Film record

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Original title: Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo

1966Feature film177 minVerification: Verified

Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo (1966) is a western directed by Sergio Leone, starring Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef, and Eli Wallach.

Production countries
Italy · Germany · Spain
Languages
Spanish · English · Italian
Genres
drama film · action film · Western film · war film · Spaghetti Western · epic film · treasure hunt film
Spoiler-free guideUpdated 31 Oct 2026
The starting point

Spoiler-free synopsis

During the American Civil War, three outlaws compete for a fortune in gold. Their quest intersects with the chaos of a territory marked by war and distrust.

Before you press play

What to know before watching

Franchise context

The film concludes Sergio Leone's so-called Dollar Trilogy, alongside A Fistful of Dollars (1964) and For a Few Dollars More (1965).

References:wikipedia.org
Understanding the reception

What people think

A synthesis of the referenced review and comment excerpts. It represents the consulted sources, not a consensus of all critics or viewers.

What critics highlight

Appreciated aspects

Visual storytelling

In Roger Ebert's review reproduced by RogerEbert.com, the weight of images over dialogue in Leone's storytelling is highlighted.

References:rogerebert.com

Reservations and challenges

Runtime and initial pacing

An independent review notes a slow pace and values certain moments and the performances, but expresses that the whole does not fully convince its author.

References:returningvideotapes.com

Could this be for you?

Target audience

A strong choice for viewers interested in westerns, spaghetti westerns and Sergio Leone's cinema. The film's visual style juxtaposes expansive wide shots with extreme close-ups, while one independent review praises standout moments and performances but finds the overall film slow and not wholly convincing.

References:espinof.com wikipedia.org returningvideotapes.com lacoladerata.co

Sources for this guide

Prepared with AI assistance and automated evidence and spoiler checks. This is not a first-hand viewing review or a numerical rating. Internal quotations are not reproduced; references provide the original context.

  1. wikipedia.orgDocumentary excerpt
  2. lacoladerata.coSearch excerpt
  3. filmaffinity.comSearch excerpt
  4. wikipedia.orgSearch excerpt
  5. returningvideotapes.comSearch excerpt
  6. espinof.comSearch excerpt
  7. rogerebert.comDocumentary excerpt

Credits

Music

Ennio Morricone — Music composition

Direction

Sergio Leone — Directing

Cinematography

Tonino Delli Colli — Cinematography

Art department

Carlo Simi — Production design

Costume

Carlo Simi — Costume design

Writing

Age & Scarpelli — Screenwriting
Luciano Vincenzoni — Screenwriting
Sergio Donati — Screenwriting
Agenore Incrocci — Screenwriting
Furio Scarpelli — Screenwriting
Sergio Leone — Screenwriting
Mickey Knox — Screenwriting

Cast

Clint Eastwood — Acting ('Blondie’, Sibley, the Man with No Name: The Good)
Lee Van Cleef — Acting ('Angel Eyes': The Bad)
Eli Wallach — Acting (Tuco Benedicto Pacífico Juan María Ramírez: The Ugly)
Mario Brega — Acting (Corporal Wallace)
Aldo Giuffré — Acting (alcoholic Union Captain Clinton)
Luigi Pistilli — Acting (Father Pablo Ramírez)
Antonio Casale — Acting (Jackson/Bill Carson)
Rada Rassimov — Acting (Maria)
Maurizio Arena — Acting
Antonio Molino Rojo — Acting (Captain Harper)
Enzo Petito — Acting (The Gun Shop Owner)
John Bartha — Acting (Sheriff)
Al Mulock — Acting (Elam)
Livio Lorenzon — Acting (Baker)
Antonio Casas — Acting (Stevens)
Claudio Scarchilli — Acting
Sandro Scarchilli — Acting
Benito Stefanelli — Acting (a member of Angel Eyes' gang)
Lorenzo Robledo — Acting (Clem)
Aldo Sambrell — Acting (a member of Angel Eyes' gang)
Angelo Novi — Acting
Frank Braña — Acting
Sergio Mendizábal — Acting (Blonde Bounty Hunter)
Chelo Alonso — Acting
Romano Puppo — Acting
Antonio Ruiz Escaño — Acting (Stevens's youngest son)
Víctor Israel — Acting
Ricardo Palacios — Acting (Barista a Socorro)
Fortunato Arena — Acting
Saturno Cerra — Acting
Attilio Dottesio — Acting
Jesús Guzmán — Acting (Pardue the Hotel Owner)
José Terrón — Acting (Thomas Shorty Larson)
Román Ariznavarreta — Acting (Bounty Hunter)

Editing

Eugenio Alabiso — Editing
Nino Baragli — Editing

Production

Alberto Grimaldi — Production

Versions and cuts

No versions have been documented yet.

Releases by territory

Italy · Original release
23 Dec 1966Checked 11 Sep 2026
Film historyNo spoilers

Cinema in the 1960s: Films and Documented Context

The sources located point to several areas—Hollywood, Spain and the Basque Country—but are not enough to sum up a decade or declare any film representative. This overview distinguishes what the available records support from what still requires verification.

Film connections

Connected films

Non-personalised suggestions built from visible relationships, not popularity.

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Sentimental Value

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