96 years after the birth of Sergio Leone, an association remembers the work they did for a classic such as 'The Good, the Bad and the Ugly', which was recorded in the town of Castilla y León
COPE
By Luis Calabor
January 3, 2025
January 3 marked the 96th anniversary of the birth of Sergio Leone, master of cinema and creator of some of the most remembered classics of the Spaghetti Western. His masterpiece, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966), has left an indelible mark on the history of cinema. But what many do not know is that some of its most iconic scenes were shot in the province of Burgos, thanks to the director's vision and the work of a Spanish producer who believed in the potential of these locations. It was not only Almeria that was the province graced with such a historic filming.
The Sad Hill cultural association has played a key role in the recovery of these scenarios, which today are a must-see destination for film buffs from all over the world. Sergio García, founding partner of the association, explained to Isra Remuiñán in La Tarde how the restoration process was and what led Leone to choose Burgos as the backdrop for his masterpiece.
THE REASON WHY LEONE CHOSE BURGOS
Leone did not arrive in Burgos by chance. It was the Valencian producer José Antonio Pérez Giner who convinced him to shoot in this region. Giner had previously worked on the Spanish film El Valle de las Espadas (1963), shot in locations in the province, such as the monastery of San Pedro de Arlanza and the Arlanza valley. These locations had such an impact on Giner that he proposed them for 'The Good, the Bad and the Ugly'.
"It was Giner who invited Leone to visit the area and showed him the potential of these landscapes," explains Sergio García. "The diversity of the terrain and the authenticity of the setting convinced Leone to set several of the film's most important scenes there," he added.
Among the highlights is the Sad Hill cemetery, where the final duel takes place, one of the most iconic moments in cinema. There are also the Betterville prison camp, located in Carazo, and the Langston bridge, between the towns of Hortigüela and Contreras. Although the bridge was destroyed after filming, it remains a point of interest for fans today.
BURGOS' MEMORY OF 'THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY'
Before the Sad Hill association began its work in 2015, many of these places were almost unrecognizable. "Time had done its job. Nature had absorbed almost everything," García recalled. However, with the help of volunteers and moviegoers, Sad Hill Cemetery was restored, bringing it back to its original appearance and making it an iconic site for fans of the film.
With the 60th anniversary of The Good, the Bad and the Ugly just around the corner, the Sad Hill association is already planning special events. "In 2026 we want to do something big, but without losing sight of the limitations of the area," said García. In 2016, for the 50th anniversary, a screening of the film was organized in the same cemetery, an event that brought together more than 3,000 people.
Many know that, for example, Almeria was the home of many
westerns in Spain, but this facet of Burgos was not so well known by many, and
even less so when it comes to a film as historic as 'The Good, the Bad and the
Ugly'. Undoubtedly, something that will attract many eyes to Burgos and to that
area that has been so unknown for a long time.
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