MovieChat Forums > Giù la testa (1972) Discussion > This film would be one of Leone's greats...

This film would be one of Leone's greats....

posted 16 years ago by Rainy_Dog
32 replies | jump to latest

...if Eli Wallach had played Juan as orginally intended.
I enjoyed the film but found Rod Steiger incredibly irritating and overblown in his acting style. According to the commentary Leone felt the same way. Apparently before Juan pleads to be allowed onto the bourgeoise wagon he walked a kilometre away and repeated to himself "my father is dead, my father is dead", much to Leone's bemusement.
I watched The Good, The Bad and The Ugly after this film and felt that Wallach's performance was by far better than Van Cleef's and Eastwood's. In fact, I'd say Tuco is one of the best ever screen characters created.
When I watch Fistful of Dynamites now I feel a nagging disappointment. Wallach would've been able to portray Juan as the dirty, greedy, simple peasant he was supposed to be, but instead we get Steiger overacting.

What do y'all think?

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] colt_89 15 years ago

I think Wallach would of definitely done a great job in this film, would of preferred him. But I didn't mind Stieger, my only problem with him is I kept thinking the next line he was going to say was "Say hello to my little friend!"

[–] elmparkstick 15 years ago

I don't think Leone should have cast Eastwood/Van Cleef/Volonte/Wallach more than once so I think Steiger and Coburn are excellent in this.

(I'd choose Volonte's 'Indio' out of his two though)

[–] mazaldivar 15 years ago

I disagree.

As has already been said, Wallach would have just repeated his Tuco role.
Want proof?

Watch his three other Italian westerns (ACE HIGH, DON'T TURN THE OTHER CHEEK and THE WHITE THE YELLOW AND THE BLACK).
He might as well be Tuco's long lost brothers in those films.

Even his villainous role in MAGNIFICENT 7 is like a prototype of Tuco.

A 3-D Spaghetti Western rereleased to theatres cominatyanoir3d.com Comin' soon!

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] 15 years ago

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[–] russelledwards001 14 years ago

i think this film has much more heart than the other more popular leone westerns... and steiger does fine - eli wallach would just make you think of TGTBATU - and this film is so much more serious in tone and in it's message.

My only complaint - he intentionally made it slow paced but i found this made it a bit too slow. imo.

the special edition dvd documentaries are excellent by the way and explian a lot.

[–] burgephoto 8 years ago

"Think slow, act fast." -- Buster Keaton

"Even his villainous role in MAFNIFICENT 7 is like a prototype of Tuco."

Wrong!! His character of Calvera is COMPLETELY different from Tuco. The only similarity is that they are both Mexican. But that's where the similarities end. He is totally different in appearance, personality and actions. You're seeing Wallach as two Mexicans and you're automatically thinking "Tuco", which is unfair.

Now I will agree with you about Wallach's character in ACE HIGH being similar to Tuco. I can't speak about his character in DON'T TURN THE OTHER CHEEK or THE WHITE, THE YELLOW AND THE BLACK because I haven't seen those. But from what I have read about the latter film, his character doesn't sound as if it would be anything like Tuco. You're painting his characterizations with too broad a brush that doesn't do him justice. Just because Eli Wallach wears a mustache in a Western that doesn't mean the character is like Tuco, you know!

[–] sandcrab277 9 years ago

leone wasn't great at anything...it was eastwood and wallach that made him famous...never cared for rod stieger in anything he did and i only watched this film to see coburn in action again

[–] PhoenixPhuck 9 years ago

Leone wasn't great at anything? His best film doesn't have Eastwood or Wallach in it...and it's one the greatest movies of all time

Even the most primitive society has an innate respect for the insane.

[–] burgephoto 8 years ago

"Think slow, act fast." -- Buster Keaton

I don't know what movie you're referring to when you mentioned that Leone's best film doesn't have Eastwood or Wallach in it. You're assuming that your opinion of a movie's greatness is the only one that counts. If you had said, "IN MY OPINION, his best film doesn't have Eastwood or Wallach in it...", I can respect that. But as it is, you just sound arrogant.

I don't agree with the previous poster that Leone wasn't great at anything. Of course he was. He was a fantastic director. But I do feel that Eastwood, Wallach and Van Cleef did much to contribute to The Good, the Bad and the Ugly's greatness. Just my opinion, of course.

[–] PhoenixPhuck 8 years ago

I mean I don't know how you can consider yourself a fan of Leone and not recognize that I'm obviously referring to Once Upon a Time in the West.

And sorry dude I don't need to say "IN MY OPINION" before I say things. It's a message board, it's understood that movies are subjective and therefore if I say something is great it's great in my opinion.

Even the most primitive society has an innate respect for the insane.

[–] TheFearmakers 8 years ago

Oh man that hurts just knowing Eli was supposed to steal another Leone movie!

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