Having burst on to the movie-making scene with A Fistful of Dollars (1964), Italian director Sergio Leone rapidly established himself as a true auteur, with a very unique vision. A Fistful of Dollars was followed by two sequels (For a Few Dollars More and The Good, the Bad & the Ugly), in 1965 and 1966, respectively. This so called Dollars Trilogy set a new precedent for the western genre; Leone's films were brutal in their onscreen violence, much of which perpetrated by the films' hero. As a matter of fact, Leone's trilogy coined a new term from critics; the spaghetti western – due to the fact they were made and financed by Italians.
Once Upon a Time in the West (1969) followed, although greater in its epic scale, it jettisoned the previous films' streak of dark humour. Once Upon a Time in the West is undoubtedly Leone's masterpiece and a landmark in the history of cinema.
Made in 1971, A Fistful of Dynamite is Leone's least known western. Released in several, heavily edited versions (some under the alternative title of Duck You Sucker), the film died a quick death upon its initial theatrical run. Shame, as this is as good as almost any of his other films (Once Upon a Time in the West excluded).
The action takes place at the turn of the 20th century. Sean Mallory (the criminally underrated James Coburn), an Irish ex-pat reluctantly forges a partnership with Mexican Rebel Juan Miranda (Rod Steiger). Together, Sean and Juan rob banks with the might of the Mexican's bandito gang and the Irishman's knowledge of nitro glycerine.
The set up couldn't be simpler but Leone's use of location and extras add to the epic feel of the film. At the centre of A Fistful of Dynamite are two wonderful performances by Coburn and Steiger and they create the most rounded and sympathetic characters in any of Leone's movies.
MGM have sourced the longest possible English language version. An Italian-dubbed version exists that's around five or six minutes longer but the differences are minimal. This is by far the best version to date and clocks in at more than 30 minutes longer than the previous versions released on VHS.
The film is presented in anamorphic widescreen, preserving the full 2.35 Technovision framing. Some print damage is evident but this is the best the film has looked since its original theatrical release. Sound is Dolby Digital mono and serves the film well.
The two disc special edition (it is the uncut Finnish release under review here, as the UK disc has been shorn of some horse falls) is an exemplary package. There are an abundance of short featurettes that chronicle various aspects of the film and its subsequent release. One of the featurettes is of particular interest as it details the differences between the numerous versions of the film. Leone Biographer Sir Christopher Frayling does another excellent commentary track and it's packed full of trivia and analysis. The set is rounded out with a bunch of trailer and TV spots. Overall, this is an essential purchase.
(Paul Alaoui)
