With the recent passing of actor Don Galloway on January 8, 2009, another name was put to an actor’s face in Sergio Leone’s “Once Upon a Time in the West”. As seen on the right, Don played one of Frank’s gang members in the flashback sequence seen during the final duel between him and Harmonica.
I wager a hidden story of interest here on how a contract universal player managed to get in this.That was my last post to jangoz at the spaghetti board about this.My computer is allergic to the spaghetti board and gets sick if I visit there so I won't be going back.This blog has came along just in the nick of time to save me from the vermin riddled drip of poison that has been soaking into my virus infected brain.Don never mentioned this in interviews.I would have been so proud myself.He stands inside the arch on the right hand side for the pull back dolly shot.How did a universal contract player who had just appeared in the squeaky clean Jimmy Stewart western The Rare Breed wind up out there? He would have been back at universal doing Ironside before paramount released this.Who did he know? Who knew him to put him in this? It certainly wasn't for the money,screen time,billing or recognition.His next western was ten years later on a griz adams movie.Why did he give up acting? Why did he never mention that he was a part of one of the greatest flashbacks in film history? The answer blows in the wind and all my wind today is comin' down wailin'wicked and fierce from franco cleef country.GO STEELERS!!!!
ReplyDeleteI agree Raymie. I get so mad when so much information turns up in someone's obit that we've been searching for for years. Then it's too late to ask questions or get answers. Don Bruce also told us that the guy playing Harmonica as a boy is not the Italian actor often given credit for the role but a local Navajo resident named David (something). All you have to do is look at him to see that is true. Stay warm and yes GO STEELERS!
ReplyDeleteI guess this is no less strange than John Landis working on and appearing in OUATITW
ReplyDeleteWasn't this made when Ironside was being shot?
Yes Christopher. 'Ironside' started in 1967 and was still going during this shoot. Don could have been on vacation in Monument Valley and heard about the filming of this sequence. He also could have had a connection with someone in the crew. You are also correct about Landis. He was in several films while in college and visiting Europe including "El Condor" and "A Town Called Hell". He appeared in OUATITW as a posse member.
ReplyDeleteAmazing isn't it, how with the right make-up and costuming, a squeaky clean looking guy like Galloway could look right at home in a Leone film? The hat and beard play an important part, along with the long face.
ReplyDeleteWhy, and this is another one of those why questions, did he never talk about this role while he was still alive? Did he violate the terms of his contract with Universal by appearing in this film and he had to so on the sly? Even if this is true what could Universal do to him years later?
Universal made sure the set of books they showed James Garner for the Rockford Files never showed a profit.It was like they carried mr.garner as a charity case.Mr.Galloway was probably afraid to ever bring it up that he was in it because he knew better than anyone what universal was like.My heart is hardly strong enough for that super bowl game.Why is bruce springsteen my age but he looks fourteen years younger? Anyone hear his eight minute outlaw pete rendition complete with harmonica? My boy justin will be refused by me to wear any steeler shirts in arizona.That is just plain looking for trouble.Anyone ever mosey to tim fallig's arizona territory forum and see how they fight there? Author allen barra lives to fight and fights to live on that board.That tombstone is just too too tough.
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