For A Few Dollars More

A rider is shot from afar in the opening scene. Also seen in The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. Many exteriors were shot in the Almeria area of Spain.

This is west of Tabernas above the western theme park Western Leone to the east of the A-92. SJ

La Calahorra, standing in for Tucumcari.

This is much further west on the A-92 towards Guadix. As Manuel Gurtner explains, "In fact, Tucumcari station is a set structure, specially built for the second part of Leone's "Dollar" trilogy, located at the 12 km branch line from Estación de La Calahorra to Alquife, built in 1899 by The Alquife Mines and Railway Co. Ltd., still operated by the successor company at the time of filming to serve the Alquife mines. Beyond the Marquesado del Zenete plains the Sierra de Gor-Baza mountain range can be discerned. This white building nevertheless can be seen in the distance out of the train window." SJ

Tucumcari again. But I leave the previous one just to show how there is always room for improvement, especially at my expense! ... Manuel adds, "Hauled by the former RENFE engine No. 040-2169 (ex NORTE No. 2708, originally built in 1884 by Hartmann at Chemnitz for the Almansa–Valencia–Tarragona Railway), the train comes to a halt, because Lee van Cleef as Colonel Mortimer has pulled the emergency brake. By the way, the same broad gauge 0-8-0 type tender loco with nickname "verraco" (boar), withdrawn in 1965 and outfitted for filming with typical American style features such as smokestack with spark arrestor and cow catcher, can be seen actually at La Calahorra station in Leone's "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" (see Capture 38)."

"You are about 1/4 mile away from the proper location. I have been to the exact location which is a few hundred yards to the left in the photograph. It is now a gravel road but it used to be railway tracks. A pile of bricks shows where the "Tucumcari Station" was." Thanks to Roger Auclair.

Looking the other way as van Cleef descends from the train... Above the angry train conductor (Mario Meniconi) the castle of La Calahorra can be recognised in the distance on the hill, which already has appeared in "Action of the Tiger" (1957) with Sean Connery in a minor role and later in "The Wind and the Lion" (1975), again with Connery in the leading role."

One can make out La Calahorra castle but it takes some good eyesight. Both then and now were taken on dull days. SJ

van Cleef continues his unscheduled alightment.

Taken by Roger showing a clearer view of Calahorra, also seen in Stardust (1974). (SJ)

van Cleef searches for bounty in the no longer extant Golden City set, standing in for Tucumcari, near Hoyo de Manzanares, located 30 km northwest of Madrid.

Hans visited the site which shows little sign of the set. (SJ)

Colmenar viejo, north of Madrid, another set that no longer exists. Eastwood in the (movie) rain... Manuel adds, "The so called Poblado del Oeste set, erected in 1963 by Augusto Lega and Felix Michelena, standing in for White Rocks. Located 4 km outside of Colmenar Viejo and 30 km north of Madrid."

Hans with this, showing that nothing survives. (SJ)

Eastwood riding away... "In 1974 the entire set was torn down for a new helicopter base of the Spanish Airforce." Manuel

Another shot from Hans. (SJ)

and reveals a nice vista to pinpoint the Colmenar viejo set.

Erected in 1965 by Carlo Simi and then called Poblado del Fraile (later known as Mini-Hollywood), this is "El Paso" and hooray it's a set still standing.

And it's a tourist attraction called Mini Hollywood also called Oasys Theme Park. SJ

Eastwood rides into town

Oasys is west of Tabernas, east of the A-92, in the Almeria region of Spain. SJ

The Yellow Rose

Much the same bottom floor, different facade on the top. SJ

Eastwood dismounts opposite the Yellow Rose.

Still in Mini Hollywood, this is now the corner of a restaurant. SJ

Volonte's lair at castillo Rodalquilar

In much the same state minus top. It can be found on the valle de Rodalquilar on the way to el Playazo in the Nijar region. SJ

Back in "El Paso"

It's Mini Hollywood again. Redesigned buildings, same hills. SJ

View from the Yellow Rose, also seen in The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. This is where van Cleef stays whereas Eastwood stays opposite.

Just a little to the east of the above shot. The restaurant is on the right. SJ

Klaus Kinski spies on the "jail" in "El Paso"

This is on the same plaza as the Yellow Rose and called the First City Bank from where most tourists watch the daily shoot out performance. SJ

A mean hombre (Luigi Pistilli) watches the guards' patrol routine.

By the side of the bank. SJ

Eastwood in the nearby hills.

Great matching shot by Roger. (SJ)

Another town/set

Some hard riding in the hills near el Oasys.

Hans found this spot a little further east above the rambla which runs east of the A-92 mentioned in A Fistful of Dollars cap12.

Those peaks should be recognisable.

Roger spotted them. (SJ)

Eastwood riding above the entrance to el Oasys/Mini Hollywood

See that knobbly bit of hill: what a giveaway! SJ

Panning round

And if there are any doubters, here's the next shot which shows the entrance to el Oasys. SJ

The back of the jail.

The back of the bank in Mini Hollywood/el Oasys. SJ

The gang ride away.

Roger and pals sure look the part. (SJ)

The getaway

Now. SJ

This was also seen in The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.

Roger nails it. (SJ)

Eastwood faces the gang, led by Volonte at an oasis. And the only clue to this location is that marker on the hill to the left of the palms.

This is quite hard to find. Come off the roundabout where the A-92 meets the N-340, round the service station, down a dirt road south that ends just before a bridge over which the A-92 runs, head under the bridge and walk east along the dry river bed. And look for the hill with the modern-day white marker on top in both stills. This area is also seen in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. SJ

Well, they've shot through the cabinet but now they need to open the safe.

Roger and friends including Ian doing a good van Cleef impression didn't find it too hard to find this location. (SJ)

The town of "Agua Caliente"

Albaricoques. The signpost says calle Gian M. Volonte. SJ

Eastwood rides into "Agua Caliente" He did this in A Fistful of Dollars too but from the other end.

Now called Calle Clint Eastwood. See those steps and door/window arrangements to the left. The only hint. SJ

A little further west

Now called Calle Lee van Cleef. The only real match are the background hill and the one windowed white building at the ned of the street. SJ

Clint shoots at an "apple" tree

Very much a hill alignment attempt. SJ

Another shot at the apple tree.

Roger has improved on mine above on this one. (SJ)

van Cleef and Eastwood in Los Albaricoques

But I couldn't find this. It's probably rebuilt so here's a nice "now" to demonstrate the village's pride in its association with western filming with a prominent display and useful location map. SJ

As above

Not sure I'd ever have found this, but Roger did. (SJ)

van Cleef minds his own business in the bar where the gang meet.

There's van Cleef again with Roger. (SJ)

An unruly bunch.

van Cleef and Kinski square off as Kinski suggests he light a match against his hump again.

My effort from 2010. As above the doorways match while this location deteriorates. SJ

cortijo del Fraile, further east of Los Albaricoques, which serves as the interior of ffdm012. This is seen a lot more in The Good, the bad and the Ugly.

Round the back. And the building's deteriorating fast. SJ

Back to Los Albaricoques, much the same of ffdm028

Calle Clint Eastwood again. Pity about the cars. SJ

Eastwood takes cover as he cleans up the town.

Roger in the same place: check the bullet holes! (SJ)

The showdown in the north side of town.

Again the hills help and the rebuilding doesn't. SJ

A close up of the previous shot: Volonte holding a watch with chimes to time the draw.

Rebuilt. SJ

van Cleef, Eastwood and Volonte square up

There are a couple of these circular structures. SJ

van Cleef and Eastwood in the arena

But the white building/wall to the left of the trees is still there. SJ

Eastwood leaves with his bounty booty

Same as the shots of 35 and 36. Again the hills help. SJ

And off he goes.

Now and thank goodness for those hills. SJ