The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly is a 1966 western film directed by Sergio Leone, starring Clint Eastwood, Eli Wallach, Lee Van Cleef. It drew a wide audience and shaped its genre.
Plot
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (Italian: Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo, lit. 'The good, the ugly, the bad') is a 1966 Italian epic spaghetti Western film directed by Sergio Leone and starring Clint Eastwood as "the Good", Lee Van Cleef as "the Bad", and Eli Wallach as "the Ugly". Its screenplay was written by Age & Scarpelli, Luciano Vincenzoni, and Leone, based on a story by Vincenzoni and Leone. Director of photography Tonino Delli Colli was responsible for the film's sweeping Techniscope cinematography, and Ennio Morricone composed the film's score.
The film is known for Leone's distinctive visual style, characterized by the juxtaposition of expansive wide shots and extreme close-ups, as well as a highly stylised treatment of violence, tension, and gunfights.
Production
Written by Luciano Vincenzoni and Sergio Leone, the film was produced by United Artists. Ennio Morricone composed the score. Tonino Delli Colli handled the cinematography. The film runs 161 minutes. The crew and editing refined every shot.
Reception
On a budget of $1,200,000, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly grossed $38,900,000 worldwide at the box office. A critic consensus praised its screenplay and score.
Legacy
Its legacy endures through a remake, a sequel and a lasting franchise; later cinema cites its influence and symbolism.
See also
References
- "The 100 Greatest Films of All Time". topfilms100. Retrieved 30 June 2026.
- Ebert, Roger. The Great Movies. Broadway Books.
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