A Genius, Two Partners and a Dupe
1975 film
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A Genius, Two Partners and a Dupe (Italian: Un genio, due compari, un pollo) is a 1975 Spaghetti Western comedy film directed by Damiano Damiani. It was co-written and produced by Sergio Leone, who also directed the opening scene.[2][3]
- Fulvio Morsella
- Ernesto Gastaldi
- Damiano Damiani
- Sergio Leone[1]
| A Genius, Two Partners and a Dupe | |
|---|---|
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| Directed by | Damiano Damiani |
| Screenplay by |
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| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Giuseppe Ruzzolini[1] |
| Edited by | Nino Baragli[1] |
| Music by | Ennio Morricone[1] |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | Titanus |
Release date |
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Running time | 117 minutes[1] |
| Countries |
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| Language | English |
Plot
Joe Thanks (Terence Hill) is a genius conman. He conducts various schemes with his two friends: Creole Steam Engine Bill (Robert Charlebois) and his girlfriend Lucy (Miou-Miou). Lucy loves both men, and they in turn both vie for her affection.
Joe formulates an extremely elaborate plan to steal $300,000 from Major Cabot (Patrick McGoohan), an Indian-hating cavalry man, and in doing so save the Indian land he is trying to steal. Every time the plan seems to be failing, Joe has another trick up his sleeve. The film climaxes with a stagecoach chase and a gigantic explosion.
Cast
- Terence Hill as Joe Thanks (voiced by Roger Browne)
- Miou-Miou as Lucy / Lilla
- Patrick McGoohan as Major Cabot (voice entirely dubbed by Robert Rietti uncredited)[4]
- Robert Charlebois as Steam Train Bill / Paul Lambet
- Klaus Kinski as Doc Foster
- Jean Martin as Colonel Pembroke
- Miriam Mahler as Colonel Pembroke's daughter
- Raimund Harmstorf as Sergeant Milton
- Benito Stefanelli as Mortimer
- Pietro Vida as Jerry / Jelly Roll
- Roy Bosier as Jeremy
- Frederick Ledebur as Don Felipe
- Renato Baldini as Sheriff
- Mario Brega as Krutscher
- Lina Franchi as Mary Gomez
- Mario Valgoi as Thomas
- Rik Battaglia as Captain
- Pietro Torrisi as Mortimer henchman
- Gerard Boucaron as Town idiot
- Elio Angelucci as Brothel man
Production
The second film produced by Sergio Leone following My Name Is Nobody, it was originally intended as a remake of Bertrand Blier's Going Places in a western setting, but during the screenwriting process it moved towards something different, closer to The Sting.[2] Leone chose Damiano Damiani to direct it, partly for his appreciation of Damiani's western A Bullet for the General, and partly for his recent box office hits, notably Confessions of a Police Captain.[2] Giuliano Montaldo served as second unit director, while Leone himself directed the opening scene.[2] Parts of the film were shot at the San Juan River and Monument Valley in Utah.[5]
The original negative of the film was stolen and never recovered, as Leone refused to pay the ransom. The film was eventually completed printing a new negative from the positive of some sequences and using alternative takes.[2]