Duck You Sucker (1971)

Outtasite 'Dynamite'

By Jeffrey M. Anderson

Buy Duck You Sucker on DVD

It took many years for Sergio Leone's Duck You Sucker, a.k.a. A Fistful of Dynamite (1971) to make its American DVD debut, but it's here at last. Rod Steiger stars as a Mexican bandit, Juan Miranda, who meets up with an Irish explosives expert, John H. Mallory (James Coburn). It's the Mexican Revolution, and one man wishes to help out while the other wishes to help himself. Once again, Leone presents a complex hero and villain who must rely on each other for help. It's his most overtly political film; he seems too worried about the quality of his opinions to make sure the film moves properly. And though both actors are excellent, it's distracting to see them portraying other cultures. Steiger reminded me of Charlton Heston's Mexican cop in Orson Welles' Touch of Evil (1958) and Coburn's Irish accent reminded me of Welles in The Lady from Shanghai (1948). Regardless, Leone's genius is clearly on display here, and it's a near-great film. Morricone provides arguably his most bizarre score.

Starring: James Coburn, Rod Steiger, Maria Monti, Rick Battaglia, Franco Graziosi, Romolo Valli, Antoine Saint-John
Written by: Sergio Donati, Sergio Leone, Luciano Vincenzoni
Directed by: Sergio Leone
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Running Time: 157 minutes
Date: June 16, 2007