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The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (R, 1967)

common sense media says

Potent Italian-Western shoot-'em up/war drama.

parents & educators say
  • 33% say violence is an issue
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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this is a lengthy, violent Western, considered adult material when first released because of the mass-killing, swearing, and the frank acknowledgement of prostitution, death, and greed. There's a strong futility-of-war theme in the bloody Civil War carnage. A character who became a clergyman rather than an outlaw is scolded for cowardice, and the film seems to support that judgment. There are repeated stunts involving characters who nearly get hung, only to escape at the last second when bullets cut the rope, as well as some cavalier playing with dynamite.

Positive messages: The Man With No Name is the "good" guy, and actually shows moments of compassion despite the character's ruthless attitude and quick gun violence. Killer Tuco is made sympathetic compared to scoundrels who surround him; he claims he had no choice but to become a desperado. A character who became a clergyman rather than an outlaw is scolded for cowardice, and the film seems to support that judgment. Female characters are either whores or inconsequential.
Violence: Numerous men shot to death, some in one-on-one gun duels, others by military skirmishes and firing squads. Much cannon fire. A brutal beating and gruesome near-death from dehydration. One character bashed in the skull and run over by a locomotive.
Sex: A female supporting character is stated to be a prostitute. A brief rear-view nude shot of Eli Wallach in the bath.
Language: "Bastard," "SOB," and some swearing in Spanish from Tuco.
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Much drinking in and out of saloons, and Eastwood and others have cigarettes clenched in their teeth a lot of the time, which becomes a symbol of manliness and comfort. Ditto for drinking heavily.
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More on The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about what makes this a Western classic. You can compare it to countless other sagebrush tales in which the good guys and the bad guys were a lot more one dimensional. How does the Man With No Name's feelings for Tuco (or other people) change throughout the story? Does it really seem to concern the Civil War, or do the battle scenes recall more recent military ops you can think of? You might talk about "spaghetti Westerns" in general and the movies they influenced, right up to Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End.

What's the story?

What's the story?
Clint Eastwood's character is an opportunistic gunman in Civil War-era Texas who saves grubby bandit Tuco (Eli Wallach) from bounty-hunters -- only to turn Tuco in himself for the reward money, then rescue the condemned man over and over again, for further bounty. Tuco gets tired of this routine and almost kills his partner -- but then they each hear different clues to the hiding place of a fortune in Union Army gold. They must reluctantly keep each other safe while searching for the treasure, against the backdrop of ever-escalating bloodshed between North and South. Moreover, another outlaw, a vicious freelance murderer nicknamed Angel Eyes (Lee Van Cleef, who, rather confusingly, played an entirely different character in For a Few Dollars More), has already been looking for the gold, and he gains a sergeant's rank in the Union Army as he follows the other two men.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
Reckoned by some fans as the best Western ever, THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY is the sweeping, stirring finale in a loose trilogy of trendsetting Italian-made horse operas starring Clint Eastwood as the Man With No Name (you actually were told his name in the previous For a Few Dollars More, but never mind). It's unnecessary to see the other movies to follow this one.

Director Sergio Leone brilliantly displays his flamboyant, larger-than-life filmmaking style, with an emphasis on long, tense close-ups of the actors' faces; widescreen camera compositions; wry humor; quick explosions of action; and surreal music by Ennio Morricone. He also tells a dense, multi-layered story that worked well for a lot of viewers in the Vietnam era as a statement on greed and violence; The treasure hunt between the three main characters gets overtaken by the greater menace, that of the Civil War that chews up so many young lives -- making even the hardened Man With No Name morally repulsed at the slaughter. But not so repulsed that he doesn't still have a plan to get the gold.

Movie themes & details

Movie Details
Studio: MGM/UA
Director: Sergio Leone
Cast: Clint Eastwood, Eli Wallach, Rada Rassimov
Genre: Western
Run time: 161 minutes
Theatrical release: December 29, 1967
DVD release: January 28, 1998
MPAA Rating: R
This review was written by Charles Cassady Jr.
 
 

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What parents & educators say

12
Based on 3 parent & educator reviews:
  • 33% say violence is an issue
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Most useful reviews by all members

mongofa
teen, 17 years old
13
 
Fantastic
This movie made me like westerns. It is a wild and exciting adventure through the West during the American civil war. Clint Eastwood and Eli Wallach rocked! The music is great as well.
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ashowiscool
teen, 14 years old
11
 
Really, the content of the movie isn't that bad. Nothing compared to now. My veiw is that the younger generation have seen ALOT worse and this is a toddlers movie to them. But either way, it's a great movie and I wish the younger generation could be into these kind of movies today. But unfortunately, they're minds have been spoiled by the crappy movies made today. If I could project into every kid's mind One Flew Over The Cucoos Nest and change them from being such an obnoxious immature era then I would.
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science
kid, 10 years old
11
 
It's cool!
I love the music. It is really cool. There's lots of violence in it and I can't believe they call one of the people a good guy. He kills people! Really gruesome. I had to close my eyes when the guy got bashed in the head.
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<flyboy>
teen, 18 years old
 
4 Stars? What?
This movie is 5 stars and earns it 100 times over. The best of the spaghetti westerns, it boasts great performances from Eastwood and the Tuco character. This sprawling epic also boasts great direction by Sergio Leone and great music.
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october1985
adult
9
 
Probably the greatest western film of all time. It's Rated R but should be PG-13. It's very tame. It has the normal amount of bloodless western film violence, thuough there is one fairly intense beating. Anyone over 9 should be fine watching it.
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natman
parent
 
best movie I ever seen!!!!!!!!!!
I liked this movie a lot just that there is a big amount of violence. This is a movie defenetly for 12 and up. Go wacth it now!
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PL Hans
adult
15
 
Great adult film
I'll keep it brief because the movie should speak for itself. It's well acted, well filmed, well directed, and well written. The score is awesome and classic. WARNINGS: There is a scene with male rear nudity, several "b" words in one scene, and several shootings, sometimes bloody. A good look at old-fashioned fortune hunters.
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evolinag
teen, 15 years old
12
 
Rated R & 18, though it is a total PG-13/12A!
This movie is a PG-13 in every way. It is rated R in the USA, and 18 in the UK, but it could have been rated PG-13 and 12A. Infrequently, words like b*tch and b*sterd are said. There is violence, a man gets brutally beaten up, a man gets wounded at a war and some mildly bloody corpses. And the usual western violence, such as shootings. There is use of alcohol, characters frequently drink, but this is quite common in older movies and it's a total know-your-child-thing. The movie is great, and so is the soundtrack, the director and the actors. It is not as good as Leones masterpieces "Once upon a Time in America" and "Once upon a Time in the West" (which both are not listed on Common Sense Media for some reasons), but still great!
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