Spoiler Alert: This post contains spoilers to the film and If you have not seen it yet, I advise you to not read it any further.
Although I do have youtube video links and even a Vimeo one this week, I could not find a youtube video link of Moviedrome presenter Alex Cox introducing Italian director Sergio Corbucci’s 1968 bleak revisionist Spaghetti western masterpiece The Great Silence. Once again, readers will have to rely on Cox’s intro transcript (read here). The episode’s original airdate was August 26, 1990 (read here). I absolutely agree with everything Cox says about this brilliant film. Everything from legendary composer Ennio Morricone’s somber music score to it’s winter scenery sets the tone for what may be one of the darkest westerns ever made. Even the ending is a completely tragic one as Cox details in the links. For my money, it may even by my number one favorite spaghetti western of all-time – and I have tons of other favorites in that sub-genre. Btw, If any of you readers are interested in reading my list of my favorite westerns, read here. Also, If you are interested in reading a list of my favorite Sergio Corbucci films, read here.
Here is a youtube video link to Alex Cox’s intro to The Great Silence from a special feature on the 2004 Fantoma DVD edition (read here)
Here is a Vimeo link to Cox’s intro to it for something called International Film Series
Here is a youtube video link to the film’s original theatrical trailer – though I do not think it ever got a theatrical release in America on it’s initial release in 1968.
Finally, here is a youtube video link to the 2018 Digitally Restored version of the film from the Film Movement Blu-ray/DVD company that released in on home video in that aforementioned year
Also, here is a link to Alex Cox’s book on spaghetti westerns If any of you readers are interested.
cinematiccoffee 
Big Silence is probably my favourite Italian western, everything about it is different, from the snowy setting, to Morriconne’s music to the brutal, bleak ending. Interesting trivia from Alex Cox about Clint Eastwood wanting to buy the rights and recreate the role. I’d forgotten about that until I saw Joe Kidd recently and recognised Silence’s trademark hat and gun. Anyway, thanks for another Moviedrome Monday!
I have to confess to rarely if ever enjoying a ‘Spaghetti Western’. (Including those starring Eastwood) It was the awful dubbing that put me off them in the main, together with the strangely unrealistic sounds of gunfire and bullets flying. And unlike most other viewers, I often found the soundtracks to be jarring, rather than complimentary.
Still that’s just one opinion, and I am in the minority. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
Nice to see one of your posts in my reader, John. I don’t know this film but it sounds like I need to make its acquaintance.
Great article, John with some fantastic links.
I think I have seen this film, but will try and catch it again. I love these Westerns from that period.
I need to see this not only to tick another Moviedrome off the “I’ve seen it” list but also by the fact that it sounds blooming awesome. Alex really sounds very passionate about it. Budging it up the list as I type. 🙂
Everything you just said is totally on point Paul 🙂 Me, you and Cox’s love of the film shows that great minds think alike 🙂 Anyway, thanks for dropping by 🙂
From what I hear from you, it sounds like your problem with spaghetti westerns (as a whole) is either rooted in their low-budgets (though not all of them are) or you just don’t like them for the very reasons you just laid out for me. Either way, your view is respected 🙂 Anyway, thanks for dropping by 🙂
Same here 🙂 Other films of this type from that period (like this one – Sergio Corbucci’s The Great Silence) shows that Sergio Leone was not the only master of the spaghetti western. Anyway, thanks for dropping by 🙂
I think you will love The Great Silence – after watching it, I could totally see how this film shaped Quentin Tarantino’s 2015 western The Hateful Eight. Anyway, thanks for dropping by 🙂
Great minds? You and Alex certainly qualify🙂
Awesome. Can’t wait to see it