"A Fistful of Dollars" Leone and Eastwood. A masterpiece of macaroni western created by the collision of different talents.

The first leading role that came to Eastwood after many rounds.

Nowadays, ``A Fistful of Dollars'' is famous as Clint Eastwood's breakthrough work, but he was not Sergio Leone's first choice. Henry Fonda was initially considered. This great actor, who has played the role of America's conscience in films such as ``Duel in the Wilderness '' (46) and `` 12 Angry Men '' (57), will be surprised if he plays an unknown wanderer. It should be a great casting! That's what I thought.

It was a very un-American idea, but the agent didn't even show Henry Fonda the script he was sent, and flatly told him, ``He can't be in it.'' It was certainly too risky a job for one of Hollywood's leading stars. Henry Fonda later appeared in Leone's masterpiece Western, `` Western '' (1968). He will break new ground by playing the role of Frank, a villain who does not fit the "American conscience."

"Western" preview

Leone then made offers to James Coburn and Charles Bronson. However, Cobain demanded an exorbitant salary, and Bronson said, ``This is the worst script I've ever seen,'' and Ken also said, ``This is the worst script I've ever seen.'' He is also rejected by two people who appeared in ``Seven People in The Magnificent Seven '' (60).

Leone was finally in trouble and made an offer to Eric Fleming, who had played the lead role in the popular TV drama `` Rawhide '' (1959-1965), but this was also rejected. A negative spiral where the main character is never decided! However, history is made up of small coincidences. Eric Fleming had encouraged his ``A Fistful of Dollars'' co-star to appear in ``Bouncer.'' That person was Clint Eastwood.

"You can't just work with the big names of Hollywood. So I worked with unknown or near-unknown people like myself at the time, like Sergio Leone. We had only made one or two action scenes... Sergio had a reputation for having a great sense of humor, which I already sensed when I read the script for ``A Fistful of Dollars''. I thought it was a Being There to try something new.'' (Quoted from an interview with Clint Eastwood*)

Clint Eastwood was offered just $15,000 to star in the film. Thus begins Eastwood's first leading role movie.

*“ The Solitary Knight Clint Eastwood ” (translated by Yoichiro Ishihara, Film Art Co., Ltd.)

“Anonymous Man” created by Eastwood