My favorite Clint Eastwood movies: #4 The Man With No Name trilogy

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“A Fistful of Dollars” (1964) “For a Few Dollars More” (1965) “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” (1966) Why is he called “The Man With No Name” since Eastwood’s characters are given names in the credits? Italian filmmaker Sergio Leone who spoke no English reinvented the western and revived a fading genre by creating the spaghetti western. What is a spaghetti western besides the obvious connotations of being produced and directed by Italians? They are surreal versions of Hollywood westerns with unique visual style and sound effects, usually filmed in Spain which looks like the American southwest but not quite, traditional plots from a European perspective, amped up exaggerated violence and gunplay and those musical scores. Ennio Morricone’s music to this trilogy are unforgettable and instantly recognizable. Eastwood didn’t give these movies second thought after making them. They were just a job. He was surprised when “Fistful of Dollars” was a hit in Europe and astounded it was a box office sensation upon US release. After years of toil, he was a movie star in a most unexpected way. Did he realize he had created the screen persona taking him to legend status and perfecting his trademark steely eyed quint. “A Fistful of Dollars” is a loose remake of Akira Kurosawa’s 1961 Japanese samurai classic “Yojimbo” which in itself was a tribute to Hollywood westerns. Eastwood’s gunslinger is caught between two warring small town families. “For a Few Dollars More” teamed Eastwood with fellow bounty hunter lean mean bald Lee Van Cleef in pursuit of an outlaw. “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” is considered the finest of the trilogy. Eastwood, Van Cleef and Eli Wallach have an uneasy partnership after Confederate gold. These movies helped shape, define and influence Eastwood’s career to come.