Good God, how I love DVD. Well, I’m lovin’ Blu-ray even more right now, but DVD’s still the king until further notice, and, to emphasize that point, I give you The Sergio Leone Anthology. MGM has delivered a boxed set that gives spaghetti western fans the ultimate reason to drop to their knees and thank their respective deities for the format that blesses them with this eight DVD collection of four of the best westerns ever made, stuffed to the saddle bags with extra goodies, and lovingly packaged in an eye-catching foldout case replete with 32-page collectible booklet. Oh, yes; it’s a good time to be a Leone fan.

The collection features the entire Man with No Name trilogy, being “Fistful of Dollars”, “For a Few Dollars More”, and “The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly”, as well as the lesser-known-but-nearly-as-awesome “Duck You Sucker” (whch is presented in a 157 minute cut that is as close to Leone’s original cut as anyone’s come since the film’s Italian premiere back in 1971). Those who already own MGM’s collector’s edition of The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly will see that the care in both packaging and choice of supplemental materials used in putting together that set is duplicated here (save for the miniature lobby cards, which are, for one reason or another, absent from this collection), and applied to each of the other releases.  

Discs one and two features The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, offering interviews, several featurettes, deleted scenes (including the lengthy beatdown of Tuco at the hands of a sinister prison camp officer), a poster and stills gallery, and an extremely entertaining and informative commentary by noted film critic, Richard Schickel.  

Fistful of Dollars receives just as royal a treatment, with interviews, featurettes, a commentary track by Sir Christopher Frayling, British film historian and noted Leone expert, as well as the unearthing of a true curiosity; a sort of “disclaimer” that was aired prior to the 1977 American television debut of the film. Hosted by Harry Dean Stanton, this prologue attempts to offer some insight into Eastwood’s character, and has not been seen since. Its inclusion here is thanks to a videotape recording by a fan named Howard Fridkin, who also introduces the segment. There’s even a featurette as to why this prologue was made in the first place, with an interview by the segment’s director, Monte Hellman.

For a Few Dollars More occupies discs five and six and sports more featurettes, including a twenty-minute making-of documentary, version comparisons, and another commentary by Frayling.

Duck You Sucker, however, is second only to The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly in terms of supplemental materials, as this little-seen gem is positively loaded with extras. The best of the featurettes, "Sorting Out the Versions", offers a look at the work that went into piecing this 157 minute cut together from the several cuts that have been released since the film’s debut.  We also get a bunch of radio spots, yet another commentary by Frayling, and the film’s original theatrical trailer.

Each of these films are being sold in separate two-disc sets, but, for the obvious package deal incentive, the boxed set is the way to go, here, even if you already own the collector’s edition of The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly as the purchase of the other three films individually will set you back as much as the whole set.
Easily my choice for DVD release of the year, The Sergio Leone Anthology is a must-own for Leone fans, as well as a nice turnkey solution for those yet to experience the brilliance of the maestro. Highest possible recommendation.