For a Few Dollars More (1965), directed by Sergio Leone and starring Clint Eastwood and Lee Van Cleef, is a pivotal film in the evolution of the Western genre. As the second installment of the iconic Dollars Trilogy, it helped redefine the Western through its gritty realism, morally complex characters, and operatic style. With Ennio Morricone’s unforgettable score and Leone’s bold visual direction, the film broke from traditional American Westerns, ushering in the era of the Spaghetti Western. Its influence is vast, shaping modern action cinema and transforming the Western into a global, mythic, and stylized cinematic form. Introduced by Bomani J. Story, writer and filmmaker. 

Directed by Sergio Leone | Starring Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef, and Gian Maria Volonte 

During your visit to the Autry, check out our exhibition Imagined Wests, which explores the many ways the stories of the American West have been told through pop culture, including film.

The What Is a Western? Film Series explores the wide range of movies that can be considered Westerns, and the ways in which they shape our understanding of the American West. Each screening features a guest lecturer who introduces the film and explains its significance within the genre.