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Django (film)
Encyclopedia
Django is a 1966
Italian
spaghetti Western
film
directed by Sergio Corbucci
and starring Franco Nero
in the eponymous role. The film earned a reputation as being one of the most violent films ever made up to that point and was subsequently refused a certificate in Britain until 1993, when it was eventually issued an 18 certificate
. Subsequent to this the film was downgraded to a 15 certificate in 2004.
Despite lending its name to over thirty "sequels" from the time of the film's release until the mid 1980s, none of these were official, featuring neither Corbucci nor Nero, and simply sought to capitalize on the success of the original. Nero did reprise his role as Django in 1987, in the only official sequel to be written by Corbucci: Django 2: Il Grande Ritorno (lit. Django 2: The Great Return).
Django
(Franco Nero) is a drifter who drags around a coffin that conceals a machine gun
. He rescues a young woman, María (Loredana Nusciak), from being murdered by bandits led by Major Jackson (Eduardo Fajardo
), a man whom Django is seeking revenge on for the murder of his wife.
After killing most of Jackson's men, Django makes a deal with a Mexican
bandit general, Hugo Rodriguez (José Bódalo
), who is in conflict with Jackson, and the two steal a large quantity of gold from a Mexican Army fort (where Jackson is doing business with a government general). When Rodriguez is slow in paying for his supplies and seems to be dragging his feet (possibly meaning to kill Django later), Django and Maria steal the gold. Unfortunately, the gold falls into quicksand
. When Rodriguez catches up to them, María is shot (though she survives) and Django's hands are crushed. Rodríguez and his men are massacred by Jackson and the Mexican Army when the bandits return to Mexico. Jackson then goes looking for Django in a cemetery after killing Nathaniael. However, Django, who has bitten the trigger-guard off his pistol, kills Jackson and his five surviving men by pressing the trigger against a tombstone and repeatedly dropping the hammer.
in the lead role, but Damon experienced a conflict in his scheduling and had to withdraw. Corbucci then turned to a reluctant Franco Nero, who eventually accepted the role. Filming began in December 1965 at the Tor Caldara nature reserve, where a specialist set had been constructed for use in Western
movies. Despite the winter conditions leaving the set in extremely muddy conditions, Corbucci rejected set designer Giancarlo Simi
's proposal to clean up the set, as he felt it added to the atmosphere of the film. With no real script in place for filming, Corbucci turned to his brother Bruno to draft out a story; over the Christmas period, Bruno Corbucci wrote out a scaletta, which Nero identifies as being "like a synopsis, but more detailed, [yet] still not a full screenplay". Filming also took place in several locations around Madrid
, whilst interior scenes were shot at Elios Studios outside Rome
; the filming was concluded by late February 1966.
Upon its network premier on BBC Two
's Moviedrome in 1993, Django was preceded by an introduction by series-presenter Alex Cox
, during which Cox stated that the film was,"to the best of [his] knowledge", the only spaghetti Western to be shot in the 4:3 aspect ratio, rather than the usual widescreen
Techniscope
format. Cox also attempts to clarify the name Django, stating how it appears to be "a sick joke on the part of Corbucci and his screenwriter-brother Bruno" as it seems to make reference to jazz guitarist
Django Reinhardt
who was able to play the guitar despite, Cox erroneously states, "lacking several fingers on one hand"; Reinhardt actually had several fingers paralyzed on his left hand, but was able to overcome this disability, in a similar way to how Django is able to operate his gun in the final shootout despite his hands being crushed.
." The prop is mechanically inconsistent, featuring revolving barrels like a gatling gun but otherwise resembling a mitrailleuse
fed from an ammunition belt
. Django fires the gun on fully automatic with no apparent concern for recoil
.
Italian films of 1966
A list of films produced in Italy in 1966 :-A-K:-L-Z:-External links:* at the Internet Movie Database...
Italian
Cinema of Italy
The history of Italian cinema began just a few months after the Lumière brothers had patented their Cinematographe, when Pope Leo XIII was filmed for a few seconds in the act of blessing the camera.-Early years:...
spaghetti Western
Spaghetti Western
Spaghetti Western, also known as Italo-Western, is a nickname for a broad sub-genre of Western films that emerged in the mid-1960s in the wake of Sergio Leone's unique and much copied film-making style and international box-office success, so named by American critics because most were produced and...
film
Feature film
In the film industry, a feature film is a film production made for initial distribution in theaters and being the main attraction of the screening, rather than a short film screened before it; a full length movie...
directed by Sergio Corbucci
Sergio Corbucci
Sergio Corbucci was an Italian film director. He is best known for his very violent yet intelligent spaghetti westerns...
and starring Franco Nero
Franco Nero
Franco Nero is an Italian actor.-Early life:Nero was born Francesco Sparanero in San Prospero Parmense , the son of a sergeant in the...
in the eponymous role. The film earned a reputation as being one of the most violent films ever made up to that point and was subsequently refused a certificate in Britain until 1993, when it was eventually issued an 18 certificate
18 certificate
The 18 certificate is issued by the British Board of Film Classification to state that, in its opinion, a film, video recording, or game should not be seen or purchased by a person under 18 years old....
. Subsequent to this the film was downgraded to a 15 certificate in 2004.
Despite lending its name to over thirty "sequels" from the time of the film's release until the mid 1980s, none of these were official, featuring neither Corbucci nor Nero, and simply sought to capitalize on the success of the original. Nero did reprise his role as Django in 1987, in the only official sequel to be written by Corbucci: Django 2: Il Grande Ritorno (lit. Django 2: The Great Return).
Plot
Django (character)
Django is a character which appears in a number of spaghetti western films.He appeared in thirty-one films in all.-Appearances:* Django * Django, this bullet for You * Django strikes first * Django the last slaughter...
(Franco Nero) is a drifter who drags around a coffin that conceals a machine gun
Machine gun
A machine gun is a fully automatic mounted or portable firearm, usually designed to fire rounds in quick succession from an ammunition belt or large-capacity magazine, typically at a rate of several hundred rounds per minute....
. He rescues a young woman, María (Loredana Nusciak), from being murdered by bandits led by Major Jackson (Eduardo Fajardo
Eduardo Fajardo
Eduardo Fajardo is a Spanish film actor. He appeared in over 160 films between 1947 and 2002.He was born in Pontevedra, Spain.-Selected filmography:* Reckless * Tizoc * Django...
), a man whom Django is seeking revenge on for the murder of his wife.
After killing most of Jackson's men, Django makes a deal with a Mexican
Mexican people
Mexican people refers to all persons from Mexico, a multiethnic country in North America, and/or who identify with the Mexican cultural and/or national identity....
bandit general, Hugo Rodriguez (José Bódalo
José Bódalo
José Bódalo was an Argentine born Spanish film actor.-Biography:Bódalo was born in Córdoba, Argentina, the son of actress Eugenia Zúffoli and actor and singer Jose Bodalo, Sr....
), who is in conflict with Jackson, and the two steal a large quantity of gold from a Mexican Army fort (where Jackson is doing business with a government general). When Rodriguez is slow in paying for his supplies and seems to be dragging his feet (possibly meaning to kill Django later), Django and Maria steal the gold. Unfortunately, the gold falls into quicksand
Quicksand
Quicksand is a colloid hydrogel consisting of fine granular matter , clay, and water.Water circulation underground can focus in an area with the optimal mixture of fine sands and other materials such as clay. The water moves up and then down slowly in a convection-like manner throughout a column...
. When Rodriguez catches up to them, María is shot (though she survives) and Django's hands are crushed. Rodríguez and his men are massacred by Jackson and the Mexican Army when the bandits return to Mexico. Jackson then goes looking for Django in a cemetery after killing Nathaniael. However, Django, who has bitten the trigger-guard off his pistol, kills Jackson and his five surviving men by pressing the trigger against a tombstone and repeatedly dropping the hammer.
Cast
- Franco NeroFranco NeroFranco Nero is an Italian actor.-Early life:Nero was born Francesco Sparanero in San Prospero Parmense , the son of a sergeant in the...
as Django. Django is a lone and mysterious gunfighter who drags around a coffin which contains a powerful machine gun. Django remarks at one point that the "person" in the coffin is actually called Django. He is a skilled gunfighter, who displays the ability to shoot without looking. - Loredana Nusciak as Maria. Maria is a prostitute in the local town, who has betrayed Major Jackson by turning to the Mexicans. She then betrays them also and is later saved by Django before she can be crucified and burned by Major Jackson's men for her betrayal.
- Jose BodaloJosé BódaloJosé Bódalo was an Argentine born Spanish film actor.-Biography:Bódalo was born in Córdoba, Argentina, the son of actress Eugenia Zúffoli and actor and singer Jose Bodalo, Sr....
- General Hugo Rodriguez - Angel AlvarezÁngel ÁlvarezÁngel Álvarez was a prolific Spanish film actor.He made over 205 film appearances between 1945 and 1982. He is probably best known for his western films of the 1960s and 1970s. He appeared in Spaghetti western films such as Navajo Joe and Django in 1966 opposite Franco Nero...
- Nathaniel - Eduardo FajardoEduardo FajardoEduardo Fajardo is a Spanish film actor. He appeared in over 160 films between 1947 and 2002.He was born in Pontevedra, Spain.-Selected filmography:* Reckless * Tizoc * Django...
- Major Jackson - Rafael Albaicin - Rodriquez's Man
- Gino Pernice (as Jimmy Douglas) - Brother Jonathan
- Simon Arriaga - Miguel
- Ivan Scratuglia - Klan Member
- Luciano RossiLuciano RossiLuciano Rossi was an Italian film actor. He appeared in 67 films between 1966 and 1987.He was born and died in Rome, Italy.-Selected filmography:* Death Sentence * Five for Hell...
- Klan Member - Guillermo Mendez - Klan Member
- Remo de Angelis (as Eric Schippers) - Riccardo
- Jose Terron - Ringo
- Lucio De Santis - Whipping Bandit
- Cris Huerta - Mexican Officer
- Silvana Bacci - Mexican Prostitute
- Jose CanalejasJosé CanalejasJosé Canalejas y Méndez was a Spanish politician, born in Ferrol.-Early life:Canalejas graduated in 1871 from the University of Madrid, took his Galicia doctor's degree in 1872 and became a lecturer on literature in 1873...
- Hugo Henchman - Rafael Vaquero - Uncredited Role
Production
Sergio Corbucci had originally wanted to cast Mark DamonMark Damon
Mark Damon is an American film actor and producer. He started his career in his native country, appearing in such films as Young and Dangerous and Roger Corman's House of Usher...
in the lead role, but Damon experienced a conflict in his scheduling and had to withdraw. Corbucci then turned to a reluctant Franco Nero, who eventually accepted the role. Filming began in December 1965 at the Tor Caldara nature reserve, where a specialist set had been constructed for use in Western
Western (genre)
The Western is a genre of various visual arts, such as film, television, radio, literature, painting and others. Westerns are devoted to telling stories set primarily in the latter half of the 19th century in the American Old West, hence the name. Some Westerns are set as early as the Battle of...
movies. Despite the winter conditions leaving the set in extremely muddy conditions, Corbucci rejected set designer Giancarlo Simi
Carlo Simi
Carlo Simi was an Italian architect, production designer and costume designer, who worked frequently with Sergio Leone and Sergio Corbucci, giving their spaghetti westerns a unique look...
's proposal to clean up the set, as he felt it added to the atmosphere of the film. With no real script in place for filming, Corbucci turned to his brother Bruno to draft out a story; over the Christmas period, Bruno Corbucci wrote out a scaletta, which Nero identifies as being "like a synopsis, but more detailed, [yet] still not a full screenplay". Filming also took place in several locations around Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
, whilst interior scenes were shot at Elios Studios outside Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
; the filming was concluded by late February 1966.
Upon its network premier on BBC Two
BBC Two
BBC Two is the second television channel operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It covers a wide range of subject matter, but tending towards more 'highbrow' programmes than the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio...
's Moviedrome in 1993, Django was preceded by an introduction by series-presenter Alex Cox
Alex Cox
Alexander Cox is a British film director, screenwriter, nonfiction author and sometime actor, notable for his idiosyncratic style and approach to scripts...
, during which Cox stated that the film was,"to the best of [his] knowledge", the only spaghetti Western to be shot in the 4:3 aspect ratio, rather than the usual widescreen
Widescreen
Widescreen images are a variety of aspect ratios used in film, television and computer screens. In film, a widescreen film is any film image with a width-to-height aspect ratio greater than the standard 1.37:1 Academy aspect ratio provided by 35mm film....
Techniscope
Techniscope
Techniscope or 2-Perf is a 35mm motion picture camera film format introduced by Technicolor Italia in 1963. The Techniscope format uses a two film-perforation negative pulldown per frame, instead of the standard four-perforation frame usually exposed in 35mm film photography...
format. Cox also attempts to clarify the name Django, stating how it appears to be "a sick joke on the part of Corbucci and his screenwriter-brother Bruno" as it seems to make reference to jazz guitarist
Jazz guitarist
Jazz guitarists are guitar players who play jazz music on the guitar using an approach to playing chords, melodies, and improvised solo lines which is called jazz guitar playing. The guitar has fulfilled the roles of accompanist and soloist in small and large ensembles and also as an unaccompanied...
Django Reinhardt
Django Reinhardt
Django Reinhardt was a pioneering virtuoso jazz guitarist and composer who invented an entirely new style of jazz guitar technique that has since become a living musical tradition within French gypsy culture...
who was able to play the guitar despite, Cox erroneously states, "lacking several fingers on one hand"; Reinhardt actually had several fingers paralyzed on his left hand, but was able to overcome this disability, in a similar way to how Django is able to operate his gun in the final shootout despite his hands being crushed.
Django's gun
Django overcomes astounding enemy numbers (for example killing forty-eight men in short order) using a weapon the film's dialogue calls a "gatling gunGatling gun
The Gatling gun is one of the best known early rapid-fire weapons and a forerunner of the modern machine gun. It is well known for its use by the Union forces during the American Civil War in the 1860s, which was the first time it was employed in combat...
." The prop is mechanically inconsistent, featuring revolving barrels like a gatling gun but otherwise resembling a mitrailleuse
Mitrailleuse
Mitrailleuse is the French word used to describe all rapid-firing weapons of rifle caliber. Therefore the word mitrailleuse, when used in the French language, applies to all machine guns including modern full automatic weapons. However in the English language the word mitrailleuse applies to...
fed from an ammunition belt
Belt (firearm)
A belt or ammunition belt is a device used to retain and feed cartridges into a firearm. Belts and the associated feed systems are typically employed to feed machine guns or other automatic weapons...
. Django fires the gun on fully automatic with no apparent concern for recoil
Recoil
Recoil is the backward momentum of a gun when it is discharged. In technical terms, the recoil caused by the gun exactly balances the forward momentum of the projectile and exhaust gasses, according to Newton's third law...
.