Aim for the heart. (Fistful Of Dollars, A (DVD))

Member Name: Bish

Product:	Fistful Of Dollars, A (DVD)
Date:	22/05/01 (88 review reads)
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Sergio Leone’s ‘A Fistful Of Dollars’ was actually release back in 1964 but it wasn’t until 1967 that an English language version of the film became available. It was very heavily influenced by Akira Kurosawa’s ‘Yojimbo’, so much so that Kurosawa actually sued for plagiarism but even if Leone did rip off Kurosawa there can be denying that this a classic film and a very atmospheric one. It also brought Clint Eastwood to the attention of the big screen, who up to that point was more familiar for his role in the tv series ‘Rawhide’.

Although it’s interesting to note that Eastwood was not the first choice for the lead role, Charles Bronson turned down the film and both Henry Fonda and James Coburn proved to be too expensive for Leone’s budget. So Clint Eastwood travelled to Spain to star in this Italian film that was to become the first part of a trilogy of Spaghetti Westerns by Leone.

Eastwood plays ‘the man with no name’ who wanders into a poor town and is met by a dead man tied to horse going the other way with a sign ‘Adios Amigos’ written on his back. He is then approached by the towns bellringer who informs him that if he stays here he will either become very rich or dead. After talking to the bartender in the saloon he learns that the town is caught in a feud between two rival families the Baxter’s and Rojo’s, who make their money by trading guns and liquor. Instead of running he befriends them both and plays a dangerous game of playing one off against the other.

Despite being clearly referred to in the film as Joe it was a marketing decision to use ‘the man with no name’ tag in the UK. In Italy he was called ‘Il Cigarillo’, in Germany he became ‘the stranger’, while in South America he was known as ‘the gunman with green eyes’. There is also a fair amount of humour in the film albeit
of the dry varity and for its time it did contain some fairly graphic violence particularly for a western.

To be critical some of the dialogue is very ropey and it is far from being a polished production. I personally think that Leon’s direction is nothing really special and it also contained a few dodgy acting performances but like many Italian horror movies it does have a certain appeal to it.

Even foregoing the need for a love interest it still managed to appeal to the fairer sex, this was due in many ways to Eastwood’s dark and mysterious character. Also after a scene where Eastwood takes a beating it’s nice to see that he simple doesn’t get up and act as normal and that the consequences of the violent act are shown.

Another aspect worthy of mentioning is the films score by Ennio Morricone which while perhaps not as memorable as the sequels, was still a haunting and fitting backdrop to the film. Now I have to be honest and admit that I’m not the biggest fan of Spaghetti Westerns or even westerns in general but I did enjoy watching this film and it was even more pleasurable than I had previously remembered. Considering it was made back in 1964 the film has aged very well indeed and although it may not be to everyone’s taste I can personally recommend you give it a go.

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