Through the films A Fistful of Dollars; For a Few Dollars More; The Good, the Bad and the Ugly; and Once Upon a Time in the West, Italian director Sergio Leone (1929–1989) created a new style of Western. Described as a truly original and unique filmmaker, Leone’s Westerns feature extreme close-ups; soundtracks by Ennio Morricone with whistling and electric guitar; witty dialogue such as “When you have to shoot, shoot. Don’t talk!” (Eli Wallach in a bathtub scene as Tuco in The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, 1966); and character names such as “Blondie” and “Angel Eyes” (Clint Eastwood and Lee Van Cleef, respectively, in The Good, the Bad and the Ugly).

This spectacular museum exhibition features original costumes, set designs, movie posters, and never-before-seen mini- documentaries revealing Leone’s love affair with Hollywood movies and his legacy to cinema around the world. Some of the remarkable pieces of cinema history on display include the iconic poncho used by Clint Eastwood as the Man With No Name; costumes worn by Henry Fonda, Claudia Cardinale, and James Coburn; firearms used on location; set and costume designs by production designer Carlo Simi; rare Italian and international posters; plus a few more surprises! Visitors to this one-of-a-kind special exhibition will be drawn to and enchanted by the props, the iconic costumes, the pencil designs of sets they all know and love, and the scripts that were used by major actors and touched by Sergio Leone himself. In addition to experiencing the “real thing,” visitors will find substantive information about Sergio Leone’s life and career development as a major director of cinema.

Today, Leone’s Westerns influence directors who work in different genres. The Leone Film Arts Committee consists of film professionals who acknowledge the significance of Leone’s work and his legacy. The committee is co-chaired by Mr. Clint Eastwood and Sergio Leone’s widow, Mrs. Carla Leone. Directors Martin Scorsese, John Carpenter, Paul Mazursky, John Landis, Joe Dante, and John Milius, actress Claudia Cardinale, actor Eli Wallach, costume designer Deborah Landis, Mrs. Susan (Rory) Calhoun, Mrs. Shirlee (Henry) Fonda, Mrs. Barbara (Lee) Van Cleef, and Mrs. Elisabetta (Carlo) Simi are members of the committee.

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The Films of Sergio Leone