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Lee Van Cleef: The Best of the Villains Recruited at Cinecittà

A new book by film critic Massimo Moscati, “Lee Van Cleef. The Best of the Villains,” explores how the American actor found redemption and immortality in the spaghetti westerns of Sergio Leone, transforming from supporting player to cult icon at Cinecittà.

Exploring the Human Side of a Spaghetti Western Legend

An icon of the spaghetti western, Lee Van Cleef remains one of cinema’s most unforgettable “bad guys.” The new book “Lee Van Cleef. The Best of the Villains” by author and journalist Massimo Moscati, published by the Piacenza-based press Le Piccole Pagine, delves deep into both the myth and the man behind those steely eyes.

Moscati — a member of the National Union of Italian Film Critics, editorial director, and lecturer at Milan’s Civic School of Cinema Luchino Visconti — paints a portrait of Van Cleef that goes beyond the screen persona of the menacing gunslinger. The book celebrates the unforgettable Colonel Mortimer from Sergio Leone’s For a Few Dollars More — one of Van Cleef’s greatest cinematic triumphs.

“We owe Italy the credit for giving him roles suited to his talent, transforming him into a cult figure,” Moscati writes in the preface.

Resisting Hollywood’s pigeonholing, Van Cleef tirelessly pursued his craft, and when his career seemed at a standstill, he reinvented himself. Through his collaborations in Italy, he carved out a place in film history as the quintessential western antihero.

From Soldier to Cult Star

Before becoming a cinematic icon, Van Cleef served as a naval operator during World War II and later began acting on stage. His film debut came in 1951 when director Fred Zinnemann cast him in High Noon, alongside Gary Cooper and Grace Kelly — a small role that would nonetheless lead to a remarkable journey.

Even though he had no lines in that film, his piercing gaze and silent intensity became his signature. “He gave Hollywood’s idea of evil a European depth,” Moscati observes — a depth that left a lasting impression on audiences.

Reinvention in Italy

In the decade that followed, Van Cleef struggled in America, often relegated to secondary roles and battling frustration that led to dependence on alcohol. Redemption came in 1965, when Sergio Leone cast him as Colonel Mortimer in For a Few Dollars More, followed by The Good, the Bad and the Ugly in 1966.

With these roles, Van Cleef entered the pantheon of spaghetti western legends — a Hollywood actor reborn in Cinecittà. Moscati’s book examines not only his cinematic career but also the man behind the legend: a disciplined craftsman, a survivor, and an artist who found his true self in Italy’s western frontier.

“Under Leone’s direction,” Moscati concludes, “Van Cleef rediscovered himself, creating a gallery of unforgettable characters.”

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Book Details
Lee Van Cleef. Il migliore dei cattivi
By Massimo Moscati
Published by Le Piccole Pagine

Where to Buy the Book

• Buy on Amazon Italy 🇮🇹 – about €15.00
• Buy on Amazon Spain 🇪🇸 – same edition
• Buy on La Feltrinelli – official Italian retailer
• Buy on IBS.it – ships within 5 business days
• Buy on Libreria Universitaria – may require order time

For a Few Dollars More - October 1967 London Premiere Vintage Trade Ad

 

Clint Eastwood Rides Again in a New “Dollar” Adventure

After a meteoric rise to box-office popularity as the mysterious Man With No Name in A Fistful of Dollars, Clint Eastwood returns to the screen in an even more gripping series of adventures in For a Few Dollars More.

Like its internationally acclaimed predecessor, this new United Artists release arrived with an awe-inspiring record as an international film blockbuster. Audiences in Europe, Asia, and South America not only eagerly paid their various lire, francs, krona, and drachmas to see For a Few Dollars More, but reached feverish intensity at the news that Clint Eastwood was reprising his role as a Westerner of the first magnitude. His tight-lipped, humorous portrayal of the Man With No Name has been hailed as a creation destined to take its place with such screen immortals as Tom Mix, William S. Hart, Gary Cooper, and John Wayne.

In For a Few Dollars More, the six-foot-four Eastwood again rides out shooting straight and fast, with his lethal .45. Wearing the same flat hat, weather-worn poncho, and trademark squint, the Man With No Name faces a formidable new bounty hunter as his rival. This time, the hunter is none other than the Man in Black, played with chilling effectiveness by Lee Van Cleef. The two join forces to track down and kill a merciless bank robber and murderer, memorably portrayed by Gian Maria Volonté.

Director Sergio Leone and producer Alberto Grimaldi used a widescreen (short of 100 feet!) for their savage story. For a Few Dollars More is shot in Technicolor.

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For a Few Dollars More Rates as One of the Biggest Action Blockbusters Ever Released in the World Market

For a Few Dollars More, second of the fabulously successful “Dollar” pictures, is being heralded as one of the biggest money-making adventure films of our time. Overseas, it has already surpassed the enormous receipts rolled up by A Fistful of Dollars, which introduced the “Dollar” series and was second only to the James Bond blockbusters in the world market.

To be generally released October 22, For a Few Dollars More comes to these shores with high expectations of bettering the huge grosses rolled up earlier this summer by A Fistful of Dollars. An all-out international promotion campaign reinforced by excellent word-of-mouth and strong critical reactions were key factors in building high hopes for the picture’s success.

Additionally, there was the long-time appeal of Clint Eastwood, who repeats his role as The Man With No Name. He has now readily identified a pair of trademarks — a black weather-beaten hat, tattered cape, unsmiling face, cigarette between his teeth, and a .45.

The public not only condoned the mysterious, cold-blooded lawless Man With No Name, a lawful killer who personifies a new kind of Western anti-hero, but also welcomed the addition of the Man in Black. He also is a tireless bounty hunter and is played with supreme conviction by Lee Van Cleef.

The man behind the success of the “Dollar” pictures is an energetic European, Sergio Leone, who has been a Western fanatic since he was old enough to view the movies.

His refreshing concept of stripping the Western to its essentials has met with critical and box-office approval. As a result of the success of A Fistful of Dollars and For a Few Dollars More, Leone now ranks among the most important Continental film-makers. Both films are United Artists releases.

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New Victoria and Odeon Kensington

From Oct. 5th
General Release from Oct. 22nd

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A New Shooting Star

For a Few Dollars More has sent Lee Van Cleef’s film career into the stratosphere of established Western actors, joining him in the upper echelons alongside Eastwood.

A master of menace and an instantly recognizable figure in American films, Van Cleef is now known worldwide for his menacing calm and deadly precision.

After the filming of For a Few Dollars More was completed, he was immediately signed for a key role in another United Artists “Dollar” picture.

For a Few Dollars More - Japanese Program

 Click to enlarge-