Page 48 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 125

48 Issue #125 June 2023 www.sportsenergynews.com

In Reel Time

The Man with No Name

beginning of the
By Nikolai Adams
rejuvenation of the historic genre.
erhaps one of the most iconic Casting an array of actors from
Pintroductions to a character different countries (Germany, Italy,

finds Clint Eastwood’s Man with Spain, Austria, and America – to
No Name riding into a dry, vile give you a few examples), it makes
town, wearing the now legendary for a jarring viewing experience
garb – dust covered poncho, brown for those who have not watched a
gaucho-style hat, black jeans, spurs, movie done in this fashion before.
and a Colt in his trusty holster (the That is because each performer
stubby cigars will come a little acted in their own language (with
later). Stopping for a drink of water, it being shot like a silent film),

he takes in the violent, melancholic dubbed later in post-production –
locale, where people gaze at him meaning that the lips rarely match
in a distrusting and ominous way up to the speaker’s mouth. Despite
through their wooden shutters, and the excessive language barriers on
children are shot at in the street by set and the unorthodox voice-to-lip
thuggish individuals. mismatch, these two issues do not in
any way spoil the powerful essence
The first of what would become

the “Dollars Trilogy” (or “The of the feature.
Man with No Name Trilogy”), A A marvellous example of an anti- Photo Submitted
Fistful of Dollars (1967), despite its hero, Eastwood’s character (his

now celebrated status, was poorly name may be Joe) is by no means a border town (it feels like a Hatfield mythic whispers that the gunman
received by most North American cookie-cutter role model. Thankfully, and McCoy feud). The centre of cannot be beat.
and British critics when originally the film’s minuscule budget (an the locale is, fittingly, the saloon. The Man with No Name decides

released. Once again showing estimated two hundred thousand It is here that The Man with No to take on four of the Baxter’s to

how time is a fickle thing, the term dollars) and complaints with the Name meets a barkeep and his soon start, as they hassled him when he
Spaghetti Western (this type of script had actors like Henry Fonda, to be loyal friend Silvanito (José entered the town (known as the ‘get
motion picture), was first coined Charles Bronson, Rory Calhoun and Calvo) – the cantina owner divulges three coffins ready’ scene, it is one

as a negative, disparaging term James Coburn (to name just a few) the complex feud that plagues the of the standout moments – perfectly
(ridiculing the European product turn down the role – it was actually diminutive town. capturing the movie’s unique mix
for being of poorer quality to their third choice Richard Harrison who On the one side, the Rojo brothers, of comedy and violence). Then
American counterparts) – though pointed Leone in the direction of the Don Miguel (Antonio Prieto), entrenching himself with the
today, it is generally thought of as an television series Rawhide, where star Esteban (Sieghardt Rojo brothers, he sneakily sells
endearing and highly positive term. Eric Fleming turned the part down, information to both sides (after he
Directed by Sergio Leone, its unique but suggested another member of Rupp) and Ramón (Gian Maria witnesses Ramón pulling a violent
visual style (beautifully framed the show (Eastwood), which opened Volontè) deal with the illegal heist against a group of military
close-ups that differ from the typical the door for the actor, who brought distribution of alcohol, while men).
Hollywood use of the technique, a laconic, assured, acerbic and the other gang, the Baxter’s, are
as well as his then unorthodox use dryly humourous turn to the drifter gunrunners – John Baxter (Wolfgang Further complicating things for
of viewpoint that places us in the character. Lukschy) is also town sheriff, the multi-faceted man, he sees
moment over Eastwood’s gun), though his wife Consuelo (Margarita that Ramón is infatuated with a
and attempt to move away from The story follows the chiselled, Lozano) is in many ways the head striking woman named Marisol
quick draw as he finds himself

the traditional American tropes of of the family. Ramón has built up (Marianne Koch), which has led him
the western, is now viewed as the teetering between two rival gangs quite the reputation, and Eastwood’s
in the tiny, combative Mexican character is constantly hearing near Continued on page 49