My roomates and I had the soundtrack, and would randomly put our speakers in the window facing the street and blare the theme song. Could be heard blocks away. Was a lot of fun. "Pretending that you already know the answer when you don't is not actually very helpful." ~Migeru.
Many stylistic elements are present in both, Morricone was again writing the score, but it is different. More epic, more long scenes, more lead characters (4-5), and a not really happy ending. And more daring: the 12-minute opening scene (credits) is in essence just showing three ugly men being bored, and angel-faced Henry Fonda is the bad guy.
Our tastes have differed before, and the film may have aged, so I can't guarantee you'll like it, but even if not, perhaps it'll be worth it for recognising what inspired later filmmakers.
My roomates and I had the soundtrack
You mean that of The Good, The Bad & The Ugly, or Once Upon A Time in The West? *Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
"Pretending that you already know the answer when you don't is not actually very helpful." ~Migeru.
Bit o' Trivia: apparently original intent was to cast Eastwood, Wallach, and van Cleef as the 3 bad guys at the opening of Once Upon a Time. Wouldn't THAT have been fun!
