A Fistful of Dollars (1964)

A Fistful of Dollars (1964)*****

United Artists
Director: Sergio Leone

I have been putting off reviewing these films simply because it is impossible to properly acknowledge the impact of these films on the western genre. For the modern audience, this is the old west. By the 1960s the genre had become a little too predictable for many directors. A Fistful of Dollars was meant to change this and it certainly accomplished that goal. Most westerns made since have attempted to capture this gritty, violent, gut-wrenching image of the west. Whereas John Ford type westerns emphasized the American ideals of moral uprightness, hard work and the ability to overcome the ruthless environment found in the old west, Leone's westerns are almost the complete opposite in interpretation. The "hero" uses his innate ability to excel in order to bend the rules and avoid the slow struggle of the average man while walking the line of morality and in many cases crossing it, all for a "fistful of dollars." As a historian, I think the truth of the American west lies somewhere in the middle. There was definitely the ever-present capitalist drive that sent Americans westward but morality didn't get thrown out the window. Our modern pessimistic senses tend to favor Leone's image and most people would describe earlier westerns now as too cheesy and unbelievable. I personally tend not to worry about this and enjoy westerns of all varieties (although the singing cowboy of the 50s is a bit too much for me). Well on to the film!

Clint Eastwood plays the well-known Man With No Name. At the end of the film the undertaker calls him Joe but this may just be a generic name given to the stranger. In any case, the stranger comes into town and learns from the Bar keep Silvanito (played by Jose Calvo) that there are two rival outlaw gangs out for each other and the stranger decides to pit one against the other in order to cash in from both sides. Then the killing ensues. Memorable performances all around with Joseph Egger as the undertaker Piriperro, Gian Maria Volonte as Ramon, and Marianne Koch as the lovely Marisol. The film itself mirrors a Japanese film Yojimbo (1961) so much so that the Yojimbo camp won a lawsuit over it. Even Yojimbo was derivative and the story goes all the way back to an Italian play called the Servant of Two Masters. The fact that you are reading this blog probably means you have seen this but if you haven't YOU MUST SEE THIS FILM.