- DIRECTOR:
Sergio Leone
- ACTORS:
Clint Eastwood, Eli Wallach, Lee Van Cleef, Al Mulock, Aldo Giuffrè, Aldo Sambrell, Benito Stefanelli, Luigi Pistilli
- PLOT:
A trio of violent con artist gunmen go after the same buried treasure while the Civil War rages on.
- EVALUATION:
The film's perfect first half hour and iconic final half hour are separated by about a hundred minutes of narrative meandering that don't quite work.
- WRITING:
Seemingly interrupted by a sudden shift in focus to an anti-war examination of the American Civil War.
- FILMING:
Outstanding scenery, convincing war setpieces including an exploding bridge, and a memorable kaleidoscopic view of Tuco (Wallach) running through the cemetery.
- BEST PART:
Any time Tuco is at the end of a rope.
- TRIVIA:
Apparently the bridge was blown up accidentally when the film wasn't rolling, and they had to rebuild it to blow it up a second time.
- STINGER:
Eli Wallach making soap suds in the tub.
