For a Few Dollars More, is the second of the western trilogy, starring Clint Eastwood. It is a slicker production than the first. LeeVan Cleef’s presence helps. He works well with Eastwood. He is the well dressed hard looking gunfighter. Clint’s gunman is not dressed for dinner, but is appropriate for the western.
Sergio Leone gives a different look and feel to this movie. He has put together a more cohesive story, than the A Fistful of Dollars. Clint Eastwood plays Monco. He is a bounty hunter. He is looking for El Indio, (Gian Maria Volonte), and his gang. Monco has competition for his reward money. That is Col. Douglas Mortimer, (Lee Van Cleef). He wants Indio, because he raped and killed his sister. The two form an uneasy truce, and decide to split the money for the gang. The only thing Mortimer wants is Indio. They of course confront the gang, killing them. Col Mortimer has his showdown with Indio. It ends like most westerns, and Mortimer declines the bounty. He says his reward was in killing Indio and getting vengeance. Clint Eastwood’s character proceeds to tally up the total for the gang. He realizes he’s short on the total. The missing man, Groggy, (Luigi Pistilli) missed death’s clutches, and tries to ambush Monco. He doesn’t surprise him, and Monco sends him to the great beyond. He now has his total and rides away with the bodies.
Clint Eastwood’s work with Sergio Leone changed westerns. It also helped make Eastwood a star. This type of character, carried him through his film career, for over a decade. Sergio Leone was able to transition to Hollywood, with his spaghetti western success. His work on this movie won’t make anyone forget John Ford or Anthony Mann westerns. He gives a level of violence that previously wasn’t done in westerns. It helps sets the tone for the last wave of westerns, like The Wild Bunch and Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid.
For a Few Dollars More, doesn’t have good guys and bad guys. El Indio is a bad man. The line is thin with Monco and Col Mortimer. They are both driven men. Monco wants a hefty payday, and Col. Mortimer is driven by vengeance. They both achieve their goals. They are not lofty ones, but it doesn’t matter to them. They both ride out of town, satisfied. The main reason to watch this film, is that it is a simple,yet good story. It also gives a glimpse of the actor that Eastwood will become.