Why is The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Better Than Once Upon a Time in the West?

Key Takeaways

• Directing Style: Leone’s bold techniques like extreme close-ups, long silences, and drawn-out gunfights peaked with The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. His unique style defined the Spaghetti Western genre.

• Perfect Casting: Clint Eastwood’s Man with No Name in The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly is one of cinema’s greatest antiheroes. This character is so iconic that many people wear a The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly poncho for Halloween or Western-themed parties. Eli Wallach steals scenes as the buffoonish but deadly Tuco. Their chemistry creates an iconic Western trio with Lee Van Cleef.

• Legendary Score: Ennio Morricone’s eclectic music is not just a perfect background, but an integral part of the storytelling. The main theme is one of the film’s most recognizable.

• Expert Action: The climactic three-way duel and graveyard shootout represent the pinnacle of western gunfight choreography and editing.

• Hilarious Comedy: Wallach’s Tuco adds essential comic relief without sacrificing grit or menace. His scenes with Eastwood perfectly balance humor and tension.

• Acclaim and Legacy: Both are considered classics, but The Good, the Bad and the Ugly was instantly lionized by critics and audiences as Leone’s magnum opus upon release. Its influence still shines brightly today.

While a fantastic film, Once Upon a Time in the West does not surpass Leone’s Dollars Trilogy capper in directing, cast, music, action, comedy, or acclaim. For any fan of Westerns or cinema The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly stands tall as an absolute must-see masterwork.

Why is The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Better Than Once Upon a Time in the West?

The Old West. Sun-drenched deserts. Rugged cowboys. Epic gunfights. The Western film genre has delivered some of cinema’s most iconic tales and characters. From John Wayne swaggering through the saloon doors to Clint Eastwood’s squint and scowl, movie fans can’t get enough stories from the wild frontier.

Two titans of the Western genre, Sergio Leone and his “Dollars Trilogy” of films starring Eastwood, went a long way toward defining this era of movies. Yet Leone’s later film Once Upon a Time in the West is also considered an absolute masterpiece. So which is better?

We believe The Good, the Bad and the Ugly is the superior film for a few key reasons:

• Leone’s bold directing style peaked with this movie
• It features a perfect cast, highlighted by Clint Eastwood
• Ennio Morricone’s legendary score drives the drama
• The gunfights represent Western action at its finest
• Healthy doses of humor give it an entertaining edge

Read on as we break down why The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly should always be ranked as one of the greatest westerns – if not one of the greatest films – of all time. Once Upon a Time in the West is excellent, but The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly is on a level all its own.

Leone’s Style Defined the Spaghetti Western Genre

The unique and influential directing style of Sergio Leone arguably peaked with The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. Leone defined the “Spaghetti Western” genre with his trademark approach to filmmaking.

Some of Leone’s innovations in The Good, the Bad and the Ugly include:

• Extreme close-ups on actors’ faces and eyes – Leone used tight shots of eyes and dramatic facial expressions to build tension and drama during stand-offs
• Creative use of music – Ennio Morricone’s legendary score was used innovatively, sometimes with long sections devoid of dialogue
• Prolonged silences – Leone let scenes play out in almost silence to ratchet up suspense
• Drawn-out gunfights – The gunfights are choreographed like epic ballets, drawn out for maximum impact

Leone pioneered this style across the Dollars Trilogy (A Fistful of Dollars, For a Few Dollars More, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly). But TGTBTU represents the peak of his directorial prowess.

Some examples of Leone’s style on display:

• The famous three-way standoff scene at the climax uses extreme close-ups, silence, and incredible tension across 10 minutes of film
• The drawn-out graveyard gunfight scene builds suspense scene after scene
• The lingering camera during wide desert vistas evokes the loneliness of the setting

Once Upon a Time in the West also has Leone’s directorial stamp. It contains his penchant for long pauses, dramatic landscape shots, and buildup to violence. However, it lacks the energetic style and perfect execution of Leone’s arsenal of cinematic techniques compared to The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.

Some examples:

• It has gorgeous, sweeping cinematography, but relies less on extreme facial close-ups.
• There is great use of music, but extended silent passages are less frequent.
• The iconic opening scene builds tension through prolonged stillness before violence explodes.
• Action scenes still have buildup, but often cut away sooner than Leone’s earlier films.
• There are incredible set-pieces, like the duster at the ranch house, but presented more operatically.
• Less experimentation with long dialogue-free passages

Once Upon a Time in the West contains Leone’s flair for dramatic landscape shots, tense buildup, and kinetic action. However, it represents a shift away from certain techniques he pushed to the limits in The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, like prolonged close-ups and silence.

When people think of the unique look and feel of Spaghetti Westerns, they picture Leone’s films – especially The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. This movie enshrined his directorial signature and launched a genre.

TGTBTU remains the purest example of Leone’s wildly influential and unique directorial style at its peak. But OUATITW also bears his signature touches, just in a slightly tamer and more elegant fashion.

The Perfect Cast: Clint Eastwood and Crew

A key ingredient in the success of The Good, the Bad and the Ugly is its sensational cast featuring Clint Eastwood in an iconic role along with other talented actors.

• Clint Eastwood stars as the legendary “Man with No Name” character. His antihero gunslinger became the model for countless western heroes. Eastwood’s steely swagger and deadpan delivery defined western cool.

• Lee Van Cleef makes the perfect foil as Angel Eyes, bringing the right amount of sinister charm. His 3-way duel with Eastwood and Wallach is instantly memorable.

• Eli Wallach puts in a brilliant comedic performance as Tuco, “the Ugly”. Despite being a bandit, Tuco elicits our sympathy in this hilarious role.

• Supporting actors like Aldo Giuffrè as the Union captain round out a stellar cast.

Once Upon a Time in the West also boasts an impressive cast, but some limitations:

• Charles Bronson brings his trademark stoic toughness to the lead role of Harmonica. He doesn’t chew scenery like Eastwood.

• Henry Fonda plays brilliantly against type as the heartless villain Frank, but lacks the complex appeal of Van Cleef’s Angel Eyes.

• Claudia Cardinale is luminous as Jill, the former prostitute trying to start over, and Jason Robards provides excellent support as bandit Cheyenne, but they don’t have the same vibrant character dynamism as Wallach’s Tuco.

• The core trio lacks the balanced chemistry of Eastwood, Van Cleef and Wallach.

While Once Upon a Time in the West features some huge names, the raw star power and perfect chemistry of Eastwood, Van Cleef and Wallach in The Good, the Bad and the Ugly is impossible to top.

Eastwood’s Man With No Name became THE defining Western hero, while Wallach’s Tuco is utterly unforgettable. Together with Van Cleef, they form the perfect Spaghetti Western trio. Leone struck casting gold with this film in a way OUATITW couldn’t quite match.

Ennio Morricone’s Legendary Score

Ennio Morricone created two of the greatest western scores ever with The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly and Once Upon a Time in the West. However, TGTBTU’s music stands out as more iconic and impactful.

Some reasons why:

• The Good, the Bad and the Ugly’s main theme is one of the most instantly recognizable in cinema. Its coyote howls, distinctive guitar riffs, and vocals came together to form something truly unforgettable. This central motif is engrained in pop culture.

• TGTBTU’s score was highly experimental, incorporating odd lyrics, trumpets, rock elements, and other non-traditional techniques. This daring and eclectic approach worked perfectly, becoming a prime example of Morricone’s genius.

• Critically, the music drives large portions of TGTBTU thanks to Leone’s extended dialogue-free sequences. The score does far more than just accompany the visuals; it is an integral part of the storytelling and mood.

• Other motifs like “The Ecstasy of Gold” are also ingrained in pop culture.

While brilliant, Once Upon a Time in the West’s score has some comparative limitations:

• While Once Upon a Time in the West also features phenomenal Morricone music, it does not quite reach the same iconic heights. Its themes, while excellent, lack the popularity and memorability of TGTBTU’s main title.

• The composition incorporates fewer daring avant-garde elements compared to TGTBTU’s experimentalism.

• There are fewer lengthy music-only passages in the film.

• It supports the visuals masterfully but lacks standalone memorability.

In essence, when people think of classic Western music, the coyote howls and distinctive guitar lines of The Good, the Bad and the Ugly come to mind first. Its score became just as legendary as the film itself. While also brilliant, Once Upon a Time in the West’s music does not surpass it in terms of catchiness, innovation, or impact on the overall film.

Legendary Gunfight Scenes

If you’re judging western films by their gunfights, then The Good, the Bad and the Ugly emerges as the clear winner compared to Once Upon a Time in the West. Leone’s movie features some of the most memorable and expertly crafted gunfight scenes in cinema history.

Some of the highlights:

• The climactic three-way duel between Eastwood, Van Cleef, and Wallach is over 10 minutes long but remains tense and riveting throughout. The way Leone stages and cuts between the actors is masterful.

• The graveyard scene where Van Cleef systematically hunts down his targets flows seamlessly for over 5 minutes. The quick edits and Morricone’s music create rising tension.

• The final showdown where Tuco faces off against Union soldiers is another perfectly choreographed sequence.

• Many more quick but memorable gunfights like Tuco vs. bounty hunters round out the film.

Once Upon a Time in the West has strong shootouts as well. But scenes like the opening don’t match the artistry of TGTBTU’s gunfights. Those long, sweeping camera moves, the flawless editing, and Morricone’s music come together most powerfully here.

Some examples include:

• Once Upon a Time in the West is no slouch in its shootouts. The opening scene creatively builds tension through long stillness followed by explosive violence. However, its gunfights lack TGTBTU’s flair for operatic build up and payoff. The old west feel more dangerous and gritty in Leone’s Dollars Trilogy capper.

• Specifically, OUATITW’s gunfights often cut away sooner than TGTBTU’s extended balletic violence. While still excellent, we don’t spend as much time immersed in the action, staring down the barrel. Leone’s sweeping camera moves and Morricone’s music make TGTBTU’s sequences true all-time classics.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly sets the gold standard for staging, shooting, and editing western shootouts. Leone manipulates time masterfully in these sequences to squeeze out every last drop of suspense. And the culmination of the three-way duel is one of the all-time great movie endings.

For any fan of well-executed movie gun violence, The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly hits the target every time. Leone’s technical mastery of building tension and providing payoff shines through brightly in these legendary scenes.

Tuco’s Comedic Performance

One area where The Good, the Bad and the Ugly clearly bests Once Upon a Time in the West is humor. Thanks to Eli Wallach’s uproarious performance as Tuco, TGTBTU delivers laughs between all the dramatic tension.

Tuco injects consistent comic relief and gives the film an entertaining edge compared to Leone’s more serious later western.

Some examples of Tuco’s funny moments:

• His buffoonish crimes going awry like when he tries to rob a gun shop
• The back-and-forth banter and physical comedy with Eastwood’s Blondie character
• His outrageous screams and reactions when frightened or excited
• Quirky habits like his constant tasting of wine

Wallach perfectly toes the line between dangerous bandit and lovable rogue with Tuco. We can’t help but chuckle at his antics and feel sympathy for him, despite his criminal behavior.

Beyond Tuco, other moments like the heist gone wrong with the bridge also provide great situational comedy.

Once Upon a Time in the West aims for a consistent serious tone befitting its operatic approach. While it succeeds at that dramatic style, the nonstop tension can feel exhausting without comic relief.

Thanks to Wallach’s legendary turn as the Ugly, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly balances its harsh violence and cynicism with frequent laughs. Leone builds a complete tonal spectrum in this film.

For fans seeking entertainment along with artistic merit from their westerns, Tuco makes The Good, the Bad and the Ugly one of the most enjoyable in the genre’s history.

Acclaim and Legacy Support The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Looking at critical reception and legacy, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly again comes out on top when compared to Once Upon a Time in the West. Leone’s “Dollars Trilogy” capper was more immediately acclaimed by critics and audiences, and is more fondly remembered decades later.

Some evidence of TGTBTU’s stellar reputation:

• It was a massive box office smash, grossing over $25 million on a $1.2 million budget
• Critics praised it as a leap forward for Leone and the Spaghetti Western genre
• It currently has a 97% Rotten Tomatoes critics’ score and a 94% audience score
• The film ranked 4th on Sight & Sound’s prestigious 2012 critic poll of the greatest movies ever

Conversely, Once Upon a Time in the West received a more mixed critical reaction initially. While some acclaimed its visual poetry, others found it long and ponderous. It took time for its reputation to grow into that of a masterwork. While eventually regarded as a classic, OUATITW did not receive the same instant ecstatic reactions as TGTBTU.

This trend continues today. TGTBTU boasts a 97% Rotten Tomatoes critics’ score and 94% audience score, outpacing OUATITW’s 87% and 90% respectively. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly appears far more often on lists of the best Westerns and greatest films of all time.

And TGTBTU remains one of the most referenced and influential Westerns today:

• It launched numerous imitators and tributes
• Many films directly sample its iconic music
• Its title and characters are extensively referenced in pop culture
• Blondie/The Man With No Name remains arguably the single most iconic Western protagonist

There is no denying both Leone films are considered classics now. However, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly was always viewed as his crowning achievement and an instant masterpiece, while OUATITW took more time to reach that pinnacle. In terms of both initial reactions and lasting legacy, TGTBTU maintains the higher standing.

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly Reigns Supreme

While Sergio Leone’s Once Upon a Time in the West deserves praise as a western masterpiece, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly remains the superior film by a wide margin. When judging the two movies on directing, cast, music, action, humor, critical reception, and legacy, TGTBTU consistently comes out on top.

In particular, the key advantages of The Good, the Bad and the Ugly include:

• Masterful directing: Leone’s bold style peaked here and launched an entire genre
• Perfect cast: Clint Eastwood’s “Man with No Name” is an icon
• Legendary score: Ennio Morricone’s music is unforgettable
• Expert action: The gunfights are an all-time classic of tension and editing
• Hilarious comedy: Eli Wallach’s Tuco provides perfect comic foil

Once Upon a Time in the West is an undeniable classic. However, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly represents the Spaghetti Western genre at its absolute finest. Everything clicks together seamlessly into a movie most consider Leone’s magnum opus.

When film fans think of the ultimate western, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly ranks among the first to come to mind. The characters, dialogue, and images have seared themselves into pop culture forever.

In the end, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly vs Once Upon a Time in the West is no contest. Leone’s Dollars Trilogy finale stands as one of the greatest westerns – and one of the greatest films of all time. No true fan of cinema should miss experiencing this absolute treasure.