A Fistful of Dynamite

This film (according to usually-reliable sources), shot under the working title "Once Upon a Time -- The Revolution", was the second of the three (between "...in the West" and "...in America".

While it mostly eschews the heavier-handed Messages of the other two, still not everything in this film is on the surface -- there is subtext in the relationship between the Mexican peasant bankrobber and the fugitive Irish explosives expert.

Rod Steiger (in my second-favourite of his roles) as Juan, the apolitical bank robber drawn into the Mexican Revolution very much against his better judgement and James Coburn, travelling through Mexico by motorcycle carrying enough dynamite under his long duster to redraw the maps if he's shot, both appear to have had a ball making this film.

In the elliptical way that Leone often approaches things, this film is the story of the redemption of a man who has given up on himself -- the cynical Irish fugitive begins to realise that, despite his claim that "...in the end, all I believe in is dynamite", he DOES care what happens to "the little people" and that he is willing to fight and die for them. And it is the story of the radicalisation of a non-political non-intellectual as he is forced to see, first-hand, the abuses of the system and the casual mistreatment of the common man that he has managed to avoid looking at so far.

And it ends with the question that everyone who actually thinks must ask, if only rhetorically, when others can no longer guide and protect us and we must fly or fall, sink or swim on our own merits.. -- "But what about me?"

And, as always, Leone's masterful protrayal of confrontation and violence, physical and moral, is evident -- particularly the scene in which the bandit and the Irishman set out on their own to stop an armoured cavalry column that is pursuing the fleeing revolutionaries, or the confrontation on a locomotive loaded with explosives between the Irishman and a leader of the Revolution who (known only to the Irishman) has cracked under pressure and caused the deaths of men from his cadre...

The Morricone score, of course, is wonderful -- particularly the sly little quotes from "A Little Night Music" in the middle of something else entirely.


A great film by a great director!   August 13, 1999
Agnar Kr.(mrx@vortex.is (Reykjavik,Iceland)
8 out of 8 found this review helpful

This movie has been one of my favorites for years. James Coburn and Rod Steiger are great in their roles, expecially Steiger. The story about a Mexican bandit who's drawn unwilingly into a revolution by an Irish explosive expert combines both superb action scenes, great drama, humor and also has a brilliant score by Ennio Morricone. A must for Leone fans and everybody else should try to see it if they get a chance!


A little known adventure classic   June 23, 2001
Ironmike (California)
8 out of 8 found this review helpful

This film was nearly lost to American viewers for many years. This story is unique in the sense that a renegade Irishman bands with a Mexican rogue and his family amidst the madness of Mexico torn by civil war. There are some brutal moments and some very funny scenes. The feeling of the time is captured as only Leone could do. Some terrific battle scenes and one of the best train wrecks ever filmed. Great dialog and great musical score by Ennio Morricone is both haunting and flowing. Plenty of action and adventure for the hardcore fan of the Italian films. Check it out.


Great, but when in DVD ?   October 29, 1999
7 out of 9 found this review helpful

This fil is one of those I prefer. I want it on DVD. Will someone tell me if he hears about it ?