Western fans are hailing one "overlooked" film as "the greatest" of the genre, and the 1971 masterpiece is screening on ITV tonight.
A Fistful of Dynamite, also known as Duck, You Sucker! and Once Upon a Time... the Revolution, is directed by Sergio Leone and boasts an impressive cast featuring Rod Steiger and James Coburn. It is the second instalment in Leone's unofficial Once Upon a Time trilogy, sitting between Once Upon a Time in the West (1968) and Once Upon a Time in America (1984).
Leone's return to the director's chair
Leone opted to return to the director's chair following The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, with the aim of adapting the novel The Hoods, which ultimately became Once Upon a Time in America. After Clint Eastwood turned down the lead role, Bronson stepped in, marking the first entry in Leone's celebrated Once Upon a Time trilogy, reports the Express.
The plot centres on a stretch of land with a water supply, hunted after by rail baron Morton, who recognises its strategic importance to the new railroad. He dispatches his enforcer Frank to intimidate the landowner McBain, but Frank murders him instead and frames notorious outlaw Cheyenne for the deed.
Critical acclaim and fan praise
The film is widely considered one of the finest Westerns and amongst the greatest motion pictures ever committed to celluloid, topping IMDb's listing of "The 100 Greatest Western Movies of All Time: Including Five You've Never Heard of". One Rotten Tomatoes critic commented: "I don't understand how Leone is not in the pantheon of the greatest film makers of all time. The attention to detail, the historic accuracy... there is even class consciousness in his stories. I've seen his films many times and they still surprise me."
Another said: "In a few words, Serge Leone brilliant. His last directed and most politically overt film. No Clint Eastwood or Lee Van Cleef. I love those actors in Spagetti Westerns, but what Steiger and Colburn do in this movie is a modern marvel.
"All the emotions of war, revolution, civil unrest, criminal proclivities/motives, family bonds/family meanings, racial conflicts, are explored. These characters are malignant, yet made very human and demonstrating clear humanity. Self interest leading to heroism and back again. Back and forth, with seamless transitions. The interplay of opposing perspectives- marvellous, outstanding. What else can I say?"
"Some may see this film as dated and lacking technical achievement. I have never since, in any movie, viewed the issues and subjects presented here done so well. No wonder Leone wanted to go out as a director with this film. It is not only overlooked; the movie is this superstar director's crowning achievement. Bravo! ! ! ! Now I will see if in 2024, DUNE: PART 2 can come even close to this simple Spaggetti Western's effectiveness given the latter's SCI-Fi context and modern technical effects."
A Fistful of Dynamite airs on ITV3 at 9pm this evening.
