THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY: Sergio Leone’s Definitive Western Epic

An analysis of Sergio Leone's epic Western capper to The Dollars Trilogy, The Good The Bad and The Ugly, examining how it elevates the genre to an epic myth while undermining the traditions of classic good guys and bad guys in the west, how it critiques war through the chaos of the US Civil War, how Leone, Morricone, and more crafted a perfect vision of the West, and why it's my FAVORITE movie of all time.
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The Good The Bad and The Ugly soundtrack by Ennio Morricone
"Ghost Town Triumph" by Vincent Pedula
"If I'm Wrong" by HOME
Sources:
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[@MattDraper]

What’s your favorite modern western?

[@Batman8845-i6e]

Tombstone is still one of my favorite western movies to this day Val kilmer is iconic as doc Holliday

[@Briarpatchlogic]

I don't consider it to exceed Leone's work...but I have always highly enjoyed Lonesome Dove even though it's a TV mini-series. Open Range would also be an interesting subject.

[@AntonSjöstedt]

Depends on what you mean by modern. But probably Django Unchained or the True Grit remake. Maybe will remember something else later, but as of writing this.

[@ericjome7284]

Unforgiven. The Quick and the Dead.

[@angryclown1990]

Favorite modern western is a tie between Diablo and the remake of 3:10 to Yuma.

[@zackeryparkerson]

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly is my favorite movie of all time, and this is my favorite video about it.

[@RakeshKumar-yc8kg]

Eli Wallach should have gotten awards. Amazing. Scene with his brother was very moving...gives heart to the film.

[@MutantsInDisguise]

Thank you, Sergio Leone, for creating my all-time favorite film trilogy.

[@vladvostok1723]

1 OF THE GREATEST FILMS OF ALL TIME!!!

[@rayancedrichaddad1197]

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966)! Legendary Movie Title. This is A Complete Masterclass about this cult classic Masterpiece from Maestro Director Sergio Leone. Keep Going Bro.💯💯💯

[@grahamk.cannon3393]

Once Upon a Time in the West and The Good, The Bad, and Ugly usually flip flop for me as my favorite Leone film. Both are incredible masterpieces.

[@HairstylistMichaelMallory]

best movie and soundtrack ever made.

[@MrGregory777]

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly is also my favorite movie. Saw it for the first time as a 7 year old on tv. The trailer was hyped up, and it was amazing.

[@tdpnate]

The first time I saw this I was sitting in my home office and that last stand-off scene literally had me out of my chair with anticipation. Sooooo goooood. Also I used Ecstasy Of The Gold in my run playlist when I ran a marathon - imagining myself running like a madman mirroring Tuco’s mad scramble thru the cemetary.

[@SpikeJet2736]

My favorite movie of all time. Just about everything I'd want in a film. It's entertaining as hell and effortlessly cool but it's also an epic with deep themes that takes it's time. Most movies you have two options, an artsy film that you watch more to appreciate the themes and craftsmanship or a simple fun film that's not that profound. The Good The Bad and The Ugly you get the best of both worlds

[@mphylo2296]

The "Ecstasy of Gold" scene stands out as one of the greatest scenes in any film

[@mphylo2296]

Would be excellent to see you cover Once Upon a Time in the West, and the Samurai films that inspired the 60s Westerns: Seven Samurai and Yojimbo. Might as well cover The Magnificent Seven while you're at it!

[@ghostfacefrmscream]

One of my favourite movies of all time

[@aidanscorner847]

Love this movie so much!

[@angryclown1990]

For me, November is Western Month, where I focus on the western genre in all media i consume. Your videos are part of that tradition. I've been looking forward to this one, and you aced it!

[@maldon3659]

For me it's film Noir

[@Fixxxer07082]

Just started the video….major props for fitting your introduction perfectly into the shortened version of “The Ecstasy of Gold” that Metallica use as their intro music before every live show! INSTANT adrenaline and the perfect way to kick off a video on the greatest Western ever made! 👏🏻🙌🏻

[@FOXZILLA5734]

A film I say is the closest to being a perfect film, I absolutely adore The Good, The Bad,and The Ugly, just about everything about it just clicks from its characters, music, and style. One of my favorite films of all time and the peak of the western genre.

[@cobrasnaps]

Caught Hangman’s Tale in the background. It fits this essay SO well. Great job! One of my favorite films ever. Top 3.

[@bobacrey1068]

My favourite film of all time

[@johnpittsii7524]

Thanks for the amazing video Matt ❤. One of my favorite movies

[@SnapperChannel]

Great video to finish off the Dollars Trilogy. Hope to see you take on Once Upon a Time in the West and Once Upon a Time in America at some point.

[@GrindHouse1990]

One my favorite movie ever!

[@vaderfett3229]

Thank you, Matt!! Great Video. The Good, The Bad and The Ugly is and always will be my absolute favourite film of all time! There isn't much that can be said but your video is a perfect homage and tribute to this classic.

[@kamenocelot01]

This is an awesome video essay. This is one of my favorite movies alongside Seven Samurai and Jaws, and you made an excellent job highlighting most of the best elements of this one. Great job!

[@JoeLovesComics]

Great video! I really need to watch some westerns, including this, as I've never seen any! 😬

[@davidhurray]

Love your videos Matt!

[@tayloredwards4968]

I hope you have a Happy Thanksgiving 🦃

[@phillipcasey101]

Definitely interested in seeing a review of once upon a time in the west, my favorite of Leone’s films.

[@mikehenderson42]

one of my favourite movies of all time thank you for this video you did a great job at breaking down what makes it so incredible

[@tinypurplefishes2903]

Sergio Leone is one of very very very few directors who has an almost perfect filmography Outside of his first movie (Colossus of Rhodes) everything he created was absolutely fantastic, and it’s a shame his career was cut short by his passing

[@FirstNameLastName-kt3zn]

This is a great video, I'm glad you spent time discussing Morricone's contributions

[@oscarnjboy]

After waiting so patiently for this one, this has got to be your best one yet. Seriously. Amazing job. So glad i subscribed since your daredevil days.

[@tonycorleone3420]

Peak video for one of the greatest movies ever made

[@KingOfGoblins1234]

Once Upon a Time in the West is my fave western, hope to see your review

[@loganthomas2421]

My favorite western!

[@Nono-hk3is]

You did a great job, Matt. Thank you!

[@tykeshooting84]

The best film of all time. Watched it well over 50 times. I remember first time I watched it. Was mid 70’s. I was about 9 years old. It was on later evening, but my dad let me stay up the watch it. I sat with my parents watching it and literally mesmerised by every part of it. Blondie was my favourite, but I quickly became to like Tuco the best. Eli’s portrayal of Tuco could not be done by anyone else. Indeed, the casting was perfection. Young people today watching it, will point out some flaws or just see it as a western. However, the flaws are clearly deliberate. They are a Guy Ritchie, or Tanantino type cinematic example. Indeed, they clearly copied Leones cinematic artistry. Couple all this with Morricones soundtrack and this film absorbes you into the film like you’re actually there.

[@HomeCinemaEnthusiast]

Awesome 👌👌👌👌👌👌

[@midnightmosesuk]

It's a toss up for me between The Good, The Bad and The Ugly and Once Upon a Time in the West as the best Sergio Leone movie. I think it'd be Once Upon a Time for me ultimately but that's the beauty of Leone's movies, they're all great and you just can't lose no matter what you're watching.

[@pinkfloyd870]

The greatest film ever made. Perfection on just about every level. The music is a gift to history. The secret sauce to the perfect Spaghetti, is Sergio Leone, and Ennio Morricone.

[@orinanime]

12:10 I really appreciate this video. But I also have to praise an element of the video that has nothing to do with the subject matter. THANK YOU for playing Tangerine Dream's musical score for The Keep in the background.

[@daanthing6002]

Jawdropping movie. As a kid Sergio Leone made me aware of the concept of a director. Who made this?!

[@MrCyberstrike]

I would love to see High Noon and the Westerns of Anthony Mann, especially those starring James Stewart. These films walked so Leone could run.

[@AntonSjöstedt]

I prefer Once Upon A Time In The West, but this one is still great! 🤠

[@mandalorianhunter1]

I been listening to escacty of gold the films theme because of the medalo commercials. It's a great theme How this helped inspire Star Wars is amazing.

[@maldon3659]

My favourite scene from this film is the bathtub scene where Tuco shoots the guy who's been hunting him down and some words to live by "if you need to shoot, shoot don't talk"

[@jwnj9716]

The last line in the movie is just perfect. That's how you end your film.

[@Enshohma]

As far as Western recommendations / requests, I would like to read or see your take on MY NAME IS NOBODY (1973), a film that acts as a comedic but no less heartfelt epilogue to westerns in general, Spaghetti or otherwise, with Henry Fonda as an aging cynical gunslinger still housing a buried nobel soul and Terence Hill as an impish-yet-dangerous oddball who seeks to use that noble soul for his own goals. I adore the film though I know a lot of people don't due to its humorous bent.

[@mr.sand7899]

Do Leone's Once Upon A Time Trilogy next. I think it's better than his Dollars trilogy.

[@jasonmaclean719]

In the words of Primus, 'Everybody wanna be like Clint, I always wanted to be like Lee Van Cleef'.

[@AndrewLoukidis-jr2bp]

Hmmm, I was thinking watching this last night and now my phone leads me here..... The devices are listening, always listening...

[@spaceodds1985]

Best Western Ever!

[@derrionbrown3923]

About time 🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@JazziG59]

I would argue this is the greatest film ever made. I mean, Jesus Christ, it really is that good.

[@glennac]

In response to your invitation, I would definitely like to see you cover the original “Magnificent Seven”, “Rio Bravo”, and “True Grit” (2010). Thanks for the GB&U❣️

[@calvinkatt662]

This has been a great trilogy of videos. I would very much like to see you cover Once Upon A Time In The West. And if you are interested, I'd also like to see you do a video on Duck You Sucker as well.

[@VFRSTREETFIGHTER]

I love this film, but I prefer Once Upon a Time in the West, I would consider that Leone's definitive western. But they're all masterpieces, It really comes down to personal preference, there is no wrong answer.

[@jmalmsten]

While I love the dollars trilogy. The true perfection came in Once Upon A Time in the West. The horse opera perfected. And then. There's the often forgotten Duck, You Sucker. More of a throwback to the style of the dollars trilogy.

[@coopersheridan73]

ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST PLEASE!!

[@ginofrancejr555]

Excellent video you should cover more westers

[@symphysis]

Once Upon a Time in the West is Sergio Leone's definitive western epic. This movie is just a dress rehearsal for it.

[@bentramer682]

I was just watching the special feature documentaries on an older DVD copy of this movie

[@ThaCho23nJuan]

Got the 4k arrow video pre-ordered

[@TheMicBartz]

I still maintain: Leones masterpiece is "Once Upon A Time In The West".

[@TonyTylerDraws]

That line of angry customers can wait; gonna watch this 😂

[@tonycorleone3420]

1:17 good taste

[@Anynom]

Was wondering when you'd wrap up the trilogy spotlight!

[@jb8280]

I’m always torn… Once Upon a Time in the West Or The Good, The Bad & The Ugly They are both cinematic masterpieces, when asked which is the best? I just say, “Yes”

[@TonyTylerDraws]

11:46 I kinda want a Spaghetti Knights movie

[@Vangance]

[@bentramer682]

I love Evil Dead 2, but seriously? Better than this? there's not many movies that are this well made or satisfying at the same time.

[@MusicFromAnotherTime]

Welp. Time to drink a Modelo now I guess...

[@tonycorleone3420]

15:36 il maestro, the greatest of all time

[@samhank]

We love you

[@Magicghost23]

👍👍👍

[@bootleggodzilla1]

Never heard it called the dollars trilogy until recently everyone always called it the man with no name trilogy when i was growing up

[@jamesconfrey9117]

Once Upon A time in The West. Is the best there ever was, simply because it has better characters, and story telling. Music is also much better. It has a stronger conclusion.I just love that movie. The Good the bad, and the ugly comes in second.

[@m.nightshyamalan6954]

No that movie is a boring overrated dumpster fire

[@orangeblaster500]

More like the good, the great, and the fantastic, am I right?

[@nealnoir]

Hot take: I think ennio morricone is the greatest film composer of all time. Yes. Better than John Williams. And Ecstasy of Gold is a strong candidate for greatest film score track of all time.

[@VoiceInHisHead]

Bwah wah wahh For a few dollars more was always my fav

[@harsyakiarraathallah2222]

When you think about it, "Once Upon a Time in the West" Could have been the Fourt Movie, and actually has a Plot to End the Man with No Names Story Arc, if only Eastwood was Paid more and just decided to Continue. 😂

[@rabbidbabies4094]

Duck you sucker is another great one that I feel gets overshadowed quite a bit.

[@gomiwomi]

Stevens was armed when facing Angel Eyes.

[@erikbihari3625]

Surprised nobody attempted reconstructive western with country music(appearently their completely different genres). But wich closer?

[@abegarfield7030]

The Gospel road starring Johnny Cash also contains songs by Cash. There's a number of westerns from the '90s, mostly made for TV movies, that star famous country music singers and also feature songs by them. The bulk of them are Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson & Kris Kristopherson.

[@abegarfield7030]

Actually, what are we considering westerns? Are we talking about traditional cowboy/outlaw stuff, set in the 1800s or are we including films set in the modern day that happen to be in the west? ....because there's a lot of movies from the '70s to today that are set in Texas and California with country music soundtracks. I assume it's the more traditional style and in that case, yeah you're right there's not many with country soundtracks.

[@erikbihari3625]

@abegarfield7031 . How different are country and western music are, from each other exactly? Also, rest peace last legend. Cowboy and outlaw!

[@abegarfield7030]

​@@erikbihari3625 To be honest, I'm not sure. I love country music but I don't really know what Western is. Maybe it's more traditional cowboy music. Campfire songs, maybe.

[@abegarfield7030]

​@@erikbihari3625 I've just had a quick search and apparently the differences between them are mostly tonal and they use different scales and rhythms.

[@300kapslar]

17:10 Tuco is what?

[@thomasdesulme797]

Once upon a time in the West.

[@Clonetrooper1139]

And to think John Wayne actually tried to give Clint grief over his Westerns. 😆

[@sebastiansochanski]

👌

[@ScottSullivanTV]

The movie's title does NOT use the Oxford comma. Your title is wrong!

[@probablynotmyname8521]

Tuco isn’t a coward he’s a survivor

[@krankarvolund7771]

Okay, who did the ten greatest movies of all times list? Because I find very odd that there is Tron Legacy Godzilla or Kiki's Delivery service in it XD

[@22espec]

Even tough Blondie is the hero, i think i prefer Tuco's scenes better, he really has some great scenes with the walking amons the tombstones, when he takes a bath and when he 'buys' a gun

[@erikbihari3625]

Honestly sad that this movie ultimately defined what westerns are. Cause despite what people claimed(superhero movies aren't our modern westerns), there was wider canvas and paints!

[@abegarfield7030]

It's not a trilogy. There's 5 of them. A Fistful of dollars, A Few dollars more, The Good, the bad & the ugly, Once upon a time in the West and A Fistful of of dynamite. The 3 men waiting for the train at the beginning of ....West were originally going to be played by Eli Wallach, Lee Van Cleef & Clint Eastwood. They were to be killed to put the whole thing to rest but none of them were available at the time. Leone decided to make one more: Giu la testa (1971) also known as Duck, you sucker and A Fistful of dynamite.

[@RAPPERScantSPELL]

I do enjoy the film, though I will say the overdubbing keeps me from being fully engaged, it just kinda takes me out of the moment

[@Justin.Martyr]

*30-mins of YAP, BLAP & BLOP & I Got ZERO LEARNING Out of it!!!!*

[@claywoodral7587]

How 'bout Lonesome Dove? It's Marvel movie epic but with Tommy Lee Jones being grouchy.

[@lukassrensen4788]

To me, this isnt even his best western. I prefer Once Upon A Time In The West, even though this movie is a masterpiece too. And Once Upon A Time in America is his best movie overall.

[@m.nightshyamalan6954]

Once upon a time in the west is so boring,

[@DavidsonJohnson-xl9be]

Please do captian America white

[@PuncherOfAbs]

It’s weird but they remind me of the three wizards from lord of the rings The ugly being Radegast