Western 'masterpiece' with 92% rating set to leave Amazon Prime in days; The 1965 Spaghetti Western is due to leave the streaming platform by the end of January.

Byline: By, Maria Leticia Gomes

A 1965 Spaghetti Western, now considered a significant piece in the genre and boasting a 92% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, is due to depart from Prime Video soon.

This iconic European Western film features Clint Eastwood as Manco, a bounty hunter also known as the Man with No Name, and Lee Van Cleef as Colonel Douglas Mortimer, a former army officer turned bounty hunter. Meanwhile, Gian Maria Volonté portrays the main antagonist El Indio, a bank robber with a haunting past symbolised by a unique musical pocket watch. A diverse ensemble cast from Italian, Spanish and German cinema fills out the supporting roles.

The narrative follows Manco and Mortimer as they independently track down El Indio across the American frontier after the notorious bank robber escapes prison with the help of his gang. Their paths intertwine, leading to an unexpected partnership as they infiltrate Indio's operation to corner him from both ends, reports the Express.

From this point, the plot unfolds through a series of betrayals, shifting alliances, and confrontations that, in classic Western style, climax in a final showdown. A notable aspect of the film is the depth of the storyline, particularly Mortimer's personal link to Indio's crimes -a level of backstory seldom seen in the genre at the time. For a Few Dollars More was an international co-production between Italy, West Germany, and Spain, shot mainly in Tabernas, Almeria, where a fictional town -El Paso -was constructed in the Spanish desert and remains a tourist attraction today.

The film's music is integral to its storytelling, with screenwriters crafting and staging scenes around compositions by Ennio Morricone. The score, particularly the watch melody connecting Indio and Mortimer, became one of the film's most iconic elements. For a Few Dollars More proved a remarkable box office success upon release, performing strongly across multiple territories and becoming Italy's highest-grossing film by 1967.

Whilst not initially embraced by critics, the film has consistently enjoyed audience praise. Rotten Tomatoes now gives it a 92% approval rating, with the site's consensus branding it a genre classic. One review says: "Masterpiece! Absolute iconic movie. Sergio Leone classic style and brilliantly brought to screen."

Another added: "Might be my favorite out of the three... the ending duel's tensity felt even more present compared to 'The Good, the Bad and the Ugly'." A further review says: "Awesome story awesome main character awesome partner awesome villain."

For a Few Dollars More is set to depart the Amazon Prime Video library by the end of January.

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Credit: Getty

Clint Eastwood stars in the 1965 film

Credit: Getty

For a Few Dollars More was a joint production between Spain, Italy and West Germany