Screenwriting : Spaghetti Westerns - anyone into them? by Stefano Pavone

Stefano Pavone

Spaghetti Westerns - anyone into them?

Hey, guys.

Does anyone else here like the classic Spaghetti Westerns of the 1960s and 1970s by Sergio Leone (and similar directors of his generation such as Sergio Corbucci and Tonino Valerii)? If so, then which are your favourites and which ones do you draw inspiration from as a writer and/or filmmaker? My personal favourites are "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" with its epic scope and sparse dialogue, "The Great Silence" with its eerie score by Ennio Morricone and its unconventional downer ending and "The Mercenary" because of the climactic arena duel. I think it's a very overlooked genre (in America, at least - in Europe, they're still pretty popular). Let me know if you like them and which ones inspire you. :)

S. P.

Timothy Mcreynolds

Crazy that you just posted this Stefano, I just watched Day of anger (1967) last night. I have just completed my very own and I’m having a hard time finding anyone interested in reading it. You wouldn’t happen to be interested? It did receive a recommend from my coverage. Let me know. Thanks

Stefano Pavone

Shoot me up (not literally), Tim. If anything, it'll give me a guide on how I should write my own works, help me see what mistakes I'm making (I barely get ANY feedback). :)

Timothy Mcreynolds

You would not believe the surprise when I read your message, I was beginning to think I am the only person who is still interested in spaghetti westerns and I wasted a year of my life writing one my script has the same civil war battle in it that The Good Bad and the Ugly has in it. Please be warned , very violent and has one scene that’s hard to read. Thanks. If you ever need someone to beta I’m your man.

Martin Reese

Love those Spaghetti Westerns. My favorite is Once Upon A Time In the West. Once of the greatest opening sequences ever. And that ending with Fonda, Bronson and the harmonica was priceless.

Coreetta S Buchan

I love those too. The quality of Shows made back in those times are unparalleled.

David Melbourne

Love the Leone films, some of the Django films are worth checking out. There was so many made back then that its hard to separate the quality from the trash but there are some gems in there if you look closely.

Eric Christopherson

Some of the coolest soundtracks in Spaghetti Westerns.

Eric Christopherson

FYI, Clint Eastwood turns 90 today.

Roberto Leoni

I suppose you will like this video where I talk about Sergio Leone: https://youtu.be/W9CI0NsLll4 [Eng sub]

Roberto Leoni

or this one where I talk about Clint Eastwood: https://youtu.be/kkgqO3cMOsc [Eng sub]

Stefano Pavone

Eric Christopherson Indeed he does. :)

Timothy Mcreynolds

Quentin Tarantino’s top 20 list of spaghetti westerns is pretty spot on.

Craig Prickett

I love spaghetti westerns both watching and reading their scripts the minimal dialogue and rich visuals nothing like them.

WL Wright

All the ones Clint Eastwood is in.

Jason Mirch

This is one of my favorite genres and I would love one day to write my own homage to it!

T.L. Davis

WL Wright that and the ones with Terence Hill and Bud Spencer,.

Debbie Croysdale

Most think spaghetti westerns faded out 70s but there's been a number of films made more recently with similar components. I met Carlos Gallardo in London a few years ago when he was guest teacher Goldsmiths. His film El Mariachi early 90's was shot in a desert town for seven thousand dollars, Hollywood took a liking to his old school approach and Desperado was made for millions. Westerns will never die because the location is a character in itself, a third dimension to the story and often outwits all the players themselves. I took Carlos to heart and followed his advice getting a small team in a village to work together in rural Spain but Covid has put our film on hold. Stay safe@All

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