36. It's Still Iconic and Influential
So much of the iconography of The Good The Bad and the Ugly has become synonymous with the Wild West and its depiction in popular culture. Even after 43 years since its release, the film is still considered a benchmark for its vivid and iconic imagery, effortlessly cool style and a genuinely hard edge which makes its gritty world just as violent, shocking and relevant as it was back in '66.
37. Scene - Tuco Torture
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gu0cHa-O-T4&feature=related0 The scene where Tuco is tortured for information by Angel Eyes (Van Cleef) and the imposing Corporal Wallace (Mario Brega) is notable for the way in which it juxtaposes a graphic and unpleasant scene of violence with Ennio Morricone's beautiful and mournful piece of music 'La Storia De Un Soldato' - which is forcefully played by the camp band to drown out Tuco's screaming. The disturbing but powerful scene was one of Tarantino's influences for the torture scene in 'Reservoir Dogs', in which Mr.Blonde tortures his victim to music in a similar way to Wallace and Angel Eyes.
38. It's An Epic
In its original theatrical release, The Good the Bad and the Ugly ran at a hefty 161 minutes, with several scenes cut out at the request of the studio and under the supervision of Leone. When these scenes were reinstated in a extensive 2003 restoration, the film was extended to 171 minutes long and soon became the default version and the one you'll see on DVD and Blu-ray releases. At almost three hours long, The Good, The Bad and the Ugly is a true epic - sweeping in scale, detail and plot. What's really shocking is that at its heart, it's an incredibly simple treasure hunt story that Leone expands to its fullest potential.
39. Scene - The Train Escape
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B57wvnwwQgk I've always loved Tuco's feeble escape plan which he somehow manages to pull off against the odds. If you foolishly agree to let a convict urinate from a moving train while he's chained to you, really you deserve to die. Even better is Tuco's way of breaking himself free from the chain, by shoving Corporal Wallace onto the tracks and waiting for a train to come and run him over.
40. It Gave American Westerns A Kick Up The Backside
The American westerns of the '50s and '60s are entirely different to those which came from Italy with the rise of the Spaghetti Western. While many of them are classics in of themselves, the unique style, hard edge and fresh perspectives which the spaghetti westerns brought to the genre left many of their rivals looking feeble and outdated. In the wake of The Good, the Bad and the Ugly the influence of the spaghetti western and Leone's filmmaking style could be clearly seen on the entire western genre and continues to be felt to this day. Films such as Sam Raimi's 'The Quick and The Dead', Robert Rodriguez's 'El Mariachi' and Tarantino's upcoming 'Django Unchained' have been labeled by their filmmakers as direct tributes to Leone's Spaghetti Westerns and often specifically The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.