This week we screen A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS, the classic spaghetti western by Sergio Leone.
Director: Sergio Leone
Cast: Clint Eastwood
Marianne Koch
Gian Maria Volonte
Wolfgang Lukschy
Writers: Victor Andre Catena
Jaime Comas
Sergio Leone
Genre: Spaghetti Western / Action
Duration: 90 min
Colour: Colour
Released: 1964
Countries / Languages: Italy, Spain, West Germany / English, Spanish, Italian
BACKGROUND NOTES:
- This film was identified as an unlicensed remake of the Akira Kurosawa film Yojimbo which was released 3 years earlier. Leone says Yojimbo was an inspiration, along with other classic Hollywood westerns and Servant of Two Masters, an Italian play by Carlo Goldoni in 1746.
- Like most Spaghetti Westerns, this film was a lot more violent than American westerns due to Europe’s lack of censorship codes such as were around in Hollywood.
- Though made on a low budget, Leone ushered in a then-groundbreaking filmmaking style, emphasising long, tense close-ups, widescreen camera compositions, and hauntingly unusual music by his old schoolmate, Ennio Morricone. Leone’s films have been likened to action based operas, and his style was much imitated.
THINGS TO THINK ABOUT:
- American audiences were shocked by this film on its release in 1967. Why do you think Eastwood’s character caused such a ruckus in the 1960s? Is the Man With No Name truly “amoral,” as many commentators have called him? What are his motives?
- Can you see the influence of this film’s style on today’s action movies? Think of modern directors like Quentin Tarantino, John Woo and Martin Scorsese…
Source:
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