Sergio Leone

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January 3, 1929

April 30, 1989

Sergio Leone

Carla Leone (m ? - April 30, 1989) (his death) 3 children

Did We Miss Any?

Writer

Troppo forte (1986) (writer, producer)

Once Upon a Time in America (1984) (writer, director)

Il mio nome è Nessuno (1973) (idea, director, producer)

Giù la testa (1971) (screenplay, director) (story) A Fistful of Dynamite (UK) (USA: alternative title)

C'era una volta il West (1968) (screenplay, director) (story) aka Once Upon a Time in the West (International: English title) (UK) (USA)

Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo. (1966) (screenplay, director) (story) aka The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (UK) (USA)

Per qualche dollaro in più (1965) (scenario) (screenplay, director, actor) aka For a Few Dollars More (UK) (USA)

Per un pugno di dollari (1964) (screenplay, director) (story) aka A Fistful of Dollars (UK) (USA)

Le verdi bandiere di Allah (1963) (writer)

Romolo e Remo (1961) (dialogue) (story) aka Duel of the Titans (USA)

Il colosso di Rodi (1961) (writer, director)

Le sette sfide (1961) (writer) aka The Seven Revenges (USA)

Gli ultimi giorni di Pompei (1959) (writer, director) aka The Last Days of Pompeii (USA)

Nel segno di Roma (1959) (writer) aka Sheba and the Gladiator (USA)

Afrodite, dea dell'amore (1958) (screenplay) aka Aphrodite, Goddess of Love (USA)

Director

Un genio, due compari, un pollo (1975) (uncredited) (producer)

Il cambio della guardia (1962) (uncredited) (some scenes)

Hanno rubato un tram (1954) (uncredited)

Producer

Bianco, rosso e Verdone (1981) (executive producer) (uncredited)

Un Sacco bello (1980) (producer)

Il giocattolo (1979) (executive producer) (uncredited)

Il gatto (1977) (producer)

Actor

Il folle di Marechiaro (1952)

Milano miliardaria (1951) (uncredited)

Ladri di biciclette (1948) (uncredited)

La bocca sulla strada (1941)

Appearances

Ennio Morricone (1995) (TV)

Bellissimo: Immagini del cinema italiano (1985)

An Almost Perfect Affair (1979) (uncredited)

Cineastas en México: Entrevista con Sergio Leone (1976)

BAFTA Awards

1985 Nominated BAFTA Film Award Best Direction for: Once Upon a Time in America (1984)

David di Donatello Awards

1984 Won René Clair Award

1972 Won David Best Director (Migliore Regia) for: Giù la testa (1971). Tied with Franco Zeffirelli for Fratello sole, sorella luna (1972)

Giffoni Film Festival

1987 Won Nocciola d'Oro

Golden Globe Awards

1985 Nominated Golden Globe Best Director - Motion Picture for: Once Upon a Time in America (1984)

Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists

1985 Won Silver Ribbon Best Director (Regista del Miglior Film Italiano) for: Once Upon a Time in America (1984)

Kinema Junpo Awards

1985 Won Kinema Junpo Award Best Foreign Language Film for: Once Upon a Time in America (1984)

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Politics no longer make any sense in Italy! That's why I make the films I do. We believed in mankind and mankind has let us down...As intellectuals, we have resigned ourselves, tired of the battle...Me, I live apart and don't give a damn about anything.

I can't see America any other way than with a European's eyes. It fascinates me and terrifies me at the same time.

My life, my reading, everything about me revolves around the cinema. So for me, cinema is life, and vice-versa.

"...the eyes are the most important element to me. Everything can be read in them...

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Leone was the son of Italian film royalty. His father was Vincenzo Leone (known as director Roberto Roberti or Leone Roberto Roberti) and the silent film actress Edvige Valcarenghi (Bice Waleran).

A huge factor in the stylized feel of Leone’s work is the music of composer Ennio Morricone. Scoring all of Leone’s films. Morricone worked in an unusual fashion, writing the music based on the script rather than the finished film, with Leone playing the score on set as mood music to help the actors, so imbuing the films with operatic dimensions.

Aside from saying 'Goodbye', Sergio Leone never spoke a word of English and always relied on a translator when talking to American actors.

He claimed his lifelong ambition was to remake Gone with the Wind (1939).

He was sued by Japanese director Akira Kurosawa for remaking his Yojimbo (1961) as "A Fistful of Dollars" (1964)) shot-for-shot without crediting him, and copyright infringement. The production of A Fistful of Dollars (1964) apologized, compensated Kurosawa with $100,000, and 15% of box office revenues.

Clint Eastwood was amused by Leone's on-set behavior during their collaborations, having called the short, heavy Leone "Yosemite Sam" for his over-the-top temper and attempts to act like a cowboy through his thick Italian accent.

His favorite actor from childhood was Henry Fonda, who was offered a role in every one of Leone's early Westerns. After Fonda finally worked with him on Once Upon a Time in the West (1968), he returned the compliment, later citing that film as his favorite role.

His favorite movies were reportedly (in no particular order) Yojimbo (1961), Warlock (1959), The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962), High Noon (1952), Shane (1953), and Vera Cruz (1954).

He invented the extreme close-up in western-style films.

He died at the age of 60 from a heart attack, which was most likely resulted from his eating habits. He had an infamous love for food and gained weight throughout his life until he was borderline obese in the 1980s.

He turned down the offer to direct 'Hang 'Em High' (1968) as he was working on Once Upon a Time in the West (1968) at the time.

Salary

For a Few Dollars More (1965) $350,000 + 60% of profits

Must-see-Movies

A Fistful of Dollars (1964)

For a Few Dollars More (1965)

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966)

Once Upon a Time in the West (1968)

Once upon a Time in America (1984)

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