Per un pugno di dollari (1964)

User Rating:

8.0/10   

Director:

Sergio Leone
(more)

Writers:

A. Bonzzoni (story) &
Víctor Andrés Catena (story) ...
(more)

Release Date:

18 January 1967 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Western

Tagline:

This short cigar belongs to a man with no name. This long gun belongs to a man with no name. This poncho belongs to a man with no name. He's going to trigger a whole new style in adventure.

Plot:

A wandering gunfighter plays two rival families against each other in a town torn apart by greed, pride, and revenge.

Plot Keywords:

Mexican | Cavalry | Blood | Horse | Mother Son Relationship

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Clint Eastwood	...	Joe
Marianne Koch	...	Marisol
Gian Maria Volontè	...	Ramón Rojo (as Johnny Wells)
Wolfgang Lukschy	...	John Baxter (as W. Lukschy)
Sieghardt Rupp	...	Esteban Rojo (as S. Rupp)
Joseph Egger	...	Piripero (as Joe Edger)
Antonio Prieto	...	Don Benito Rojo
José Calvo	...	Silvanito (as Jose Calvo)
Margarita Lozano	...	Consuelo Baxter (as Margherita Lozano)
Daniel Martín	...	Julián
Benito Stefanelli	...	Rubio (as Benny Reeves)
Mario Brega	...	Chico (as Richard Stuyvesant)
Bruno Carotenuto	...	Antonio Baxter (as Carol Brown)
Aldo Sambrell	...	Rojo gang member (as Aldo Sambreli)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Raf Baldassarre	...	Juan De Dios (uncredited)
Luis Barboo	...	Baxter Gunman 2 (uncredited)
Frank Braña	...	Baxter Gang Member (uncredited)
José Canalejas	...	Rojo gang member (uncredited)
Juan Cortés	...	(uncredited)
Nino Del Arco	...	Jesus (uncredited)
Frank Kalvow	...	(uncredited)
Lee Miller	...	Man at Bar (uncredited)
Antonio Molino Rojo	...	Baxter gang member (uncredited)
Antonio Moreno	...	(uncredited)
José Orjas	...	(uncredited)
Manuel Peña	...	(uncredited)
Julio Pérez Tabernero	...	Baxter Gunman 4 (uncredited)
Nosher Powell	...	Cowboy (uncredited)
José Riesgo	...	Mexican Cavalry Captain (uncredited)
Lorenzo Robledo	...	Baxter gunman #1 (uncredited)
Enrico Maria Salerno	...	Joe (uncredited) (voice: Italian version)
Fernando Sánchez Polack	...	Rojo gang member crushed by wine cask (uncredited)
Umberto Spadaro	...	Miguel, a Rojo Gunman (uncredited)
Harry Dean Stanton	...	Sheriff's Son (uncredited) (unconfirmed)

Directed by
Sergio Leone
Monte Hellman		(new footage shot for American TV) (uncredited)

Writing credits
Ryuzo Kikushima		(screenplay "Yojimbo") uncredited &
Akira Kurosawa		(screenplay "Yojimbo") uncredited
A. Bonzzoni		(story) &
Víctor Andrés Catena		(story) &
Sergio Leone		(story)
Víctor Andrés Catena		(screenplay) &
Jaime Comas Gil		(screenplay) (as Jaime Comas) &
Sergio Leone		(screenplay)
Fernando Di Leo		uncredited
Clint Eastwood		uncredited
Duccio Tessari		uncredited

Produced by
Arrigo Colombo	....	producer (as Harry Colombo)
Giorgio Papi	....	producer (as George Papi)
Peter Saint	....	assistant producer

Original Music by
Ennio Morricone		(as Dan Savio)

Cinematography by
Massimo Dallamano		(as Jack Dalmas)
Federico G. Larraya

Film Editing by
Roberto Cinquini		(as Bob Quintle)
Alfonso Santacana

Art Direction by
Carlo Simi		(as Charles Simons)

Set Decoration by
Sigfrido Burmann
Francisco Rodríguez Asensio		(setting) (as Asensio)
Carlo Simi		(as Charles Simons)

Costume Design by
Carlo Simi		(as Charles Simons)

Makeup Department
Dolores Clavel	....	hair stylist
Alberto Gutiérrez	....	makeup artist
Sam Watkins	....	makeup artist
José Luis Pérez	....	assistant makeup artist (uncredited)
José María Sánchez	....	makeup department head (uncredited)

Production Management
Jaime Comas Gil	....	production manager
Ramón Crespo	....	production manager
Franco Palaggi	....	production manager (as Frank Palance)
Günter Raguse	....	production manager
Fernando Rossi	....	unit manager (as Fred Ross)
Anselmo Zabala	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Franco Giraldi	....	second unit director (as Frank Prestland)
Julio Sempere	....	assistant director
Tonino Valerii	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Adolfo Cofiño	....	assistant set decorator
Luis Ocaña	....	property master
Rafael Pérez Murcia	....	assistant set decorator

Sound Department
Elio Pacella	....	sound (as Edy Simson)

Special Effects by
Manuel Baquero	....	special effects
Giovanni Corridori	....	special effects (as John Speed)

Stunts
Benito Stefanelli	....	stunts
Nosher Powell	....	stunts (uncredited)
William R. Thompkins	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Stelvio Massi	....	camera operator (as Steve Rock)
Eduardo Noé	....	second assistant camera
José Sánchez	....	camera operator
José María Sánchez	....	camera operator
Ramón Sempere	....	first assistant camera
Julio Wizuete	....	still photographer

Animation Department
Eugenio Lardani	....	animator: title animation (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
María Casado	....	wardrobe

Editorial Department
Alicia Castillo	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Ennio Morricone	....	conductor
Alessandro Alessandroni	....	music arranger: choral (uncredited)
Michele Lacerenza	....	musician: trumpet (uncredited)

Other crew
Clint Eastwood	....	western advisor: Italian prints only
Jerónimo Montoro	....	production assistant
Marta Pons	....	production assistant
María Antonia Puerta	....	script supervisor
Piero Santini	....	production secretary (as Peter Saint)
William R. Thompkins	....	technical advisor (as W.R. Thompkins)
Marisol de Villanueva	....	direction secretary
Eugenio Villar	....	production assistant
Tilde Watson	....	script girl
Ferruccio Amendola	....	voice dubbing: Antonio Molino Rojo (uncredited)
Giorgio Capecchi	....	voice dubbing: Wolfgang Lukschy (uncredited)
Elena Dressler	....	interpreter (uncredited)
Lauro Gazzolo	....	voice dubbing: Josef Egger (uncredited)
Nando Gazzolo	....	voice dubbing: Gian Maria Volonté (uncredited)
Sergio Graziani	....	voice dubbing: Benito Stefanelli (uncredited)
Oreste Lionello	....	voice dubbing: Raf Baldassarre (uncredited)
Anna Miserocchi	....	voice dubbing: Margarita Lozano (uncredited)
Luigi Pavese	....	voice dubbing: José Calvo (uncredited)
Nino Pavese	....	voice dubbing: Daniel Martin (uncredited)
Bruno Persa	....	voice dubbing: Sieghardt Rupp (uncredited)
Mario Pisu	....	voice dubbing: Antonio Prieto (uncredited)
Enrico Maria Salerno	....	voice dubbing: Clint Eastwood (uncredited)
Rita Savagnone	....	voice dubbing: Marianne Koch (uncredited)
Renato Turi	....	voice dubbing: Mario Brega (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Constantin Film Produktion
• Jolly Film
• Ocean Films

Distributors

• Constantin Film (1965) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Suomi-Filmi (1967) (Finland) (theatrical)
• United Artists Corporation (1967) (UK) (theatrical) (dubbed)
• United Artists (1967) (USA) (theatrical) (dubbed)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1975) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Adams Filmi (1977) (Finland) (theatrical)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1991) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Astro Distribution (1994) (Germany) (video) (laserdisc)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1996) (USA) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (Europe) (2001) (UK) (DVD)
• A-Film Home Entertainment (2002) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Atlantic Film (2002) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Bison Film (1966) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical)
• MGM Home Entertainment (Europe) (2005) (UK) (DVD)
• Tobis Filmkunst (Germany)
• Unidis
• United Artists (1969) (USA) (theatrical) (reissue)
• Video Film Express (199?) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Ízaro Films (????) (Spain) (theatrical)

Other Companies

• Andrea Leone Films  thanks (Italian version only)
• Cornejo  wardrobe
• Vázquez Hermanos  props

Also Known As:

A Fistful of Dollars (USA)
Für eine Handvoll Dollar (West Germany)
Il magnifico straniero (Italy) (working title)
Nur einer bleibt zurück (West Germany) (working title)
Por un puñado de dólares (Spain)
För en handfull dollar (Finland: Swedish title) (Sweden) [sv]
Por Um Punhado de Dólares (Brazil) (Portugal) [pt]
Pour une poignée de dollars (Canada: French title) (France) [fr]
En nævefuld dollars (Denmark) [da]
Für eine Handvoll Dollar (Austria) [de]
For en neve dollar (Norway) [no]
Kourallinen dollareita (Finland) [fi]
Koya no yojimbo (Japan) [ja]
Pentru un pumn de dolari (Romania) [ro]
Za saku dolara (Yugoslavia: Serbian title) [sr]

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

Italy | Spain | West Germany

Language:

Italian

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | Finland:K-16 (cut) (1967) | Finland:K-16 (re-rating) (cut) (1977) | Singapore:PG | Brazil:14 | South Korea:15 | UK:X (original rating) | Australia:MA (re-rating) (2004) | Australia:R (original rating) | Canada:G (Quebec) (re-rating) (2003) | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | Ireland:15 | Netherlands:12 | Norway:16 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 (video rating) (1986) | UK:AA (re-rating) (1981) | USA:M (original rating) | USA:R (re-rating) (1993) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) (original rating) | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Almería, Andalucía, Spain

Company:

Constantin Film Produktion

Trivia:

The trailers and promo material in the United States list the title of this film as "A Fistful of Dollars". The on-screen title on the film itself gives the title as simply "Fistful of Dollars".

Goofs:

Continuity: While Chico carries The Man With No Name back to his room after the party, the camera shows The Man With No Name has no facial hair. Also, when the Man With No Name enters his room after the massacre, Rubio is a different actor; Ramone's mustache is parted.

Quotes:

[last lines]
Joe: Mmh. Well, guess your government will be glad to see that gold back.
Silvanito: And you? You don't want to be here when they get it, eh?
Joe: You mean the Mexican goverment on one side? Maybe the Americans on the other side? Me right smack in the middle? Uhn-hn. Too dangerous. So long.
Silvanito: Adios.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Brady Bunch: A Fistful of Reasons (#2.8)" (1970)

"Yojimbo" Revisited - The Beginning of the Spaghetti Westerns

A drifter gunman (Clint Eastwood) arrives in the Mexican village of San Miguel in the border of United States of America, and befriends the owner of the local bar Silvanito (Jose Calvo). The stranger discovers that the town is dominated by two gangster lords: John Baxter (W. Lukschy) and the cruel Ramón Rojo (Gian Maria Volontè – a.k.a. John Wells). When the stranger kills four men of the Baxter's gang, he is hired by Ramón's brother Esteban Rojo (S. Rupp) to join their gang. However, the stranger plots a scheme working for both sides and playing one side against the other.

"Per un Pugno di Dollari" is a milestone in the history of the cinema, since the genre of "Spaghetti Westerns" didn't really exist previous to this movie. Sergio Leone used the storyline of Akira Kurosawa's "Yojimbo", replacing the samurai without a master ("ronin") Sanjuro Kuwabatake performed by Toshirô Mifune and the scenario of the rural Japanese town in Nineteenth Century by the stranger without a name (Clint Eastwood) and a small Mexican town in the border of the Wild and Far West. The result is a magnificent and remarkable movie, and beginning of the trilogy of Clint Eastwood's character Joe, who proves that "a man with a rifle beats a man with .45", completed by "Per Qualche Dollaro in Più" and "Il Buono, il Brutto, il Cattivo", . My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Por um Punhado de Dólares" ("For a Fistful of Dollars")