Clint Eastwood
One of the things that tie all three films of the Sergio Leone’s Eastwood western trilogy together is the distinctive poncho that Eastwood wears in all three films. If the attire looks significantly the worse the wear by the last film it is because it is the exact same poncho and it was never washed throughout the years.
Lee Van Cleef
Proving that film acting is all about illusion, the actor that was cast in the role that would specifically be known as the Bad balked at slapping his female co-star even though the actress tried to convince him it would be fine. Later Lee Van Cleef would outline at least two of his life’s guiding principles when he asserted that he did doesn’t kick dogs and he doesn’t hit women even on the set of films.
Eli Wallach
Proving that a movie set is NOT all about illusion, Eli Wallach nearly suffered potentially fatal injury on the set of the film not once, but twice. At one point, he drank from a bottle which he did not know had been filled with acid and suffered painful mouth sores. The other near-fatal incident actually occurs on-screen when Wallach moves to get up while the train is speeding past him. The long shot reveals that a few seconds here or there combined with a few feet of movement by Wallach made the difference between at the very least a serious injury and utter safety on his part.
Luigi Pistilli
Pistili spoke no English and Eli Wallach spoke no Italian. Thus, the scenes between Tuco and his brother are enhanced with a bit of tension as this disconnect made the scene between the two actors more than a little difficult for Wallach.
