Sergio Leone's Western with Political Themes
In 1971, Sergio Leone returned to the western genre with Once Upon a Time in the Revolution, a film set against the backdrop of the Mexican revolution, starring James Coburn and Rod Steiger. Following the success of his Dollars Trilogy and Once Upon a Time in the West, the Italian filmmaker explored a more political and disillusioned register this time, without abandoning his spectacular cinematography or the unforgettable compositions of Ennio Morricone.Behind the Scenes Tensions
While James Coburn and Sergio Leone got along very well, it was not the case with Rod Steiger. The American actor, who had won the Oscar for Best Actor for In the Heat of the Night in 1968, was seriously testing the director's nerves. Two irreconcilable visions of the same character.Steiger's Interpretation of Juan Miranda
In Once Upon a Time in the Revolution, Rod Steiger plays Juan Miranda, a Mexican outlaw who crosses paths with Sean Mallory (James Coburn), an Irish revolutionary particularly skilled in handling explosives. Their unlikely association leads them into the heart of a conflict that exceeds them. However, in order to portray Juan, Steiger had a very specific idea of the direction to take.Leone's Frustration with Steiger
Trained at the Actors Studio, Steiger wanted to give his character psychological depth and gravity that did not at all correspond to Leone's expectations. In the book Conversations with Sergio Leone, written by Noël Simsolo, the filmmaker did not hold back when talking about their collaboration. "With him, there are only problems. He believed he was pleasing me by speaking to me in Italian that sounded like Russian. It exasperated me."A Tumultuous Filming Experience
Leone insisted that Juan had to be above all an instinctive, imperfect, and deeply human character. However, despite his repeated explanations, Steiger persisted in an interpretation considered too demonstrative. This opposition forced the director to multiply the takes, sometimes until exhaustion. These tensions were not only reported by Sergio Leone.Coburn Confirms the Struggles
In an interview with DVDClassik, Noël Simsolo, close to the filmmaker, revealed that James Coburn had personally confirmed the difficulties encountered with Rod Steiger. This gave even more weight to the particularly tumultuous account of the Italian director. "Tomorrow, I will replace you because you are a lousy actor."Leone's Breaking Point
Initially, Sergio Leone tried to contain his exasperation. A patience unusual for this filmmaker, known for his volcanic temperament. "I managed to keep my calm for a long week. I remained calm while redoing twenty takes with Steiger. The crew was surprised by my attitude."A Confrontation on Set
But this restraint eventually shattered during a filming day near Almería, Spain. While Leone was preparing a scene with James Coburn, Rod Steiger intervened to inform him that it was time to leave in order to respect working hours. A remark that the director took particularly badly, especially since the actor invited his partner to follow him.Leone's Outburst
Leone recounts having lost all control. "The incident took place while we were filming on a mountain fifty kilometers from Almería. I was setting up a scene with Coburn. And Steiger came to intervene. He told me that we had to go back immediately if we did not want to exceed the day's working hours. Then, he signaled to Coburn to follow him. So, I exploded: 'If I want to film twenty-four hours straight, I will do it.'"A Professional Breakdown
Sergio Leone refuses to speak to him. After this confrontation, the director decided to no longer communicate directly with his main actor. All his instructions now went through an assistant, tasked with transmitting his orders to Rod Steiger, even when the two men were on the same set.Leone's Harsh Instructions
Leone remembered this period with disarming frankness: "I had a very harsh attitude. I did not speak to him directly. The assistant served as a relay. I told him: 'Go get that bag of excrement that is in his trailer. Tell him what I want him to do in front of this camera.'" And the difficulties did not stop there.Steiger's Apology and Resolution
Still dissatisfied with Steiger's performance, the filmmaker continued to have him repeat his scenes while openly criticizing the acting methods he had learned at the Actors Studio. "And when Steiger did a bad job, I still addressed the assistant: 'Cut. Tell this guy that his stuff is bad. I show him what I want him to do.'"A New Beginning
After several days of conflict, Rod Steiger finally turned to Sergio Leone in an attempt to ease the tensions. According to the director's account, the actor apologized and even declared himself ready to leave the film without claiming any financial compensation. This approach allowed the two men to reestablish communication and continue their collaboration under better conditions.The Final Result
Irony of history, Sergio Leone had initially not planned to direct Once Upon a Time in the Revolution himself. Peter Bogdanovich had notably been considered to take charge of the project before artistic disagreements put an end to this possibility. Leone eventually took over the direction. The result is a singular western, in which the dry humor gradually gives way to a darker reflection on violence, revolutionary ideals, and disillusionment.A Lasting Legacy
Despite their conflicts, Sergio Leone and Rod Steiger thus gave birth to a memorable character. And although the filming was far from a pleasure, Once Upon a Time in the Revolution remains, more than fifty years after its release, one of the great classics of Italian westerns. To discover or rediscover Once Upon a Time in the Revolution, the classic is available for streaming on Prime Video.
