When it comes to classic western films, the genre of Spaghetti Westerns holds a special place in the hearts of movie buffs and cinephiles. While Clint Eastwood is often synonymous with this genre, there are many other outstanding films that have made their mark without the iconic actor. Here, we dive into the world of Spaghetti Westerns and explore 13 must-watch films that showcase the talent and creativity of filmmakers beyond Eastwood’s star power.
Here’s a list of the 15 best spaghetti westerns without Clint Eastwood:
13Companeros (1970)
Arms dealer Yolaf Peterson aims to make a sale to guerilla Mongo, but the money is locked in a bank safe, the combination known only to Professor Xantos, a prisoner of the Americans. Yolaf agrees to free Xantos, accompanied by reluctant guerilla Basco, but a former business partner of Yolaf’s- John ‘The Wooden Hand’, has other ideas.
Starring: Franco Nero, Tomas Milian, Jack Palance
12Sabata (1969)
Several pillars of society have robbed an Army safe containing $100,000 so they can buy the land upon which the coming railroad will be built. But they haven’t reckoned on the presence of the master gunslinger, Sabata.
Starring: Lee Van Cleef, William Berger, Ignazio Spalla
11Navajo Joe (1966)
The sole survivor of a bloody massacre vows revenge on his attackers and on the men who killed his wife.
Starring: Burt Reynolds , Aldo Sambrell, Nicoletta Machiavelli
10The Great Silence (1968)
A mute gunslinger fights in the defense of a group of outlaws and a vengeful young widow, against a group of ruthless bounty hunters.
Starring: Jean-Louis Trintignant, Klaus Kinski, Frank Wolff
9The Five Man Army (1969)
At the behest of local revolutionaries, a mercenary enlists four specialists in various combat styles to help him rob a Mexican Army train carrying $500,000 in gold.
Starring: Peter Graves, Bud Spencer, James Daly
8My Name is Nobody (1973)
Jack Beauregard, an ageing gunman of the Old West, only wants to retire in peace and move to Europe. But a young gunfighter, known as “Nobody”, who idolizes Beauregard, wants him to go out in a blaze of glory. So he arranges for Jack to face the 150-man gang known as The Wild Bunch and earn his place in history.
Starring: Terence Hill, Henry Fonda, Jean Martin
7The Mercenary (1968)
While a Mexican revolutionary lies low as a U.S. rodeo clown, the cynical Polish mercenary who tutored the idealistic peasant tells how he and a dedicated female radical fought for the soul of the guerrilla general Paco, as Mexicans threw off repressive government and all-powerful landowners in the 1910s. Tracked by the vengeful Curly, Paco liberates villages, but is tempted by social banditry’s treasures, which Kowalski revels in.
Starring: Franco Nero, Tony Musante, Jack Palance
6Day of Anger (1967)
A scruffy garbage boy becomes the pupil of famed gunfighter Talby, and the stage for confrontation is set when the gunman overruns the boy’s town through violence and corruption.
Starring: Lee Van Cleef, Giuliano Gemma, Yvonne Sanson
5A Fistful of Dynamite (1971)
Based on the Lucky Luke comic books; Lucky Luke (Terence Hill) arrives into a tiny western town, Purgatory, and is asked to escort 12 mail order brides from another town, where some bandits get on their trail.
Starring: Terence Hill, Domingo Antoine, Roy Bosier
4Death Rides a Horse (1967)
Bill Meceita, a boy whose family was murdered in front of him by a gang, sets out 15 years later to exact revenge. On his journey, he finds himself continually sparring and occasionally cooperating with Ryan, a gunfighter on his own quest for vengeance, who knows more than he says about Bill’s tragedy.
Starring: Lee Van Cleef, John Phillip Law, Mario Brega
3The Big Gundown (1966)
Unofficial lawman John Corbett hunts down Cuchillo Sanchez, a Mexican peasant accused of raping and killing a 12-year-old girl.
Starring: Lee Van Cleef, Tomas Milian, Walter Barnes
2Django (1966)
A coffin-dragging gunslinger and a prostitute become embroiled in a bitter feud between a merciless masked clan and a band of Mexican revolutionaries.
Starring: Franco Nero, José Bódalo, Loredana Nusciak
1Once Upon a Time in the West (1968)
As the railroad builders advance unstoppably through the Arizona desert on their way to the sea, Jill arrives in the small town of Flagstone with the intention of starting a new life.
Starring: Claudia Cardinale , Henry Fonda, Jason Robards
Conclusion
These 13 Spaghetti Westerns not starring Clint Eastwood offer a diverse range of storytelling, characters, and filmmaking styles that have left a lasting impact on the world of cinema. From epic tales of revenge to political dramas set against the backdrop of revolution, these films continue to captivate audiences with their timeless appeal and rich storytelling.
Whether you’re a seasoned fan of the genre or new to the world of Spaghetti Westerns, these movies are sure to entertain and inspire with their unforgettable characters and gripping narratives.
