Paco Barrilado: "I think I am between El Feo (The Ugly)
and El Bueno (the Good)"
At 4
years of age he was already the sheriff of the celluloid in the neighborhood of
El Quemadero
La Voz de Almeria
By
Fine Martin
February
15, 2020
Paco Barrilado is 77 years
old. C at 4 he was already
the sheriff of the celluloid in the neighborhood of El Quemadero. For
sixty years he has worked as a stunt double in more than 200 films shot in Almeria. A tough guy
who gets excited watching Madison
Bridges and has developed a personal philosophy that dismantles
the sorrows of those who come to listen to their battles in the cinema.
What did you play as a child?
Like I am living now. I was
between 4 and 12 years old. He took a white sheet, cast the shadow of
cut-out dolls on it and entertained the entire neighborhood of the
Burner. He charged buttons to decorate the dolls and then in cents.
What profile of these do you
identify with: of the Good, the Ugly or the Bad?
I think I am between the ugly
and the good, although I looked better as a kid; Better than Rock
Hudson. You can watch it on the Internet when I worked as a double in more
than 200 movies.
Manolo Summers said that
"To er mundo é gueno"
My friend Manolo ... I worked
with him on the movie “Tierra de Pistoleros” and he drew me a picture after
eating some crayfish in Garrucha. He also said that "To er mundo é
... got better!".
And is it really like that?
People are not bad when they are
normal, what happens is that when there is any adversity they transcend the
psychological genes of men or women. I do not understand evil, envy or
theft. You give me art and entertainment and there is happiness within me.
The gunmen are always shown
with a loaded shotgun.
The gunman is always a coward
because he is always armed.
Does the western not like the
weak?
The weak brought them to work,
it is that the slaves have always been weak and if the sheriff was docile they
did not mess with him.
How do you fix the problems?
I solve my problems by not
having them.
A study reveals that one in
10 people feel lonely, did the Lone Ranger have that feeling?
Some, perhaps, others
not. A llanero that is in the nature with the cows and with the bulls is
entertained, although with the physiological needs he went to the brothels.
In his youth his name was
Frank Barry.
Frank for Paco and Barry because
in America
everyone is called that. It was cinematic (laughs).
Do you feel that your life is
that of a celebrity?
Not at all. I will soon
fulfill my golden wedding. I have a great woman, two children and two
grandchildren.
What do the Tabernas and Mini
Hollywood desert mean to you?
Are my life. In Tabernas I
grabbed a horse at 6 in the morning and returned it at 7 in the
afternoon. Rolling one and a thousand shots combining with the actors, and
Mini Hollywood because it's a feeling of mine being alive.
What are the best movies that
have been shot in Almeria?
Sergio Leone created an
environment like the one Tarantino is now creating. But here have been
filmed very good films like those of Cleopatra or Cleopatra and Marco Antonio,
Patton, Lawrence of Arabia ... some with Oscar.
An anecdote.
On a break from the movie “Once
Upon a Time in the West” Claudia Cardinalle was going down a kilometer on foot
to the railroad tracks. I asked her that if she wanted to get on the horse,
she weighed 50 kilos, I raised her on one arm.
A tough guy like you have you
ever \ried watching a movie?
No, but I was excited to see “The
Bridges of Madison County” and “The Mule”, by Clint Eastwood.
Which is your favorite song?
The soundtracks of “For a Few
Dollars More” and “Rocky”. I both have them on my
cell phone.
Who or what has given you the
best lesson?
Without a doubt, life, because it teaches you to see things
that you could never imagine. I put myself in a relaxing situation and I
paint the light of the Mediterranean. I
have already done five exhibitions with my paintings.
You are very philosophical;
tell me an inspiring thought out loud.
Honest and orderly life and use
few remedies, and put all means in not rushing for anything. Moderate
food, exercise and fun, drink in moderation, go out for a while, little
confinement and much treatment, and much occupation.
What plan do you have for
today?
I am working on the script of my
new film, a western for which I want to count on the collaboration of José
María Lindes. But today I also have to go to the gym. You have to
always be on the move.
