Seems futile to compare this to the other westerns made by Sergio Leone. It doesn’t reach the levels of drama, lyricism and intensity of his previous work, nor the raw epic excitement of the “dollars trilogy” however it isn’t exempt of his engaging and rich storytelling and it sure is the most politically conscious film he ever made.
It looks more like it was done by Sam Peckinpah (no wonder why he was in line to direct it, but declined at the last minute)
Leone’s biographer Sir Christopher Frayling very wisely puts “this one is between the twilight of the frontiere and the dark night of the city”.
Humourous but ultimately tragic story of defience, passionate struggle and camaraderie.