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never played any funny roles before
Trinity and I was surprised to realize
that I could also be a funny actor
- it really happened by chance! |
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From 'Viva
Django' and 'God
forgives, I don't' to the various funny movies
like 'Trinity'
- which roles did you prefer to play and in which ones did
you feel comfortable?
Well, this is interesting. I also played serious
roles in western movies and this type of film turned out to
be very lucky for actors like Giuliano Gemma, Franco Nero
and me because up until then, only dialectic actors were popular
in Italy, so the western was a great opportunity for us. I
honestly thought that I arrived a little late in westerns,
compared to Clint Eastwood and the others. I thought I missed
my chance. But then a new kind of western developed. Those
films were called 'Spaghetti Westerns' outside Italy, the
ones I played in were called 'Bean Westerns' later. However,
I always felt more comfortable in serious roles because I
was born a serious actor.
How was the character of Trinity
born? It seems like it was actually not supposed to be a
funny role?
This is true, because director Barboni had planned
to make this movie with two different actors. At this time,
Bud and I wanted to make a movie with producer Italo
Zingarelli but we couldn't find an appropriate script.
Then Barboni presented this
script... Bud and I had just made the movie 'Ace
High', which was ironic but certainly not a comedy!
I immediately liked the character (of Trinity), he is a
little like a hippie. But we thought about making a non-violent
movie with a sense of humor but not a film that makes people
laugh so much! I never played any funny roles before and
I was surprised to realize that I could also be a funny
actor! It really happened by chance!
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| I
wore the same clothes in 'The Troublemakers'
as I did in 'My Name is Nobody' because
'Nobody' is the most mythical role
of my career and the one I am most
fond of. |
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Is it true that Sergio Leone directed parts of 'My
Name is Nobody'?
Yes, he did. Sergio Leone liked the American landscape very
much and especially my role of 'Trinity',
so he said to me: "I want you to play a new Trinity,
but more serious this time." Sergio suggested the
idea of the movie. And he also created 'A
Genius, two Partners and a Dupe'
(Nobody is the Greatest). Then he
chose to hide his name and just left the name of his
company (Rafran) - but he was always on the set.
You played another very serious role in 'The
Wind's Anger', directed by Mario Camus. It was
filmed in Spain and it's similar to a western, can we talk
about this one? Is it true that after the great success
of Trinity, the final scene of that movie was cut because
the character you played died?
Yes, that movie was filmed before Trinity
in fact. It was directed by Mario Camus who won many prizes
for his wonderful work, and produced by Mario and Vittorio
Cecchi Gori. It was my first encounter with Vittorio Cecchi
Gori. I remember that he always visited the set because
he liked the movie. And yes, the final scene of 'The
Wind's Anger' was cut, because after the great
success of 'Trinity',
the public would not accept it! (That a hero like Trinity
could die)
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| The
final scene of 'The Wind's Anger'
was cut, because after the great success
of 'Trinity', the public would not
have accepted it. |
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You are one of the last actors who made westerns in
recent years with 'Lucky
Luke' and 'The
Troublemakers', which you also directed. Would
you make other westerns in the future?
Yes, sure! Lucky
Luke didn't get much notice in Italy but it was
very popular in other countries. In France, we had a preview
on Christmas with president Chirac, and it was a big success.
I made Lucky Luke because I realized that Trinity and him
are very similar, complementary. Regarding 'The
Troublemakers': Bud and I realized that the characters
we played for years became a part of us somehow. That’s
why we made this movie. I wore the same clothes in 'The Troublemakers'
as I did in 'My
Name is Nobody' because 'Nobody' is the most mythical
role of my career and the one I am most fond of. I would do
another western, sure, not a comic one, but one without violence.
After all those years, I feel responsible towards the mothers
and children who often stop me in the street asking me to
continue to make films that can be watched by the whole family.
Although it is very difficult today to make a movie with neither
sex nor violence!
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