FOR A FEW DOLLARS MORE: Sergio Leone's Overlooked Masterpiece
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 22 พ.ย. 2022
- An analysis of Sergio Leone's second movie in The Dollars Trilogy - For A Few Dollars More, looking at the behind the scenes of this Eastwood-starring sequel, how Leone and company upped their spaghetti western skills with this superior sequel, how Morricone's score uses diagetic music for a more emotional story, and what makes this somewhat overlooked sequel so special.
PATREON - / mattdraper
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#western
#dollarstrilogy
Music:
"For a Few Dollars More," "A Fistful of Dollars", and "The Good The Bad and The Ugly" by Ennio Morricone
"Hangman's Tale" by Vincent Pedulla
"Vampires" by The Midnight
Sources:
• Clint Eastwood on Rawh...
www.thedigitalfix.com/clint-e...
www.independent.co.uk/arts-en...
• Sergio Leone interview...
manksjoint.home.blog/2020/11/...
www.popmatters.com/191321-for... - ภาพยนตร์และแอนิเมชัน
![20 Things You Didn't Know About The Good, The Bad & The Ugly [1966]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/7G7x3hmKyIE/mqdefault.jpg)
![[MPD직캠] 베이비몬스터 직캠 8K 'LIKE THAT' (BABYMONSTER FanCam) | @MCOUNTDOWN_2024.6.13](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/8qa-nm9bCLs/mqdefault.jpg)
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I know I’m in the minority, but this was always my favorite of the dollar trilogy.
Hey why not. They're all great
Same dude
Mine too
Trust me bro you’re not the only one
Did we all just become best friends
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly is a masterpiece but this is probably my personal favorite of the trilogy, my favorite western, and one of my favorite films ever. I love the dynamic between Clint and Lee and how personal the stakes are in the duel ever more so than the previous and next installment. Also this goes without saying but Morricone's score slaps
Be sure to check out Yojimbo, the black and white Japanese film this entire plot and the ‘man with no name’ trope was stolen from. I assure you you’ll enjoy it even more than this wonderful interpretation. And check out the wiki if you care to know the history behind the lack of international copyright infringement and the economic warfare that led to so many Japanese movies being stolen and copied in hollywood
@@skivvy3565 Really? Ask yourself by whom the Yojimbo, by your Kurosawa, was inspired. I'll tell you: read Dashiell Hammett's _Noir_ novel _Red Harvest_ , and inquire about the _Commedia dell'arte Italiana_, _Goldoni_ . and then we'll talk. And ask yourself another thing: if the _Fistful of Dollars_ was a plagiarism why on earth did Yojimbo not gross shit and the first one instead made every box office record. Before you write nonsense, get better informed!
@@francescolaspina8073 How much a film grosses means nothing in any consideration of its originality or even value. I doubt Skivvy is interested in your offer to "talk". Nothing in the comment to which you responded deserved smug condescension.
I completely agree with your sentiments: I could have written your comment myself.
@@francescolaspina8073 Cool! I'll check it out! I still love both movies. Even though they're same, I enjoy each of their unique merits.
I always thought this movie deserved way more credit than it got. This was actually the first of the trilogy I ever saw, and the main theme cycled with the good the bad and the ugly theme as my ring tone from the time I was 13 until I was 17.
Be sure to check out Yojimbo, the black and white Japanese film this entire plot and the ‘man with no name’ trope was stolen from. I assure you you’ll enjoy it even more than this wonderful interpretation. And check out the wiki if you care to know the history behind the lack of international copyright infringement and the economic warfare that led to so many Japanese movies being stolen and copied in hollywood
@@skivvy3565 bro why are you posting this on every comment you aren't even talking about the right movie, A Fistful of Dollars is the one inspired by Yojimbo and even then if you watch the movies yourself they don't feel the same
It’s definitely better than A Fistful of Dollars
I think For a Few Dollars More is probably my favorite of the Man With No Name films. It gave a hint of insight into the main character's mind, and the music box duel was hella badass.
Be sure to check out Yojimbo, the black and white Japanese film this entire plot and the ‘man with no name’ trope was stolen from. I assure you you’ll enjoy it even more than this wonderful interpretation. And check out the wiki if you care to know the history behind the lack of international copyright infringement and the economic warfare that led to so many Japanese movies being stolen and copied in hollywood
@@skivvy3565 Yojimbo story was in Fistful of dollars. Not in this one.
@@skivvy3565 I don't think Akira Kurosawa minded when A Fistful of Dollars was made. He considered it flattering that the film was inspired by his own and called it a good movie, but he wanted his cut of the royalties, lol.
@@skivvy3565 Hardly 'stolen'... you could say improved! Akira Kurosawa is over rated anyway and he would often 'steel' from Shakespeare too (Ran) and Seven Samurai is basically the Robin Hood legend.
Besides you are talking about Fistful of Dollars, which is a far superior film to Yojimbo.
@@FightCollective Kurosawa was not overrated at all, his cinematography was groundbreaking and he was one of the greatest directors ever lol
Indio is one of the greatest film villains of all time. The scene where he stands in the church pulpit and unveils his plans to rob the safe from the bank of El Paso to his gang is brilliant and iconic.
Indio is a great baddie!
About 15 years ago I emailed screen-writer Sergio Donati and asked him if "The Man With No Name" is the same individual in all 3 films. Not really expecting an answer he replied back and stated that he felt it was the same character.
That's awesome!
Excuse my bad english. At the end of the 3rd film Eastwood takes the iconic poncho before the "three-way duel". This suggests that the first film is the sequel to the 3rd in an endless loop. After all, a dollar is a coin, a circle, and a circle has no beginning or end.
@@FrankGulp The Good, The Bad and the Ugly can be called a prequel since it takes place during the Civil war and the other two films take place in the 1870's.
@@michaelproctor8100 I don't remember any time references in the first two films. maybe i'm wrong.
@@FrankGulp If you go back to A Fistful of Dollars, watch the cemetary scene where Joe and Silvanito are positioning the bodies of the dead soldiers up against a tombstone that is clearly marked 1873.
The theme by Ennio Morriconé for *"For a Few Dollars More"* is the best out of the *"Dollars"* trilogy. Brilliant film.🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
And no legitimate full soundtrack recording. (Just one side of an LP). Morricone got into a dispute with the producers.
It's my ringtone and has been for as long as I can remember.
Hell yes. It gets me fired up every time I hear it, and immediately makes me want to be a epic bounty hunting cowboy.
agree with you totally.
My favourite is Vizio di Uccidere (Vice to Kill/Vice of Killing) from this same movie, the one playing while the gang rides away after the heist.
The locket theme Is perfection, The ending duel for a few dollars more Is a modern art masterpiece. A work of art Indeed.
*This is actually my fav western of all time*
I love the depth of the El Indio character and the haunting flashbacks he has.
I always found myself liking For a Few Dollars More a bit more than even the Good, the Bad and the Ugly, and while Lee Van Cleef is terrific as angel eyes, i really enjoy seeing him as the (while still anti-heroish) good guy, and Gian Maria Volonté as the bad guy, in this movie, and the score that plays during Mortimer's and Indio's duel is absolutely phenomenal. Brilliant works of film and art.
He wasn't just a director....he was a visionary. Now, more than ever, Hollywood needs artists like Sergio Leone.....
The best western ever! Nothing beats Lee Van Cleef's acting in the standoff!
With my permission you could all use a bath.
I’m happy to see I’m not the only one who sees that Mortimer is the protagonist of this film. I made the same argument in my term paper in film class a few years ago! This truly is an overlooked masterpiece of a western.
We will never see films with this bravado, flair and compositional perfection ever again
Lee Van Cleef's character actually brings his role of Sabata to my mind with his look and his use of the Rifle.
The ending of this movie is in my opinion on the same level with the good the bad and the ugly. The music box is so well established throughout the movie that its really shocking when you realize who the woman is at the end
This is absolutely my favourite of the trilogy, I watched G,B&U a few years ago for a uni assignment on westerns and enjoyed it so much I watched the other Dollars films and FAFDM blew me away. I own them all but I've definitely rewatched this one the most, Eastwood and Van Cleef are at their prime and I love their characters' dynamic.
Be sure to check out Yojimbo, the black and white Japanese film this entire plot and the ‘man with no name’ trope was stolen from. I assure you you’ll enjoy it even more than this wonderful interpretation. And check out the wiki if you care to know the history behind the lack of international copyright infringement and the economic warfare that led to so many Japanese movies being stolen and copied in hollywood
Once upon a time in the West is as awesome or maybe better than tgtbatu
Sergio Leone's Dollars Trilogy is the best trilogy ever! Period!
I love all three. I use to say The Good, The Bad and the Ugly was my favorite but over the years For A Few Dollars More became my favorite. Lee Van Cleef is such a bad ass in this movie. My favorite character in the trilogy.
Eastwood, Morricone & Leone = triple masterpiece… it’s simple math 🎉
Hey the 4th MP! Once upon a time in the west! A real jewel.
Concur: happy thanksgiving
I remember a day back in 2008 when TCM ran the trilogy back-to-back. That was when I fell in love with Westerns.
These movies never get old after almost 60 years
I've always wished that Leone would of made other movies focused on the Col. Douglas Mortimer character. Van Cleef had such a unique flair and intensity that I don't feel was ever utilized to it's full potential. The Col. Mortimer character had a charm that could of carried a series.
Agreed. Lee van Cleef had a magnetic charisma that immediately drew the viewer in. He could convey so much with his intense eyes and facial expressions without even opening his mouth.
I f you're interested in seeing Van Cleef in a similar role, you can watch "The Great Duel"
@@theinvisiblecunt6417 also ‘Barquero’ is worth watching with van Cleef as the hero.
One of the great qualities about "For a Few Dollars More" is how it essentially shows if you were thinking Fistful was a fluke because it was a remake of an already great film, this one proved itself as strong as it did without that being the case. And it was only solidified more with "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly."
This is my favourite of the trilogy. Absolutely one of the greatest westerns ever made and another terrific score by Morricone.
Van Cleef was spectacular in both movies. It's amazing how in FAFDM you still root for him even after some uncertainty with his early dealings with Eastwood, to utterly hating him in GBU. And while the Marricone GBU score is iconic, the pocket watch music alone in FAFDM still sends shivers down my spine every time. It carries much more impact in every note and the suspense it creates, if not the best, it is at least up there amongst the best suspenseful music motifs like for instance Jaws.
It has to be noted that Van Cleef's Hollywood career had pratically ended, after a car accident, long rehabilitation and subsequent alchool problems.
Leone searched specifically for him, that at that time paid the bills working as a painter, because he recalled his part in High Noon, and tought he would have been perfect for Col. Mortimer's part.
Van Cleef's hard life was reflected in his look. In the movie, Eastwood called him "old man", and they really looked of different generations, but in reality the two were only five years apart.
Thanks for this. I agree, this movie is underrated in the trilogy. I also think the iconic music of this movie is my favorite of all three. And one more thing, this movie proves that Clint Eastwoods characters in the trilogy is not always "the man with no name", in this movie his name is Manco.
As a child I just knew The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly because it was the one that played on tv. Once I seen the trilogy this is actually my favorite of the three.
It was because of this movie, that Lee Van Cleef became a mega star in Italy with the various other Spaghetti Westerns to come along.
Such a brilliant movie. There's a wealth of subtle details to find on rewatch
I would say out of Sergio Leone’s westerns, this is tied with Once Upon a Time in the West for my favourite. Both movies I love, that I don’t hear many people discuss. Especially in the shadow of The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.
Beautifully shot masterpiece, superior sequel that movie makers today are still referencing today with it's great usage of lighting and depth of field.
While Van Cleef is an excellent villain in The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, he is truly fantastic as a badass and intimidating good guy in this movie. And that also gives us Volonte as an amazing villain. The only thing this movie is missing is Tuco. Even so, I still like it a bit better than The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. Its also more rewatchable for me, due to the smaller scale and shorter run time.
I would say this is my favorite in the trilogy, it is much more personal with a more complete story. I love Colonel Mortimer, he is one of my favorite characters ever with such a flip on traditional western characters, he is the man in black, he is a killer, tricksters, but he is sophisticated, cultured, seasoned, a gentleman, wise old man and has a just cause for his actions.
I still think this is the best of the trilogy. It's a true masterpiece of cinema.
Finally someone who pronounces Leone’s name correctly!🎉🎉🎉
El Indio is such a good villain. Angel Eyes is excellent too, but when you get to see the villain's formation, he feels like a well realized character.
One of my favourite things of this film is the visual storytelling of the final duel. Compared to the excellent but bloated finale of GBU, every single shot of the characters' faces has meaning, and we see the progression of emotion between Indio and the Colonel, each character going through realization, transitioning between confidence, fear, and sadness respectively. Combined with the score, it's the perfect climax and my favourite of the trilogy by far.
The Dollars trilogy is a perfect masterpiece
Hard for me to pick a favorite. So many aspects I love of each. I love the Yojimbo compatibility with Fistful of dollars. The duo in this film. The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly encapsulating everything I loved and more from the first two.
Sanjuro has always been underrated too. The humour in that links more to Leone in the later two films.
This is my second favorite of the trilogy, but possibly has my favorite ending. El Indio is definitely the best villain of the trilogy though
Overlooked? I think he has one of the most solid filmographies out of any director.
Bravo.
As a child I had this movie on vhs recorded from tv, then on dvd. And now I have it on iTunes. I’ve seen it at least 50 times and it never gets old.
I had no idea The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly was connected to the Dollars Trilogy when I saw it either, so I had the exact same reaction to Van Cleef when I finally saw Fistful. What an amazing trilogy.
What a movie ! I watch it when I need a huge adrenaline rush … Leone and Morricone just the best duo of artists in history !! Overall as amazing as the Good The Bad and The Ugly , a movie with the best last 15 minutes in cinema history… but For A Few Dollars More is somehow more dramatic and compelling throughout its total duration … A hugely under appreciated masterpiece !!
Glad to see lots of peoples in the comments agreeing that this is the best entry in the trilogy! The final duel is probably my favorite scene in any film along with the laughing scene from Evil Dead 2 and the hallway scene from Oldboy. Great video as always Matt.
Oldboy is probably my favorite movie of all time
The good the bad and the ugly also is, but now after seeing for a few dollars more I can't decide.
By the way oldboy is having a theatrical rerelease August 16th!
Lee Van Cleef and Gian Maria Volente go toe to toe with Clint, and on this occasion both surpass him quite spectacularly in terms of screen presence and charisma. The character of Indio is captivating, the performance raw and brooding, with a subtle menace and hint of a tortured soul. Clint being willing to let his character take a back seat to Mortimer and Indio is a testament to his humility and Van Cleef and Volente’s talent.
Modern cinema is in a dismal state. When I rewatch films like For A Few Dollars More, it reminds me of what an incredible art form filmmaking can be.
Mann the Dollar series was brought to my attention by my Dad. When I was younger, he would play each film every weekend. Being a kid at the time would always watch it along with him but I never understood what the hell is going on. Now that I'm older I get why he loves the series so much. The soundtrack is amazing, the character is way deeper than you think, of course actors giving their all. My dad to this day still quotes lines from the Trilogy. His fav line of all "I don't work cheap" words to live by! Just happy to see others enjoying these masterpiece
Most underrated channel. This is by far my favorite of the Dollars trilogy. The ground work for OUATITW and Harmonica and the emotional finale are top tier filmmaking! I sorta see it more as a Dollars Quadrilogy, with OUATITW combining all the parts of the series that works. Into one clever, grand send off to the genre.
Thank you making these videos!
Good call. Once Upon a Time in the West is my favorite Leone film.
I haven't seen the good the bad and the ugly yet but out of the two dollars films I have seen so far this is my absolute favorite, The villain is a lot more interesting and the chemistry between Eastwood & Cleef is downright Pegg & Frost
stupid dumbshit too bad retards are able to post comments
This, in my opinion is the best western of all time and my favourite Leone
If there are more Leone videos coming, I’m here for it! Great video as always Matt
There will definitely be more someday!
Always been my favorite of the three. Lee Van and Clint at their coolest as bad-A good guys, and that haunting locket melody...
Love all these movies. Mortimer and Blonde made a great team in this film.
I love this film. The Dollars trilogy is one of the few trilogy that starts with a great film, the second is even better, and the third is the best of all. I've owned them on VHS, then DVD and now have them on Blu-ray.
Once you cover GBU, I hope you eventually do a video on Once Upon A Time In The West as well.
One of my all time favorite films. Fantastic review. Thank you!
My favourite of the Trilogy. Better quality than Fistful and while "The Good The Bad And The Ugly" is brilliant it maybe lags a little in places. This one is great the whole way through. Perfectly paced. Indio is the best villain in the trilogy and then you have that amazing dynamic between Clint and Van Cleef. The pocket watch score is a truly fantastic piece of music.
Glad these films get to be immortalized with videos like this. Always concerns me if the classics will live on 🖤🙏🏽
This has always been my favorite Segio Leon movie. That watch and everything they do with it, a symbol of family, The timer for the duel, it is such a unique prop for a film. That score! So epic. And Clint was at his best. I recently went back and watch A Fist Full of Dollars. It has nothing on this film. Obviously The Good the Bad and the Uglynis a masterpiece. But this. This film is my favorite.
This might sound weird but out of all the westerns in cinema, THIS is my ALL TIME FAVORITE WESTERN FILM.
Out of the 3 Dollars films, this one is my favorite, The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly is a masterpiece, but for me it does have pacing issues and at 3 hours, it did feel like a bit of a slog the first time I saw it. and A Fistful of Dollars is also a masterpiece too.
The final duel with the chimes is so underrated. And Lee Van Cleef is so awesome as the Colonel in this movie and as Angel Eyes in The Good, the Bad, and the ugly.
This was the first of the trilogy I saw, and now it's one of my favorites! Absolutely masterful movie; the video is fantastic too! Love the behind-the-scenes parts.
The duel in the church will always be one of the best scenes, and one of Morricone's finest pieces of music. The climactic build gives me goosebumps. Also, where did you get all these HD clips of the movie?
I absolutely love you for this essay. This is my favorite entry in the trilogy and have always felt its very overlooked.
Great review, and my favorite of the trilogy as well. One slight correction: The man with the family that Indio kills is not a former friend or gang member, he is a retired bounty hunter like Manco and Mortimer. He caught Indio, and used the bounty to retire and start a family.
Since I first saw this more than 30 years ago, it's been my favourite western, and therefore my favourite of the trilogy. It's the most emotionally complex and it has deeper characterisation. I even prefer the score.
Excellent movie. The ending where you understand the relationship between Van Cleef and Eastwoods characters is just amazing. Once Upon A Time In The West is by far my favorite. The cinematography, music, story are excellent.
There is a hard to describe atmosphere in the film that lingers and draws one back for repeated viewings. So many outstanding moments, the Agua Caliente scene for instance is masterfully done. The great Ennio Morricone tying it all together. A real work of art.
Respect Matt. I don't know what you studied, but your critique of the movies, music and directorial actions kept me hooked till the last moment. 🤗
This and The Great Silence are imo the best 2 spaghetti westerns
I’ve tried to get my brother into western movies for a while. I finally convinced him to watch one with me and I chose this movie. He was originally skeptical when he figured out it was a 60s movie (he usually doesn’t like older films), but he ended up loving this movie. I got us both replica ponchos for Christmas
I love this trilogy, and this is probably my favorite of the three. There's so much that's just 'right' about this film; the acting, the score, the cinematography - it's all fantastic. And, it has Klaus Kinski at the height of his weirdness. 'Once Upon a Time...' is my favorite Western, although I was surprised at how much I loved the much more recent 'Hostiles'. It's strange, so short a period of time has had such a cultural impact on the US, and on foreign countries, as well.
One of my favorite movies, fantastic work Matt
El Indio is one of my all-time favourite villains. Legendary performances all round here
The best of the trilogy.
One of the best westerns ever made
Great video.
One little note, in the original Italian version, Eastwood’s character doesn’t really have a name: in the first it’s the bartender who calls him Joe, referring to a common name for a gringo; in the second the sheriff says that “they call him Monco”, and in the third one it’s Tuco who nicknames Eastwood Blondie for having a lighter hair colour than himself.
In Italian "monco" means amputee. They called him like that, because, as seen in the fistfight scene, he always used the left hand, to keep the right one near to the gun, ready to shoot.
Great Retrospective of a Truly Underrated Classic.
Something else linking the final duel and the one where Indio kills his former gang member is the particular circumstance of the watch chime melody. In the first duel I always imagined Inigo knew exactly when the chime would end so he has an advantage in knowing when to draw. In his duel with Mortimer, they both know the song by heart. Inigo through his obsession and Mortimer through his loss and love. In the final emotional climax of the movie, the importance of the melody for each character comes to the forefront. Inigo would use it as a weapon to help him kill others in a seemingly “fair fight” that was actually a psychopathic way of playing with his victims eventually became the theme song to his judgement.
Anyone else ever see this thread or something like it in the movie? Because I’ve thought about it since I was a kid but no one I know likes spaghetti westerns so I have no one to compare notes with.
Each has its strengths, the dynamic between Eastwood and Van Cleef has more humour than the other movies. The scene of them sizing each other up, ending with Mortimer pulling out his long pistol is brilliant.
This has been my favorite movie of all time for quite a while, great video!
I rewatched all 3 within the year. I totally expected The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly to be my favorite, but I was shocked to like the other 2 more. My favorite was For A Few Dollars More. The villain is one of the worst in cinema. The story is moving and powerful. Really loved it.
Like others have said, this is my personal favorite of the trilogy. The music is captivating, the set pieces are gorgeous, and the performances are epic. It resonates in a way that that the other two can't quite match. Thanks for sharing, looking forward to your take on the Resident Evil movies, a guilty pleasure to be sure.
I think part of what makes it so good is how tight the movie is. GBU can feel bloated in comparison, I first watched these movies off a blu ray release in 2013 and this was my favorite. I never understood why no one used to talk about this movie, but more recently I’ve been hearing Indio and Mortimer get the recognition they deserve as brilliantly written characters
Love this film. In the Seventies my parents allowed me to stay up on a Sunday night before school to watch it on our little black and white tv and I've been a Leone/Morricone/Eastwood fan ever since. Perfect cast. Perfect story. Perfect script. Perfect score. Perfect cinematography, sets, locations etc. Just a jewel of a film that would be impossible to make today. Ranks on the same level as TGTB&TU for me and I never tire of repeated viewings.
I actually bought a replica of Indios stolen pocket watch a few years back. When you open it the portrait of Mortimers sister gazes at you and Morricones chimes play. Holy shit it sent goosebumps running all up and down my arms and shivers down my spine the first time I opened it lol!
My absolute favourite! That bit with the watch always moves me to tears.
To me this is the favourite of the Dollar Trilogy! The partnership between our protagonist and the Music 😍
The only 3 westerns anyone needs to see
Absolutely love this take, and totally agree this movie is too underrated !
I think it’s overshadowed because A Fistful of Dollars was the first of the trilogy and The Good the Bad and the Ugly is such a great film. It’s the middle child and often forgotten.
My personal Favourite of "The Dollars Trilogy". Really enjoy Van Clef in the role of the protagonist, cast against his type. Much like Henry Fonda in his role as Frank in "Once upon a time .. ". Great Score also. Many great themes throughout.
Great video. I have yet to finish The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly but have seen the first two films in the trilogy. I also prefer this film to the first. I think its villain really sets it apart from Fistful.
Glad to see so many cultured individuals that also prefer for a few dollars more. All 3 films in the trilogy are masterpieces but this one just hit different. The higher stakes, the final duel, the final duel music, the beauty of two rivals working together. 12/10 film
The music box is one of my favorites ever and this one is my third favorite western ever
The good the bad and ugly
Unforgiven
And this one are my personal favorites
Finally some else who recognizes how great this movie is. It was first of the three I watched and has been my favorite in the trilogy.
Great analysis, I love this trilogy!
My girlfriend and I watched this today. Excellent, impossibly cool movie
True. This movie was about Mortimer brilliantly portrayed by Lee Van Cleef.
Definitely my personal favorite of the trilogy. The dynamic between Mortimer and Manco is so much fun
I'm also of the opinion that this film is linked to Fistful due to Manco's hand brace, the same hand that was severely injured in the first film.
Edit: different hand, oops
I like to think all three films are linked. Canonically, The Good The Bad and The Ugly comes first with Blondie receiving his Poncho at the very end. The second one being A Fistful of Dollars, which takes place almost directly after Blondie runs off with the money.
My belief is that Blondie ends up storing away the gold from the end of the last film as it'd be too risky to carry around a bunch of confederate gold, it would also explain why he's close to the border of Mexico due to him having to run away after blowing up the civil war bridge (which the general brings up is a pretty big war crime). He arrives in town and then he does his whole thing of pitting the town against each other and saving the family, which would also explain why he didn't care if he gave away that money to the family, he had no use for it. Then after the whole beating and whatnot from the last film he gets the hand brace either as a way for protection in case that ever happened again or because he had become a more seasoned gunslinger. In For a Few Dollars More he mentions the idea of retiring after turning in El Indio and his gang, which leads me to believe this is the overall final film.
Always been my favorite of the dollars and one of my favorites of any film.
For sure the coolest ending of any movie ever! "No old man. Thought I was having trouble with my adding. It's all right now".
Best soundtrack of the three and one of the best of any film also
I was never a fan of westerns, but this trilogy won me over.