Spaghetti Westerns

by Christopher Frayling

Published February 1981
Frayling explores the European Westerns produced at Cinecitta Studios in Rome from a variety of perspectives, placing them in the Italian, social, political, industrial and cinematic contexts from which they evolved. He bases his study on a reading of the films, and on contemporary critical debate, giving special attention to the films of Sergio Leone: "A Fistful of Dollars", "For a Few Dollars More", "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" and the magnificent "Once Upon a Time in the West". Over 400 Spaghetti Westerns were made during their 1960s peak period, and Frayling deals with the most interesting examples. This study is aimed at film scholars and buffs, not to mention fans of Clint Eastwood.