Duck You Sucker (1971)

A low-life bandit and an I.R.A. explosives expert rebel against the government and become heroes of the Mexican Revolution.

Director:

Sergio Leone

Writers:

Sergio Leone (story), Sergio Donati (story)

Stars:

Rod Steiger, James Coburn, Romolo Valli

1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Rod Steiger	...	Juan Miranda
James Coburn	...	John H. Mallory
Romolo Valli	...	Dr. Villega
Maria Monti	...	Adelita, Coach Passenger
Rik Battaglia	...	Santerna (as Rick Battaglia)
Franco Graziosi	...	Governor Huerta
Antoine Saint-John	...	Gutierez / Col. Günther Reza (as Domingo Antoine) (as Jean Michel Antoine)
Vivienne Chandler	...	Coleen, John's Girlfriend
David Warbeck	...	Nolan, John's Friend
Giulio Battiferri	...	Miguel
Poldo Bendandi	...	Executed Revolutionary
Omar Bonaro	...	Revolutionary
Roy Bosier	...	Landowner on stagecoach
John Frederick	...	American on stagecoach
Amato Garbini	...	First Policeman on Train

Storyline

Packed with sticks of dynamite, the Irish rebel and explosives expert, John H. Mallory, finds himself in Revolution-torn 1913 Mexico, on the run from the British government. Riding a dusty, V-twin Indian motorcycle, John crosses paths with the short-fused Mexican bandit, Juan Miranda, and his gun-toting family of outlaws, and before long, his expertise in explosives becomes evident. Now, bent on putting Mallory's skills to good use, devious Juan forms an uneasy partnership with John to rob the impregnable Mesa Verde National Bank. Instead, what seemed like an unmissable opportunity to get rich will become a trap, enmeshing the unlikely duo in the Revolution, having no other choice but to fight together with the troops of Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata against the evil Colonel Günther Reza. Can John's dynamite get them out of the tight spot?

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Plot Keywords:

explosive | mexican revolution | explosion | bandit | revolutionary | 

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Taglines:

A Fistful of Dollars - For a Few Dollars More - The Good, the Bad and the Ugly - and now SERGIO LEONE explodes his greatest adventure

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Genres:

Drama | War | Western

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

When his son complains about the lack of money in John's bike, Juan slaps him and says "I don't know why I named you Napoleon when you have no imagination!". Rod Steiger, who plays Juan Miranda, also played Napoleon Bonaparte in Waterloo (1970).

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Goofs

When the deserter is taken from the train to be executed along with two others the wall behind him is shot at and damaged on both sides of the deserter. The following close-up shot of the deserter getting shot in the back reveals no damage to the wall.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Stagecoach driver: [shouts various commands to the horses in Spanish, eventually making theme stop near a water trough]
Juan Miranda: [runs to the stagecoach] Señor! Señor! Señor...
Yankee, Stagecoach Driver: [to the Mexican driver] Tighten up that girth.
Juan Miranda: Señor, I... I must go to San Felipe... my mother is dead!
Yankee, Stagecoach Driver: Straight down the road, about fifty miles.
Juan Miranda: [pats his shoulder, and hands him some money] Please?
Yankee, Stagecoach Driver: [pushes him] Eh, get outta here.
[Juan begins to walk away, crying]
Yankee, Stagecoach Driver: Hey. Hey, amigo. Come here.
[...]

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Crazy Credits

Uncut English-language prints of the film use 'Duck You Sucker' as its title, while edited reissues use 'A Fistful of Dynamite', with 'Duck, You Sucker' in smaller print and in parenthesis underneath.

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Alternate Versions

The Italian version of the film, which has been screened at London's National Film Theatre, runs about 157m - the difference is that the climatic flashback scene runs about 3 minutes longer (only 30s in other prints or missing entirely) and shows Coburn getting jealous at the attention Warbeck is giving his girlfriend - thus giving a whole additional meaning to the betrayal sub-plot.

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Connections

References Viva Villa! (1934)

User Reviews

A typically strong Leone film with added interesting political content

John Malloy is an IRA explosives expert, on the run in Mexico. Juan Miranda is a Mexican bandit with no interest in the political upheaval in his country and only a dream of hitting the large bank his father once failed to rob. When the two meet, Juan sees John's explosives as the way into the ban, but John has no interest and it is only when Juan frames him for the murder of some senior soldiers that John relents. Arriving in the town, the bank looks like a simple hit if they can find some way of distracting the masses of soldiers that now control the small town – luckily the revolution is in full swing and rebels are in great demand; but it is not long before Juan's idea of a simple bank robbery sees him up to his neck in a struggle that he has no interest in.

Many reviewers have said how strong the Leone formula is and I won't be able to add much to their words but for me this is a fine film mainly because it takes apart yet another of the cinema myths of the noble revolutionary fighters and has a fascinating thread of political commentary running all the way through it. It doesn't open this way though, rather it starts with Leone's usual brand of wit and confrontation between John and Juan and it all feels like it will be similar (and just as good) to some of Leone's other westerns. However, about an hour in, it becomes more interesting thanks to the rather shocking portrayal of the revolution (on both sides) and the ripping into the ideas behind it. It only adds to the basic plot and, when it becomes the main focus, the film is stronger for it, although Leone's Marxist views may be a little hard to swallow for some viewers in the west. That said, it does still work as a typical Leone western and fans of his will still love this film.

The cast is good but you gotta wonder how those accents would have been mauled if the film had not been as roundly good – certainly Coburn's attempts at an Irish brogue are not the most convincing I've heard. Other than that though he is good in the lead role, coping well with making an IRA character "likeable" without damaging the cynicism and regret that exists within him. His flashback scenes are convincing even if it is not that important to the main thrust of the film. Steiger is less serious at first but develops his character well, despite having to cope with a "road to Damascus" moment as part of it. He is consistently amusing as a character and he does tend to dominate his scenes to good effect. Support is fine but really these two men are the film and they do it very well, coping with the laughs, tension and political commentary equally well.

Overall, a typically strong film from Leone that has all his usual formula touches as well as plenty of commentary of value. The direction and use of music are as good as always and the cast cope well with the demands of the script. Reviewers who have taken this as an attack on John Ford's idea of the revolutionary Irishman are perhaps a little off since the film only confirms Ford's usual pointing out of "printing the myth" but it still has plenty of value and interesting political commentary.

Details

Country:

Italy Spain

Language:

English Italian Spanish

Release Date:

7 July 1972 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Fistful of Dynamite

Filming Locations:

Howth Castle, Howth, Fingal, County Dublin, Ireland

Box Office

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$980

Company Credits

Production Co:

Rafran Cinematografica, Euro International Film (EIA), San Marco

Technical Specs

Runtime:

157 min 120 min (initial US release) 154 min (Laserdisc)

Sound Mix:

Mono Stereo (original Italian prints)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1