The Spaghetti Western is a sub-genre of the western film genre and so called because many of them were produced by Italians. Defining characteristics of the Spaghetti Western include a low budget, an Italian director and a desert setting. A few of these films have become classics and deserve a place on anyone's DVD shelf.
A Fistful of Dollars (1964)
Directed by Sergio Leone, whom many would consider to be the Father of the Spaghetti Western, A Fistful of Dollars starred a then-young Clint Eastwood, just beginning his Hollywood career. This film really kicked off the Spaghetti Western genre by exaggerating violence and bringing the nameless stranger arch-type to the forefront of the story.
Django (1966)
This story featured Franco Nero in the title role. This particular Spaghetti Western has the privilege of being called the most violent film ever made up to that date. It was directed by Sergio Corbucci. There are numerous references to Django in other films, perhaps most famously in Quentin Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs, in which a character has his ear cut off.
The Good, The Bad and the Ugly (1966)
The film is Sergio Leone’s final entry into what would eventually become known as the “Dollars Trilogy.” Again, it stars Clint Eastwood as the nameless hero and once more, Leone exaggerates the violence in his action sequences. Although the film was looked down upon at the time of its release, it is now considered a classic and has had a considerable impact on film culture.
Once Upon a Time in the West (1968)
This Spaghetti Western was directed by Sergio Leone as well and starred Henry Fonda and Charles Bronson. It is now considered by many to be one of the most successful westerns of all time and has been honored by the National Film Registry for being significant. The DVD release of this film is a must-have for Spaghetti Western fans as the Collector’s Edition features commentary and a number of special features.
One could spend a lifetime reviewing Spaghetti Westerns as hundreds were made following Leone’s success. Of course, as with any film genre, there are a great many entries that aren’t really worth the time. However, the few films listed above rank as the greatest Spaghetti Westerns to ever have been made. Watching the films above will give the aspiring film buff an education as to the source of many tenets of the Western genre as it exists today as well an opportunity to be highly entertained!
Sources
Wikipedia (http://www.wikipedia.org)
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