Key Takeaways
Looking back at Sergio Leone’s first two “Dollars Trilogy” films starring Clint Eastwood, For A Few Dollars More emerges as the superior achievement due to improvements across all dimensions:
- Direction – Leone’s style becomes more artistic and creative
- Music – Morricone’s score is more complex and orchestral
- Cast – Lee Van Cleef rivals Eastwood with great chemistry
- Story – Deeper character motivations add intrigue
- Settings – Wider variety of locales opens up the world
For A Few Dollars More:
- Builds brilliantly upon the foundation and formula established by the first film
- Refines and elevates all aspects of Leone’s groundbreaking Spaghetti Western vision
- Stands as one of the greatest examples of the genre ever made
Both movies were so great that you can see many people wearing a For A Few Dollars More outfit to Halloween parties. However, while A Fistful of Dollars deserves praise for originating the formula, For A Few Dollars More takes it to the next level across the board. For any fan of Leone, Eastwood, or Westerns in general, it is undoubtedly the superior film and the one to revisit most.
Why is For A Few Dollars More Better Than A Fistful of Dollars?
Spaghetti Westerns may not have originated with Sergio Leone’s “Dollars Trilogy,” but these gritty Italian-made oaters certainly put the subgenre on the map. Leone’s first foray, 1964’s A Fistful of Dollars, burst onto the screen with a completely new take on the American Western. Starring a then-unknown Clint Eastwood as the enigmatic “Man With No Name,” the film wowed audiences with its tight camerawork, bold style and haunting musical score.
Just a year later, Leone and Eastwood teamed up again for the follow-up For A Few Dollars More. This time, their recipe for success got even better. Leone’s direction became more artistic, Ennio Morricone’s soundtrack grew more epic, and Lee Van Cleef signed on to provide the perfect steely counterpart to Eastwood’s mystery man. Everything got turned up a notch.
So when it comes to these two landmark films, which left a more long-lasting impression? While A Fistful of Dollars deserves praise for pioneering the Spaghetti Western movement, For A Few Dollars More improves on the formula in nearly every way. I will break down the key differences and explain exactly why the second film deserves the title of the superior Leone-Eastwood collaboration. From direction to music to casting and story, For A Few Dollars More builds brilliantly on its predecessor’s promise.
Leone’s Directing Matures From Gritty to Artistic Between Dollars Films
With his first two “Dollars” films, director Sergio Leone established and evolved a game-changing visual style for the Spaghetti Western genre. A Fistful of Dollars introduced his raw, stripped-down sensibilities while For A Few Dollars More saw his technique become more refined and artistic.
A Fistful of Dollars: Lean, Mean, and Gritty
A Fistful of Dollars stunned audiences with a lean, mean visual dynamism never before seen in Westerns. Leone relied heavily on:
- Tight shots – Faces and eyes dominate the frame in extreme close-ups that build tension.
- Quick zooms – Sudden dramatic camera moves add shock value.
- Fast cutting – Frenzied editing rapidly alternates wide establishing shots and tight close-ups.
- Low camera angles – Looking up at Eastwood makes him seem like a towering, threatening figure.
Combined with the stark, desolate setting of a remote Mexican border town, Leone crafted a palpable atmosphere of unease and uncertainty.
- Dusty streets hint at the lawlessness of the town.
- Run-down building facades evoke faded glory.
- Eastwood’s poncho and squinting visage make him a man of mystery.
For A Few Dollars More: Wider, More Artistic
In the second film, Leone augments his tight close-up style with:
- Wider landscape cinematography – Epic panoramic views amplify the scale.
- Meticulous choreography – Elaborate tracking shots enhance the balletic grace of the gunfights.
- Deep focus photography – Keeping both foreground and background in focus adds depth.
He also adopts a more artful approach overall with:
- Careful use of color – High contrast images pop with brightness.
- Thirds composition – Actors and horizons strategically framed in the center or on edges.
- Camera as commentary – Angles and movement heighten drama in key scenes.
While A Fistful of Dollars broke ground, For A Few Dollars More saw Leone elevate his filmmaking to new artistic heights because the grit was still there, but rendered with an elegant brush and more creative flourishes.
Ennio Morricone’s Scores: From Sparse Guitar to Full Orchestral Grandeur
Maestro Ennio Morricone’s brilliant music defines the Spaghetti Western sound. In Sergio Leone’s “Dollars Trilogy,” Morricone’s scores evolve from pared-down to lavish. A Fistful of Dollars has a minimalist solo guitar score while For A Few Dollars More features robust orchestration and dramatic variety.
A Fistful of Dollars: Stripped-Down Guitar and Horns
Morricone’s score for the first film exemplifies a sparse, gritty aesthetic with:
- Solitary Spanish guitar – Plaintive riffs and tremolo echo the desolation of the landscape.
- Trumpet and whistling motifs – Piercing horns and eerie whistling create suspense and tension.
- Pure tones – No harmony or chords, just simple melodies.
- Percussive sounds – Whip cracks, bell tolls punctuate key moments.
This stripped-down approach spotlights:
- Main whistle theme – The instantly recognizable melody over the iconic guitar riff.
- Evoking emotions – Conveying tension, triumph, loneliness with limited instrumentation.
For A Few Dollars More: Full Orchestra, Dramatic Variation
For the second film, Morricone augments his palette with a full symphonic score including:
- Brass fanfares – Triumphant trumpets and horns amplify the drama.
- String sections – Shrieking violins and cellos add suspense.
- Complex percussion – Tympani and drums drive action sequences.
- Character motifs – Unique musical themes for different characters.
But he still incorporates:
- Central whistle theme – Reprise of his core melody from the first film.
- Familiar guitar – Brief Spanish guitar solos provide continuity.
From solo guitar track to symphonic sweep, Morricone’s score matures in size and variety while maintaining Leone’s musical motifs.
Van Cleef Boosts the Cast Chemistry Beyond Eastwood Alone
Clint Eastwood cuts an iconic figure as the Man With No Name in both early “Dollars” movies, but Lee Van Cleef’s addition in For A Few Dollars More adds new dimensions beyond Eastwood’s lone wolf. The ensemble chemistry improves greatly in the sequel.
Eastwood: Stoic and Mysterious
In both films, Eastwood establishes the “Man With No Name” persona:
- Squinting, glaring from under his hat
- Growling out lines cryptically
- Keeping motivations opaque behind a haze of cigarillo smoke
With his poncho and deadpan delivery, he oozes cool detachment and muddy morals.
A Fistful of Dollars Villains: Faceless Thugs
The villains in A Fistful of Dollars are mostly nameless, faceless thugs:
- Ramon’s gang are nondescript outlaws
- Esteban’s group are mainly background players
- Their motivations are not well-developed
- They serve as generic foils for Eastwood’s heroics
There is no villain with the stature or character of Van Cleef’s Mortimer.
Van Cleef: The Perfect Counterpoint
For A Few Dollars More adds Lee Van Cleef as Colonel Mortimer, providing an excellent foil to Eastwood:
- His beady-eyed squint rivals Eastwood’s
- His black suit is as visually striking as Eastwood’s poncho
- His whistling and marksmanship match Eastwood’s gun skills
With his ruthless quest for revenge, Van Cleef’s Mortimer elevates the drama and gives Eastwood a true equal on screen. Their tense chemistry makes their every scene crackle.
Supporting Cast Improves Too
Even beyond the leads, the ensemble improves in the second film:
- Klaus Kinski provides a memorably unhinged villain in For A Few Dollars More
- The outlaw gangs have more character development compared to the first film’s generic thugs
- Mortimer’s sister in flashbacks adds important backstory
Van Cleef Completes the Formula
Whereas A Fistful of Dollars leaned wholly on Eastwood’s solo screen presence, For A Few Dollars More strikes the right balance with Van Cleef’s addition because together, they are greater than the sum of their parts.
Deeper Character Motives Elevate the Sequel’s Story
Both films feature a straightforward story of a mysterious gunman manipulating two factions. But For A Few Dollars More adds more nuanced character motivations that enrich the story.
A Fistful of Dollars: A Proven Formula
The first film establishes a simple but effective template:
- The Man With No Name wanders into a remote town
- He learns of two rival gangs fighting over the town
- Through lies and tricks, he plays them against each other for money
This tried and true formula clearly pays homage to Akira Kurosawa’s Yojimbo and works wonderfully while relying wholly on Eastwood’s onscreen magnetism.
For A Few Dollars More: Personal Stakes and Backstory
While the sequel follows the same blueprint, it personalizes the stakes with:
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Mortimer’s sister – Flashbacks detail her rape and death at Indio’s hands, fueling Mortimer’s quest for revenge.
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Indio’s bank heist – His pursuit of the treasure lost after Mortimer’s sister’s death gives him clear motivation.
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Manco’s past – Hints at a backstory with Mortimer provide hints to explain his reasons for getting involved.
These motivations add emotional investment missing from the very opaque characters in the first film.
Man With No Name: Remaining a Mystery
In contrast, Eastwood’s Man With No Name remains a mystery, his goals unclear and morals ambiguous. But this makes him an intriguing anti-hero. Mortimer and Indio wear their passions on their sleeves, while Eastwood remains an inscrutable drifter following his own code.
Story Sum Greater Than Parts
Whereas A Fistful of Dollars was mostly style over substance, For A Few Dollars More adds just enough complexity to give the characters and story more impact without losing the simple, gripping plot.
Epic Landscapes Reflect the Story’s Expanded Scope
The settings in Leone’s “Dollars Trilogy” serve as more than just backdrops. They mirror the scope and tone of the films. A Fistful of Dollars stays confined to one small town, while For A Few Dollars More expands across towns, prisons, and panoramic landscapes.
A Fistful of Dollars: A Single Sparse Town
The first film limits the setting to just the isolated town of San Miguel on the Mexican border. The town’s stark depiction reflects the film’s gritty minimalism:
- Dusty streets filmed in tight close-ups
- Run-down cantina, facades, and wooden archways
- A feeling of being far from civilization or safety
This lone location heightens tension between the warring gangs vying for control. We sense the danger of the remote, desolate setting.
For A Few Dollars More: Opening Up the Landscape
In contrast, the sequel depicts a variety of locales:
- San Miguel still appears, but as just one stop on a larger journey
- El Paso del Norte provides another town with a different flavor
- The prison camp creates an ominous, bleak mood
- Desert vistas and canyons dwarf the characters in epic scope
- New Mexico flashbacks add backstory
Rather than a claustrophobic single town, the diversity of settings mirror the amplified budget and vision. Huge skies over mountains and prairies evoke the broader story scale.
Metaphors for Story Scope
Both films use their settings extremely effectively beyond just providing pretty backdrops. The besieged lone town ratchets up tension. The sweeping landscapes reflect the epic scope.
For A Few Dollars More Wins Out
When looking at all the elements side-by-side, For A Few Dollars More emerges as the superior film due to improvements across the board. Both films are seminal Westerns, but the sequel builds brilliantly on the first.
Direction: Tighter and More Artistic
- Leone’s visual style becomes more refined and creative
- Landscapes and action are used to heighten drama
Music: More Complex Compositions
- Morricone fleshes out the score with fuller orchestrations
- But the iconic central theme still stands out
Casting: Van Cleef Rivals Eastwood
- Lee Van Cleef provides the perfect steely counterpart to Clint Eastwood
- Their tense onscreen chemistry elevates every scene
Story: More Nuance and Motivation
- Deeper character backstories add stakes and intrigue
- Flashbacks flesh out the drama behind the quest for vengeance
Settings: Wider Cinematic Vistas
- The diversity of locations opens up the world beyond just one town
- Epic landscapes amplify the broader scope
The Definitive Spaghetti Western
- For A Few Dollars More takes the best elements of Leone and Eastwood’s first collaboration
- It then improves upon and expands them in nearly every way
- Creating an exemplar of the Spaghetti Western genre
- By building on a solid foundation with enhanced style, music, casting, story and settings
