Gunslingers everywhere ought to rejoice, because the very best trilogy in the entire Western genre is now finally available for free on Tubi. Yes, that’s right, Sergio Leone‘s The Dollars Trilogy can now be enjoyed on the free-to-stream platform for anyone who doesn’t already own them in either physical or digital editions. It doesn’t get much better than Clint Eastwood‘s most famous “Man With No Name” character, and whether you prefer A Fistful of Dollars, For a Few Dollars More, or the epic masterpiece that is The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, this trilogy of Leone/Eastwood collaborations is the perfect weekend binge no matter how long it’s been since you’ve seen it.
Clint Eastwood’s Dollars Trilogy Is Perfect From Start to Finish
In the mid-’60s, the Western was beginning to take a new shape as the classical, more mythic interpretations of the genre gave way to more revisionist takes on the Old American West. The traditional Hollywood Westerns of the John Wayne era, though still strong, were slowly being replaced, with Italian-made “Spaghetti Westerns” becoming more popular and widespread. While Eastwood had already been a domestic star known nationwide for his role as Rowdy Yates on Rawhide, A Fistful of Dollars almost single-handedly made him an international star. In his first outing as the “Man With No Name” (called “Joe” here), Eastwood stole the show by departing from his usual ramrod routine in favor of a tough-as-nails gunslinger who finds himself caught up in a Southwestern gang war between rival San Miguel families. The tight 99-minute picture boasts incredible pacing and an action-packed narrative that stands firmly on its own, displaying Leone’s directorial genius and revealing that Eastwood was destined for far more than television.
The sequel, For a Few Dollars More, expands on everything that made the first film great. With its 132-minute runtime, the follow-up adds Lee Van Cleef to the gun-toting mix as the vengeful Col. Douglas Mortimer, who is after the same bounty of Mexican outlaws as Eastwood’s “Manco.” Together, they find themselves on the trail of justice and revenge, and, despite their differences in reason, they share the same end goal. Eastwood and Van Cleef are a truly remarkable on-screen pair, and Leone’s second Dollars film is arguably a bit more polished than the first.
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Of course, it’s the trilogy’s final installment (and only prequel, since these films were released out of order), The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, that has often been considered to be the best of the three Spaghetti Westerns. Boasting the most inflated runtime of 174 minutes, Eastwood’s “Blondie” forms an uneasy alliance with the titular “ugly,” Tuco Ramirez (Eli Wallach), as they search for some hidden Confederate gold during the American Civil War. Only, the problem is, Lee Van Cleef returns as this film’s antagonist “Angel Eyes,” who is hot on their trail. Featuring the trilogy’s (and the genre’s) most pulse-pounding standoff, Leone delivers a Western epic that has been considered one of the greatest masterpieces in the genre ever put to the screen.
Clint Eastwood’s “Man With No Name” Is the Most Memorable Western Protagonist Ever
No matter what you call him, Eastwood’s protagonist is the highlight of the trilogy. His stoic demeanor partnered masterfully with that trademark tough look and squinted eyes, which pierced into every new adversary. It’s no wonder that the “Man With No Name” became the gold standard for Western heroes, further perpetuating the idealistic myths of the Old West. There isn’t another character quite like him, and he’s gone on to inspire so many others, from the protagonist of Stephen King‘s The Dark Tower series to the titular hero from The Mandalorian. On some level, the character would continue to serve as the foundation for future Eastwood Western heroes, such as the protagonists in both Pale Rider and Unforgiven. Western fans everywhere can rest easy knowing that The Dollars Trilogy is available to all on Tubi. And, if you have some extra time, Eastwood fans may enjoy the underrated Hang ‘Em High, which is also available free of charge on the platform.
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