Sergio Leone Web Board

Films of Sergio Leone => Once Upon A Time In The West => Topic started by: titoli on February 28, 2020, 10:23:02 AM

Title: Harmonica's entrance
Post by: titoli on February 28, 2020, 10:23:02 AM

I don't know if this has been discussed, in case I'll obliterate the topic. But when Bronson first appears he's not playing the harmonica which has made the 3 turn back because he's got a Gladstone in his right hand and something else in the left (his gun belt?) which certainly is not a harmonica and, even more certainly, he's not playing it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmxZN91I70k

My guess is that Leone had devised another entrance but had second thoughts a few hours after having shot the scene and, not having maybe the train available (or because of Mulock's suicide) had to leave the scene of Bronson's entrance like that. But it would be interesting to know what it was that made the three turn back before he thought of using the harmonica.   

Title: Re: Harmonica's entrance
Post by: dave jenkins on February 28, 2020, 11:43:22 AM

This is just SL playing games with diegetic/non-diegetic sound. There is no way the sound of the harmonica we hear can ever be attributed to the sound Harmonica could actually be making (here or in any other scene). SL announces his conceit at the earliest moment. The harmonica sound plays; the men turn; Harmonica now has his instrument out and is playing along.

Title: Re: Harmonica's entrance
Post by: titoli on February 28, 2020, 03:52:52 PM

Re-watching the image it seems that in that first scene Harmonica might actually be playing the harmonica and that what looks like his left arm holding whatever is actually something behind him. The false impression is due also to the fact that while Harmonica is in the first scene looking in front of him, in the following close up he is staring downwards.

Title: Re: Harmonica's entrance
Post by: cigar joe on February 29, 2020, 03:43:46 AM

I'd have to pop it in and watch it again

Title: Re: Harmonica's entrance
Post by: Cusser on February 29, 2020, 07:51:51 AM

Quote from: dave jenkins on February 28, 2020, 11:43:22 AM

This is just SL playing games with diegetic/non-diegetic sound. There is no way the sound of the harmonica we hear can ever be attributed to the sound Harmonica could actually be making (here or in any other scene). SL announces his conceit at the earliest moment. The harmonica sound plays; the men turn; Harmonica now has his instrument out and is playing along.

This.

Fun to see the scene with Italian voices 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmxZN91I70k

Also fun to figure out that some was done without close-ups of Al Mulloch, who had died.