58 years ago, one of the greatest lines in Western history was improvised

Do we really need to introduce you to Tuco Benedicto Pacifico Juan Maria Ramirez, aka “Tuco” to close friends, undoubtedly one of the most iconic characters in 7th Art? After becoming a legend with his insane portrayal of a Mexican badass who allies with Blondin against Setenza in The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, everything is absolutely iconic about the character, brilliantly played by Eli Wallach. Starting, of course, with his lines, which are known to his fans all over the world.

“Italian western and why not Hawaiian pizza!”

Sergio Leone adored the actor in his portrayal of outlaw Charlie Grant in 1962’s The West Won; And, perhaps even more so, his portrayal of Mexican bandit leader Calvera in John Sturges’ Seven Mercenaries.

“My agent called me in Los Angeles and said, ‘There’s an Italian director who’s seen your movies about westerns and gangsters, and he wants to meet you for a movie.’ the actor told film historian Christopher Frayling, a major specialist in the Transalpine Western. “I said, ‘What kind of movie? – An Italian Western… – I’ve never heard of an Italian Western. And why not Hawaiian pizza?’

At least I met Sergio, who didn’t speak English. He said to me in French: “I want you to act in my film. I will show you. Do you want to see a part of it?” And when I saw what they did to his name in the creditsAnd for a few more dollarsI said to myself, “This guy has a sense of humor.”

Wallach takes Tuko

When he knew what he was going to do, Eli Wallach asked Henry Hathaway, with whom he made two films, to choose the straw hat that Tuco wore throughout the film, but also his leather knee pads that he wore in Mexico to protect himself. from the bushes. The filmmaker is excited to see how willing Wallach is to master his character.

“One of the things I liked most about him was that he was willing to take risks, to let me do what I wanted with Tuco’s character. “You wouldn’t mind if I wore a suspender—no, of course, do as you feel!”

Heeding his words, Wallach multiplies improvisations and brilliant discoveries to showcase his unforgettable scoundrel. For example, how Tuco does the cross very quickly. “I thought it would be fun to do it two or three times in a row!” Leone loves it and gives it a “Go on! Go on!”

He improvises one of Tuco’s most famous lines when he is surprised in his bath by an old enemy with a score to settle. throws him from the bath, gets up and throws A “When you shoot, you’re not telling the story of your life!” (original version: “When you gotta shoot, shoot! Don’t talk!”). The team behind the camera, including Sergio, chokes with laughter.

Here’s the sequence again…

Another brilliant sequence, the gunsmith. They explain to Valakh how to assemble and disassemble weapons; The person concerned knew nothing about the weapon. On the other hand, he had carte blanche for everyone else. All of his wandering around the shop, his review of the various tools offered by the salesman, and even the idea of ​​putting the shop sign in the blacksmith’s mouth comes from Eli Wallach, who was improvising. Absolutely fabulous.

Died at the very venerable age of 98, filming tirelessly until 94 in The Ghost Writer, which would be his last screen appearance, Eli Wallach left an indelible mark on the 7th art through a career rich with many masterpieces. . But he will forever remain Tuco Benedicto Pacifico Juan Maria Ramirez.