MovieChat Forums > One-Eyed Jacks (1961) Discussion > Anyone else think this was a precursor o...

Anyone else think this was a precursor of 'Fistful of Dollars'?

posted 18 years ago by jjulian1009
10 replies | jump to latest

I'm not trying to suggest that Sergio Leone was influenced by "Jacks", but it's uncanny how many elements they have in common. Brando's laconic characterization and dialogue as Rio are close to Eastwood's later. Both films have lush cinemaphotography and obsessive attention to detail with exceptionally realistic sets, costumes and locations. If only Brando had Morricone to compose his music instead of the typical US western score he got from Friedhofer, I think the similarities would come across more obvious. The early scenes, with Ben Johnson in the cantina and then their ride along the sea near Monterey, evoke that period with the same intensity of Leone's films, which are often described as horse operas (emphasis on the opera). From other comments on this board about Brando's director's version being much longer and his character being far more morally dubious than the studio's cut, I reckon the original effort was even more akin to the great spaghetti westerns of the mid 60's. I'd be most interested in any responses, con or pro!

"The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity." W.B. Yeats

[–] gzusfreek106 17 years ago

It's a good idea, but 'Fistful of Dollars' actually has another 1961 film to thank for its story. It's almost an exacct remake of Akira Kurosawa's "Yojimbo." You just substitute Toshiro Mifune's nameless wandering samurai for Clint Eastwood's nameless wandering cowboy, and bob's your uncle!
Incidentally, the western "The Magnificent Seven" is also a remake of Kurosawa's "Shichinin no Samurai (Seven Samurai)". Both "Yojimbo" and "Samurai" are excellent movies.

[–] wernersieg 16 years ago

The first part of One Eyed Jacks particularly has the feel of the Sergio Leone Westerns. Certainly Marlon Brando would have seen them -- how could he not have been influenced?

I would have liked to see OEJ with Brando's ending instead of the generic Hollywood ending it now has.

[–] CharlesCastle 16 years ago

Certainly Marlon Brando would have seen them -- how could he not have been influenced?

Because they had not been made?

"If you are mean enough to steal from the blind, help yourself."

[–] wernersieg 16 years ago

Duh!! Hey, I know. It was Sergio Leone copying OEJ and Marlon Brando. There, fixed it!

[–] CharlesCastle 16 years ago

I can buy that.

"If you are mean enough to steal from the blind, help yourself."

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] 16 years ago

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[–] Captain_Augustus_McCrae 15 years ago

Re the Op's original question- no.

[–] Wuchak (8124) 3 years ago

"One-Eyed Jacks" was the obvious precursor to the Spaghetti Western. For instance, the protagonist is a dyed-in-the-wool "cool" anti-hero (e.g. Eastwood). The main difference between "Jacks" and most Spaghetti Westerns, however, is that "Jacks" has a worthwhile story, which can't be said for many Italo-Westerns (the ones I've seen anyway); also the anti-hero in "One-Eyed Jacks" slowly transforms into a potentially positive member of society.

The film's influence goes well beyond just the Spaghetti Westerns. Take, for instance, Brando's crucifixion-style beating and long restoration. The film "Conan the Barbarian" pretty much ripped-off this entire sequence; Arnold Schwarzenegger even admitted to it.

[–] liscarkat (16552) 3 years ago

Hugo Friedhofer was one of the great film and television composers, and his score for "One-Eyed Jacks" was excellent. Morricone's music suited the spaghetti westerns, but his scores sound too European for a true American-made western. Friedhofer was a good choice and did a terrific job.