'Man with No Name' films

[Darth Handsome]

I had a chat recently with a friend of mine about Sergio Leone's "Dollars Trilogy". He is of the opinion that the three films were a continuing story & that Clint was playing the same character in each one.

I disagree, I think the movies are separate stories & Clint plays three different (though very similar) characters.

There are also people who believe the main character is the same in all three films but "the Good the Bad & the Ugly", which was made last, is actually a prequel.

Just wondering if any fans of the movies out there want to chime in & give their opinion.

[Atoz]

If the movies are connected, why would they use Lee Van Cleef twice as two separate characters? Makes no sense to me.

[Darth Handsome]

Originally Posted by Atoz

If the movies are connected, why would they use Lee Van Cleef twice as two separate characters? Makes no sense to me.

Well, a lot of the same actors play different roles throughout all three films.

[Atoz]

Originally Posted by Darth Handsome

Well, a lot of the same actors play different roles throughout all three films.

Right... but they're not leading characters like Van Cleef is, though Mario Brega was supposedly popular in Italy during the 60s.
Doesn't Clint have different names in each movie as well? I know he was "Blondie" in "The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly," but wasn't he "Joe" or something in "Fistful of Dollars?" I don't remember his name in "For a Few Dollars More."

I'm not trying to "prove" that the films are unrelated or anything, it just seems like they aren't to me.

[boynamedsuse]

I never thought about it before, but now that you mention it, I never thought of them as being a continuing story either. Eastwood plays essentially the same character in other westerns like High Plains Drifter and none of them seem to be connected, except stylistically.

[Darth Handsome]

I think they're different characters b/c there are subtle, but fundamental differences from film to film.

In "Fistful", he almost seems happy-go-lucky, wants to make a quick buck almost for his own amusement, & ultimately decides to stick it to the Rojos after he discovers how rotten they are.

The character in "For a Few Dollars More" is cocky & selfish, at least in the beginning.

In "Good Bad & Ugly", which chronologically would precede everything else, Clint walks away filthy rich. The need for cash shown in the other two films wouldn't be there.

[elgecko]

I found the "Mexican" accents in Fist Full incredibly distracting. I prefer the original much more!

[Darth Handsome]

Originally Posted by elgecko

I found the "Mexican" accents in Fist Full incredibly distracting. I prefer the original much more!

Great movie.

[boynamedsuse]

I don't recognize the scene, but I am guessing that is from Sanjuro. Close?

[elgecko]

Originally Posted by boynamedsuse

I don't recognize the scene, but I am guessing that is from Sanjuro. Close?

Same actor and director as Sanjuro but it's from Yojimbo, the movie Fist Full of Dollars was based on.

[MakiSupaStar]

Awesome. I haven't seen these movies in a long time. Now I have an excuse to check the out. I got so obsessed with The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, I created a nine minute dub-reggae influenced tribute to it broken into three parts (the good - samples from Blondie, the bad - samples from angel eyes, the ugly - samples from Tuco). Sergio Leone, IMO, was limited with budget, but had great visions for his movies. Sometimes the budget interfered with the execution of his ideas.

If you want to hear my tribute to The Good, The Bad and the Ugly, click on the link below and play 'All That Beautiful Money'. If you want to tell me that it sucks, or that you like it, or give me ideas on how to improve it, click on the feedback link and let me know what you think.

[Darth Handsome]

My favorite piece has always been the main theme for A Few Dollars More. All the music is great obviously, but that one is one of my all time favorite pieces of music, as recorded for the movie. Just brilliant.

[Skitch it!]

I've never felt there was continuity intended as far as the films were concerned but the stylisations of the characters make it seem so I suppose. Tuco (Eli Wallach) was my fav from 'The Good the Bad etc. I thought he stole the show on that one. I like to think Of 'Unforgiven' as to where Clint's original character of the Man with No Name ended up after his wilder day's as a reformed ageing William Munny.

The Morricone soundtracks are stunning, I've worked this little guitar bit on bass 0.24 - 1.44 and the watch theme, little snippets of it, nice to play.

YouTube - The Good, The Bad & The Ugly SoundTrack - The Trio

[Darth Handsome]

I remember a phase about 15 years ago or so when I was playing the melodies from all the movies on bass for hours at a time. So much fun. Such great music.

One of the first LP's I ever had was music from these movies. Done by Hugo Montenegro, I think. It had all the tunes from all three films on one album.

[Skitch it!]

High Plains Drifter is a strange old cup of tea, a lot of imagination but nothing like any Western I've watched before, eerie old piece of work that one.

[Darth Handsome]

Originally Posted by Skitch it!

High Plains Drifter is a strange old cup of tea, a lot of imagination but nothing like any Western I've watched before, eerie old piece of work that one.

It's pretty dark. The whipping scene is brutal, even by today's standards.

[Deluge Of Sound]

Not related in the sequel/chronology sense.