Leone Screenings at the NFT (UK) In May

[The Peacemaker]

It's odd when you compare the theater image to the tv image. The characters seem even more larger-than-life. One odd thing I didn't expect when I saw OUATITW in the theater is the color. On the DVD the color of the film has a kind of red tint, on the big screen it was not red but a green tint.

[Leone Admirer]

I think it's much more vibrant on the big screen. The monument valley sequence is perhaps even more breathtaking and the extreme close up of Harmonica's eyes at the end is incredible.

[The Peacemaker]

The Monument Valley scene was AMAZING on the big screen. It was such a joy to finally see my favorite movie in the theater last year...even though I knew every line. I couldn't resist silently mouthing the words as the movie went on.

[Leone Admirer]

Funny enough I was sitting behind a couple and obviously the bloke had bought a girlfriend and she didn't like it at all, she kept fidgeting through out and when it ended she was out of the door like a shot. I ignored most of it but it's always a shame when you see someone not enjoying your favourite movie. (Also judging the audience that came in I was definatly the youngest there  )

[Le Bon]

I remember when i saw it at the Leone season at the NFT, the audience broke into a round of applause at the end. Yes it is very satisfying to be with a like minded audience.

[Leone Admirer]

I was about to aplaud at the end but the room was cloaked in silence. Oh well.

[The Firecracker]

I was about to aplaud at the end but the room was cloaked in silence. Oh well.

ah yes, one of those awkward moments where you enjoyed the film immensly and wish to appluad but it seems the audience was indifferent to the wonders they just witnessed and it turns you off to the whole idea so you dont clap your hands. I hate that

[Angel Eyes]

managed to get 2 tickets for GBU  a couple of weeks ago, they had been returned!!! so if it was sold out try again..
as for OUTITW, i saw it during the Leone season a few years back, until you see Leone on the big screen.....well......."you know narrthing...."
manana amigos...

[Juan Miranda]

Just back from the screening. Sorry I didn't get to meet any other forum members, but my friend and I were late, due the usual London transport tales of horror, and even missed the first 5 minutes of the bloody film, and ended up on staff allocated seats at the back of the auditorium.

Imagin my surprise and pleasure to discover though that it was a beautiful, near mint print of the extended version on the DVD release, with all the missing scenes. Somehow, played on the cinema's excellent sound system, the "new voices" didn't seem as jarring as they did on DVD, Eastwood's excepted. The Confederate fort scene with Angel Eyes was just beautiful, and adds so much more to his character it's amazing this was ever cut in the first place. Delli Colli's cinematography remains so sharp, crisp and full of depth, with those stunningly blue Spanish skies that the movie almost looked in 3D at times.

After the film there was a great deal of anticipation, and suddenly there he was, Eli Wallach, live in person strolling onto the stage to a huge and lengthy round of applause. He looked quite well, in a Safari suit jacket and bright blue socks, and he waved hello to his wife Anne Jackson, who was in the audience. He was interviewed by a very nervous, bald Scottish bloke who is a projects manager for the BFI. I was told his name but I can't remember it now. A bit odd, I thought, as I spotted Sir Chris Frayling in the auditorium, who could have done a much better job.

Clips were shown from BABY DOLL, THE MISFITS and THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN, all of which Eli talked of with affection and a great deal of humour, pausing only to reflect sadly on the now dead stars of some of those films. Particularly THE MISFITS, in which Wallach was shown wishing Marilyn Monroe a long life (she was dead within a few months, and Gable spent the last ten days of his life woking on that picture). Incredible to see this man on stage who has worked not just with Van Cleef, Leone and Eastwood, but also with the magnificent seven ("Six of the seven are gone" he noted). Unfortunatly he got side tracked during a hilarious story about how Sturges wanted "the light to go out in your eyes when you die." so we never did hear the end of that.

Much of what he said seemed to be the stuff of well polished anecdotes, indeed he came out with the "Hawian Pizza" story again, and some of his tales were in the NFT preview notes, but he was still very charming and funny. He then answered questions on his memories of Steve Mcqueen, Lee Van Cleef (noting his missing finger) his cameo role in MYSTIC RIVER, the controversy over BABY DOLL, why Sinatra ended up in his role in FROM HERE TO ETERNITY (no horses heads were ever involved, he assured us) etc. The first question, asked by a French guy right at the front drew a big cheer, when he asked Wallach when he realised that he had stole THE GOOD THE BAD AND THE UGLY from everyone else.

It was a good, long day out a the movies. The picture started at 3 in the afternoon, and it was 7.15 when Eli left the stage, blowing a kiss to his wife and pausing for a last wave.

He's off to Almeria on Monday, as apparently the town is holding a festival in his honour, in thanks for the Spaghetti Western tourism his film has inspired. Great guy, great film, and great memories.

[titoli]

The first question, asked by a French guy right at the front drew a big cheer, when he asked Wallach when he realised that he had stole THE GOOD THE BAD AND THE UGLY from everyone else.

The answer?

[Paulo]

The answer?

The answer was along the lines of, "no, there was nothing deliberate like that going on at the time", it wasn't something that he or anybody else was aware of or was trying to do. I don't think he felt he had stole it, and he was fully aware that it had in fact not been very popular in the US at the time of its release and had only gained mass popularity over an extended period of time (as we all know). He basically said it wasn't something he would try and do (steal the how) at the expense of another actor.

There were one or two little nuggets - he claimed he had to jump through the window three times (the opening scene), the whole film took four months of filming six days a week, the crossing that Tuco does is something that he picked up from Italians in his own neighbourhood, the gun shop scene was largely improvised (Wallach knew nothing about guns and Leone just told him to go in there and take a few guns apart and put them back together essentially, while they let the cameras roll). Wallach was full of praise for the little gun shop owner, who knew not a word of English, but somehow managed to fit in with him perfectly. The "Grrr" towards one of the women in the crowd at his second hanging was improvised, much to Leone's delight.

A perfect gentleman, engaging, witty and clearly pleased to be there and happy to reminisce. He's 90 years old and has just made a film with Kate Winslett. Amazing guy.

He's off to Spain on Monday for this:
http://uk.search.yahoo.com/language/translatedPage?tt=url&text=http%3a//www.redcasting.com/noticias/detalle.php%3fid_contenido=7558&lp=es_en&.intl=uk&fr=