Un genio, due compari, un pollo (1975)

Three rogues set out to rob $300,000 from an Indian-hating cavalry major.

Director:

Damiano Damiani

Writers:

Ernesto Gastaldi (story), Fulvio Morsella (story)

Stars:

Terence Hill, Miou-Miou, Robert Charlebois

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Terence Hill	...	Joe Thanks
Miou-Miou	...	Lucy (as Miou Miou)
Robert Charlebois	...	Steam Engine Bill
Patrick McGoohan	...	Major Cabot
Raimund Harmstorf	...	Sergeant Milton
Piero Vida	...	Jacky Roll
Rik Battaglia	...	Captain (as Rick Battaglia)
Mario Valgoi	...	Thomas Trader
Mario Brega	...	Officer at Fort
Jean Martin	...	Colonel Pembroke
Klaus Kinski	...	Doc Foster
Miriam Mahler	...	Pembroke's Daughter
Clara Colosimo	...	La ruffiana
Carla Cassola	...	Prostitute
Fernando Cerulli	...	Her husband (as Ferdinando Cerulli)

Storyline

Expert conman Joe Thanks teams up with half-breed Bill and naive Lucy to steal $300,000 from the Indian-hating Major Cabot. Their elaborate plan is full of disguises, double-crosses, and chases, but Joe always seems to know what he's doing.

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Plot Keywords:

stagecoach | stage | coach | navajo indian | arizona | 

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Taglines:

They called him "Trinity". They called him "Nobody" - now they call him... "The Genius".

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Genres:

Comedy | Western

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Details

Country:

Italy France West Germany

Language:

Italian

Release Date:

19 December 1975 (Italy)

Also Known As:

A Genius, Two Partners and a Dupe

Filming Locations:

Estación de Calahorra, Guadix, Granada, Andalucía, Spain

Box Office

Budget:

ITL 3,500,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Rafran Cinematografica, AMLF, Rialto Film Preben-Philipsen

Technical Specs

Runtime:

126 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film was released in West Germany under the title "Nobody ist der Größte", and in Denmark under the name "Jeg hedder stadigvæk Nobody", to create the illusion that it was a sequel to My Name Is Nobody (1973) (aka "Mein Name ist Nobody"/"Mit navn er Nobody")--which it isn't..

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Goofs

When Major Cabot brings Bill and Lucy to the cell, they go through a room with flags which are supposed to be the state flags of the United States. If you watch closely you can see the flags of the European Union and of East Germany.

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Quotes

Doc Foster: [to Joe] In a few moments you'll be the deadest man that ever lived!

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Alternate Versions

Most DVD versions (including Paramount's German release) are missing the last shot of the opening scene directly before the credits as well as the final shot of Monument Valley. The credits roll over the shot of Monument Valley in the uncut version whereas the cut version shows the credits over a black screen. The Paramount DVD does however include a reference to a threesome that most other versions are missing.

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Connections

Referenced in A Christmas Eve Conversation with Quentin Tarantino & Paul Thomas Anderson (2015)

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Soundtracks

Glory, Glory, Glory
Composed by Ennio Morricone
Sung by Catherine Howe

User Reviews

A nice gem for macaroni enthusiasts

I purchased this PAL DVD (my Macintosh computer plays the format) and a region- free, NTSC/PAL DVD player (connected to a regular NTSC tv) so I, NOT THE STUDIOS, can choose what I want. The PAL disc was the only version I found available, and I will submit DVD info when I find time. Look for the widescreen/ letterboxed format (which "Genius" is), instead of the horrid pan and scan, because letterboxed (or matted) is what the director intended viewers to see! Please keep an open mind about spaghetti westerns. Sometimes viewers comment with such harsh criticism that it can turn someone away when they should be prompted to look for a title in the genre they are interested in. I've suddenly grown a fascination in macaroni that I'm finding movies that I've never been interested in before. I swore on Clint/Eli/Cleef/ Leone/Ennio flicks yet didn't notice people like Nero and Milian. And now I'm discovering not to be so hard on my boy Terence Hill. Okay, so he doesn't take it so seriously. At first, that's what turned me away from his flicks. It wasn't Eastwood enough. But geez, what a kick you can get from "Genious." Initially I didn't care for Ennio's music, but it seeps into you. And there's something about the camera placement and movements that draw me into the film, which was just the right length -- not too long or short. The funny moments and comments throughout, plus the explosion (a very real and powerful one) somewhere in the flick made me decide on 8 stars. I judge these the same way as kung fu action. It can be so easy to pick apart and be literal, but these generally are simply pasta and lo mein noodle- type movies. Just enjoy sucking it into your system. You'll love getting full, and soon you'll want another helping.