Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo. (1966)

User Rating:

9.0/10   

Director:

Sergio Leone

Writers:

Luciano Vincenzoni (story) &
Sergio Leone (story) ...
(more)

Release Date:

29 December 1967 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Western

Tagline:

The Man with No Name Returns !

Plot:

A bounty hunting scam joins two men in an uneasy alliance against a third in a race to find a fortune in gold buried in a remote cemetery.

Plot Keywords:

Gold | Cemetery | Scam | Outlaw | Hitman

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Eli Wallach	...	Tuco
Clint Eastwood	...	Blondie
Lee Van Cleef	...	Sentenza / Angel Eyes
Aldo Giuffrè	...	Alcoholic Union Captain
Luigi Pistilli	...	Father Pablo Ramirez
Rada Rassimov	...	Maria
Enzo Petito	...	Storekeeper
Claudio Scarchilli	...	Mexican peon
John Bartha	...	Sheriff (as John Bartho)
Livio Lorenzon	...	Baker
Antonio Casale	...	Jackson / Bill Carson
Sandro Scarchilli	...	Mexican peon
Benito Stefanelli	...	Member of Angel Eyes' Gang
Angelo Novi	...	Monk
Antonio Casas	...	Stevens
Aldo Sambrell	...	Member of Angel Eyes' Gang
Al Mulock	...	One-armed Bounty Hunter (as Al Mulloch)
Sergio Mendizábal	...	Blonde Bounty Hunter (as Sergio Mendizabal)
Antonio Molino Rojo	...	Capt. Harper (as Molino Rocho)
Lorenzo Robledo	...	Member of Angel Eyes' Gang
Mario Brega	...	Cpl. Wallace
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Chelo Alonso	...	Stevens' Wife (uncredited)
Román Ariznavarreta	...	Bounty Hunter (uncredited)
Frank Braña	...	Bounty Hunter #2 (uncredited)
Saturno Cerra	...	Bounty Hunter (uncredited)
Luigi Ciavarro	...	Member of Angel Eye's Gang (uncredited)
William Conroy	...	Confederate Soldier (uncredited)
Jesús Guzmán	...	Pardue the Hotel Owner (uncredited)
Víctor Israel	...	Sergeant at Confederate Fort (uncredited)
Nazzareno Natale	...	Mexican Bounty Hunter (uncredited)
Ricardo Palacios	...	Bartender in Socorro (uncredited)
Romano Puppo	...	Clem (uncredited)
Antonio Ruiz	...	Stevens' Youngest Son (uncredited)
Aysanoa Runachagua	...	Pistolero recruited by Tuco in the cave (uncredited)
Enrique Santiago	...	Mexican Bounty Hunter (uncredited)
José Terrón	...	Thomas 'Shorty' Larson (uncredited)

Directed by
Sergio Leone

Writing credits
Luciano Vincenzoni		(story) &
Sergio Leone		(story)
Agenore Incrocci		(screenplay) (as Age) &
Furio Scarpelli		(screenplay) (as Scarpelli) &
Luciano Vincenzoni		(screenplay) &
Sergio Leone		(screenplay)

Produced by
Alberto Grimaldi	....	producer

Original Music by
Ennio Morricone

Cinematography by
Tonino Delli Colli		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Eugenio Alabiso
Nino Baragli
Joe D'Augustine		(extended English-language version)

Costume Design by
Carlo Simi

Makeup Department
Rino Carboni	....	makeup artist
Rino Todero	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Fernando Cinquini	....	production manager
Aldo Pomilia	....	production supervisor
Gray Frederickson	....	production manager: USA (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Fabrizio Gianni	....	assistant director
Giancarlo Santi	....	assistant director

Art Department
Carlo Leva	....	assistant art director
Carlo Simi	....	sets
Tani	....	equipment

Sound Department
James Alfaro	....	second engineer (2003 extended English-language version)
Vittorio De Sisti	....	sound engineer
George Haddad	....	sound designer (2003 extended English-language version)
Kent Harrison Hayes	....	audio restoration and remastering services (2003 extended English-language version)
Bob Lacivita	....	re-recording sound mixer (2003 extended English-language version)
Preston Martin	....	second engineer (2003 extended English-language version)
Garry Morris	....	audio restoration and remastering services (2003 extended English-language version)
Elio Pacella	....	sound engineer
Alan Porzio	....	adr editing (2003 extended English-language version)
Alan Porzio	....	adr recordist (2003 extended English-language version)
Nathan Scruggs	....	second engineer (2003 extended English-language version)
Fausto Ancillai	....	sound mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Eros Bacciucchi	....	special effects
Giovanni Corridori	....	special effects (uncredited)

Stunts
Fabio Testi	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Franco Di Giacomo	....	camera operator
Sergio Salvati	....	assistant camera

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Antonelli	....	costumes

Editorial Department
Neri Nazzareno	....	final colorist

Music Department
Giuseppe Mastroianni	....	music recordist
Bruno Nicolai	....	musical director

Other crew
Carlo Bartolini	....	production assistant
Serena Canevari	....	script girl
Luigi Corbo	....	production secretary
Jack DeLeon	....	adr talent (extended English-language version) (as Christopher Weeks)
Mickey Knox	....	dubbing director (english language version)
Eugenio Lardani	....	title designer (as Lardani)
Antonio Palombi	....	production secretary
André Sogliuzzo	....	adr talent (extended English-language version) (as Andre Sogliuzzo)
Federico Tofi	....	production assistant
Emilio Cigoli	....	voice dubbing: Lee Van Cleef (uncredited)
Nando Gazzolo	....	voice dubbing: Luigi Pistilli (uncredited)
Pino Locchi	....	voice dubbing: Aldo Giuffrè (uncredited)
Glauco Onorato	....	voice dubbing: Al Mulock (uncredited)
Luigi Pavese	....	voice dubbing: Antonio Casas (uncredited)
Nino Pavese	....	voice dubbing: John Bartha (uncredited)
Bruno Persa	....	voice dubbing: Victor Israel (uncredited)
Mario Pisu	....	voice dubbing: Livio Lorenzon (uncredited)
Carlo Romano	....	voice dubbing: Eli Wallach (uncredited)
Enrico Maria Salerno	....	voice dubbing: Clint Eastwood (uncredited)
Rita Savagnone	....	voice dubbing: Rada Rassimov (uncredited)
Renato Turi	....	voice dubbing: Mario Brega (uncredited)

Thanks
Clint Eastwood	....	special thanks (2003 extended English-language version)
Alberto Grimaldi	....	special thanks (2003 extended English-language version)
Eli Wallach	....	special thanks (2003 extended English-language version)

Production Companies

• Arturo González Producciones Cinematográficas, S.A
• Constantin Film Produktion
• Produzioni Europee Associati (PEA)

Distributors

• United Artists (1967) (USA) (theatrical) (dubbed)
• United Artists (1968) (France) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1967) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• United Artists Films (1968) (Finland) (theatrical) (cut version)
• United Films Finland (1984) (Finland) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1974) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere) (pan/scan)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment Japan (2000-2005) (Japan) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment Japan (2007) (Japan) (DVD)
• Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Cinema Mondo (2003) (Finland) (theatrical) (restored version)
• FS Film Oy (2004) (Finland) (DVD)
• Gloria Film A/S (2002) (Denmark) (theatrical) (re-release)
• MGM Home Entertainment (Europe) (2000) (UK) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2000) (Germany) (VHS)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2003) (France) (VHS)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2004) (France) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (199?) (USA) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (????) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (2003) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Park Circus (2008) (UK) (theatrical) (re-issue)
• Pioneer LDC (1993) (Japan) (video) (laserdisc)
• Sony Pictures Entertainment (2006) (Japan) (DVD)
• Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (2004) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (2009) (Sweden) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• United Artists (1968) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Warner Home Video (1999) (Germany) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (1999) (Japan) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (1994) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Vidéo (1996) (France) (VHS)

Other Companies

• American Movie Classics (AMC)  special thanks (as AMC) (2003 extended English-language version)
• Cantonri Moderni of Allessandroni  choir
• Cineteca Nazionale C.S.C  special thanks (as Cineteca Nazionale, Italy) (2003 extended English-language version)
• Dolby Laboratories  special thanks (2003 extended English-language version)
• Elios Film  interiors
• Eureka Edizioni Musicali  music publishing
• Film Foundation, The  special thanks (2003 extended English-language version)
• Hollywood Title  end titles by (2003 extended English-language version)
• Intersound  audio restoration and remastering services (2003 extended English-language version)
• Orchestra Cinefonica Italiana  orchestra
• Technicolor Rome  special thanks (2003 extended English-language version)
• The Studios of International Recording  score recording facility
• Western Costume Company  costumes

Also Known As:

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (UK) (USA)
El bo, el lleig i el dolent (Spain: Catalan title)
El bueno, el feo y el malo (Spain)
I due magnifici straccioni (Italy) (working title)
The Good, the Ugly, the Bad (USA) (literal English title)
The Magnificent Rogues (UK)
Zwei glorreiche Halunken (West Germany)
Le bon, la brute et le truand (Belgium: French title) (Canada: French title) (France) [fr]
El bueno, el malo y el feo (Argentina) (Venezuela) [es]
A jó, a rossz és a csúf (Hungary) [hu]
Bunul, raul si urâtul (Romania) [ro]
De goede, de harde, de vagebond (Belgium: Flemish title) [un]
Den gode, den onde och den fule (Finland: Swedish title) [sv]
Den gode, den onde og den grusomme (Norway) [no]
Den gode, den onde og den grusomme (Denmark) [da]
Den gode, den onde, den fule (Sweden) [sv]
Den gode, den vonde og den hjartelause (Norway) (TV title) [no]
Dobar, los, zao (Yugoslavia: Serbian title) [sr]
Dobry, zly i brzydki (Poland) [pl]
Goda, onda och fula (Finland: Swedish title) [sv]
Hyvät pahat rumat (Finland) [fi]
Hyvät, pahat ja rumat (Finland) [fi]
Iyi, kötü ve çirkin (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
O Bom, O Mal e O Feio (Brazil) [pt]
O Bom, o Mau e o Vilão (Portugal) [pt]
O kalos, o kakos kai o ashimos (Greece) [el]
Três Homens em Conflito (Brazil) [pt]
Zwei glorreiche Halunken (Austria) [de]

Runtime:

161 min | France:186 min (dubbed version) | Spain:182 min | UK:180 min (re-release) | 179 min (2005 DVD Special Edition) | Finland:142 min (1984) (cut version)

Country:

Italy | Spain | West Germany

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #21520) | Canada:18 (Nova Scotia) (extended version) (2003) | Canada:A (Nova Scotia) (original rating) | Italy:VM14 | Spain:13 | Finland:K-16 (cut) (1968) | Norway:16 (1982) | Australia:MA (re-rating) (2003) | South Korea:12 | Brazil:14 | Germany:16 (DVD release) | West Germany:16 (nf) (re-rating) | West Germany:18 (nf) (original rating) | Portugal:M/12 (DVD rating) | UK:15 (2008) | USA:TV-14 (cable rating) | Argentina:16 | Australia:R (original rating) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) (original rating) | Canada:G (Quebec) (re-rating) (2003) | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | Chile:18 | France:-16 (original rating) | France:U (re-rating) | Iceland:16 | Ireland:15 (re-rating) | Ireland:18 (original rating) | New Zealand:M (video rating) | New Zealand:R13 (Special Edition DVD) | Norway:15 | Singapore:PG | Sweden:15 | UK:18 (video rating) (1986) | UK:X (original rating) (cut) | USA:M (re-rating) (1969) | USA:R (re-rating) (1989) | Netherlands:12 (DVD rating)

Filming Locations:

Almería, Andalucía, Spain

Company:

Arturo González Producciones Cinematográficas, S.A

Trivia:

Ennio Morricone's iconic theme music was designed in places to mimic the sound of crying hyena.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When the runaway Confederate carriage first appears in the desert you can see someone steering it. Then, as Tuco seizes the horse-team to stop the carriage, the reins are obviously being held by the out-of-frame driver. In the next shot, viewed from the driver's bench, the reins visibly tighten to halt the horses and then drop.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Stevens: You're... from Baker... Tell Baker that I told him all that I know already. Tell him I want to live in peace, understand? That it's no use to go on tormenting me! I know nothing at all about that case of coins. Now that gold has disappeared, but if he'd listened, we could have avoided this altogether. I went to the Army court; there were no witnesses. They couldn't uncover any more. I can't tell Baker what happened to the money; go back and tell him that!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Supernatural: Are You There, God? It's Me... Dean Winchester (#4.2)" (2008)

Soundtrack:

The Good, The Bad And The Ugly

The world is not black and white

Ok- first, as mentioned in another review, the geographic/historical errors in this film are GLARING. You've got men carrying revolvers that look like old style cap-and-ball pistols, but they're loading them with metallic cartridges- historically about five years early. Eastwood carries a rifle that hasn't been invented yet, Tuco assembles a "superpistol" out of a Colt, a Remington, and a Smith and Wesson- impossible. And there was nothing of merit taking place between the North and South during the Civil War in the Southwest. Now, that aside, I must say that this is the Greatest western ever. I first saw this film when I was about ten. I'd never sat through an entire Western befor, even though my Dad watched them constantly. Since then, I've been through film school, watched hundreds of Westerns, learned to appreciate them- but NOTHING matches up to this. The Searchers, Stagecoach, Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, The Gunfighter, High Noon, Shane- all great films, but saddled with the standard American Western morality- the good guy never takes liberties with the eastern schoolmarm, the bad guy wears a black hat, etc. Coming from Italy, TG,TB &TU isn't bound by these conventions. Blondie's the "good guy"- but he's also a bounty hunter. He makes a living in a highly immoral way, but is obviously the "good"- not because we're told, but from small acts- giving the dying soldier a cigar, making sure the Captain knows to hold on till he hears the bridge blow, the genuine regret he feel for having to let Shorty die. And while Angel Eyes may be the Bad, we at least know he has prinicpals- when he's hired for a job, he always sees the job through. And Tuco may be more immoral than the other two, but he's so savvy and his role so humorous that one can't bring oneself to look upon him disfavorably. In other words, historical inaccuracies aside, TG, TB, & TU maybe one of the most accurate portrayals of the West ever put on film- there are no clear-cut lines of conduct, no black and white, or even grey, but just a swirled palette of various facets of the human condition.