The first of Sergio Leone’s masterful Spaghetti Westerns is by definition a landmark — it invented a whole sub-genre, set Clint Eastwood upon the road to superstardom, made a legend of composer Ennio Morricone, and managed something impossible: it rejuvenated the ailing Western. In short, it was like the arrival of punk rock.
San Miguel is a one-horse town that's being pulled apart by two rival families. John Baxter, the crooked town sheriff, seeks to establish his own version of law and order with support from his son, Antonio and their gang of thugs. But the Rojo Cartel - headed up by a trio of volatile brothers: Miguel, Ramon and Esteban - have their own ambitions for San Miguel and its strategic position on the Mexican border.
Enter the Man with No Name (Eastwood): a laconic gunslinger for hire who drifts into town and, after learning of the Baxter-Rojo feud, spots an opportunity. He plays the warring clans off against one another and turns their vendetta to his advantage - but the stranger's duplicity riles both families, and the vengeful Rojos decide to take drastic action in the battle for San Miguel.
Tuesday 11th September
99 min
18+
Film Festival
