Movies You Need to See- The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

By: Tyler Garling
The Wild West will remain a setting for films for years to come. It’s perfect to craft a story of challenges an

d redemption. One could argue that westerns are strictly American. Ironically, they may just be strictly Italian.
During the 1960s, a new subgenre of westerns emerged: the “Spaghetti Western.” These films were directed and produced by Italians. The most well-known and influential Spaghetti Western director is Sergio Leone.
Sergio Leone is the director of the Dollars trilogy, which includes A Fistful of Dollars, For a Few Dollars More, and of course The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. The first two are outstanding, but are nothing compared to the masterpiece of the third film. Before you read any further, I would highly suggest watching the first two, though, just so you can experience one of the greatest trilogies the cinema world has ever seen.
Before he spent his time talking to empty chairs, Clint Eastwood was busy being the “Man with No Name.” Eastwood’s character is one of the most iconic movie characters ever, with his classic poncho, hat, cigar, and his quiet personality. Eastwood is no stranger to the western genre; in fact, he may very well define the perfect western character, but the Man with No Name is not only his best character, but one of the greatest characters of all time. The Man with No Name is “the Good.”
The two other main characters in the film are Angel Eyes (Lee Van Cleef), a ruthless mercenary, and Tuco (Eli Wallach), a foolish bandit. They are the Bad and the Ugly respectively. Along with the Man with No Name, the three are entangled in one of the most important events in American history: the Civil War.
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly are in a race to find a fortune of gold that will make them rich for the rest of their lives. The only real clue the three have is that of the name of “Bill Carson,” and that that man has the fortune the three of them seek. The plot includes many other situations, from rescuing someone from a hanging to being stranded in the desert with no water. The film is almost three hours long, but it sure doesn’t feel like it, as the film is always interesting. You will find yourself wanting to know more and more about each character and how they deal with the problems they face.
It would be criminal of me to not mention one of the key parts of a Sergio Leone film: the music. The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly is scored by legendary composer Ennio Morricone. The sure number of films he has written music for is phenomenal, but his score to The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly is perhaps the greatest music he’s every written in his very illustrious career. The main theme to the movie has been featured in a countless number of shows and movies and for good reason too. His music is as much of a character as the actual characters themselves. It lives and breathes and is a major driving force in every scene.
Apart from being a terrific western, The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly is a great example of how the Civil War affected everyone in the United States. The film shows how men from both sides fought and suffered for what they believed in. The characters of the film are even in awe of the carnage. It may be just another reminder of how we are all just small rooks in a game of chess.
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly is a timeless western classic and is one of my favorite films. Sergio Leone will always be one of the greatest directors the movie industry has ever seen and his masterpiece will always remain as the greatest western of all time. The movie always reminds me that there are two kinds of people in this world: those with loaded guns and those who dig.