Blondie (The Good) (Clint Eastwood) is a professional gunslinger who is out trying to earn a few dollars. Angel Eyes (The Bad) (Lee Van Cleef) is a hitman who always commits to a task and sees it through, as long as he is paid to do so. And Tuco (The Ugly) (Eli Wallach) is a wanted outlaw trying to take care of his own hide. Tuco and Blondie share a partnership together making money off of Tuco's bounty, but when Blondie unties the partnership, Tuco tries to hunt down Blondie. When Blondie and Tuco come across a horse carriage loaded with dead bodies, they soon learn from the only survivor, Bill Carson (Antonio Casale), that he and a few other men have buried a stash of gold in a cemetery. Unfortunately, Carson dies and Tuco only finds out the name of the cemetery, while Blondie finds out the name on the grave. Now the two must keep each other alive in order to find the gold. Angel Eyes (who had been looking for Bill Carson) discovers that Tuco and Blondie met with Carson and knows ...Written by
Jeremy Thomson
Despite playing a Mexican outlaw, Eli Wallach was of Polish-Jewish descent. See more »
Goofs
The cartridges seen on Angel Eyes' bandoleer did not only not fit his percussion cap revolver but were full metal jacketed. FMJ ammunition was not developed until 1882. See more »
Quotes
[first lines]
Stevens:
You're... from Baker?
[Angel Eyes is silent, eating a bowl of stew and staring at him]
Stevens:
Tell Baker that I told him all that I know already and 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.
[Angel Eyes stops eating and looks interested]
Stevens:
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...
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Crazy Credits
Although Eli Wallach has the most screen time and is one of the titular characters, he is credited as "...and Eli Wallach in the role of Tuco" after all the other actors' names appear. See more »
Alternate Versions
The additional 14min in the original version (Italian release, then DVD bonuses) are only transitions scenes, heavily depicting the gloomy war background.
The first additional scene (the longest) comes right after Tuco failed to hang Blondie. Sentenza tracks Bill Carson and investigates among derelict confederate soldiers. He learns that the 3rd regiment has flown through the desert "which is not much better than the Union prison." [DAY]
After the scene in the desert where Bill Carson shares his secret, Tuco, steering the carriage in a gray uniform, asks a group of Confederate soldiers where he can find a doctor for Blondie. He says he is Bill Carson then learns that the San Antonio mission is just a few miles away. [NIGHT]
While Tuco enjoys his railroad trip (with Corporal Wallace), Sentenza and Blondie are on their way to the cemetery. They stopped for the night by a river. Strangers show up, Blondie shots one and then learn they're Sentenza's henchmen. There are 5 new comrades plus Sentenza. Blondie: "6 - the perfect number." Sentenza: "I thought 3 was the perfect number." Blondie: "Yes, but in my gun there's room for 6 bullets."
Best western in history, best soundtrack in history.
Mesmerizing acting by the 3 main characters, Eli Wallach is the standout star of the film. Cinematography is really well done and the shots are beautiful. The ending is absolutely perfect.
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Best western in history, best soundtrack in history. Mesmerizing acting by the 3 main characters, Eli Wallach is the standout star of the film. Cinematography is really well done and the shots are beautiful. The ending is absolutely perfect.