The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966) Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo. (original title)

Director:

Sergio Leone

Writers:

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

Release Date:

29 December 1967 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Western

Tagline:

They formed an alliance of hate to steal a fortune in dead man's gold

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 | Battle | Treasure | American Civil War

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Eli Wallach	...	Tuco
Clint Eastwood	...	Blondie
Lee Van Cleef	...	Sentenza / Angel Eyes
Aldo Giuffrè	...	Alcoholic Union Captain (as Aldo Giuffre')
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	...	Clem
Mario Brega	...	Cpl. Wallace
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Chelo Alonso	...	Stevens' Wife (uncredited)
Fortunato Arena	...	1st Sombrero Onlooker at Tuco's 1st Hanging (uncredited)
Román Ariznavarreta	...	Bounty Hunter (uncredited)
Frank Braña	...	Bounty Hunter #2 (uncredited)
Amerigo Castrighella	...	2nd Sombrero Onlooker at Tuco's 1st Hanging (uncredited)
Saturno Cerra	...	Bounty Hunter (uncredited)
Luigi Ciavarro	...	Member of Angel Eye's Gang (uncredited)
William Conroy	...	Confederate Soldier (uncredited)
Tony Di Mitri	...	Deputy (uncredited)
Attilio Dottesio	...	3rd Sombrero Onlooker at Tuco's 1st Hanging (uncredited)
Veriano Ginesi	...	Bald Onlooker at Tuco's 1st Hanging (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	...	Member of Angel Eyes' Gang (uncredited)
Antoñito 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)
Mickey Knox		(English version by)

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

Production Design by
Carlo Simi

Costume Design by
Carlo Simi

Makeup Department
Rino Carboni	....	makeup artist
Rino Todero	....	hairdresser

Production Management
Fernando Cinquini	....	production manager
Aldo Pomilia	....	production supervisor
José Antonio Pérez Giner	....	production manager
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

Sound Department
James Alfaro	....	second engineer (2003 extended English-language version)
Vittorio De Sisti	....	sound engineer
Bob Lacivita	....	re-recording sound mixer (2003 extended English-language version)
Preston Martin	....	second engineer (2003 extended English-language version)
Elio Pacella	....	sound engineer
Alan Porzio	....	adr editing (2003 extended English-language version)
Alan Porzio	....	adr recording (2003 extended English-language version)
Nathan Scruggs	....	second engineer (2003 extended English-language version)
Burton Sharp	....	ADR voice casting (2003 extended English-language version)
Fausto Ancillai	....	sound mixer (uncredited)

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

Stunts
Román Ariznavarreta	....	stunts (uncredited)
John Landis	....	stunt performer (uncredited)
Valentino Pelizzi	....	stunt performer (uncredited)
Benito Stefanelli	....	stunt coordinator (uncredited)
Benito Stefanelli	....	stunts (uncredited)
Fabio Testi	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Franco Di Giacomo	....	cameraman
Sergio Salvati	....	assistant cameraman

Editorial Department
Vrej Allahverdian	....	negative cutter (2003 extended English-language version)
Joe D'Augustine	....	additional editor (2003 extended English-language version)
Sharol Olson	....	color timer (2003 extended English-language version) (as Sharol Olsen)
Neri Nazzareno	....	final colorist (uncredited)

Music Department
Cantori Moderni Di Alessandroni	....	choirs (as 'I Cantori Moderni' of Alessandroni)
Giuseppe Mastroianni	....	recording by
Bruno Nicolai	....	musical director
Bruno Battisti D'Amario	....	musician: guitar (uncredited)
Italo Cammarota	....	musician: ocarina (uncredited)
Cantori Moderni Di Alessandroni	....	chorus (uncredited)
Francesco Catania	....	musician: trumpet (uncredited)
Franco Cosacchi	....	singer (uncredited)
Franco De Gemini	....	musician: harmonica (uncredited)
Nino Dei	....	singer (uncredited)
Edda Dell'Orso	....	singer (uncredited)
E. Wolf Ferrari	....	musician: English horn (uncredited)
Enzo Gioieni	....	singer (uncredited)
Michele Lacerenza	....	musician: trumpet (uncredited)
John O'Neill	....	musician: whistler (uncredited)
Vincenzo Restuccia	....	musician: percussions (uncredited)
Nicola Samale	....	musician: flute (uncredited)
Gianna Spagnolo	....	singer (uncredited)

Other crew
Carlo Bartolini	....	production assistant
Serena Canevari	....	script girl
Luigi Corbo	....	production secretary
Jack DeLeon	....	adr talent (2003 extended English-language version) (as Christopher Weeks)
Matt Keeslar	....	adr talent (2003 extended English-language version)
Eugenio Lardani	....	titles (as Lardani)
Tony Munroe	....	film laboratory services: Triage Motion Picture Services, Los Angeles (2003 extended English-language version)
Antonio Palombi	....	production secretary
Paul Pape	....	adr talent (2003 extended English-language version)
Simon Prescott	....	adr talent (2003 extended English-language version)
Paul Rutan Jr.	....	film laboratory services: Triage Motion Picture Services, Los Angeles (2003 extended English-language version)
David Sargent	....	adr talent (2003 extended English-language version)
Burton Sharp	....	adr talent (2003 extended English-language version)
André Sogliuzzo	....	adr talent (2003 extended English-language version) (extended English-language version) (as Andre Sogliuzzo)
Federico Tofi	....	production assistant
Tom Wyner	....	adr talent (2003 extended English-language version)
Emilio Cigoli	....	voice dubbing: Lee Van Cleef (uncredited)
Nando Gazzolo	....	voice dubbing: Luigi Pistilli (uncredited)
Mickey Knox	....	dubbing director (english language version) (uncredited)
Oreste Lionello	....	voice dubbing: Josef Egger (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

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

Distributors

• United Artists (1967) (USA) (theatrical) (dubbed)
• United Artists (1967) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Nova Film (1968) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1968) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1968) (France) (theatrical)
• United Artists Films (1968) (Finland) (theatrical) (cut version)
• United Artists (1968) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• United Films Finland (1984) (Finland) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1974) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere) (pan/scan)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Cinema Mondo (2003) (Finland) (theatrical) (restored version)
• Filmmuseum Distributie (2009) (Netherlands) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Gloria Film A/S (2002) (Denmark) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (2003) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Park Circus (2008) (UK) (theatrical) (re-issue)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment Japan (2000-2005) (Japan) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment Japan (2007) (Japan) (DVD)
• FS Film Oy (2004) (Finland) (DVD)
• 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 (19??) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Mondo Home Entertainment (2007) (Italy) (DVD) (cut)
• Mondo Home Entertainment (2009) (Italy) (DVD) (uncut)
• Pioneer LDC (1993) (Japan) (video) (laserdisc)
• Sony Pictures Entertainment (2006) (Japan) (DVD)
• Star Entertainment (2000) (India) (all media)
• Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (2004) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (2009) (Sweden) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• 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)
• Casa Antonelli  costumes (as Antonelli)
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes (uncredited)
• 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 publishers (as " Eureka Edizioni Musicali")
• 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) (as Intersound Inc., Los Angeles)
• Orchestra Cinefonica Italiana  orchestra
• Tani  props
• Technicolor Rome  special thanks (2003 extended English-language version)
• The Studios of International Recording  recording effected at
• Western Costume Company  costumes (as Western Costume Co.)

Also Known As:

"Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo." - Italy (original title)
"The Good, the Ugly, the Bad" - USA (literal English title)

Runtime:

161 min | France:186 min (dubbed version) | Spain:182 min | 179 min (2003 extended English version) | Finland:142 min (1984) (cut version)

Country:

Italy | Spain | West Germany

Language:

Italian

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Argentina:16 | Australia:R (original rating) | Canada:14+ (Quebec) (original rating) | Canada:G (Quebec) (re-rating) (2003) | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | Chile:18 | France:U (orginal 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 (cut) | UK:18 (video rating: 155m) (1986) | UK:X (original rating) (cut) | USA:M (re-rating) (1969) | USA:R (re-rating) (1989) | Netherlands:12 (DVD rating) | 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 (extended cut: 178m) (2008) | USA:TV-14 (cable rating) | France:-12 (DVD rating) | UK:15 (video rating: additional material, audio commentary 182m) (2010) | UK:18 (video rating: feature and trailer, extended version 174m) (2004) | UK:18 (video rating: extended version DVD audio commentary 171m) (2004) | UK:18 (video rating: 156m) (1999) (2003) | Peru:14 | Netherlands:18 (orginal rating) | UK:15 (video re-rating: 182m uncut) (2010)

Filming Locations:

Almería, Andalucía, Spain

Company:

Produzioni Europee Associati (PEA)

Trivia:

The three principal actors are the only ones who speak actual English in the film: Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef, Eli Wallach, with the exceptions of Al Mulock (the one-armed man) and John Bartha (the sheriff). Everyone else in the film is really speaking their native language, mostly Italian and Spanish, and was later dubbed into English.

Goofs:

Incorrectly regarded as goofs: Tuco and Blondie blow the bridge using dynamite. Though dynamite was not available at that time, if you examine carefully, they appear to be black powder charges wrapped in paper.

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 "Seinfeld: The Strike (#9.10)" (1997)

Brutal, brilliant, and one of the best Westerns ever made

A sprawling Western epic that follows the adventures of three gunfighters looking for $200,000 in stolen gold, Sergio Leone's `The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly' is a masterpiece, one that continues to get better and better with each viewing. In a way, it's a morality play, weighing the consequences of good and evil, but it does so in a realistic manner. Sometimes, crime does pay, at least in the short term, and sometimes good does go unrewarded. This film probably signaled the death knell of the traditional John Wayne `White Hat/Black Hat' Western.

The three main characters make the film. Lee Van Cleef (`The Bad') is evil personified. Totally ruthless, he'll do whatever it takes to get what he wants. Clint Eastwood (`The Good') is the Man With No Name, not really `good' in a traditional sense . . . but he has a certain sense of honor and tries to do the right thing. (Watch the scene when he gives a dying Confederate soldier a puff of his cigar - powerful, and it sums up everything that the Man With No Name is all about, without saying a single word.) Eli Wallach (`The Ugly') is Tuco, and he's easily the most complex - if not the best - character in the film. All impulse and rage, Tuco spins wildly throughout the movie, stealing, lying, pretending to be Clint Eastwood's best friend in one scene, trying to kill him in another - Tuco truly represents `the ugly' side of people.

The movie is long, but there's not a wasted scene in the film. Each one slowly lets the film unfold with a certain style and grace, revealing more about each character and what's going on. The pacing is incredible, as is the direction - Sergio Leone manages to build a lot of uncomfortable tension in the film, keeping the film from ever getting predictable. Any typical Western cliché that you can possibly think of is either given a unique twist or utterly destroyed by Leone's masterful storytelling. Of special mention is Ennio Morricone's score, which is absolutely perfect. Two scenes - one in a Union prison camp, one in the climatic gunfight in the cemetery at the end of the film - are amazing on their own, but they become absolutely astonishing with combined with Morricone's powerful score.

This movie is absolutely brilliant. If you haven't seen it yet, I strongly urge to do so. Immediately. (And then, go watch `Unforgiven' . . . in a way, I think that `Unforgiven' is the sequel to `The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly - it's the story of what eventually happened to the Man With No Name.) `The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly' is easily one of the best Westerns ever made. A++