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Newly minted release of Sergio Leone's 1971 (released in 1972) film. The film was originally released under the previous title, then changed to Fistful of Dynamite shortly after the release. In France, It was released as "Once upon a Time: Revolution." Talk about a personality disorder. I like the French title best.
The film starts James Coburn as a former member of the I.R.A. who winds up in Mexico in time for the Mexican Revolution (as the special features point out, the I.R.A. was not formed until after the end of the Mexican Revolution.) There, he plies his special skills as demolition expert, when he meets Rod Steiger, playing the Mexican Bandit, who, in tow with Coburn, gets sucked into the Revolution. He thinks he is rescuing treasure - he actually rescues prisoners.
Like The Good, Bad, and the Ugly and Once upon a Time in the West, the score is conducted by Ennio Morricone. Unlike those two films, this film was deeper, more contemplative, and more personal to Leone. According to the special features, the film capsulized Leone's distaste for armed revolution. His father was a Marxist, apparently hiding from the Fascists in Italy during WWII.
The film also utilizes the flashback to fill in some details. This was a technique that Leone used during For a Few Dollars More. In that film, he used the flashback to tell us what happened. In this, he also tells us what happened, but also relies on the viewer to extrapolate information not obvious to apply to the current film. I will admit that there was information that the special features pointed out which I missed. His earlier work seemed to be more about entertainment. This film more about a seasoned director being a little more subtle, relying on the audience to pick up small, but important details to understand not only the story, but also the characters.
While I think I enjoy his earlier films more, I do think that, in some respects, this is his best film, and contains a level of maturity that his earlier films do not display. In those, what you saw is what you got. Here, what you see is what you get only if you are paying close attention.
The special features are very good. A segment from the restorer. One from a film historian discussing the parallels between the content of the film and and Leone's political beliefs, as well as the twenty minutes of film cut from the U.S. release for largely political reasons.
For Leone fans, this is a must own. For those on the Leone fence, this may finally be the Leone film for you.
Follow Ups:
I'm on the Leone fence. Thank God you've arrived!
Is this film plot driven or character driven, uh, generally speaking, in general?
Of the "many respects" enumerate a few which support your claim that this is Leone's "best" film?
How is Leone's maturity demonstrated here but not displayed earlier films? Which films?
What did I get when I saw what I saw? What will I get if I pay attention to what I see/saw?
Does Leone tell us what is going to happen, then tell us it is happening, then tell us that it happened? How can I tell the difference? Does it matter?
I trust you will note the question marks indicating that these are questions. For you. To answer.
"Is this film plot driven or character driven, uh, generally speaking, in general?"
Because we are dealing with a specific film, I would say that this film is specifically plot driven. The plot, which is the Mexican Revolution, drives the film.
"Of the "many respects" enumerate a few which support your claim that this is Leone's "best" film?"
I've enjoyed every one of Leone's films. As I wrote, GB&U is probably my favorite - but it is basically a shoot 'em up, with some beautiful cinemetography and a great score. There are no political statements hiding below the surface, no messages for Leone is using the characters to make a point.
In DYS, he used the film to express his viewpoints relative to revolution. Recall that this film was made during the time that many people in this country called for a revolution, given Nixon and Vietnam. Leone began the film with a message from Chairman Mao that reminded people Revolution was not a tea party. It was violent and bloody. Leone co-wrote the screenplay, which included a line from Steiger's character, to the effect, that rich people plan the revolutions in the comfort of their surroundings, and poor people fight the revolution. The end result being that the poor people are dead, and nothing really changes - you only substitute one set of rich folks running things for another set of rich folks running things.
In this respect, I think an argument can be made that DYS was Leone's best film - it was his most personal and thoughtful. My comment that I enjoy GB&U would be akin to me eating a great meal versus ice cream. I know which one took more to prepare, and which one is better for me, but, in the end, I probably enjoy the ice cream more.
"How is Leone's maturity demonstrated here but not displayed earlier films? Which films?"
As I wrote above, all his prior films largely served as entertainment. I would include Fistful of Dollars, For a Few Dollars More, GB&U, Once Upon a Time in the West, and My Name is Nobody, for which he partially directed, but did not take credit. With DYS, in addition to the entertainment, he also wrote and directed a film which expressed his political beliefs. I argue that he elevated his art to more than mere entertainment. I suggest that this demonstrates a maturation of him as a director.
"What did I get when I saw what I saw? What will I get if I pay attention to what I see/saw?"
I am not sure what you "get", any more than you "get" anything by reading a good book, going to a good museum, etc. What you "get" is personal to you. Providing you cues to look for would take some of the fun of the film away.
"Does Leone tell us what is going to happen, then tell us it is happening, then tell us that it happened? How can I tell the difference? Does it matter?"
He does not tell what is going to happen. A flashback, by definition, tells us something that has happened in the past. Not the future. If you cannot tell the difference between the past, present, and future, I suggest that you immediately seek some medical attention, because you may have some issues beyond the scope of this discussion.
"I trust you will note the question marks indicating that these are questions. For you. To answer."
Yes. I learned in my early education years that the English language is precise, and should used accordingly. Some very smart people created the question mark to tell the reader that a question precedes. Realizing that communication is very important, I understood those teachers, and followed their teachings, and use the question mark where an answer is called for, and expect others to do the same. If there are people who do not, or cannot, use the English language properly, then they should be treated accordingly. In other words, show them the error of their ways. I'll make exception for Patrick, as English is not his native language.
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But all my sarcasm wasted, wasted.
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