At 107 pages deep, it becomes pretty challenging to create an unpredictable top 20, unless you’re just trying to be controversial 
108 actually … and we had a few …
Thank-you, Mickey. The most interesting thing for me regarding my inclusion of The Dirty Outlaws most specifically was that it took a second viewing to really appreciate it; the first time I watched it, I was so bored within the first 40 minutes or so that my attention turned to other things and I wound up switching it off somewhere shortly past the hour mark. The Forgotten Pistolero is another movie which… well, I didn’t switch it off, but I thought it was merely “okay” the first time I saw it but found really, really enjoyable second time out. These second viewings make me wonder how many other Spags I’ve only seen the once would massively benefit from another ride around the carousel. Massacre Time and The Grand Duel for instance are films I’ve only seen once but which have been sliding down my informal rankings since I saw them, but I must have rated them quite highly initially for a reason. Conversely I watched Django for the first time in maybe five years a few weeks ago having just bought the blu-ray and it wasn’t quite as epically brilliant as it had built up in my mind. It was good - excellent even, in many ways - but I’d had it up with FaFDM and TGtB&tU as being (for me) among the best movies ever made of any genre, let alone the Italian western.
Yeah, it’s awkward with what’s really a dead genre. The greats are the greats are the greats, they’re up there for a reason, and that’s that. Some unknown-but-cracking Spag from 1968 isn’t going to suddenly surface now, out of the blue, and blow all our minds. For a split-second I considered sticking The Big Gundown and Day of Anger in in front of A Fistful of Dollars for no other reason than to split the Dollars trilogy up and make it look to the more casual observer just a tiny bit more windswept and interesting but, as things stand, that would just be a lie. That’s not to say my tastes might not change - these things are always pretty fluid - but for now, it is what it is.
I also like El Desperado, but it ain’t in my top 20. But I prefer it to the “official top 20” films Day of Anger and Death Rides a Horse.
A film due for a re-watch. Maybe now’s the time …
Neither is it in mine, but I certainly like it for its portentous atmosphere and violence.
Just like Stanton, I prefer it to Day of Anger and Death Rides a Horse as well.
interesting, i actually loved first hour or so and when it turned into a revenge flick i was little upset, but only a little
Oh, absolutely. It’s a great first hour; it’s a great movie in entirety! The preacher fake-out opening scene is one of the better ones that I can think of. I just didn’t “see” that, first time out. Strange.
Perhaps if I laid off the crystal meth for breakfast… 
I prefer most good spaghs to Day of Anger. Didn’t really care much for that one, actually. Should probably watch it again.
I should also probably redo my top 20, as several titles would likely change at this point.
Here’s my Top 20, with short comments to add some meat. Nothing spectacularly controversial I’m afraid, but I think you’ll find couple of low-profile favorites of mine.
[b]
- Once Upon a Time in the West 1968[/b]
- Perfect movie.
2. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly 1966 - Not perfect movie, but somehow every imperfection of it adds to its charm.
3. For a Few Dollars More 1965 - Order from 3rd place to 5th could be any of the combinations, but I’ll give slight advantage to this one for it’s soundtrack, especially La resa dei conti, and Volonte.
4. A Bullet for the General / Quién sabe? 1966 - Only SW I’ve enjoyed watching as much as I’ve enjoyed Leone’s. Everyhing works for me in this movie: acting, chemistry between leads, the look of the movie and Solinas script.
5. Duck, You Sucker / A Fistful of Dynamite / Giù la testa 1971 - Movie that is very dear to me, I’ve never understood why so many people think of it as Leone’s lesser work. It is patchy, but so is GBU.
6. A Fistful of Dollars 1964 - This is where the style, the sounds, the icon, where it all started. So many extraordinary elements, so many talents, came together in this little film based on the, hm, “borrowed”, script.
7. Django 1966 - Corbucci’s directing style is clumsy, but I like its enthusiasm and energy. For me he is best when he has less room. Django is masterpiece of low-budget (action) filmaking. When I was kid Rodriguez’ El Mariachi was talk of the town, Django is obviously where it came from, but Corbucci manages to make not only cool but also meaningful movie.
8. The Great Silence 1968 - The snow and haunting Moriccone’s score set unique atmosphere, but off course, it’s the ending that this movie is all about.
9. And God Said to Cain 1970 - Very good movie all around. Great unique mood is set from the start and underlined perfectly with score and imagery. It’s not just mood, script is intriguing also.
10. Face to Face 1967 - Most accomplished Solima’s SW. Lacks somewhat dynamics in the beggining but later develops in one of the most meaningful SWs, that completely stands on its own two feets.
11. A Professional Gun / Il mercenario 1968 - Most (conventionally) accomplished Corbucci’s movie. I would rank it higher, but I don’t like all the borrowing from Leone, especially GBU.
12. My Name Is Nobody 1973 - Nice movie, it works better when you know the context of it.
13. Taste of Vengeance / Coward don’t pray / I vigliacchi non pregano 1969 - Uneven movie, but it has its share of beautiful shots and great scenes. Script is very appealing to me because it reflects many issues of not only post-WW2 Italy but also of today’s post-war Croatia.
14. Day of Anger 1967 - Phenomenal title theme by Riz Ortolani, strong script, LVC at his best, memorable scenes. I wish it had more powerful (less obvious, more poignant) ending.
15. A Pistol for Ringo 1965 - I like it mouch better than the 2nd Ringo movie for its humor and pace.
16. The Big Gundown / La resa dei conti 1966 - Good movie all-around, but compared to Face to Face Solima is still trying to find his feet. I like the song by Moriconne and Christy.
17. Forgotten Pistolero 1969 - Very accomplished tragedy-western. Great score, great ending, great female roles.
18. Massacre Time 1966 - Fun little pulp fiction. George Hilton rocks.
19. At the End of the Rainbow / Dead Men Ride / Anda muchacho, spara 1971 - Solid, strong work form start to finish. Great performances from Testi and Fajardo.
20. Sabata 1969 - It takes a while to get involved with this movie, but once Bergen/Banjo gets involved, movie kicks in higher gear. Also, great looking sets, one of the Carlo Simi’s masterpieces.
And in the meanwhile, over in the alternative world there is…
I think the usual new year’s update of the big list is near. So maybe some might re-think their lists or create one for the first time.
Yep, gonna re-order mine. And now that I saw the theatrical cut of TGTBATU, which removes the excess bloat, that movie has shot up into the top 20 for me. I always knew it was great, but having only seen the extended edition, it wore out it’s welcome with me.
- Companeros
- Once Upon A Time in The West
- If you meet Sartana, Pray For Your Death
- Blindman
- Today it’s Me…Tomorrow You!
- For a Few Dollars More
- A Bullet For the General
- The Return of Ringo
- Bandidos
- The Dirty Outlaws
- Navajo Joe
- The Good The Bad and the Ugly
- I Am Sartana, Trade Your Guns for a Coffin
- The Stranger in Japan
- Johnny Yuma
- Johnny Hamlet
- Hate Thy Neighbor
- The Big Gundown
- Ringo and his Golden Pistol
- The Unholy Four
My New list:
- (1) C’era una volta il West
- (2) Il Buono, il Brutto, il Cattivo
- (3) Il Grande Silenzio
- (4) La Resa dei Conti (The Big Gundown)
- (5) Il Mercenario
- [8] Compañeros
- (6) Faccia a Faccia
- (7) Per qualche Dollaro in più
- (9) Bandidos
- (10) Da Uomo a Uomo (Death rides a Horse)
- (15) Il Mio Nome è Nessuno (My Name is Nobody)
- (12) Tepepa
- (13) Quién sabe ? (A Bullet for the General)
- (11) Per un Pugno di Dollari
- (–) A Minute to Pray, a Second to Die (Composite version)
- (14) Gli Specialisti
- (16) Corri Uomo Corri (Run Man Run)
- (17) E per Tetto un Cielo di Stelle (And for a Roof a sky full of Stars)
- (–) Il Ritorno di Ringo
- (19) Ballata per un Pistolero (Pistoleros)
Those are some interesting lists. Good stuff!
I’ll have to put on my thinking cap (uh oh!) and come up with a top twenty. I always like doing lists… heh.
That’s an intriguing list sherp, especially with the presence of the Composite version of A Minute to Pray, A Second to Die - it’s certainly had a turnaround in its reputations due to autephex’s efforts. I’m not sure though, I would rate it above The Return of Ringo…
ha, finally someone
A MINUTE TO PRAY is a very good oater, imho. Dying to see the original ending…
I would too …
Actually A Minute to Pray, A Second to Die was one I already liked in the short German version I knew first. The MGM DVD added 2 short connected scenes directly after the credits, which belonged to the best of the film. The long English version (which does not include those 2 MGM scenes) then did not add that much. It still feels often unbalanced.
only spaghie i havent seen yet from your list - it would be the first one to watch in my next marathon
Now the 9th year of voting starts, and the new list represents the fruits of then 8 years, with at the moment 146 lists and 199 SWs named in total.
To make the list a bit more clearly laid out, for the first time I only included Spagies which got at least 2 votes. Which reduces the number to 139 films.
1 The Good, the Bad, the Ugly Leone, Sergio 2926
2 Once Upon a Time in the West Leone, Sergio 2518
3 For a Few Dollars More Leone, Sergio 2396
4 The Great Silence Corbucci, Sergio 1911
5 A Fistful of Dollars Leone, Sergio 1613
6 Django Corbucci, Sergio 1561
7 The Big Gundown Sollima, Sergio 1422
8 The Mercenary Corbucci, Sergio 1093
9 Death Rides a Horse / Man to Man Petroni, Giulio 964
10 Face to Face Sollima, Sergio 960
11 Companeros Corbucci, Sergio 921
12 Duck, You Sucker! Leone, Sergio 880
13 A Bullet for the General Damiani, Damiano 818
14 Day of Anger Valerii, Tonino 642
15 Keoma Castellari, Enzo G. 563
16 Cemetery Without Crosses Hossein, Robert 557
17 My Name is Nobody Leone, Sergio/Valerii, T. 528
18 The Return of Ringo Tessari, Duccio 451
19 Django Kill…If You Live, Shoot! Questi, Giulio 439
20 Run Man, Run Sollima, Sergio 382
21 If You Meet Sartana Pray for Your Death Parolini, Gianfranco 341
22 Blindman Baldi, Ferdinando 313
23 Sabata Parolini, Gianfranco 269
24 Navajo Joe Corbucci, Sergio 240
25 And God Said to Cain Margheriti, Antonio 229
26 Mannaja / A Man Called Blade Martino, Sergio 219
27 10,000 Dollars Blood Money Girolami, Romolo 212
28 Light the Fuse…Sartana is Coming Carnimeo, Giuliano 205
29 Tepepa Petroni, Giulio 201
30 A Pistol for Ringo Tessari, Duccio 190
31 Massacre Time Fulci, Lucio 158
32 God Forgives…I Don’t Colizzi, Giuseppe 142
33 Bandidos Dallamano, Massimo 141
34 The Grand Duel Santi, Giancarlo 131
35 Four of the Apocalypse Fulci, Lucio 130
36 Matalo! Canevari, Cesare 130
37 California Lupo, Michele 127
38 El Puro Mulargia, Edoardo 127
39 Ace High / 4 for an Ave Maria Colizzi, Giuseppe 125
40 Johnny Hamlet Castellari, Enzo G. 119
41 The Forgotten Pistolero Baldi, Ferdinando 115
42 Kill and Pray / Requiescant Lizzani, Carlo 115
43 A Bullet for Sandoval Buchs, Julio 96
44 Django the Bastard Garrone, Sergio 95
45 Death Sentence Lanfranchi, Mario 95
46 Trinity is Still My Name Barboni, Enzo 95
47 They Call Him Cemetery Carnimeo, Giuliano 93
48 The Specialists Corbucci, Sergio 91
49 Vengeance Margheriti, Antonio 90
50 Shoot the Living and Pray for the Dead Vari, Giuseppe 89
51 Yankee Brass, Tinto 89
52 The Bounty Killer Martin, Eugenio 82
53 The Hellbenders Corbucci, Sergio 82
54 Cut Throats Nine Marchent, Joaquin Luis Rom. 77
55 A Stranger in Town Vanzi, Luigi 77
56 They Call me Trinity Barboni, Enzo 75
57 Adios Sabata Parolini, Gianfranco 74
58 I Want Him Dead Bianchini, Paolo 72
59 Have a Good Funeral, My Friend…Sartana Will Pay Carnimeo, Giuliano 71
60 Arizona Colt Lupo, Michele 69
61 I am Sartana, Your Angel of Death Carnimeo, Giuliano 66
62 For 100 000 Dollars per Killing Fago, Giovanni 65
63 Texas Adios Baldi, Ferdinando 61
64 Django, Prepare a Coffin Baldi, Ferdinando 59
65 Johnny Yuma Girolami, Romolo 59
66 Red Sun Young, Terence 57
67 Dead Men Ride Florio, Aldo 56
68 The Moment to Kill Carnimeo, Giuliano 56
69 Today it’s Me…Tomorrow You Cervi, Tonino 50
70 The Silent Stranger Vanzi, Luigi 49
71 The Ruthless Four / Each One for His Own Capitani, Giorgio 46
72 One Silver Dollar Ferroni, Giorgio 46
73 The Dirty Outlaws / El desperado Rossetti, Franco 45
74 No Room to Die / A Long File of Crosses Garrone, Sergio 43
75 Fighting Fists of Shanghai Joe Caiano, Mario 42
75 A Hole in the Forehead Vari, Guiseppe 42
77 Duel in the Eclipse / Requiem for a Gringo Merino, Jose Luis 42
78 Cost of Dying / Taste of Death Merolle, Sergio 36
79 Five Man Army Taylor, Don 36
80 Long Days of Vengeance Vancini, Florestano 34
81 One after Another Nostro, Nick 34
82 Shoot, Gringo…Shoot! Corbucci, Bruno 33
82 A Minute to Pray, A Second to Die Giraldi, Franco 33
84 Ben and Charlie Lupo, Michele 32
85 Black Jack Baldanello, Gianfranco 31
86 Garringo Marchent, Rafael Romero 29
87 Long Live Your Death Tessari, Duccio 29
88 The Stranger Returns Vanzi, Luigi 28
89 They Call Me Hallelujah / Heads I Kill You, Tails You Die Carnimeo, Giuliano 27
90 Night of the Serpent Petroni, Giulio 27
91 Boot Hill Colizzi, Giuseppe 26
92 The Price of Death Palli, Enzo Gicca 26
93 Blood at Sundown / 1 000 Dollars on the Black Cardone, Alberto 25
94 Pistoleros Caltabiano, Alfio 25
95 Death Played the Flute Panaccio, Angelo 25
96 The Last Killer Vari, Giuseppe 24
97 Viva Cangaceiro Fago, Giovanni 24
98 I am Sartana, Trade Your Guns for a Coffin / A Fistful of Lead Carnimeo, Giuliano 23
99 Revenge for Revenge Colucci, Mario 23
100 A Man Called Sledge Morrow, Vic 22
101 The Hills Run Red / A River of Dollars Lizzani, Carlo 21
102 A Barrel Full of Dollars Fidani, Demofilo 20
103 Dead Men Don’t Make Shadows Fidani, Demofilo 20
104 Beyond the Law Stegani Giorgio C. 20
105 Apache Woman Mariuzzo, Giorgio 19
106 Kill Them All and Come Back Alone Castellari, Enzo G. 18
107 A Genius, Two Partners and a Dupe / Nobody’s the Greatest Damiani, Damiano 18
107 The Return of Sabata Parolini, Gianfranco 18
109 God Made Them… I Kill Them / God Forgives … His Life is Mine Bianchini, Paolo 18
109 Bullets Don’t Argue Caiano, Mario 18
111 Minnesota Clay Corbucci, Sergio 17
111 Sonny and Jed Corbucci, Sergio 17
113 Taste of Violence Hossein, Robert 17
114 John the Bastard Crispino, Armando 16
115 Seven Guns for the MacGregors Giraldi, Franco 16
115 W Django Mulargia, Eduardo 16
117 The Price of Power Valerii, Tonino 15
118 Man, Pride, Vengeance Bazzoni, Luigi 14
119 Life is Tough, Eh Providence? Petroni, Giulio 14
119 A Reason to Live, A Reason to Die Valerii, Tonino 14
121 Death Walks in Laredo Pero, Enzi 13
122 The Fury of Johnny Kid Puccini, Gianni 11
123 Cowards Don’t Pray Siciliano, Mario 11
123 Shotgun Mauri, Roberto 11
125 A Pistol for 100 Coffins Lenzi, Umberto 10
125 The Greatest Robbery in the West Lucidi, Maurizio 10
125 For the Taste of Killing Valerii, Tonino 10
128 The Unholy Four / Chuck Mool Barboni, Enzo 9
129 Viva Maria Malle, Louis 7
130 Seven Dollars on the Red Cardone, Alberto 6
131 And for a Roof a Sky Full of Stars Petroni, Giulio 5
131 Hate Thy Neighbour Baldi, Ferdinando 5
131 Trinity Sees Red / Revenge of Trinity Camus, Mario 5
134 Tequila Joe Dell’Aquila, Vincenzo 4
134 It Can Be Done, Amigo! Lucidi, Maurizio 4
134 The Belle Star Story Wertmüller, Lina 4
137 Ringo and his Golden Pistol Corbucci, Sergio 3
137 The Beast Costa, Mario 3
139 Train for Durango Caiano, Mario 2
If someone wants to know now why there are no films with 1 point, the answer is:
I don’t know, it is a miracle …
And to think I was only going to come up with a top 20!