A Fistful of Dollars (1964)

Written by A. Bonzzoni, Víctor Andrés Catena

Directed by Sergio Leone

Running Time: 110 minutes (approx)

Production Year: 1964

Rating: 15 Certificate

Production Country: West Germany/Spain/Italy

Filmed in Colour

This was an important film on a number of fronts. Released in 1964, it was the movie that turned Clint Eastwood into a star, bringing him centre stage as the laconic Man With No Name (pictured) - a tough gunslinger who gets caught up in the feud between two rival families fighting over a small frontier town. It was also the first "spaghetti" western to find a mainstream audience, and was a high point in a long line of similar movies.

Director Sergio Leone pulled out all the stops, restyling the western with tremendous photography, unflinching close-ups and, for the time, strong violence. Eastwood also insisted that the dialogue be cut back dramatically to ensure that the film had an eerie feel to it. To add icing to the cake, Ennio Morricone produced a haunting score.

Inspired by the Samurai film Yojimbo, by Japanese director Akira Kurosawa, it's an out-and-out must-see.

Cast

	Clint Eastwood		Joe
	Marianne Koch		Marisol
	Gian Maria Volonté		Ramón Rojo
	Wolfgang Lukschy		John Baxter
	Sieghardt Rupp		Esteban Rojo
	Antonio Prieto		Don Miguel Rojo
	José Calvo		Silvanito
	Margarita Lozano		Consuelo Baxter
	Daniel Martín		Julio
	Benito Stefanelli		Rubio
	Bruno Carotenuto		Antonio Baxter
	Joseph Egger		Piripero
	Mario Brega		Chico
	Aldo Sambrell		Dougy