All Adult Montanans Should See Eastwood's Spaghetti Westerns

I spent a hot Sunday afternoon and evening binge-watching Clint Eastwood movies. Can now check off my bucket list that I've seen all three of his "Man with No Name" or the "Spaghetti Westerns," nicknamed that because they were filmed in Italy.

These movies were produced in the 1960's with some Old West gritty romanticism of the cool American gunfighter against small armies of gunmen. And who better for the quiet hero than Clint Eastwood. These should be on your watch list for a day at home.

A Fistful of Dollars

The Man with No Name pits two bandit gang families against each other, playing both sides and collecting money along the way. His soft side comes out for a family as he helps them escape the carnage. 1964 film had a budget of $225,000 and grossed just under $20 million in the box office.

For a Few Dollars More

Now let's throw in another great western actor, Lee Van Cleef. He and Eastwood are bounty hunters for the same outlaw band, and the two men form a tenuous partnership where they really don't trust each other. Released in 1965 on a budget of $600,000 and received $25.5 million in theaters.

Photo: United Artists; S3r3nityNow on YouTube

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

With Eastwood (the Good) and Van Cleef (the Bad), this movie includes Eli Wallach as the Ugly. Set in the backdrop of the Civil War, three gunfighters have to work together to find a fortune in gold, even though each would prefer to just kill the other two. Released in 1966, this best of the three had a budget of $1.2 million and grossed just under $39 million (how can I invest in these films?).

The second film is better than the first, and the third is a classic shoot-em-up. A strength in these stories is that the main characters are smart and cunning, even the bad guys. They try just as much to outthink each other as outshoot the others.

Of course there is a high body count. These are not films for kids.

I know our modern age has Yellowstone and its spin-offs, and Tombstone is a well-produced Western with a big budget. Even Quentin Taratino has created Westerns. Yet this trio of Clint Eastwood films has a dust-covered timelessness that focuses on story.

So get some popcorn and your favorite drink, and settle in for a marathon viewing. Overthinking not required.