Final Duel Scene

[Cal]

Just something I noticed when I saw this film the other night. During the final duel scene between Frank and Harmonica, I noticed that the wide shot was set up to make the men look the same height. It is clear that Frank is  much taller than Harmonica, but Leone angled it slightly to possible hide it, I guess.  You'll see that the ground slants way down from Harmonica to Frank. Anyone else ever notice this? No biggy - just things that make you go hmmm.

[jouissance]

During my four years at film school, I couldn't believe we never once watched a Leone film. We never even discussed him as an important director. Nevertheless, countless well-respected directors often name Leone as one of their influences.
My last year, I wrote a 40 page paper on GBU(we were only required to write 15 pages). My professor and mentor, Dean Duncan, reviewed the film and agreed that Leone had been over looked.
CAL you are right on! Leone understood so well the art of mise en scene, camera placement and angle as well as montage. Nevertheless, I don't think he allowed himself to become subject to the technical rather he mastered them so that multi-themes, ideas and emotions could be expressed on multi-levels. I think Leone has to be in my top-ten list of most influential and important directors.
Hopefully, more people will see the value of his films and contributions to cinema.

[mattlox]

Maybe the change in height signifies the changing of Harmonica's status.  When they first met he was insignificant and weaker then Frank but through the film he has proved that he is equal, if not better, than Frank.  Regardless of actual height the camera angle shows that Harmonica is now able to fight against Frank on equal terms.

[jouissance]

well said.

now i have to go home and note more closely this progression.  

[Cusser]

In final scene of GBU, similar as Wallach average height and Eastwood and Van Cleef at least 6 ft. 2 inch.

[ellisc]

Something else to notice in the final dual between Harmonica and Frank, because  I've never seen it in any other western:  Harmonica draws his pistol first and wins!  In every other western, the first to draw always loses.  

[Jupa]

Good point. (Even though Michael Arndt already mentioned that in the old board ).

[ellisc]

I'm not familar with the old board, because I'm new here.  Are archives available?

[SquareTex]

Doubtful. And since the old board had turned into a mudslinging contest, there wasn't a lot worth looking for, anyway.

[Jupa]

However,in the good old times the discussion was very interesting.I copied some of the best threads in 1997-99.

However,there is ONE SPECIFIC thread that I didn't copy and would very much want to get.It's the Professor Frayling error list by Mike Eustace which caused a stir and prompted the professor himself to reply to Mike.It think the thread was there in February-May 2000?Does anyone have it???  

[cigar joe]

I remember that too, but I didn't have the foresight to copy it either. It did seem like minor things that can easily be overlooked. I've tride to edit stuff I've written and you actually just blow right on by stuff, mostly because you gone over it so much you have it in your head, and you don't really see what is actually written.

[nighteagle]

I was personally on the duel spot, the terrain is naturally
angled, so Leone did not have to angle the camera, he just
put Bronson on the higher side.

[dave jenkins]

Just standard movie-making technique, so that the two duelers seem evenly matched, no? Otherwise, Shorty Bronson comes off looking less-than-imposing. Beats standing him on a box.