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

Director:

Sergio Leone

Writers:

Adriano Bolzoni (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:

Mexican | Drifter | Cult Film | Laughing | Fast Draw

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Clint Eastwood	...	Joe
Marianne Koch	...	Marisol
Gian Maria Volonté	...	Ramón Rojo (as John Wells)
Wolfgang Lukschy	...	John Baxter (as W. Lukschy)
Sieghardt Rupp	...	Esteban Rojo (as S. Rupp)
Joseph Egger	...	Piripero (as Joe Edger)
Antonio Prieto Puerto	...	Don Miguel Benito Rojo (as Antonio Prieto)
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:
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)
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
Adriano Bolzoni		(story) (as A. Bonzzoni) &
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 Leo Nichols)

Cinematography by
Massimo Dallamano		(photography) (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
Mark Lowell	....	adaptation: english dialogues
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)
• Universum Film (UFA) (2013) (Germany) (DVD)
• 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)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence (re-rating) (1993)

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:

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 (cut) | 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 | 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: DVD audio commentary by Sir Christopher Frayling) (2004) | UK:15 (video rating: special edition DVD) (2005) | Canada:18+ (TV rating) (on some TV networks) | Argentina:13 | UK:15 (tv rating)

Filming Locations:

Almería, Andalucía, Spain

Company:

Constantin Film Produktion

Trivia:

When the film made its U.S. network television debut on "The ABC Sunday Night Movie" in February 1975, a new prologue was added in which an unidentified lawman or politician (played by Harry Dean Stanton) orders "Joe" to get rid of the gangs of San Miguel in return for a pardon. Neither Eastwood nor Leone were involved in the shooting of this additional footage. A double with his face hidden and stock footage of Eastwood were used. Monte Hellman directed the new footage. This prologue is now available on the Special Edition released in 2005.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: When the Baxters and the Rojos are shooting at each other at the cemetery, Ramón Rojos runs over the tops of the rocks to get a better shot. As the Baxters fire at him, there is one bullet that hits the rocks under Ramón that had no sound of a rifle being fired nor any ricochet sound.

Quotes:

Joe:Crazy bellringer was right, there's money to be made in a place like this.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Thief Lord (2006)

A western classic and the movie that launched the careers of Sergio Leone and Clint Eastwood.

'A Fistful Of Dollars' is a wonderful movie which, despite having an enormous following of fans around the world, sometimes gets unfairly dismissed in my opinion. For two reasons - firstly because the second and third movie in Leone/Eastwood "Man With No Name" trilogy ('For A Few Dollars More' and 'The Good, The Bad and The Ugly') are so damn good it's easy to overlook this one. Despite being made on a much tighter budget and being less ambitious than the sequels to follow, it's still one of the greatest westerns ever made in my opinion. The second reason is the Yojimbo thing. Now movie buffs frequently slam 'A Fistful Of Dollars' as being a rip off of Kurosawa's 'Yojimbo', which I think is extremely misleading. I'm not disputing that Leone was familiar with Kurosawa (I have no idea one way or the other), but one name I rarely hear ANYONE mention is Dashiel Hammett. Hammett's hard boiled crime classic 'Red Harvest' was published THIRTY YEARS before 'Yojimbo' and features the same central premise of an anti-hero playing two rival groups off against each other. So if anyone deserves acknowledgement as uncredited inspiration for Leone (AND Kurosawa) it's Hammett. Anyway, this is an absolutely brilliant movie and it launched Clint Eastwood, a popular TV actor, into being a major movie star, and likewise put Sergio Leone on the map. I can't recommend 'A Fistful Of Dollars' highly enough, it's pure entertainment, and very, very cool!