For a Few Dollars More (1965)
Studio: MGM/20th Century Fox
Theatrical Release: May 10, 1967 (USA)
Blu Ray Release: August 2, 2011
Not Rated
Review by James Klein
Director Sergio Leone and star Clint Eastwood came back together after the success of A Fistful of Dollars in Italy to make the sequel, For a Few Dollars More. While the sequel doesn't pick up after the first film (in fact, star Clint Eastwood may or may not be playing the same character and co-star Gian Maria Volunte plays a different villain) the film still provides the same elements that made the first film such a success: a great anti-hero, plenty of violence, beautiful cinematography, and Ennio Morricone providing another great score. Only this time, Leone gives us two anti-hero's as he brings in Lee Van Cleef as a bounty hunter out for revenge.
The opening sequence is one of my favorites as we get a very wide long shot of what looks like a man alone in the desert minding his own business when he is killed by a single gun shot blast that comes out of nowhere. After the opening credits, we find out it was Col. Douglas Mortimer (Cleef) who killed that man, a one of a kind bounty hunter who kills his victims with a long barreled pistol with a detachable rifle stock. While the film starts off with Mortimer, the main star is Clint who warders into a town during a rain storm. He walks into a saloon and quietly plays with his intended victim and when drawn upon he blasts away several men who try to stop him from leaving.
Both Clint and Mortimer are on the trail of El Indio, (Volunte) a complete psychopath who kills his victims right after he plays a song from his stop watch. While both Mortimer and Clint are at first at odds to get the reward for El Indio, they soon join forces to get the man but want him for different reasons.
While A Fistful of Dollars was a remake of the Japanese film Yojimbo, For a Few Dollars More is all Leone. He fills the frame with various bizarre characters, beautiful landscapes and some fairly graphic violence for a film made in the mid-60's. By adding the character of Mortimer, he provides someone for Clint to play off on and Mortimer becomes his mentor or at least an older version of The Man With No Name (Clint usually calls him "old man" during the course of the film) himself.
For a Few Dollars More is my favorite in the Man With No Name Trilogy as I absolutely love the back story of El Indio and his rage over the woman who cheated on him along with Mortimer's relationship with El Indio. Not to mention that Clint has never been cooler. He spouts off some great lines such as when Clint plays poker with a man he was looking to get a reward for and the man asks what the bet is, Clint coldly replies, "Your life." And the final stand off between the three characters where hardly any dialog is spoken aside form the great score by Morricone is something to be seen. It builds suspense and action without modern editing tricks or ridiculous and unnecessary dialog.
The blu ray is also better looking and sounding than A Fistful of Dollars. The colors don't look washed out and the gun shots and explosions sound much more crisp. With the same audio commentary by the historian Christopher Frayling and another interview with Eastwood talking about the making of For a Few Dollars More, my favorite special feature are the deleted scenes. Though short, we do find out what The Man With No Name's nickname is and why.
While many fans consider the third film The Good, the Bad & the Ugly Leone's masterpiece (don't get me wrong, that is also great as well) I have always been partial to the second film in the series. I find the film a much more fast paced and entertaining movie. I also loved the character of El Inio, Mortimer and even a small cameo role by cult actor Klaus Kinski as one of El Inio's henchmen. This is Leone at the top of his form and For a Few Dollars More is a western classic you should not miss.
Theatrical Release: May 10, 1967 (USA)
Blu Ray Release: August 2, 2011
Not Rated
Review by James Klein
Director Sergio Leone and star Clint Eastwood came back together after the success of A Fistful of Dollars in Italy to make the sequel, For a Few Dollars More. While the sequel doesn't pick up after the first film (in fact, star Clint Eastwood may or may not be playing the same character and co-star Gian Maria Volunte plays a different villain) the film still provides the same elements that made the first film such a success: a great anti-hero, plenty of violence, beautiful cinematography, and Ennio Morricone providing another great score. Only this time, Leone gives us two anti-hero's as he brings in Lee Van Cleef as a bounty hunter out for revenge.
The opening sequence is one of my favorites as we get a very wide long shot of what looks like a man alone in the desert minding his own business when he is killed by a single gun shot blast that comes out of nowhere. After the opening credits, we find out it was Col. Douglas Mortimer (Cleef) who killed that man, a one of a kind bounty hunter who kills his victims with a long barreled pistol with a detachable rifle stock. While the film starts off with Mortimer, the main star is Clint who warders into a town during a rain storm. He walks into a saloon and quietly plays with his intended victim and when drawn upon he blasts away several men who try to stop him from leaving.
Both Clint and Mortimer are on the trail of El Indio, (Volunte) a complete psychopath who kills his victims right after he plays a song from his stop watch. While both Mortimer and Clint are at first at odds to get the reward for El Indio, they soon join forces to get the man but want him for different reasons.
While A Fistful of Dollars was a remake of the Japanese film Yojimbo, For a Few Dollars More is all Leone. He fills the frame with various bizarre characters, beautiful landscapes and some fairly graphic violence for a film made in the mid-60's. By adding the character of Mortimer, he provides someone for Clint to play off on and Mortimer becomes his mentor or at least an older version of The Man With No Name (Clint usually calls him "old man" during the course of the film) himself.
For a Few Dollars More is my favorite in the Man With No Name Trilogy as I absolutely love the back story of El Indio and his rage over the woman who cheated on him along with Mortimer's relationship with El Indio. Not to mention that Clint has never been cooler. He spouts off some great lines such as when Clint plays poker with a man he was looking to get a reward for and the man asks what the bet is, Clint coldly replies, "Your life." And the final stand off between the three characters where hardly any dialog is spoken aside form the great score by Morricone is something to be seen. It builds suspense and action without modern editing tricks or ridiculous and unnecessary dialog.
The blu ray is also better looking and sounding than A Fistful of Dollars. The colors don't look washed out and the gun shots and explosions sound much more crisp. With the same audio commentary by the historian Christopher Frayling and another interview with Eastwood talking about the making of For a Few Dollars More, my favorite special feature are the deleted scenes. Though short, we do find out what The Man With No Name's nickname is and why.
While many fans consider the third film The Good, the Bad & the Ugly Leone's masterpiece (don't get me wrong, that is also great as well) I have always been partial to the second film in the series. I find the film a much more fast paced and entertaining movie. I also loved the character of El Inio, Mortimer and even a small cameo role by cult actor Klaus Kinski as one of El Inio's henchmen. This is Leone at the top of his form and For a Few Dollars More is a western classic you should not miss.
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