opening scence question

[tonestar101]

This has probably the oldest question there is, but I cant seem to find it out there...the opening scence before the cred's a lone figure is gunned down in that amazing long shot. Is it Manco?- shot by the colonel after collecting the rewards? one final double cross?...or just something interpretive..?. It kind of reinforces the notion 'the name with no name's anonymity and a fitting end to the trilogy if it is infact so...so the colonel gets the dosh in the end...is this glaring obvious or just bollucks?

[johnk]

Just  bollucks !

[Halis]

The character behind the camera in the opening scene is supposed to be Manco. On the soundtrack, you hear him whistle, and then you hear a match being struck to light a cigar. (Sergio, himself, reportedly supplied the whistling.)
The guy on the horse is just some nameless bandido.

[Groggy]

The character behind the camera in the opening scene is supposed to be Manco. On the soundtrack, you hear him whistle, and then you hear a match being struck to light a cigar. (Sergio, himself, reportedly supplied the whistling.)
The guy on the horse is just some nameless bandido.

If you listen carefully during that scene, "Manco" is humming to himself.  I don't know about you, but he sounded like Sergio to me.

[Nothing but a rotten son of a...]

Please, please, please people.

It's obvious that the man doing the shooting in the opening sequence is mortimer. Long shots are his trademark for heaven's sakes!

The match? To light his pipe, of course!

And why would anyone assume that he is shooting Manco?

[Groggy]

Please, please, please people.

It's obvious that the man doing the shooting in the opening sequence is mortimer. Long shots are his trademark for heaven's sakes!

The match? To light his pipe, of course!

And why would anyone assume that he is shooting Manco?

First off: welcome aboard.  

Secondly, it was supposed to be Manco.  Remember, in GBU Manco was an excellent shot with a Henry rifle (which he has later in the film), and in any case he was supposed to be Manco so that those who saw FOD would know who it was.  (I always thought that he was just a random bounty hunter, but since Sergio himself has said that he's Manco, I'll leave it at that . . .)

[Nothing but a rotten son of a...]

First off: welcome aboard.  

Thanks!  

Secondly, it was supposed to be Manco.  Remember, in GBU Manco was an excellent shot with a Henry rifle (which he has later in the film), and in any case he was supposed to be Manco so that those who saw FOD would know who it was.  (I always thought that he was just a random bounty hunter, but since Sergio himself has said that he's Manco, I'll leave it at that . . .)

This is course leads us to the age old question of whether Joe/Manco/Blondie is the same person (although I must confess I personally never understood why it wouldn't be the same character).

Nevertheless, Manco doesn't show off any long range shooting skills in FFDM (in fact, Mortimer outdoes him in the hat shooting scene) and GBU was filmed later. The humming seems to be a bit out of character for Manco as well (he's more of the dead silent type).

But, again, if the Man himself said it's Manco, I guess it's Manco...

[Il Buono]

Maybe this is some prank and maybe Sergio is busting our balls, like the smile at the end of OUTIA (maybe the film is just an opium dream he once said).  
Personally it doesn't seem in character for Mortimer to shoot Manco.  It think it shows more the artistic freedom Leone brutally takes.

[Nothing but a rotten son of a...]

Personally it doesn't seem in character for Mortimer to shoot Manco.  It think it shows more the artistic freedom Leone brutally takes.

Agreed. Personally I say there's no way in hell Mortimer would double-cross Manco. Despite being a bounty hunder, he's a man of honor. And besides, if he was interested in the money, why would he first let Manco have all of it?

Nope. Mortimer will always be one of the good guys - at least in my world.

[Il Buono]

I couldn't have put it in a better way...

[KERMIT]

I couldn't have put it in a better way...

ditto.  

[third lanark]

Leone made it quite clear that at the begining it is the Man with No Name who is shooting some bandido off a horse.  No Mortimer in that sequence and why would Mortimer doublecross Manco anyway, as they leave on good terms at the end of the film.  I can only think that this thread was started as a wind up.
Also I believe it is the same character in all 3 films, not only is he identical but you see him use a rifle comfortably in TGTBATU, so he therefore could be good enough to shoot someone from a fistance in FAFDM.  Also if you notice in  AFOD he says he doesnt like to take money unless he has earned it, in FAFDM he tells the street urchin if he wants any cash he needs to earn it and in the closing gunfight of TGTBATU he tells the other two that to win the coffin of dollars they will have to earn it.  Besides why show how the man with no name gets his poncho in TGTBATU if it wasnt supposed to be the same character.

[Jon]

I've always assumed that it was the Man with No Name [or three names,if you like] too.The opening was,I think,there to bring back instant memories of the action on FOD.

[mortimerforever]

the bounty killer is monco presumely before the rest of the film and his whistle is sergio himself.

the bandido is a random killer one of monco's precious bounty's.