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Messages - Jordan Krug
16
« on: October 22, 2020, 06:29:15 PM »
The original FOD script (RAY EL MAGNIFICO) by the Spanish writers Victor A. Catena & Jaime Comas Gil gives incredible insight into the plot of a FOD. First, there is a prologue (Texas, 1861) describing a mother and boy of age 10. They hear gun shots coming from a saloon and then a man comes outside clutching his chest and falls to the muddy ground (it is raining heavily). The woman falls to her knees to attend her husband. The dark-clothed killer comes out of the saloon, puffs on a cigar and heads off. He is followed by the young boy, JOE, who later shoots the killer in the chest at point blank range.
The main plot then begins (North Mexico (border province), 1872). It is basically the same as in the film, except there are extra scenes and numerous small differences. The script describes how the protagonist, RAY, acquires his poncho, hat, and mule. The protagonist crosses a river and hears a man singing in the distance. A middle-aged Mexican man, dressed only in boxer shorts, is on a river bank singing merrily. A boot comes into the camera frame and propels the man into the cold river. A hand takes the Mexican man's poncho. This scene was shot and can be scene in the unused takes recently presented to Cineteca di Bologna by the Leone family (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3X4H8WYFi4). Next, RAY steals a hat from a man who is sleeping beside a tree. He takes the hat and replaces it with his own worn out hat. The man continues to sleep. RAY then steals a mule from a Mexican who is about to hook his mule to a cart full of clay pots of various sizes. His hand is seen taking a stone from under the cart wheel. The cart begins to roll down the hill and the highly distressed Mexican chases it. After the Mexican finally catches up with his cart, he looks back and sees that his mule has disappeared.
At some point, the protagonist is finally seen from the front. He is about 35 years old and has a 3-day beard. He smokes a cigar and it is stressed that he has a slow, lazy, and calm manner. This coolness unsettles the pistoleros during the confrontation at the Baxters (called the "Morales" in the script). RAY carries two revolvers in the script.
I have only digitized/analyzed the first 50 pages (the script (in Spanish) is about 200 pages long). It is clear that Catena and Gil had a clear concept of how the protagonist would "look" and "behave". The poncho, 3-day beard, cigar, and cool, calm, calculated nature of the protagonist etc were all clearly described in the script.
Thanks for sharing this, much appreciated!
17
« on: August 27, 2020, 03:46:26 PM »
The weakest western of the ones Eastwood made between 1967 and 1976. (Not counting the even worse Paint Your Wagon, but which isn't one he produced and controlled).
I don't know how much director Sturges was responsible for this Eastwood film, but viewed as a Sturges western it is also a disappointment, his weakest contribution to the genre apart from the Sinatra clan dominated Three Sergeants.
Well, still not a bad film, but way beneath its potential. 4/10
Couldn't agree more. One of my favourite actors with one of my favourite directors and it's a doubly disappointing dud.
18
« on: April 04, 2020, 09:14:04 AM »
Have updated the blog post with a couple more photos, including two "outtakes". Clinton do you have any info/script on this scene? (I understand if you are saving it for another book - but just curious if you have the info at all?).
20
« on: February 15, 2020, 06:38:30 AM »
Wow! Thank you so much so sharing all of your hard work and info. Since all the raw unused dailies still exist (including the original opening) it's very possible the footage for this scene still exists...
21
« on: January 03, 2020, 11:02:32 AM »
I was able to order the book today from Amazon Canada! Can let you know if it's any good or not once I've received it next week.
22
« on: December 17, 2019, 10:37:16 PM »
Congrats Mike, looks like a great set!
23
« on: May 31, 2019, 02:18:58 PM »
Might seem picky but did anyone notice the gun shots are out of sync on the opening credits. A friend pointed it out as he also noticed it at the widescreen weekend event screening at Bradford in the UK in 2014 which was distributed by Park Circus.
Which audio track, the 5.1? (I assume that's what they showed at the screening?).
25
« on: April 22, 2019, 11:50:04 AM »
That colour one is in the Japanese souvenir brochure.
Ah perfect, thanks Le Bon! Forgot where it came from..
26
« on: April 22, 2019, 06:31:32 AM »
Thanks Mike! That color one I found online a long time ago, wish I had a high res version of it. I have a even bigger collection of stills from the deleted hotel landlady scene in FAFDM, but I am waiting for some sort of script summary of that scene to surface before I do a post...it's hard to figure out exactly how that scene is supposed to go.
28
« on: April 18, 2019, 08:33:06 PM »
I ordered mine at Amazon UK few days ago and it was shipped immediately.
About 40 pounds to Germany ($50.-), that's great (46 Euro - Amazon German asks for 60 Euro!).
Good year for 1969 classics  . We're just about to finish out 100+ page
Cinema Retro special issue on WILD BUNCH and I also work on a big 50th anniversary
book on another '69 classic.
Whoa that is great news, very excited to see the wild bunch issue and probably the "secret" book too
29
« on: April 18, 2019, 08:31:22 PM »
Aaand?
Nope, nothing on the long Italian release although the book does note the shot of Harmonica rising from the platform is a deleted scene and was not in the original Italian release. Lots of great stuff in this book! Can't wait to scan the contact sheets to have a better look.
30
« on: April 12, 2019, 08:14:42 PM »
You guys definitely win.
Could anyone please explain the issues with the German bluray, it looks incredibly detailed in JK's comparison video? Do people not like it because it looks too sharp? I personally like transfers with lots of detail and depth, as long as they are faithful enough to the original vision.
It's digitally sharpened. The new transfer at first glance appears softer in stills, but it is more natural in motion. The German isn't bad but it was definitely manipulated. It also has some speckles/neg dirt that seems to be all cleaned up on the Kino.
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