Giù la testa (1971)

Director:

Sergio Leone

Writers:

Sergio Leone (story) and
Sergio Donati (story) ...
(more)

Release Date:

29 October 1971 (Italy)

Genre:

Adventure | Western | Action | War

Tagline:

Rod Steiger and James Coburn will blow you apart in "A Fistful of Dynamite" ("Duck You Sucker") by the master of adventure Sergio Leone

Plot:

An IRA explosives expert on the run in Mexico meets an amoral Mexican bandit; together they get drawn into the Mexican revolution.

Plot Keywords:

Irish Republican Army | Once Upon A Time In The Title | Execution | Flashback Sequence | Explosive

Awards:

1 win

Cast

James Coburn	...	John H. Mallory
Rod Steiger	...	Juan Miranda
Romolo Valli	...	Dr. Villega
Maria Monti	...	Adelita, woman in stagecoach
Rik Battaglia	...	Santerna (as Rick Battaglia)
Franco Graziosi	...	Governor Jaime
Antoine Saint-John	...	Gutierez / Col. Günther Reza (as Jean-Michel Antoine)
Vivienne Chandler	...	John's girlfriend (flashback)
David Warbeck	...	John's friend Sean Nolan (flashback)
Giulio Battiferri	...	Miguel
Poldo Bendandi	...	Executed Revolutionary
Omar Bonaro
Roy Bosier	...	Landowner
John Frederick	...	American
Amato Garbini
Michael Harvey	...	Yankee
Biagio La Rocca	...	Benito
Furio Meniconi	...	Executed Revolutionary
Nazzareno Natale
Vincenzo Norvese	...	Pancho
Stefano Oppedisano
Memè Perlini	...	Peon (as Amelio Perlini)
Goffredo Pistoni	...	Nino
Renato Pontecchi	...	Pepe
Jean Rougeul	...	Priest
Corrado Solari	...	Sebastian
Benito Stefanelli
Franco Tocci
Rosita Torosh
Antonio Casale	...	Notary on Stagecoach (as Anthony Vernon)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Sergio Calderón	...	(uncredited)
Franco Collace	...	Napoleon (uncredited)
Simon van Collem	...	Conductor (uncredited)
Luis Morris	...	Man who spits at poster (uncredited)
Aldo Sambrell	...	Member of firing squad (uncredited)
Conrado San Martín	...	Stagecoach driver (uncredited)

Directed by
Sergio Leone

Writing credits
Sergio Leone		(story) and
Sergio Donati		(story)
Luciano Vincenzoni		screenplay and
Sergio Donati		writer and
Sergio Leone		writer

Produced by
Claudio Mancini	....	associate producer
Fulvio Morsella	....	producer
Ugo Tucci	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Ennio Morricone

Cinematography by
Giuseppe Ruzzolini

Film Editing by
Nino Baragli

Art Direction by
Andrea Crisanti

Set Decoration by
Dario Micheli

Costume Design by
Franco Carretti

Makeup Department
Paolo Borselli	....	hair stylist (as Paolo Borzelli)
Amato Garbini	....	makeup artist
Rocchetti	....	wig maker

Production Management
Claudio Mancini	....	production supervisor
Camillo Teti	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Tony Brandt	....	assistant director (as Antonio Brandt)
Alberto De Martino	....	second unit director (as Martin Herbert)

Art Department
Ezio Di Monte	....	set dresser
Franco Velchi	....	set dresser

Sound Department
Fausto Ancillai	....	sound mixer
Michael Billingsley	....	sound editor

Special Effects by
Antonio Margheriti	....	special effects
Giovanni Corridori	....	special effects (uncredited)

Stunts
Benito Stefanelli	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Franco Delli Colli	....	lighting camera operator: second unit
Roberto Forges Davanzati	....	assistant camera
Massimo Massimi	....	chief electrician
Angelo Novi	....	still photographer
Alessandro Ruzzolini	....	assistant camera
Idelmo Simonelli	....	camera operator
Franco Tocci	....	head grip
Claudio Sabatini	....	assistant camera (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Luisa Buratti	....	wardrober
Tirelli	....	costumes

Editorial Department
Gino Bartolini	....	assistant editor
Rossana Maiuri	....	first assistant editor
Olga Sarra	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Ennio Morricone	....	conductor

Other crew
Eros Bacciucchi	....	arms and explosions (as Baciucchi)
Serena Canevari	....	continuity
Cimino	....	set
Giovanni Corridori	....	armorer
Raffaello Forti	....	production accountant
Nino Lembo	....	jewels
Vasco Mafera	....	production secretary
Tonino Palombi	....	armorer
Rancati	....	set
Benito Stefanelli	....	master of arms (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Euro International Film (EIA)
• Rafran Cinematografica
• San Miura

Distributors

• Euro International Film (EIA) (1971) (Italy) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1972) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1972) (France) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1972) (USA) (theatrical) (dubbed)
• United Artists Corporation (1972) (UK) (theatrical) (dubbed)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1980) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere) (pan/scan)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1996) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
• Image Entertainment (????) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Opção (????) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2003) (Germany) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Nathan  costumes
• Nis Films  synchronisation
• Pompei Vidéo  costumes
• Western Costume Company  costumes

Also Known As:

A Fistful of Dynamite (UK) (USA) (alternative title)
C'era una volta la rivoluzione (Italy)
Duck, You Sucker (USA)
Once Upon a Time... the Revolution

Runtime:

157 min | USA:120 min (initial US release) | USA:138 min | USA:154 min (Laserdisc version)

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian | Spanish

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

West Germany:18 (nf) (original rating) | West Germany:16 (nf) (re-rating) | Spain:18 | Iceland:16 | Singapore:PG | Brazil:14 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Ireland:15 (cut) | Norway:18 (1972) | Sweden:15 | UK:15 (video rating) (1988) | UK:AA (original rating) | USA:PG (original rating) | USA:R (laserdisc rating) (1996)

Filming Locations:

Almería Railway Station, Almería, Andalucía, Spain

Company:

Euro International Film (EIA)

Trivia:

The film was initially planned to have been directed by Peter Bogdanovich, but both Rod Steiger and James Coburn demanded that Sergio Leone direct the picture, so Bogdanovich was out.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: In the train, the automatic pistol that Juan Miranda uses is a Browning GP35. As its names suggests, this model has become available in 1935 (so contemporary of the mentioned MG42).

Quotes:

Dr. Villega: Not *everybody* can fight. There are those who must organize, coordinate.
Sean Mallory: Yes, yes. Of course!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Red Dead Revolver (2004) (VG)

Kind of like The Odd Couple, with explosions

A Fistful of Dynamite is often seen as the black sheep of Sergio Leone's commercial releases; and there's a good reason for that, as despite the fact that it's still a spaghetti western; it's a completely different kettle of fish to both the Dollars Trilogy and Once Upon a Time in the West. A Fistful of Dollars features common western themes such as bandits, guns and bank robberies - but, as he did with The Good, The Bad and The Ugly; Sergio Leone has implanted war themes into the plot, and we've also got the bizarre idea of one of the major characters being an IRA bomber! All this stuff doesn't quite come together cleanly, and as the tone of the movie changes often; it seems obvious that Leone has bitten off a bit more than he can chew...but luckily enough, A Fistful of Dynamite remains a fun movie for most of its duration. The plot follows a bandit named Juan, who bumps into a dynamite-laded bomber one day in the desert. Spotting an opportunity for robbery, he manages to recruit the IRA man to his cause; but he doesn't count on being dragged into the revolution that's going on at the same time.

The first half of the movie features some very astute elements of tongue-in-cheek humour, and it seems obvious that the director isn't intending the plot to be completely serious. However, at around the halfway point; the movie turns in completely the opposite direction, and the fun and silly first half gives way to a more deep and serious finale. For me, this is the movie's main problem; I like a movie that's unpredictable, but this change in plot feels disjointed and doesn't go down well. The second half of the film isn't as enjoyable to watch either, which harms the fun. However, Sergio Leone's direction is as impressive as ever, with some lovely wide angle shots capturing the beautiful landscapes; while, of course, Leone enjoys giving full focus to his actors for some extreme close-ups. Like the movie, the cast is a mixed bag. James Coburn looks the part, but his silly put-on accent makes him feel like he's having a laugh at times; and similarly, Rod Steiger dons an arguably even sillier accent and doesn't quite get away with it. Overall, A Fistful of Dynamite is not a film to please all viewers. I found it to be enjoyable despite many niggles, but I can understand why a lot of people disagree.