Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.5

For a Few Dollars More 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov May 28, 2022

Sergio Leone's "For a Few Dollars More" (1965) arrives on 4K Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber. The supplemental features on the release include archival audio commentary recorded by film historian Christopher Frayling; audio commentary by author and critic Tim Lucas; archival program with producer Alberto Grimaldi, screenwriter Sergio Donati, and American actor Mickey Knox; multiple archival featurettes; vintage promotional materials for the film; and a lot more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

What would you say makes For a Few Dollars More different from the other two films in Sergio Leone’s Dollars Trilogy? Obviously, it can’t be its stars. The storytelling or action? In the other two films, both are just as good. Two of the films were lensed by Massimo Dallamano and one by Tonino Delli Colli, but if the names of these great cinematographers were not displayed in their opening credits, you would not know. This is how similar the three films look. The legendary maestro Ennio Morricone delivered a brilliant score for each film as well. So, it would appear that there is nothing substantial enough that makes For a Few Dollars More unique.

But is it really so? Would you argue that Leone made the exact same film three times and audiences around the world couldn’t tell? Of course, you wouldn’t, because you know that it isn’t true. You have seen these films, and you know that even though they look similar, they are not the same. So, let’s go back to my original question, which was what makes For a Few Dollars More different from the other two films in the Dollars Trilogy?

I am going to give you my answer below, but before I do, I have to tell you why I brought up this question. A few days ago, I invited a friend of mine to view the 4K Blu-ray release of For a Few Dollars More with me, and this was the exact same question he asked after the film’s closing credits appeared on the screen. It caught me off guard because I have always thought of the three films in the Dollars Trilogy as great spaghetti westerns that do a whole range of things really, really well, without separating them. However, clearly, they are very different films, and much to my surprise I was not prepared to immediately tell my friend why. So, we ended up having a very interesting discussion that went on into the wee hours of the night.

My answer is very short, but covers a few things: the sense of humor, this is what makes For a Few Dollars More different than the other two films in the Dollars Trilogy. No, I am not implying that the other two films do not reveal a good sense of humor as well. But it is not the same sense of humor, and this is what ultimately provides For a Few Dollars More with a unique personality. I would like to give you two examples that explain the difference. Consider the duel between the two bounty hunters (Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef) right before they agree to become partners. It is hilarious in a very particular way and does not transform For a Few Dollars More into a period comedy about big boys with guns. Why exactly? Because it is infused with authentic machismo as well, which Leone masterfully distributes throughout the entire film. Now, consider the sequence where Monco slaps his much younger partner after he overcharges him for his information in front of the saloon. Again, it is a hilarious sequence with plenty of authentic machismo, but definitely a riskier sequence. Interestingly, instead of hurting the integrity of the film, it becomes a key component of its personality. So, it is the careful management of this very particular sense of humor that makes the story about the two bounty hunters unpredictable and ultimately shapes up the film’s personality.

The rest is just a 'new' serving of Leone’s patented spaghetti western concoction. The bounty hunters begin tracking down the notorious outlaw El Indio (the great Gian Maria Volonte), who, together with his gang of mercenaries, plans to rob a big bank in the town of El Paso. Monco helps El Indio’s best pal escape from a local prison and then joins his gang so that at the right time he and his partner can wipe them out, but the perfect plan falls apart, and the two are forced to begin improvising. There is a lot of high-octane action, some strikingly beautiful panoramic vistas from Spain’s desert regions, and an abundance of Morricone’s unforgettable tunes.

The supporting cast includes Luigi Pistilli, Klaus Kinski, Aldo Sambrell, Luis Rodriguez, Benito Stefanelli, Mario Brega, Lorenzo Robledo, the prolific director Fernando Di Leo, and the terrific but criminally underrated character actor Joseph Egger.

For a Few Dollars More 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Kino Lorber's release of For a Few Dollars More is a 4K Blu-ray/ Blu-ray combo pack.

Please note that all screencaptures included with this article are taken from the 4K Blu-ray and are downscaled to 1080p. Therefore, they are not representative of the actual quality of the content that is on the 4K Blu-ray.

I don't know precisely what type of color corrections were done on the 4K master before the content was transferred to 4K Blu-ray, but now the overall appearance of the film is extremely close to what I would have expected to see if I were to view a 35mm print of it from MGM's vaults screened at my local theater. No, this does not mean that the technical presentation is immaculate, and I will explain why below, but there is a sea of difference between this presentation and the one we saw on the 4K Blu-ray release of The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.

The main weakness of the current presentation is the presence of light crushing. It is by no means overwhelming, but there are various areas, both during daylight and darker/nighttime footage, where its presence is easily felt. (You can see obvious examples in screencaptures #6 and 8). Unsurprisingly, some finer nuances are missing and as a result the overall perception of depth is somewhat inconsistent. Furthermore, there are areas of the film where grain exposure isn't optimal, though I wish to make it very clear that I did not see traces of problematic digital work. What is noticeable is essentially what you would observe if a master is struck from an aged interpositive. The rest is either really good or excellent. I feel that in some areas the blues need to be just a tad more prominent, but the overall color temperature of the visuals is very, very nice and, more importantly, convincing. There is one particular sequence where it seems like a bit of posterization is trying to sneak in, but it is just a visual effect that isn't particularly well handled. (See background in screencapture #7). Density levels could be slightly better, but even if you project on a very big screen, you will like what you see a lot. On the other hand, the fluidity of the visuals remains very nice throughout the entire film, which is something that surprised me a bit given the grain inconsistencies mentioned above. Image stability is good, but there are a few areas, such as the opening credits, with minor but noticeable shakiness. Finally, I did not encounter any distracting age-related imperfections to report in our review. All in all, I think that this is a very nice presentation of For a Few Dollars More, and if it remains the final presentation of the film on the home video market, I would be perfectly happy with it. (Note: The 4K Blu-ray disc is Region-Free. The Blu-ray copy that is included with it is Region-A "locked").

For a Few Dollars More 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are two standard audio tracks on this Blu-ray release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 and English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature. When turned on, they appear inside the image frame.

I did extensive tests with both tracks. To be honest, I like both a lot and might even select the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track as my default option, though, when possible, I typically opt for original audio. Obviously, the original English track features overdubbing, which introduces some minor unevenness. If you enjoy Italian spaghetti westerns and have been buying them on DVD and Blu-ray, you know that this is a common limitation. There are certain areas where the audio sounds a bit too thin, but it is really difficult to tell if anything could be done to improve it -- or if it is right to want to do so. In other words, regardless of whether you choose the DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 or DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, you should expect to encounter some standard native limitations. There are no encoding anomalies to report in our review.

For a Few Dollars More 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

4K BLU-RAY DISC

• Commentary One - this archival commentary was recorded by Christopher Frayling, biographer of Sergio Leone, and has appeared on various other home video releases of For a Few Dollars More. The commentator offers plenty of interesting factual information abut the conception and production of the film -- from addressing the particular locations in rural Spain where key sequences were shot to the very particular period clothing and decoration -- the personalities of the two bounty hunters and the manner in which they complement each other before the camera, Sergio Leone's unique vision of the Wild West, the great soundtrack Ennio Morricone composed for the film, etc.

• Commentary Two - in this audio commentary, novelist and critic Tim Lucas discusses the production of For a Few Dollars More as well, but provides an elaborate deconstruction of the narrative as well. There is plenty of general information about the careers and legacies of the stars, Sergio Leone's style, the humor/comedy that permeates For a Few Dollars More, etc. It is a good commentary worth listening to if you like the film.

BLU-RAY DISC

• Commentary One - this archival commentary was recorded by Christopher Frayling, biographer of Sergio Leone, and has appeared on various other home video releases of For a Few Dollars More. The commentator offers plenty of interesting factual information abut the conception and production of the film -- from addressing the particular locations in rural Spain where key sequences were shot to the very particular period clothing and decoration -- the personalities of the two bounty hunters and the manner in which they complement each other before the camera, Sergio Leone's unique vision of the Wild West, the great soundtrack Ennio Morricone composed for the film, etc.

• Commentary Two - in this audio commentary, novelist and critic Tim Lucas discusses the production of For a Few Dollars More as well, but provides an elaborate deconstruction of the narrative as well. There is plenty of general information about the careers and legacies of the stars, Sergio Leone's style, the humor/comedy that permeates For a Few Dollars More, etc. It is a good commentary worth listening to if you like the film.

• The Frayling Archives: For a Few Dollars More - in this archival program, Christopher Frayling discusses the exact period in which For a Few Dollars More was conceived, Clint Eastwood's star image in Italy, the publicity campaign that was organized for the film and specifically the manner in which different visuals were used to market it in different markets (posters, stills), Ennio Morricone's score and the sales it generated on LP, the graphic designs of the LP sleeves, etc. Outstanding program. In English, not subtitled. (19 min).

• A New Standard: Christopher Frayling on For a Few Dollars More - in this archival program, Christopher Frayling discusses the funding and production of For a Few Dollars More, the evolution of Sergio Leone's visual style and the exact manner it is reflected in the film, the characterizations and production designs, and the evolving style of Ennio Morricone's music. There are some particularly interesting comments about the recasting of Gian Maria Volonte as well. In English, not subtitled. (21 min).

• Back For More: Clint Eastwood Remembers For a Few Dollars More - in this archival program, Clint Eastwood recalls his work with Sergio Leone on A Fistful of Dollars and For a Few Dollars More, the decision to cast Lee Van Cleef rather than Henry Fonda as his partner, Leone's special ability to shoot faces (in close-ups) and unique sense of humor, etc. There are some quite interesting comments about Leone's desire to be seen as the Italian David Lean. In English, not subtitled. (8 min).

• Tre Voci: Three Friends Remember For a Few Dollars More - in this archival program, producer Alberto Grimaldi, screenwriter Sergio Donati, and American actor Mickey Knox (who spent over 30 years in Rome creating English language tracks for Italian genre films) recall their business relationship with Sergio Leone and discuss his working methods. Also, there are interesting comments about the original Italian screenplay for For a Few Dollars More as well as the casting of Lee Van Cleef and his personality. In English, not subtitled. (12 min).

• For a Few Dollars More: The Original American Release Version - this archival program highlights some of the minor cuts United Artists made on For A Few Dollars More before it was screened in American cinemas in 1965. Some of these trims were kept and used for United Artists' foreign release versions of the film. With music (6 min).

• Location Comparisons: Then and Now - this archival program offers then-and-now comparisons from some of the key locations in rural Spain that are seen in For a Few Dollars More. With music (13 min).

• Trailers From Hell - presented here is an archival episode of Trailers From Hell with director and actor Ernest Dickerson (Juice). In English, not subtitled. (3 min).

• On Location in Almeria and Granada - in this archival program, filmmaker Alex Cox visits some of the locations where parts of For a Few Dollars More were shot. In English, not subtitled. (14 min).

• Promoting For a Few Dollars More - a very large collection of archival promotional materials for For a Few Dollars More from around the world. Courtesy of El Dorado Productions. Presented with music. (19 min).

• For a Few Dollars More: On the Set - a large collection of production stills for For a Few Dollars More. Courtesy of El Dorado Productions. Presented with music. (19 min).

• For a Few Dollars More: Color Stills - a collection of color stills from For a Few Dollars More. Some have been used as lobby cards. Courtesy of El Dorado Productions. Presented with music. (6 min).

• For a Few Pictures More - additional stills from For a Few Dollars More. Presented with music. (8 min).

• Radio Spots - a collection of vintage U.S. radio spots for For a Few Dollars More. In English, not subtitled. (8 min).

• A Fistful of Dollars/For a Few Dollars - Burning at Both Ends Radio Spot - a vintage U.S. radio spot. In English, not subtitled. (1 min).

• A Fistful of Dollars/For a Few Dollars - Burning at Both Ends Trailer - a vintage U.S. trailer. In English, not subtitled. (2 min).

• Trailers - a collection of vintage trailers for:
  
  1. For a Few Dollars More
  2. For a Few Dollars More
  3. A Fistful of Dollars
  4. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
  5. A Fistful of Dynamite (Duck, You Sucker)
  6. Death Rides a Horse

For a Few Dollars More 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

If this upcoming 4K Blu-ray release remains the final home video release of Sergio Leone's For a Few Dollars More, I would be perfectly happy. There is still room for meaningful improvements in a couple of different areas, but the 4K Blu-ray release offers an all-around convincing organic presentation of For a Few Dollars More that very much looks like the film Leone shot in 1965. (For what it's worth, this is most definitely not how I felt when the 4K Blu-ray release of The Good, the Bad and the Ugly reached my mailbox and a few hours later I was done viewing it). So, should you upgrade if you already have Kino Lorber's previous Blu-ray release of For a Few Dollars More? Yes, because even the 1080p presentation of the film on the 4K Blu-ray looks more convincing. If you decide to upgrade and do not reside in North America, please keep in mind that the 4K Blu-ray release is Region-Free, but the Blu-ray copy is Region-A "locked". VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.