A Fistful of Dollars (1964) Per un pugno di dollari (original title)

Director:

Sergio Leone

Writers:

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

Release Date:

18 January 1967 (USA)

Genre:

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:

Drifter | Mexican | Coffin | Action Hero | Six Shooter

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Clint Eastwood	...	Joe
Marianne Koch	...	Marisol
Gian Maria Volonté	...	Ramón Rojo (as Johnny Wels)
Wolfgang Lukschy	...	John Baxter (as W. Lukschy)
Sieghardt Rupp	...	Esteban Rojo (as S. Rupp)
Joseph Egger	...	Piripero (as Joe Edger)
Antonio Prieto	...	Don Miguel Benito Rojo
José Calvo	...	Silvanito (as Jose Calvo)
Margarita Lozano	...	Consuelo Baxter (as Margherita Lozano)
Daniel Martín	...	Julián (as Daniel Martin)
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:
Harry Dean Stanton	...	Prison Warden .version 1977
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	...	Cavalry Captain (uncredited)
Álvaro de Luna	...	Rojo Gang Member (uncredited)
Nino Del Arco	...	Jesus (uncredited)
Jose Halufi	...	Rojo Gang Member (uncredited)
Frank Kalvow	...	(uncredited)
Lee Miller	...	Man at Bar (uncredited)
Antonio Molino Rojo	...	Baxter Gang Member (uncredited)
Antonio Moreno	...	Juan de dios (uncredited)
Nazzareno Natale	...	Rojo Gang Member (uncredited)
José Orjas	...	(uncredited)
Manuel Peña	...	(uncredited)
Antonio Pica	...	Rojo Gang Member (uncredited)
Nosher Powell	...	Cowboy (uncredited)
Julio Pérez Tabernero	...	Baxter Gunman 4 (uncredited)
José Riesgo	...	Mexican Cavalry Captain (uncredited)
Lorenzo Robledo	...	Baxter Gunman #1 (uncredited)
Enrico Maria Salerno	...	Joe (uncredited) (voice: Italian version)
Enrique Santiago	...	Fausto, Rojo Gang Member (uncredited)
Umberto Spadaro	...	Miguel - Rojo Gunman (uncredited)
Fernando Sánchez Polack	...	Rojo Gang Member Crushed by Wine Cask (uncredited)
William R. Thompkins	...	Baxter Gang Member (uncredited)
Edmondo Tieghi	...	Mexican soldier (uncredited)
Antonio Vico	...	(uncredited)

Directed by
Sergio Leone

Writing credits
Ryûzô 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
Duccio Tessari		uncredited
Tonino Valerii		uncredited

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

Original Music by
Ennio Morricone		(as Dan Savio)

Cinematography by
Massimo Dallamano		(photography by) (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)

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 (as Gunter Raguse)
Fernando Rossi	....	unit manager (as Fred Ross)
Anselmo Zabala	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Franco Giraldi	....	assistant director (as Frank Prestland)
Julio Sempere	....	assistant director
Mario Caiano	....	assistant director (uncredited)
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	....	stunt coordinator
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
Ramón Sempere	....	first assistant camera
José Sánchez	....	camera operator
José María Sánchez	....	camera operator
Julio Wizuete	....	still photographer

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

Costume and Wardrobe Department
María Casado	....	wardrobe
Carlo Simi	....	costumes (as Charles Simons)

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 adviser (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)
Géneviève Hersent	....	publicist (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)
Tonino Valerii	....	dialogue director (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Constantin Film Produktion
• Jolly Film
• Ocean Films

Distributors

• Unidis (1964) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Constantin Film (1965) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Ízaro Films (1965) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Bison Film (1966) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Suomi-Filmi (1967) (Finland) (theatrical)
• United Artists Corporation (1967) (UK) (theatrical) (dubbed)
• United Artists (1967) (USA) (theatrical) (dubbed)
• United Artists (1969) (USA) (theatrical) (re-issue)
• Adams Filmi (1977) (Finland) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1977) (USA) (TV) (with added prologue)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1991) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Astro Distribution (1994) (Germany) (video) (laserdisc)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1996) (USA) (VHS)
• Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical) (re-issue)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (Europe) (2000) (UK) (VHS)
• MGM Home Entertainment (Europe) (2001) (UK) (DVD)
• A-Film Home Entertainment (2002) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Atlantic Film (2002) (Sweden) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2003) (France) (VHS)
• MGM Home Entertainment (Europe) (2005) (UK) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2005) (France) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2007) (Germany) (DVD)
• Ripley's Home Video (2009) (Italy) (DVD)
• Tobis Filmkunst (????) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Reserva Especial (1994) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Video Film Express (19??) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• marketing-film (19??) (West Germany) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Andrea Leone Films  thanks (Italian version only)
• Cornejo  wardrobe
• R.C.A.  musical edition
• Vázquez Hermanos  props

Also Known As:

"Per un pugno di dollari" - Italy (original title)
"For a Fistful of Dollars" - International (English title) (literal English title)

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

Italy | Spain | West Germany

Language:

Italian | Spanish

Color:

Color (Technicolor) (as 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 | New Zealand:M | UK:15 (video rating: special edition DVD) (2005) | UK:15 (video rating: DVD audio commentary by Sir Christopher Frayling) (2004) | Canada:18+ (TV rating) (on some TV networks) | Argentina:13 | UK:15 (tv rating) | UK:X (original rating) (passed with cuts) | 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) (1999) (2002) | UK:AA (re-rating) (1981) | USA:M (Approved No. 21386) (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:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): During the shooting in the cemetery,the two supposedly alive soldiers remain completely still.It would be extremely awkward for someone to not react at all in a situation like this,therefore the two families should realize that something was wrong.

Quotes:

Joe:You see, I understand you men were just playin' around, but the mule, he just doesn't get it. Course, if you were to all apologize...
[Men Laugh]
Joe:I don't think it's nice, you laughin'. You see, my mule don't like people laughing. He gets the crazy idea you're laughin' at him. Now if you apologize, like I know you're going to, I might convince him that you really didn't mean it.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Munje! (2001)

The Star Wars of westerns...

When Per un pungo di dollari, or A Fistful Of Dollars, was released in the mid-1960s, the term "Spaghetti Western" was coined as a putdown to these brazen new films that dared to recreate the Wild West in a place as far away as Italy. However, the last laugh was shared by the Italian directors, whose new style of portraying Colonial America in a realistic style rather than the romanticised way that was characteristic of John Wayne and his contemporaries will be remembered long after the films of the romanticised style are no more.

The plot is indescribably simple, as Clint Eastwood simply wanders into a town where gang warfare has stripped the economy to the point where only the local undertaker makes a profit and turns the two warring families against one another. Sergio Leone's best-known trademark, his dynamic use of widescreen ratios, comes to the fore here as Clint shares a film frame with no less than four of his enemies, all of whom have plenty to say to him and vice versa. This is one film where a pan and scan transfer is purely and simply vandalism. Some of the dialogue that is included here absolutely takes the cake for cleverness and wit, too. Asking four gunslingers to apologise to a horse, well, if it wasn't a man as famous for playing a gunslinger as Clint Eastwood, it'd be ridiculous.

Transplanting old Samurai legends into the Wild West works well, as you can see here. Simply having an old mercenary who travels the land in search of wrongs to right and battles to be fought makes the story a lot more compelling than the Westerns where we are told every iota of the characters' motivations in the hope that it will give them some depth. The element of the main hero not getting involved in every scuffle that the bad guys cause, our semi-nameless hero's ignoring a drunken thug shooting at a little boy being the most obvious example, was another master stroke, one that got Eastwood involved in doing the film to begin with. The confrontation at the end of the film works well, too, with pyrotechnics exploding all over the picture in a bright display that keeps the film powerful and yet focused at the same time.

All in all, Per un pungo di dollari gets nine out of ten from me. The lack of any interesting support characters does dull the story a little, but this mistake was quickly rectified in the two sequels. The addition of Lee Van Cleef also worked well, but in this effort, it's all Clint Eastwood, and while the rest of the cast are nowhere near as interesting, it's all a better watch than anything the Americans were lumping out at the time.