible cinematography and the almost impeccable direction are what secures its status as an all-time classic. -
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
Take the Trail
Clint’s farewell spaghetti western – this is the full version cut and encompasses a 3-man pursuit of hidden treasure, contending with the American civil war brewing menacingly in the background.
The landscape is vast, the characters brilliantly played and the cuts and close ups, music and story line are all spot on – this is a truly epic film – make time to view it in it's entirity in one sitting – you will be transformed from desert to mountain to tundra, on the trail and in the midst of good, bad and ugly people.
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16 out of 18 people found this review helpful
BEST Western ever made
The best epic westerns ever made and the ultimate male macho movie. This was the first DVD I purchased. (Even b4 I had a DVD Player!) Three men whose lives cross when they search for confederate Gold. This film is long, even by today's standards, but worth watching just for the 3-way gunfight at Sad-Hill cemetary to discover which grave holds the dirty loot. Sergio Leone's use of close-ups of the characters with sweeping backgrounds and Ennio Morricone score are legendary.
-
11 out of 11 people found this review helpful
BEST Western ever made
The best epic westerns ever made and the ultimate male macho movie. This was the first DVD I purchased. (Even before I had a DVD Player!)
Three men whose lives cross when they search for confederate Gold. This film is long, even by today's standards, but worth watching just for the 3-way gunfight at Sad-Hill cemetery to discover which grave holds the dirty loot.
Sergio Leone's use of close-ups of the characters with sweeping backgrounds and Ennio Morricone score are legendary. -
9 out of 9 people found this review helpful
Wonderful film
I like most Clint Eastwood films, but I wouldn't say he's a good actor. Eli Wallach, on the other hand, is outstanding in this film. It's surprising that once Clint Eastwood started making movies himself, he didn't use Eli Wallach at all until a minor part in Mystic River, almost forty years later.
This is still a great movie today. It's not only my favourite western (I'm not particularly a fan of the genre), it's one of my top five favourite films overall.
If you've been put off westerns by the self-righteous, tough-guy, American-hero type of rubbish that comes from Hollywood, I urge you to try this one.
This is the third in the series of The Man With No Name tilogy of spaghetti westerns by Sergio Leone. The story is set during the American Civil War (although filmed mostly in Spain), but it isn't a war film. It's a simple story of hidden treasure and the greed of three chancers trying to beat each other to find it.
The other two films in the trilogy are A Fistful of Dollars and For A Few Dollars More. Don't worry if you haven't seen either of them, the movies aren't dependant on each other.
A lot is said about the Ennio Morricone score, and rightly so. I just don't think this film would be the same without it, and I can't think of any movie with a more fitting soundtrack than this. It emphasises the storyline and directs your emotions perfectly.
I wouldn't usually use the word 'experience' when talking about a movie, but that's really what watching this is, an experience. It's a fascinating story, shocking at times and funny at others but always totally captivating. The outstanding performance by Eli Wallach, the perfectly suited soundtrack, the incredible cinematography and the almost impeccable direction are what secures its status as an all-time classic. -
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful
Stylistic and trendsetting.
If you ever get a chance to watch this film on a big screen (anything over 6'), then do so. The backdrops and panoramas are stunning in their own right - I personally think it should have won an award for the cinamatography alone.
I've read other reviews of this film which I feel miss the point. One comment was that the special effects were not very good.... in 1966 the special effect of a stick of dynamite exploding was probably an actual stick of dynamite exploding - what more can you do ?.
Some of the 1STARS also criticise the length and pace of the film. It is a long film... America (actually filmed in Italy) is a big country, it takes a long time to go from A to B. The pace; well horses are not that quick and give you plenty of time to look at the beautifully photographed scenery.
The characters would be cliched themselves if only they hadn't actually invented most of the cliches they are now compared to. The action scenes only seem stylised for the same reason.
Bold, beautiful, violent and sometimes very funny.
My first DVD in 1997. I have watched it often since and still find it entertaining. -
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful
The Greatest film ever made
This Leone masterpiece is, simply put, the greatest film ever made.
How Eli Wallach (The Ugly) never won an Oscar for his role in this film is astounding.
Eveything thing from the settings to the costumes, to the dialogue (of which there isn't much) to the soundtrack is absolutely sublime.
This film, along with the other two 'Dollars' films in the trilogy, turned the Western genre on it's head revealing a much grittier and realistic view of life in the Wild West.
Home to possible the most infamous tension building ending ever displayed on screen, this film is a must. -
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful
STYLISH ICON OF ITS TIME...
Ennio Morricone`s music..Close ups of bloke`s (and sometimes women`s) eyes..a bloke killing eight(or even ten!) men with a six(?) shooter at lightning speed... Loud,(and often ridiculous) sound effects..Non-English speaking acting cast dubbed into English.Clint Eastwood,Lee Van Cleef,and Eli Wallach dubbed into Italian when shown in Italy,and Spanish when shown in Spain and Mexico. THIS in a nutshell is what we all love..SERGIO LEONE`S CANNED SPAGHETTI!! A CLASSIC OF ITS TIME. MADE THE WESTERN GENRE SEEM FRESH AND EXCITING AGAIN. SAY NO MORE...
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4 out of 4 people found this review helpful
WOWWWWWWWWW
What can i say? this is just a masterpiece, the best western ever, brillantly directed, 3 outstanding actors and music signed by ennio Morricone is fantastic
It is one of my favourite films
Just Rent it -
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful
Classic Western - best of the Spaghetti trilogy.
This newly restored special edition DVD presentation is worth its weight in gold. Sergio Leoni's genius film-making shines through and although Clint Eastwood sleepwalks his performance through the film - it is still a delight to watch. Eli Wallacha nd Lee Van Cleef give excellent supporting roles and the music lifts and expands the film experience. But it is the direction that steals the show - well done Sergio and thanks for the continuing pleasure. By the way the commentary is above par as well.
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2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
The Best
I have seen this movie several times and every viewing is just as enjoyable. This is probably the best western of all time (it is actually not a western). Made in the 1960s, the movie is essentially a European version of an American tale set against an American backdrop.
Completely missing from the film are the usual portraits of the West - solid honest men and women, a hero who upholds the law and is characterised by decency, hardiness and independence.
The film has no heroes. It is a tale of greed and the culmination of greed. It is astonishingly well made. Leone was a genius and the movie proves it - his use of size in the more rugged scences of the Western landscape (actually southern spain), his brilliant depiction of emotions in the close-ups. Leone was ahead of his time. Very soon any number of directors copied him.
The most striking feature of the film (as with the dollar films) is the depiction of violence. The sanitised violence of 1950s Hollywood is nowhere to be seen. Instead when violence erupts it is bloody and graphic (though no match for the Ketchup spraying standards of today). A must see, even for those who don't like Westerns. However, it is really a film for men. Women won't enjoy this film. -
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
Classic western story
What more really needs to be said about this film. Sergio Leone made a great trilogy, taking a bit of a risk using Clint Eastwood as the lead role. Although not one of my favourite actors (many of his films are appalling) he does play a great cowboy. This is a must watch for any true western fan.
Critics' reviews (3)
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This concluding part of the “Dollars” trilogy is not only the most graphically violent of the three, but also ups the compassion and dark humour quota of the first two Sergio Leone films. The stylised violence of the genre is thrown into shocking relief by the bloody futility of the American Civil War that intrudes on the lives of drifters Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef and Eli Wallach. There is nothing new about the buried treasure plotline, but it is a deceptively simple story, through which Leone dexterously interweaves different strands of small- and large-scale human drama, drawing superb performances from his leads and providing a compelling feast for the viewer.
-
An operatic Western that shows the genre at its most hyperbolic, with splendid set pieces, including a final shoot out in an arena-like cemetery.
-
Hard to tell who's good, bad or ugly in this bitterly cynical portrait of America during the Civil War, with the three... read more on Time Out
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The Good, The Bad And The Ugly
Set during the American Civil War, the story deals with three mean desperadoes who have their eyes on a $200,000 treasure. Besides battling with the local authorities, they also have to contend with each other......
-
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