Eastwood as Harmonica

[grandpa_chum]

i don't believe for one second that leone ever had any intention of having eastwood play harmonica if bronson signs on... maybe leone was just humoring eastwood, or just looking for a backup plan... leone had expressed his desire to work with guys like fonda, coburn, and bronson his whole career... i doubt he'd take anyone over them.

[Danny]

But even as a "die-hard Eastwood-fan", I think he would have been wrong as Harmonica. Would have been fun to see him, Wallach and van Cleefe gunned down in the beginning, however....

That's what I read also. Leone had the intention to make the opening shoot with Eastwood, Wallach en Van Cleef  gunned down at Cattle Corner by Bronson.

[Dlanor]

i don't believe for one second that leone ever had any intention of having eastwood play harmonica if bronson signs on... maybe leone was just humoring eastwood, or just looking for a backup plan... leone had expressed his desire to work with guys like fonda, coburn, and bronson his whole career... i doubt he'd take anyone over them.

 No he wasn't humoring. Read Ray Freakling book.  Eastwood was the first choice of Leone for harmonica. So true Leone even came to Eastwood house at the very beginning and told him the story (in front of Eastwood parents too )very slowy, he described the fly opening sequence to Eastwood. Eastwood bored himself and said "Where are we going?". But the true reason Eastwood declined is because he was frustrated  to not have the first and only role in GBU . And also he was tired to be in Leone shadow, to do only Leone films and be assimilated with Leone. He wanted to make his own career and name in the USA.

[Dlanor]

Can someone please explain something to me.

Admittedly, I have only seen OUATITW once, and I was not as blown away by it as most seem to be... but that's another story.

I watched the movie after becoming interested in the original trilogy, and perhaps I was disappointed because I was expecting more of the same, and to me, Bronson seemed like a poor-man's Eastwood.

Many may disagree, and that's fine, but it's just the way I saw it then... but I need to watch it again.

I had even convinced myself that the part was written for Eastwood, and Leone just gave it to Bronson when he knocked it back, replacing his trademark cigar with a Harmonica...

The one thing that made me believe this most was the scene in which Harmonica turns up in the night at the womans house, and all she can hear is the Harmonica... all of a sudden, he lights a match... WHY?

If it was Eastwood, I could understand that it was his trademark entrance, lighting a cigar... It would have been cool to see it in the dark as well... but why would harmonica do it?

If someone can explain this to me properly I will gladly withdraw my comments about the harmonica character...

 I hope you saw the uncunt version...
Well, me too, I don't know why he lights a match, I always wondered. I think it's even after being Shot by Jill that he lights it. Anyone has an idea?

[cigar joe]

Well without getting it out and watching it again could it possibly be one of Franks men lighting a smoke? And Harmonica is just sounding his presence also?

[John Baldwin]

In a Eastwood forum, there is a post where a man says that Eastwood and Wallach said they never have been contacted by Leone to make the establishing sequence. But in Conversation with Leone, I read that Leone had proposed the role...
Where is the verity...Fox, Danna, we have a file for you!!!

[Dlanor]

I read Clint Easwtwood biography (the book), and it confirms what has been said: Eastwood did to be approched for the role exactly like I said. And it's true that he had been contacted later to do the opening with Wallach and Van Cleef but declined (if he had accepted the intro would have been like that as Wallach and Van Cleef had agreed).

[Two Kinds of ...]

Clint was approached for Harmonica.  Remember Sergio had American investors now and Clint was Box Offfice.   I think it was best for everyone and the movie that Clint turned it down.   Clint could have done it, but he had too much Man with No Name Cred to really become Harmonica.  At the same time, it's clear that Harmonica has about a dozen Man with No Name lines throughout the movie.

In any event, the Man with No Name wouldn't need Cheyenne to rescue him from a train.