I saw it years ago and just a few months ago. I enjoyed it a lot. As you said it is slow in places but is better than anything they are making now. Thank you
I love Leone's previous films. I've only seen "Duck, You Sucker" once. It was many years ago at a revival house. Seems I'll have to give this one another look. I recall liking it, but it was on a double bill with "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly" and that's the one that got most of my attention. Thanks for another great review.
nice one Tony,as always great review although its my fave Sergio Leone and one of my fave Morricone score,and fave western next to Wild Bunch and Long Riders
I always thought Leone was big on the attention to detail in his westerns i.e. weapons of the time etc. Unlike some of Hollywood's other efforts, even some of The Dukes's most entertaining films are anachronistic on this front. However, I've always thought the armoured car in this looked better suited to Mad Max.
I don't know whether that armoured car was a genuine article from the time period, but it looks like something you'd have seen tooling around in WW1. To me, anyway. Yeah, Leone's attention to detail is something that often stands out. Many thanks. T.
I still recall with a chuckle the shocked gasp from a grandmother as I watched this film with my grlfriend's family when there was a shock cut to one of the rich passenger's bare bum being exposed during the robbery. There is a hint, I read somewhere, that Mallory betrayed his friend to the British out of sexual jealousy, so feels guilty for all that ensued. It doesn't really come off in the original film.
Hi Tony, I asked you a few weeks ago also to review this film. Completely agree with you with the title remarks. I remember sitting in the cinema at the time waiting for the film to start, and I could hear a group saying, " Yes I have seen all the previous Dollar films." ( Groan ). The music from Morricone was brilliant, the story, as you said slowed down in some parts, but I really enjoyed the film. I have the extended version, and along with other westerns, ( The Wild Bunch, The Searchers to name two ) I regularly view this film. A sad film in some ways, with the two main characters having different pasts, fighting together for different reasons...........Isn't that the truth. Take care.
Ah, it was you, pambos. Couldn't remember and was too slothful to go back and look. It's always been on my mind to review it because it's sort of an outlier or sketched around or over sort of film. Which is something that adds appeal for me. Hope you enjoyed it. Thanks for commenting. Appreciated as always. T.
The only western that beats this film for me is The Outlaw Josey Wales, mostly due to its libertarian ideologies; "Governments don't live together, people live together." Also, I love how odd this film is. I once heard someone else say that the first half of this film is a comedic adventure film and the second half (after the Miranda clan is decimated) is an anti-war drama and I love the duology there. Plus, I just love films and media that depict the final days of the old west. Horses, revolvers, and lever action rifles alongside armored cars, semi-automatic pistols, and bolt-action rifles really hits the spot for me. And finally, being Irish-American and having a great respect for Hispanic-American culture brings this film very close to my heart. But don't forget Ennio.
Duck, You Sucker is a mis- translation of the Italian original title Giu La Testa which meant Duck Your Head or Ger Down. Leone apparently believed this was a common phrase in the US but no one else did! Good review but its worth reading Sir Christopher Frayling's chapter in his excellent biography of Leone. Apparently, on the Italian version, the film begins with a quote from Chairman Mao which UA removed along with about 20-30 minutes in the US/international version of the film and the massacre of the Juan's family in the cave was a direct reference to a Fascist war crime in Rome in WW2. It may also be seen Leone's response to the more political 'Spaghetti' westerns such as Bullet for a General which had become such a sub-genre that Jean-Luc Godard in his most Maoist phase after 'One plus One/Sympathy for the Devil' intended to make a political Spaghetti after May 1968! But your right, a decent effort by Leone's heart wasn't really into it as he had already ambitions to make Once Upon a Time in America and even turned down an offer to make The Godfather when developing his dream project!
Thank you for explaining the plot. This was something absent from the original cinematic cut I saw. The result was a weird film that made no sense. Coburn became an object of ridicule, not quite on the level of Dick Van Dyke, for his attempted accent. And Steiger's reputation seemed unaffected by his performance. The Western Genre didn't die, it was slowly digested by an industry that shat out the same stories in different costumes.
I'm unsure if I've seen the best version but whichever I like the flashback scenes very much. "Sean, Sean" is beautiful to my ears. Mr Steiger is horrible, for 99%, as usual. Mr Coburn is sublime ; almost as usual. Why was Leone so lazy? Italian?
Another awesome review of as you say a multiple titled multi cut versions of this socialist western? Strange how it still relevant to an audience willing to give it and flaws a chance. Leone was a phenomenal director/producer who was so unique (only directing seven films to Kubrick's 14). DUS is such a hybrid of ideas and characters stieger who was a great actor sometimes forgot to put the brakes on (he also used same accent in the specialist) but coburn world weary eyes and tired body language sell their partnership. I'd forgotten David Warbeck in it completely, his relationship with Mallory is ambiguous at best & the Irish sequences are deeply flawed (as most American movies relating to the IRA sell it as a righteous cause, not reflecting the complexity of the situation). Still it's only a fxxking movie. Leone flawed still better than most of current crop of directors who have little to no insight or ability to make movies that question the environments that effect us all. Brilliant review
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Excellent review. This is my favourite Sergio Leone film. Everything about it is epic and absorbing. It gets better the more times you watch it
Thanks for commenting, Laurence. Appreciated. T
I saw it years ago and just a few months ago. I enjoyed it a lot. As you said it is slow in places but is better than anything they are making now. Thank you
On the contrary, Stanley, thank you for taking the time to comment. Appreciated. T.
I love Leone's previous films. I've only seen "Duck, You Sucker" once. It was many years ago at a revival house. Seems I'll have to give this one another look. I recall liking it, but it was on a double bill with "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly" and that's the one that got most of my attention. Thanks for another great review.
It's worth a revisit, Larry, especially the restored version. Many thanks for commenting. T.
nice one Tony,as always great review although its my fave Sergio Leone and one of my fave Morricone score,and fave western next to Wild Bunch and Long Riders
Not going to argue with your taste in movies, mark, which seems more than fine by me Thank you for commenting. Appreciated. T.
Something about Steiger's performance as Juan reminds me of Benny Hill.
Thankfully not speeded-up.
I always thought Leone was big on the attention to detail in his westerns i.e. weapons of the time etc. Unlike some of Hollywood's other efforts, even some of The Dukes's most entertaining films are anachronistic on this front. However, I've always thought the armoured car in this looked better suited to Mad Max.
I don't know whether that armoured car was a genuine article from the time period, but it looks like something you'd have seen tooling around in WW1. To me, anyway. Yeah, Leone's attention to detail is something that often stands out. Many thanks. T.
This movie will stay with you.
Indeed it will, Steve. Thank you for commenting. Appreciated. T.
It made me depressed for weeks when I watched it
Saw it on IFC Channel when I was 14. It was haunting and stuck to my mind throughout high school…
I still recall with a chuckle the shocked gasp from a grandmother as I watched this film with my grlfriend's family when there was a shock cut to one of the rich passenger's bare bum being exposed during the robbery. There is a hint, I read somewhere, that Mallory betrayed his friend to the British out of sexual jealousy, so feels guilty for all that ensued. It doesn't really come off in the original film.
Throwing a snippet of The Clash in there, TB? Nice one!
Well, it was from The Magnificent Seven, Lee. And you can never have too much Clash I find. Thanks for commenting. Appreciated. T.
@@tonybush555 Whilst Steve McQueen was arguably the 'King of Cool', James Coburn was undoubtedly the 'coolest' thing in The Magnificent Seven.
@@leetaylor3099 I'm minded to agree, Lee.
Hi Tony, I asked you a few weeks ago also to review this film. Completely agree with you with the title remarks. I remember sitting in the cinema at the time waiting for the film to start, and I could hear a group saying, " Yes I have seen all the previous Dollar films." ( Groan ). The music from Morricone was brilliant, the story, as you said slowed down in some parts, but I really enjoyed the film. I have the extended version, and along with other westerns, ( The Wild Bunch, The Searchers to name two ) I regularly view this film. A sad film in some ways, with the two main characters having different pasts, fighting together for different reasons...........Isn't that the truth. Take care.
Ah, it was you, pambos. Couldn't remember and was too slothful to go back and look. It's always been on my mind to review it because it's sort of an outlier or sketched around or over sort of film. Which is something that adds appeal for me. Hope you enjoyed it. Thanks for commenting. Appreciated as always. T.
Great movie. I love the soundtrack!
Thanks for commenting, Rob. T.
The only western that beats this film for me is The Outlaw Josey Wales, mostly due to its libertarian ideologies; "Governments don't live together, people live together."
Also, I love how odd this film is. I once heard someone else say that the first half of this film is a comedic adventure film and the second half (after the Miranda clan is decimated) is an anti-war drama and I love the duology there.
Plus, I just love films and media that depict the final days of the old west. Horses, revolvers, and lever action rifles alongside armored cars, semi-automatic pistols, and bolt-action rifles really hits the spot for me.
And finally, being Irish-American and having a great respect for Hispanic-American culture brings this film very close to my heart.
But don't forget Ennio.
That's a good run-through of many of it's appealing qualities for you on a personal level. Thanks for commenting, Richard. T.
I thought the flashbacks were awesome. I can’t think of another film that has such beautiful, haunting, and mysterious flashbacks.
Duck, You Sucker is a mis- translation of the Italian original title Giu La Testa which meant Duck Your Head or Ger Down. Leone apparently believed this was a common phrase in the US but no one else did! Good review but its worth reading Sir Christopher Frayling's chapter in his excellent biography of Leone. Apparently, on the Italian version, the film begins with a quote from Chairman Mao which UA removed along with about 20-30 minutes in the US/international version of the film and the massacre of the Juan's family in the cave was a direct reference to a Fascist war crime in Rome in WW2. It may also be seen Leone's response to the more political 'Spaghetti' westerns such as Bullet for a General which had become such a sub-genre that Jean-Luc Godard in his most Maoist phase after 'One plus One/Sympathy for the Devil' intended to make a political Spaghetti after May 1968! But your right, a decent effort by Leone's heart wasn't really into it as he had already ambitions to make Once Upon a Time in America and even turned down an offer to make The Godfather when developing his dream project!
Thanks for a very interesting and informative comment, Mark, which provides some further background information. Much appreciated. T.
This was great thanks
Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for commenting. T.
Good one, T!
Thanks for saying so, Chris. Much appreciated. T.
It was a Italian version of butch and sundance
Thank you for explaining the plot. This was something absent from the original cinematic cut I saw. The result was a weird film that made no sense. Coburn became an object of ridicule, not quite on the level of Dick Van Dyke, for his attempted accent. And Steiger's reputation seemed unaffected by his performance. The Western Genre didn't die, it was slowly digested by an industry that shat out the same stories in different costumes.
Thanks for commenting, Tom. T.
I'm unsure if I've seen the best version but whichever I like the flashback scenes very much. "Sean, Sean" is beautiful to my ears. Mr Steiger is horrible, for 99%, as usual. Mr Coburn is sublime ; almost as usual. Why was Leone so lazy? Italian?
Just a prick the whole fistful of dynamite it was supposed to be the character of tuco in place of juan
Although Wallach was great as Tuco I don’t think he could have played Juan Miranda as good as Rod Steiger.
Another awesome review of as you say a multiple titled multi cut versions of this socialist western? Strange how it still relevant to an audience willing to give it and flaws a chance.
Leone was a phenomenal director/producer who was so unique (only directing seven films to Kubrick's 14).
DUS is such a hybrid of ideas and characters stieger who was a great actor sometimes forgot to put the brakes on (he also used same accent in the specialist) but coburn world weary eyes and tired body language sell their partnership.
I'd forgotten David Warbeck in it completely, his relationship with Mallory is ambiguous at best & the Irish sequences are deeply flawed (as most American movies relating to the IRA sell it as a righteous cause, not reflecting the complexity of the situation).
Still it's only a fxxking movie. Leone flawed still better than most of current crop of directors who have little to no insight or ability to make movies that question the environments that effect us all.
Brilliant review
Thank you, Graeme. Nice insights and opinions. Appreciated.
Music depressed me i had to switch off