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| Eastwood in his iconic role. |
The opening scenes cross-cut between two men who are searching for a notorious outlaw called El Indio (Gian Maria Volontè). Monco (Eastwood) is a bounty hunter who wants to collect the $10,000 reward--dead or alive--for El Indio. The well-mannered Colonel Douglas Mortimer (Lee Van Cleef) has more personal reasons for finding the outlaw.
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| Van Cleef as Colonel Mortimer. |
As in Once Upon a Time in the West, the connection between Mortimer and El Indio isn't revealed until the climatic confrontation between the two men. But Leone provides key information along the way in the form of flashbacks and a pair of gold pocket watches. Each man possesses one of the watches, which play the same disturbing little tune. Leone expands on this objectification of revenge in the later Once Upon a Time, in which Charles Bronson's character wears a harmonica around his neck--an instrument which also carries significant meaning in terms of the narrative.
Frequent Leone collaborator Ennio Morricone contributes one of his finest scores, perhaps rivaled only by his work in (again) Once Upon a Time in the West. However, it's Leone's use of Morricone's haunting music that sets it apart from scores which simply enhance a film's atmosphere. Whenever El Indio confronts a man with murderous intentions, he opens his watch and waits until its melody winds down before drawing his gun. Leone uses this to great effect in the big showdown between El Indio and Mortimer. As the music gradually slows down almost to a stop, another iteration of it starts to play again as the camera pulls back to show Monco's hand holding Mortimer's watch. It's one of my favorite scenes in all of Leone's films.
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| Monco's hand and the watch, with Mortimer and El Indio in the background. |
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| Gian Maria Volontè. |
For a Few Dollars More received mixed reviews on its initial release. Roger Ebert found it "delicious" and described it as "a gloriously greasy, sweaty, hairy, bloody and violent Western." It was a huge international hit, establishing Van Cleef as a star and enhancing Eastwood's reputation. It may not be as widely acclaimed as Leone's other Westerns, but I'd rank it as his second best. Yes, Once Upon a Time in the West holds down the top spot for me.
Mortimer passed thru various hands, including Lee Marvin's and prob Henry Fonda's. Van Cleef was pretty much outta the biz by then. but Leone remembered him. It's said Leone hired him as soon as he saw him walking on his way to his office.
ReplyDeleteYes, this one deserves much more recognition than it typically receives. It's not as polished as Leone's subsequent (and higher budgeted) classics, but For A Few Dollars More has an epic raw magnificence.
ReplyDeleteCol. Mortimer, to me, is to Lee Van Cleef what the role of Max Cherry was to Robert Forster. Both were in stages of their careers where good roles, or even sizable roles in bad films weren’t coming. Reportedly, Van Cleef’s reaction to the role was similar to Forster’s when Tarantino offered it to him. Shock and disbelief.
ReplyDeleteVan Cleef accepted Leone’s offer, expecting only a few scene character part, and was reportedly stunned when he discovered Leone had cast him as the co-lead. The break shows in Van Cleef’s performance. He relishes every scene, every line. He knows this is the chance of his lifetime, and he absolutely delivers.
While Eastwood is, of course, brilliant, to me, Van Cleef is the true discovery. Right after this film, Van Cleef created one of the most despicable villains ever to grace a western. When I watched the film, there was a brief nostalgia moment. “Oh! It’s Col. Mortimer.” And after that moment, it was gone for the rest of the film. That Van Cleef could essay two such vastly different characters in back to back films with the same lead and director is a testament to his ability.
And in fairness, hats off to Eastwood too. Not only for his performance but for the way he lets Van Cleef shine. A more egotistical actor would have balked at the script. Yes, he’s top billed, but you could say the true protagonist is Col. Mortimer. He has just as much screen time, plus the connection to Volonte’s El Indio. Eastwood, while critical to the final shootout, doesn’t fire a single shot.
Eastwood takes his top billing and then steps back, just a little. He lets Van Cleef do what the script intends. He lets Van Cleef provide much of the emotional depth, but most importantly, he lets Van Cleef’s character be his equal. It might be the best western chemistry between two badass actors ever filmed.
Not forgetting the brilliance of the story. So much that is good in this film. Sergio Leone was a fountain of good ideas for westerns.
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