Review of For a Few Dollars More (1965) by Alexander K — 13 Jun 2013

"The man with no name" returns in this sequel to A Fistful of dollars in which he forms an uneasy alliance with another bounty hunter to kill the head of an outlaw gang while they hatch a scheme to rob the most heavily guarded bank in the territory.

For A Few Dollars More is not considered the best of the series by many, but I personally prefer it to the (damn good) original at least. It feels far more like a true Leone film, is better paced and boasts not one but three commanding presences in the form of Clint, Lee Van Cleef's steely eyed and clinical assassin, and Gian Maria Volonte's sinister bandit.

The interplay between the three is fantastic and there are many classic Leone moments including his trademark framing of weathered, characterful faces against epic landscapes. There is more depth to the story as the heist and undercover elements involve layers of deceit and betrayal leading to an extremely atmospheric finale.

Add to that Ennio Morricone's score which is once again wonderfully memorable and you have all the ingredients for an all time classic western.