Taking its cue none too subtly from Kurosawa’s Yojimbo, this was
nevertheless an impressive opening salvo from Leone, whose major
credit up to this point was The Colossus Of Rhodes. Clint Eastwood, the
only English speaker on set, is remarkably accomplished already in his
laconic self-possession, as he plays off the rival Baxter and Rojo
gangs against each other.
