By Owen Glancy Asst. Arts & Features Editor The 1960s were arguably one of the most exciting decades for world cinema in film history, with auteurs from all over the globe releasing some of their most important works. Hitchcock made “Psycho,” Ozu made “An Autumn Afternoon,” Kubrick made “2001: A Space Odyssey,” Bergman made “Persona,” Fellini made “8 ½,” and Goddard made “Breathless.” In this seemingly endless sea of excellent cinema, one film stands out both in the minds of film aficionados and in pop culture in general. “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly” is debatably the most popular western in cinematic history, inspiring such a wide variety of films, it would be absurd to try and list them all. From the iconic score, to the excellent performances, to even the subtly brilliant editing, “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly” is a true masterpiece. But most people don’t even know where the film is from. The English dialogue and lead performance by Clint Eastwood incorrectly lead many people into believing that this film is from the U.S., when in reality, this is an Italian film. Directed by Sergio Leone, “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly” perfectly demonstrates both the pros and cons of Italian filmmaking in the ’60s and ’70s, with perhaps the biggest pro being that Italian productions were truly international. Italian filmmakers made a bold choice when casting their films, in that they decided not to worry about any sort of language barrier amongst the cast and hired whoever they thought would be best. These foreign actors and actresses would speak all of their lines in their native language, and during post-production, they would be dubbed over in English. This was, and still is, a bold choice as it made many aspects of production difficult. While many members of production did speak English, many did not and on a scale as big as this, communication difficulties could seriously hurt the chances of the film being finished well and on time. Despite these issues, the film released on time and very quickly became a classic, to the point where it’s by far the most popular film I’ve covered on Owen’s Oldies. A major factor in the film’s popularity is Eastwood’s performance as Blondie, a nameless cowboy who also acts as the protagonist for the other two films in the “Dollars Trilogy,” of which “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly” is the third installment. He plays this role with the sophistication and class Eastwood is known for, while also defining the “strong and silent type” gunslinger for decades to come. Eastwood isn’t alone, however, as Eli Wallach and Lee Van Cleef round out the titular trio with their roles as Tuco and Angel Eyes respectively. Wallach in particular delivers a delightfully devilish performance as the slimy Tuco, who trusts no one and betrays everyone. You come to truly despise Tuco, yet you also come to understand him. He is never someone who you will root for, but he isn’t a character you will hate spending nearly three hours with. The runtime is what surprised me the most upon first viewing, with the film clocking in at a little under three hours long. That is insane for a ’60s western, as this film is almost an hour longer than both of the other entries in the “Dollars Trilogy.” That being said, the film moves at an incredibly brisk pace. This fast pace would not be possible if the plot was uninteresting, but thankfully the plot is both simple and engaging. Blondie and Tuco come across a dying soldier who tells them of a strongbox containing $200,000 hidden in a graveyard. The problem is Tuco knows the name of the cemetery, while Blondie knows the name of the grave. These two opposites must work together if they want the money, all while Angel Eyes is hot on their heels, also after the money and their lives. This constant air of tension throughout the film makes every scene intense, even more so as the trio get caught up in the aftermath of the American Civil War. If this tension was not present, many of these scenes would have felt boring or unnecessary, but with the tension, every scene becomes engaging and anxiety-inducing. “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly” is not just a cornerstone of Italian cinema, but also world cinema in general, showcasing some of the industry's most talented individuals operating at their absolute best. Even if it might seem a little intimidating, give “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly” a try. I have a feeling it’ll become a favorite before long!