Hollywood, what happened?

[titoli]

From the Stanley Kauffmann's review: "Like Kurosawa's The Seven Samurai and The Hidden Fortress, Yojimbo can be compared with a good western. (There is a rumor that Hollywood is to remake it as such.)" (September 17, 1962)

 

[stanton]

After the success of Mag 7 not a keen idea.

[Novecento]

From the Stanley Kauffmann's review: "Like Kurosawa's The Seven Samurai and The Hidden Fortress, Yojimbo can be compared with a good western. (There is a rumor that Hollywood is to remake it as such.)" (September 17, 1962)

So how did Cinecittà get there first?

I wonder if Kurosawa was aware of these rumors and perhaps half-expecting something like A Fistful of Dollars to appear?

[titoli]

So how did Cinecittà get there first?

Cinecittà didn't get there first: the producers never thought about buying rights before the lawsuit. The real question  is in the title of the topic.

[Novecento]

Well technically Cinecittà did get there first just via Leone  - i.e. before anyone in Hollywood made anything.

The question then remains why nothing happened in Hollywood legitimately or, to take a leaf from Leone, somewhat illegitimately.

[stanton]

Hollywood was busy with remaking Rashomon at that time, which I assume was a flop and a failure then.

[titoli]

So you've discovered that it was Ronald Lubin who wanted to buy the rights to Yojimbo?

[Novecento]

So you've discovered that it was Ronald Lubin who wanted to buy the rights to Yojimbo?

Sounds like you just did 

This guy:
http://variety.com/2004/scene/people-news/a-ronald-lubin-1117906497/

What's your source? Did you find it out in the Kauffmann book?

[titoli]

Sounds like you just did 

This guy:
http://variety.com/2004/scene/people-news/a-ronald-lubin-1117906497/

What's your source? Did you find it out in the Kauffmann book?

No, it's only that our german friend identified Hollywood with Lubin. So it's him who must reveal his source.

[stanton]

I did not discover anything. Only said that Hollywood was busy with the Outrage in 1964.

[Novecento]

I've also seen differing accounts regarding whether it was Ritt or Lubin who first came up with the idea to remake Rashomon.

[Novecento]

From the Stanley Kauffmann's review: "Like Kurosawa's The Seven Samurai and The Hidden Fortress, Yojimbo can be compared with a good western. (There is a rumor that Hollywood is to remake it as such.)" (September 17, 1962)

Walter Hill did make "Last Man Standing" but that was over 30 years later.

[titoli]

Walter Hill did make "Last Man Standing" but that was over 30 years later.

And it wasn't a western. And it was based on Red Harvest. Like Yojimbo. And I have reviewed it here.

[Novecento]

If you have Galbraith's book on Kurosawa and Mifune, you can take a look at a short mention there about New Line purchasing the rights to Yojimbo legitimately which ultimately culminated in Last Man Standing.

Good point about it not being a Western though - haven't seen it myself, but have just seen it mentioned as a remake. Regardless, even if it were a Western it would still be unrelated to whatever Kauffmann is referencing due to it being so much later.

[drinkanddestroy]

LAST MAN STANDING can be considered a modern-day Western or something. Takes place in a dusty Texas town during Prohibition, as I recall; with a main street that looks like it could be a Western set.