Giù la testa (1971)

Note des utilisateurs:

7.7/10   

Réalisateur:

Sergio Leone

Writers:

Sergio Leone (story) and
Sergio Donati (story) ...
(suite)

Release Date:

29 octobre 1971 (Italy)

Genre:

Aventure | Western | Action | War

Accroche:

Rod Steiger and James Coburn will blow you apart in "A Fistful of Dynamite" ("Duck You Sucker") by the master of adventure Sergio Leone

Plot:

An IRA explosives expert on the run in Mexico meets an amoral Mexican bandit; together they get drawn into the Mexican revolution.

Plot Keywords:

Explosive | Mexico | Mexican | Revolutionary | Mexican Revolution

Awards:

1 win

Avis des utilisateurs:

Leone's most underrated film,a rich masterpiece which gets better and better with each viewing

Ensemble

James Coburn	...	John H. Mallory
Rod Steiger	...	Juan Miranda
Romolo Valli	...	Dr. Villega
Maria Monti	...	Adelita, woman in stagecoach
Rik Battaglia	...	Santerna (as Rick Battaglia)
Franco Graziosi	...	Governor Jaime
Antoine Saint-John	...	Gutierez / Col. Günther Reza (as Jean-Michel Antoine)
Vivienne Chandler	...	John's girlfriend (flashback)
David Warbeck	...	John's friend Sean Nolan (flashback)
Giulio Battiferri	...	Miguel
Poldo Bendandi	...	Executed Revolutionary
Omar Bonaro
Roy Bosier	...	Landowner
John Frederick	...	American
Amato Garbini
Michael Harvey	...	Yankee
Biagio La Rocca	...	Benito
Furio Meniconi	...	Executed Revolutionary
Nazzareno Natale
Vincenzo Norvese	...	Pancho
Stefano Oppedisano	...	Revolutionary
Memè Perlini	...	Peon (as Amelio Perlini)
Goffredo Pistoni	...	Nino
Renato Pontecchi	...	Pepe
Jean Rougeul	...	Priest
Corrado Solari	...	Sebastian
Benito Stefanelli
Franco Tocci
Rosita Torosh
Antonio Casale	...	Notary on Stagecoach (as Anthony Vernon)
reste de la distribution par ordre alphabétique:
Sergio Calderón	...	(uncredited)
Franco Collace	...	Napoleon (uncredited)
Simon van Collem	...	Conductor (uncredited)
Luis Morris	...	Man who spits at poster (uncredited)
Aldo Sambrell	...	Member of firing squad (uncredited)
Conrado San Martín	...	Stagecoach driver (uncredited)

Réalisé par
Sergio Leone

Scénaristes
Sergio Leone		(story) and
Sergio Donati		(story)
Luciano Vincenzoni		screenplay and
Sergio Donati		writer and
Sergio Leone		writer

Produit par
Claudio Mancini	....	associate producer
Fulvio Morsella	....	producer
Ugo Tucci	....	associate producer

Musique originale
Ennio Morricone

Image
Giuseppe Ruzzolini

Montage
Nino Baragli

Direction artistique
Andrea Crisanti

Décorateur de plateau
Dario Micheli

Création des costumes
Franco Carretti

Maquillage
Paolo Borselli	....	hair stylist (as Paolo Borzelli)
Amato Garbini	....	makeup artist
Rocchetti	....	wig maker

Directeur de production
Claudio Mancini	....	production supervisor
Camillo Teti	....	production manager

Assistant réalisateur
Tony Brandt	....	assistant director (as Antonio Brandt)
Alberto De Martino	....	second unit director (as Martin Herbert)

Art Department
Ezio Di Monte	....	set dresser
Franco Velchi	....	set dresser

Technicien du son
Fausto Ancillai	....	sound mixer
Michael Billingsley	....	sound editor

Effets spéciaux
Antonio Margheriti	....	special effects
Giovanni Corridori	....	special effects (uncredited)

Cascadeur
Benito Stefanelli	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Franco Delli Colli	....	lighting camera operator: second unit
Roberto Forges Davanzati	....	assistant camera
Massimo Massimi	....	chief electrician
Angelo Novi	....	still photographer
Alessandro Ruzzolini	....	assistant camera
Idelmo Simonelli	....	camera operator
Franco Tocci	....	head grip
Claudio Sabatini	....	assistant camera (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Luisa Buratti	....	wardrober
Tirelli	....	costumes

Editorial Department
Gino Bartolini	....	assistant editor
Rossana Maiuri	....	first assistant editor
Olga Sarra	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Ennio Morricone	....	conductor

Divers
Eros Bacciucchi	....	arms and explosions (as Baciucchi)
Serena Canevari	....	continuity
Cimino	....	set
Giovanni Corridori	....	armorer
Raffaello Forti	....	production accountant
Nino Lembo	....	jewels
Vasco Mafera	....	production secretary
Tonino Palombi	....	armorer
Rancati	....	set
Luciano De Ambrosis	....	voice dubbing: John Frederick (uncredited)
Pino Locchi	....	voice dubbing: Rik Battaglia (uncredited)
Anna Miserocchi	....	voice dubbing: Maria Monti (uncredited)
Bruno Persa	....	voice dubbing: Jean Rougeul (uncredited)
Cesare Polacco	....	voice dubbing (uncredited)
Giuseppe Rinaldi	....	voice dubbing: James Coburn (uncredited)
Carlo Romano	....	voice dubbing: Rod Steiger (uncredited)
Benito Stefanelli	....	master of arms (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Euro International Film (EIA)
• Rafran Cinematografica
• San Miura

Distributors

• Euro International Film (EIA) (1971) (Italy) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1972) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1972) (France) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1972) (USA) (theatrical) (dubbed)
• United Artists Corporation (1972) (UK) (theatrical) (dubbed)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1980) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere) (pan/scan)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1996) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
• Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical) (new 35mm print reconstructed version)
• Image Entertainment (????) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Opção (????) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2003) (Germany) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Nathan  costumes
• Nis Films  synchronisation
• Pompei Vidéo  costumes
• Western Costume Company  costumes

Autre(s) titre(s):

A Fistful of Dynamite (UK) (USA) (alternative title)
C'era una volta la rivoluzione (Italy)
Duck, You Sucker (USA)
Once Upon a Time... the Revolution
Il était une fois la révolution (Canada: French title) [fr]
Il était une fois... la révolution (France) [fr]

Durée:

157 min | USA:120 min (initial US release) | USA:138 min | USA:154 min (Laserdisc version)

Pays:

Italy

Langue:

Italien | Espagnol

Couleur:

Couleur (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Son:

Mono

Classification:

Iceland:16 | Singapore:PG | Spain:18 | Brazil:14 | West Germany:16 (nf) (re-rating) | West Germany:18 (nf) (original rating) | South Korea:15 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Ireland:15 (cut) | Norway:18 (1972) | Sweden:15 | UK:15 (video rating) (1988) | UK:AA (original rating) | USA:PG (original rating) | USA:R (laserdisc rating) (1996)

Emplacements De Pelliculage:

Almería Railway Station, Almería, Andalucía, Spain

Company:

Euro International Film (EIA)

Anecdotes:

Impressionist Will Jordan's agent took out a quarter page ad in Variety just after the film was released stating that Jordan had dubbed the voice of Rod Steiger in the film.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Juan is in the bank, after he lets some of the prisoners go, a soldier appears walking down the stairs in the background.

Guillemet:

Juan Miranda: What kinda work you do for the German? Listen, I asked you a question. What do you do for the German?
John H. Mallory: I've been looking for silver.
Juan Miranda: Silver? You know something? I don't understand you. I don't understand how you waste your time and your holy water looking for silver. To me, that's a sin.
John H. Mallory: Do you have any better ideas?
Juan Miranda: Si, I think gold is better than silver.
John H. Mallory: Ah, there isn't any gold in these hills.
Juan Miranda: Oh ho, yes there is! In Mesa Verde.
John H. Mallory: Mesa Verde? It's a city.
Juan Miranda: Of course it's a city! Who ever heard of having a bank in the country, huh?
John H. Mallory: Uh huh, a bank.
[...]

Movie Connections:

References Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

Leone's most underrated film,a rich masterpiece which gets better and better with each viewing

It's generally thought that this film is Leone's weakest major film,and it is far less well known than the Dollars trilogy and the two Once Upon a Times. In actual fact,this is a masterpiece that deserves to be far better known and regarded than it actually is. It sees Leone attempting new things such as character development and political comment,while refining elements from his earlier films. It's really the bridge between Once Upon A Time In The West and Once Upon A Time In America,and it contains a great many elements of both films {which let's face it,despite both being Leone films are quite different}.

It starts in humorous vein,right from the opening sequence of the dirty,very poor Rod Steiger character Juan being taunted by some rich folk aboard a lavish carriage,the camera showing lots of close ups of mouths and eyes in what almost seems a parody of Leone's style. Juan is much like Tuco in The Good the Bad And The Ugly,loud,simple and very funny {he's even often accompanied by comical music }.Juan's first encounters with the other main protagonist,IRA man Sean {James Coburn} are treated like comical duels,and as they go to rob a bank it seems the picaresque tone will continue.

However,about a third of the way through the film becomes more and more serious. As Juan,thanks to Sean,becomes more and more involved in the Mexican Revolution,the tone becomes darker as more and more scenes take place at night and there is serious tragedy. The change in tone may jar to some people,but one can see the mature,contemplative Leone of Once Upon A Time In America reveal himself before our eyes.

Of course there are still some great action scenes,such as the taking of a bank which is superbly cut to Ennio Morricone's music {listen for the cheeky quotes from Mozart!},or Sean and Juan machine-gunning what seems like a whole army. There is as usual a great deal of violence,but it's less personal and graphic and instead is shown to have more consequence. The film's plot does move rather slowly,with Leone taking his time as usual,but this mean we can more enjoy the mannered Steiger and the laid back Coburn as one of the greatest partnerships in cinema history.

Of particular interest are the several flashbacks dotted throughout the movie,shot in dreamlike slow motion and usually set to what is quite simply one of the most beautiful film themes EVER {Morricone excels himself with the score for this film}. Representing Sean's past,they ask as many questions as they answer,Leone trusting his audience to work things out. The final one is missing from many versions of this film,a tragedy because as well as being sublimely beautiful {and ambiguous,is it Sean's memory?,a marijuana-enhanced hallucination?,a vision of Heaven?} it adds yet another element to the story.

A Fistful Of Dynamite {well,the French Once Upon A Time..The Revolution is the films' best title}is a masterpiece,it's extremely entertaining whilst also being full of complexity. Things become clearer and more interesting on second and third viewings. Don't expect the operatic ritualism of Once Upon in The West or the comic crowd pleasing of the Dollars films,but if you watch this you will be watching a cinematic master at the height of his powers.