MY NAME IS NOBODY!

Westerns With Dad

Far and away one of the strangest films we’ve discussed on the podcast, right up there with the cannibal movies, is My Name Is Nobody, a comedic send-up of the Spaghetti Westerns from the very people who created them. Starring the legendary Henry Fonda and a goofy blonde himbo named Terence Hill, it kind of tells the story of an aging gunslinger and the younger man who idolizes him. It’s got a lot of familiar tropes from the Western, Spaghetti and otherwise, thrown into a hopper and shaken and tossed around, until they come out on the other side completely disoriented and confused. But it’s mostly pretty fun! Topics of conversation include the films’ experimental approach to filmmaking, the ugliness of the supporting cast, how much it is or isn’t like Looney Tunes and Unforgiven, my familiar “Prankster God” interpretation (as well as a host of other metaphysical fan theories I float), how much the titular Nobody has in common with Heath Ledger’s Joker, the successful subversion of the familiar revenge plot line, and a considered look at some of the film’s more awkward vignettes, such as a racially charged carnival game and a sensual piss joke.

We have a longer than usual segment on what else we’ve been watching this week, including such titles as Mourning Becomes Electra, Jaws, The Name of the Rose, Sully, and John Wick Part II, which ends up having a surprising connection to Open Range. This episode was a listener request (thanks Steve!) and we would be happy to take more. Please email us at [e-mail] to let us know what we should do an episode on. And why not visit us on iTunes and leave ratings an reviews? Eh? Next time on Westerns With Dad, we’ll be covering Last Train From Gun Hill, starring Kirk Douglas. It’s another listener request!

My Name is Nobody stars Henry Fonda and Terence Hill, and was directed by Tonino Valerii, from ‘an idea of Sergio Leone’.