This 1967 Lee Van Cleef western is the perfect film to watch after Clint Eastwood's Dollars trilogy

Thanks in large part to Lee Van Cleef, Death rides a horse provides the perfect viewing experience after Clint Eastwood's The Man With No Name trilogy. Although The good, the bad and the ugly is generally considered the quintessential Clint Eastwood Western, it's much more than just a vehicle for the actor. As the title indicates, it's actually a film directed by a trio of stars, not just Eastwood. The good, the bad and the ugly It wouldn't have worked without the compelling performances offered by Eli Wallach and Lee Van Cleef. The latter is equally vital for For a few more dollars also.

Lee Van Cleef is in top form The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, which sees him play the film's villain with sinister perfection. His ruthless yet calm demeanor allows his character – known only by his nickname “angel eyes“in the film – to stand out as one of the greatest Western villains of all time. But of course, The good, the bad and the ugly and For a few more dollars are hardly the only westerns to benefit from the actor's presence in the cast. Lee Van Cleef made several quality Westerns that are worth watching, including Death rides a horse.

Death Rides A Horse is a fun 1960s Spaghetti Western

Continues a big Western trend for Lee Van Cleef

Having found success working on major spaghetti westerns such as The good, the bad and the ugly and For a few dollars moreVan Cleef continued to dabble in the subgenre. One of the roles he chose was Ryan in Death rides a horsewhich gave him top billing. His co-star was John Phillip Law, a gunslinger seeking revenge on the bandits who killed his family. This brings him into conflict with Ryan, a man who was wrongfully arrested after being falsely accused of being an accomplice to the crime.

Naturally, his reputation makes him and Bill enemies, but as the story progresses, they have to put their differences aside and unite against the real killers. Since Ryan has a history with the gang, whether he participated in the murders or not, there is nothing friendly about their alliance. It's not even clear if this will last, especially when it becomes apparent that perhaps Ryan is hiding more than he's letting on. All of this creates an interesting dynamic that seems tailor-made for a Western setting. And, in keeping with genre expectations, the conflict comes to a head in a thrilling climax.

Death Rides A Horse offers several excellent parallels to Sergio Leone's Dollars trilogy

Lee Van Cleef's work on Sergio Leone's films has a clear influence on Death Rides A Horse

The circumstances are different, but the partnership between Bill and Ryan is reminiscent of one of the best parts of the Man With No Name trilogy. In For a few more dollarsManco, by Clint Eastwood, is a gunslinger who agrees to help Mortimer, seeking revenge, find Indio, the leader of the gang responsible for his sister's death. With Van Cleef playing an aging cowboy alongside Eastwood's much younger protagonist, the age difference heavily influences their dynamic. The same can be said of the relationship that forms between Bill and Ryan, who is seen as the wiser and more experienced of the two.

Even the main characters' goals are aligned. Revenge is ultimately Lee Van Cleef's character's main motive in Death rides a horse and For a few more dollars. However, he is still the more calculated member of the duo in both cases, with his partner being the more impulsive and action-oriented type.

The similarities to the Man Without a Name trilogy also extend to the film's overall tone.and they make sense when considering their history. The roadmap for Death rides a horse was written by genre veteran Luciano Vincenzoni, who co-wrote both For a few more dollars and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. Further reinforcing the comparison is the music; Ennio Moricone, who composed the famous music behind Sergio Leone's Dollars films, also developed the soundtrack for Death rides a horse.

Death Rides A Horse has one of Lee Van Cleef's best performances

Another element that Death rides a horse What's in common with Clint Eastwood's Spaghetti Westerns is that they feature extraordinary performances from Lee Van Cleef. As evidenced by both For a few more dollars and Death rides a horseAngel Eyes is just one facet of the actor's legacy. He can be attractive whether he is a hero or a villain. That said, he's rarely a straightforward protagonist, as Van Cleef excels at playing gritty, layered characters.

Ryan especially fits this profile, with Van Cleef doing his best to draw out Ryan's darker impulses and measured intensity. The actor manages to portray Ryan as a dangerous outlaw, but also as someone guided by a strong sense of morality. In this way, Lee Van Cleef's character in Death rides a horse is able to shine as a memorable Western anti-hero.