Quentin Tarantino has never been shy about his love for spaghetti Westerns, and while he often sings the praises of Sergio Leone's The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, there's another Sergio who holds a special place in his cinematic heart: Sergio Corbucci. Tarantino has called Corbucci "one of the great action filmmakers who ever lived," placing him "at the tip-top of the action filmmaking game." Now, one of Corbucci's most celebrated works is available to stream for free, and it's a perfect entry point for newcomers and a treat for longtime fans.
The film in question is The Great Silence, a 1968 snow-covered Western that has earned a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes, surpassing even Corbucci's own Django (94%). It's a gritty, politically charged tale that subverts the conventions of the classic American Western, and it's easy to see why Tarantino holds it in such high regard. In fact, Tarantino paid direct homage to The Great Silence in his 2015 film The Hateful Eight, which also unfolds during a brutal snowstorm.
Why Tarantino Loves Corbucci
Tarantino has often spoken about the unique brutality of Corbucci's vision. "The thing that really started jumping out from Corbucci's cinema was that there was no West that was as brutal as his — as the characters, the bad villains who ruled the story," he said in a 2012 interview. This raw, unforgiving take on the genre set Corbucci apart from his contemporaries, and it's a quality that resonates deeply with Tarantino's own sensibilities.
On his Video Archives podcast, Tarantino ranked The Great Silence as his 14th favorite spaghetti Western, placing it behind other Corbucci gems like Django (number three) and The Mercenary (number four). But it's The Great Silence that stands as Corbucci's crowning achievement, a film that Tarantino has described as being "at the tip-top of the action filmmaking game."
A Western Like No Other
The Great Silence stars Jean-Louis Trintignant as a mute gunslinger and Klaus Kinski as a ruthless bounty hunter. Set against the backdrop of a harsh winter, the film tells a story of corruption, survival, and revenge. It's a far cry from the romanticized cowboys of Hollywood, offering instead a bleak and unflinching look at the American frontier. The film's political undertones and its willingness to defy audience expectations make it a standout in the genre.
For those who have yet to experience this masterpiece, there's no better time than now. The Great Silence is currently streaming for free on Kanopy, a service available through many public libraries and universities. It's also available on Mubi for those who prefer that platform. If you're a fan of spaghetti Westerns, this is an essential watch.
And if you're in the mood for more Western action, there are plenty of other options streaming right now. Tom Hanks' underrated Western recently hit Peacock, and Russell Crowe's cult favorite is free on Pluto TV. For a more modern take, Jon Bernthal's 2021 Western thriller has been climbing the Netflix charts.
So grab some popcorn, settle in, and discover why Quentin Tarantino considers Sergio Corbucci a master of the genre. The Great Silence is a film that demands to be seen, and now it's easier than ever to watch.
