Film enthusiasts are in for a treat tonight as a spaghetti western hailed as a 'stone cold classic' is set to grace television screens. Clint Eastwood's iconic 'For a Few Dollars More' will be broadcast on ITV4, offering viewers a chance to witness a pivotal moment in cinema history.
The Rise of a Film Legend
This 1965 film was the second instalment in what would become the legendary Dollars Trilogy, directed by the master of the genre, Sergio Leone. It cemented Clint Eastwood's transition from a television actor to a major international film star. Interestingly, Eastwood had to be persuaded to return for this sequel after the success of 'A Fistful of Dollars'. He reprises his role as the enigmatic bounty hunter known as 'the Man with No Name' or Manco, a character that would become synonymous with his career.
A Tale of Bounty Hunters and Betrayal
The plot sees Eastwood's Manco discovering that a violent bank robber has escaped from prison and is planning to rob the Bank of El Paso. To claim the bounty, he forms an uneasy alliance with another hunter, Colonel Douglas Mortimer, played to perfection by the formidable Lee Van Cleef. Together, this brooding duo infiltrates a ruthless gang of criminals, risking their lives in a high-stakes game of cat and mouse.
Despite receiving lukewarm reviews upon its initial release, the movie became a massive box office hit in Italy and Spain, where it was filmed. Its international success was staggering, raking in approximately $25.5 million worldwide and firmly establishing the European-made spaghetti western as a powerful force in global cinema.
Enduring Legacy and Critical Acclaim
The film's impact extended beyond its financial success. It single-handedly revitalised Lee Van Cleef's career, which had been in decline. Van Cleef was reportedly considering retirement but his performance here led to his iconic role as the villain in the trilogy's final chapter, 'The Good, the Bad and the Ugly'.
Today, 'For a Few Dollars More' is arguably more respected than ever. It holds an impressive 92% rating on the review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes, where fans continue to praise its qualities. One admirer called it a 'masterpiece', while another highlighted its 'intense, unsettling energy'. A third reviewer celebrated its cast of 'interesting and strange looking people', and many agree it stands as one of the very best films of its era.
'For a Few Dollars More' airs on ITV4 at 10.30pm tonight, Saturday 29 November.
