"Something to do with death"

[dave jenkins]

Original = Italian

No, no, no. It is Leone's first American picture. Either the English-language version is the "original" or there is no original.

[Usaviator]

Of course they are related. In the flashback, they both look Indian, or at least half-Indian (much more than Charles Bronson does, although Bronson does have a slightly ethnic look.)

That's interesting and funny you commented on Bronson's slightly ethnic look.  Have you ever seen the movie, Smoke Signals?  It's one of those movies that seems to get funnier (and all around better) everytime I watch it.  Anyways, there's a scene between the two main characters (Victor and Thomas), who are both Indians from the Cour d'Alene reservation in Idaho, and on their way to pick up Victor's father's deceased ashes, Thomas keeps pestering Victor about his father and how he looks like Charles Bronson.  It's a hilarious movie and a must-watch in my mind. 

Actually found a clip from that scene.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVi0aInW7zE

Cheers

[Novecento]

Bronson was of Polish Tatar descent:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lipka_Tatars

[Leonardo]

Yes, as I said, everyone thinks it his father. But I assume everybody understands that they are related.

As far as I remember it is the also his brother in the original version.

Anybody has an idea why Leone took the brother instead of the father? And why is his brother so much older? Did he had a brother complex?

Answers like "who cares" are not accepted ...

I confirm that in the original italian version, Henry Fonda says to young Bronson: "Suona qualcosa a tuo fratello", meaning "Play something for your brother". It was definitely in the script that Claudio Mancini was his brother, not his father! To confirm it, there is also a long interview on YouTube with Claudio Mancini (it's in Italian) where he confirms that he played young Bronson's brother..

[stanton]

I confirm that in the original italian version, Henry Fonda says to young Bronson: "Suona qualcosa a tuo fratello", meaning "Play something for your brother".

That's much better than "Keep your brother happy".

The German version has that wonderful infamous "Play me the song of death" line.

[noodles_leone]

"Joue pour ton grand-frère, ça lui fera plaisir"/"Play for your older brother, it'll make him happy" is still the best line. Other countries have a truncated version.
Also, the english version is "Keep you lovin' brother happy", which is better than "keep your brother happy".

[drinkanddestroy]

Anybody has an idea why Leone took the brother instead of the father? And why is his brother so much older? Did he had a brother complex?

Leone was an only child.

[stanton]

"Joue pour ton grand-frère, ça lui fera plaisir"/"Play for your older brother, it'll make him happy" is still the best line.

Not really. Much too wordy for a Leone film.

[noodles_leone]

Not really. Much too wordy for a Leone film.

Yes really, and not too wordy. Way less wordy than "There are 2 kinds of people..."

And let's be honest: Frank would never speak with such metaphors. He isn't an angel of death, he's "just a man".

[Usaviator]

I think it's become more of a common American (or western) culture theme in the in the past 100 years to have children closer in age.  Even so, my brother is 15 years older than me. I can see how his brother looks old enough to be his father, but my brother is almost old enough to be my father.  Besides, Harmonica's family details aren't revealed, and they could have the same father, and possibly different mothers.  This situation often allows for a larger age gap in siblings obviously. 

[Novecento]

Also, the english version is "Keep you lovin' brother happy"...

... which is actually a great line in English

[noodles_leone]

It is.

I love the line in all 3 languages I understand, as well as the way they use the specifics of each language:
- "Spiel mir das Lied vom Tod" has some kind of poetry that wouldn't work as is in English or French, while sounding perfect in German.
- "Keep your lovin' brother happy" gets its strength from the same thing as so many English and American rock and pop songs do: some kind of inherently impactful and musical way English often sounds.
- "Joue pour ton grand frère, ça lui fera plaisir" is more verbose, just like we French like it

The French one is still the best one to me (although I guess we've all seen this movie way too many times to be objective at that point).

[drinkanddestroy]

The German line, which is also the title of the German version of the movie "Play Me the Song of Deah" fits well with Leone's describing the movie (I believe in an interview with Frayling) as a "dance of death." And the Germans do have something to do with death.
But I prefer "Once Upon a Time in the West," sounds just like Leone's "fairy tales for grownups." And it makes a nice trilogy with "Obce Upon a Time ... the Revolution" and "Once Upon a Time in America." 

[Bronsonica]

Going back to the original theme of this topic, I wouldn't say Harmonica is a supernatural character. To me, he is an onlooker who steps in when necessary but is generally content to observe and rationalise, though he does appear to know rather more than he should.

A good example is his unspoken refusal to play Cheyenne's little game in the trading post, preferring instead to let someone else take his place (and, in doing that, he is very like Russell (Paul Newman) in Hombre, another Sergio reference). Harmonica just watches while Cheyenne humiliates the other man but then, when Cheyenne walks off with his gun, he comes forward and demands its return.

Harmonica himself gets shot in the arm by Woody Strode in the opening scene. A supernatural character would not get shot. Equally, if he was omnipotent, how on Earth did Frank manage to catch him on the train and why did he need the definitely human Cheyenne to rescue him?

I can see how Harmonica might seem to be an ethereal character because he has a way of gliding quietly into shot when no one knows he is around, but there are people who have that sort of stealth and I think Leone used it as a character trait, probably basing him on a character in another western.

[cigar joe]

Harmonica himself gets shot in the arm by Woody Strode in the opening scene. A supernatural character would not get shot. Equally, if he was omnipotent, how on Earth did Frank manage to catch him on the train and why did he need the definitely human Cheyenne to rescue him?

He heals way too quick for a mere mortal he has "Something to do With Death."