Summary
The upcoming remake of Clint Eastwood’sA Fistful of Dollarsis already generating controversy, but things could turn even uglier if it leads to another big redo. Eastwood is one of the last major stars to make his name with Westerns.Clint Eastwood Westernswere darker and more cynical than those produced during Hollywood’s “Golden Era.” Eastwood’s anti-heroes had no trouble shooting people in the back or acting in dishonorable ways. The star made his name withSergio Leone’sDollarsmovie trilogy, before transitioning to Hollywood productions.
Westerns were already dipping in popularity during the 1960s, but Eastwood was one of the few names who could guarantee an audience would turn up. Eastwood’s Western comebackPale Ridersaved the genre during the 1980s, five years afterHeaven’s Gateall but killed them. The screen icon signed off the genre with 1992’sUnforgiven, which is considered (with good reason) his masterpiece. He is such a singular screen presence thatthe announcement of a remake of 1964’sA Fistful of Dollars -which gave Eastwood his movie breakout - has been met with a decidedly lukewarm response.
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A Fistful of Dollars
Cast
A Fistful of Dollars is a spaghetti Western film from director Sergio Leone starring Clint Eastwood. A Fistful of Dollars is notable for being Clint Eastwood’s big break in Hollywood and also for being the beginning of the “Dollars Trilogy.” The film was followed by For a Few Dollars More in 1965 and The Good, The Bad and the Ugly in 1966.
Eastwood famously madeA Fistful of Dollarsduring his hiatus from Western seriesRawhideand had no expectations it would be a success. Instead,Eastwood’s unbelievably charismatic turn as “The Man with no Name” changed the course of his careeralmost instantly. The film’s success also brought to light that the story was a Western-themed riff on Akira Kurosawa’sYojimbo, which both feature anti-heroes who play two gangs off against one another. The similarities between the two were so blatant that production company Toho later sued Leone, with the case being settled out of court.
RemakingA Fistful of Dollarsfeels like a risky move on several levels. Eastwood’s performance is so iconic that any actor inheriting the role will have a tough time measuring up. While not the star’s finest work in the genre, it’s a classic for a reason, from Leone’s stylish direction to several unforgettable scenes. However,considering films likeLast Man Standingwith Bruce Willis essentially remadeA Fistful of Dollarsalready, the world can withstand another new takeon the premise. That said, remaking Eastwood’sThe Good, The Bad and the Uglyis a no-go.
It wasA Fistful of Dollarsthat led to the wave of Spaghetti Westerns that followed, butThe Good, The Bad and the Uglyperfected them. Right from the moment Ennio Morricone’s legendary theme music kicks in through to the final shootout at the cemetery,Leone’s third and finalDollarsfilm is one of the best Westerns ever made. IfA Fistful of Dollarsis a hit, then a remake of theDollarstrilogy becomes a realistic prospect.
The Fistful Of Dollars Remake Doesn’t Need To Be Good For More Remakes To Follow
If their remake generates a large fistful of dollars then producers might pursue more remakes
If The Fistful of Dollars redux is a surprise hit, there’s nothing to say that new takes on For a Few Dollars More andThe Good, The Bad and the Ugly won’t follow suit.
Exact details aboutthe upcomingFistful of Dollarsremakeare slim, including casting. While it would be nice to have a high-profile Western hitting the big screen, it’s going to face an uphill critical battle for being a remix of a genre touchstone. Even so, a movie can always overcome mixed reviews to become a success. IfThe Fistful of Dollarsredux is a surprise hit, there’s nothing to say that new takes onFor a Few Dollars MoreandThe Good, The Bad and the Uglywon’t follow suit.
Lee Van Cleef played major roles inFor a Few Dollars MoreandThe Good, The Bad and the Ugly, but played a different character in both. In the former, he’s Colonel Douglas Mortimer and in the latter, Van Cleef plays Angel Eyes (AKA “The Bad”)
Being sandwiched between the original andThe Good, The Bad and the UglymeansFor a Few Dollars Moreoften gets overlooked. It really shouldn’t, as not only is it Leone’s most underrated work, it’s arguably a better film thanA Fistful of Dollars. It wouldn’t be considered sacred ground in the wayThe Good, The Bad and the Uglyis, but it’s hard to see how a reboot would improve on the 1965 sequel either. More than anything,it would be a real act of hubris to remake Leone’s entireDollarstrilogy.
Certain films likeCitizen KaneorThe Godfatherare considered so foundational and untouchable the mere thought of remaking them sounds foolish. Maybe it reads like hyperbole, butThe Good, The Bad and the Uglydeserves a space on that list too. Simply put, there isn’t a better version that could be made. From the direction to the performances, the score to the screenplay, the film is an exceptional piece of work.
In all likelihood, theFistful of Dollarsremake will be a one-and-done that won’t lead to sequelsor other remakes. Even if it does, a follow-up would be best to take the new Man with no Name on new adventures that could incorporate some elements from the original sequels. What it absolutely mustnotdo is touchThe Good, The Bad and the Ugly, because again as Lee Van Cleef’s villain learned during the finale, it’s hard to outdraw the best.
