Once Upon a Time in Hollywood: In this scene from Tarantino's film which has never been shot, the character of Leonardo DiCaprio had to meet a real legend of the western

On the theme of “And if …” Regularly experienced in the cinema, with more or less happiness elsewhere, Quentin Tarantino delivered in 2019 an absolutely wonderful variation of this concept with Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood.

A vibrant declaration of love for a whole section of cinema, very nostalgic and also disenchanted. In the middle of a casting in unison, Leonardo DiCaprio is once again absolutely brilliant in the guise of laborious actor Rick Dalton, head of the now in decline.

“The 2nd best director of spaghetti westerns in the world”

The film is, obviously, the opportunity for Tarantino to regularly slide (rather) tribute to his favorite works and filmmakers. In particular a director whom he worships above all: Sergio Corbucci. A great obsession very.

Not content with having borrowed the name of Django in his western released in 2013, he is also explicitly quoted in a short and brilliant exchange in the film, between artistic agent Marvin Schwarz (Al Pacino), and Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio).

– Rick? Here Marvin Schwarz. Two names: Nebraska Jim, Sergio Corbucci.

– What? Sergio who?

– Sergio Corbucci.

– Who is it ?

– The 2nd best director of spaghetti westerns in the world.

It is this same tasty exchange that opens the sensational documentary Django & Django: Sergio Corbucci Unchained, never left in the room with us (but still available vod), which was presented at the Venice Mostra in 2021. Lovers of physical support are on this party, since this nugget is one of the bonuses accompanying the recent Blu-ray edition of the Western Companeros at Carlotta. A western precisely produced by Sergio Corbucci, worthy representative of what we called the “western zapata”.

As a love, transi from Sergio Corbucci, it is Tarantino who serves as a common thread in this documentary, even explaining that he had thought, after the release of his Inglourious Basterds, write a book on the Transalpine Master.

A tasty meeting at the top

At the very beginning of the documentary, Qt gratifies us with a brilliant sequence, unprecedented in addition since not present in his film, and never shot: the meeting in Rome, organized by Marvin Schwarz, between Rick Dalton and Sergio Corbucci. Tarantino tells the scene with surgical clarification, dialogues included, as if he gave life to a scene in Storyboard. And, of course, always with this logic of alternative reality at the very heart of Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood.

“Rick does not understand anything about the spaghetti westerns, but he likes to play the main role of a film and earn money. Marvin arranges a meeting between him and Corbucci for Nebraska Jim. He goes to Rome. Sergio and his wife, Nori, meet him, with Marvin, in Sergio's favorite restaurant. And they discuss.

Rick liked the script and the character of Jim. They speak together of the role. But Rick makes a serious mistake: he confuses Sergio Corbucci with Sergio Leone. Marvin had told him to look for a handful of dollars, so that he understands better what a spaghetti western is. As he discusses with a “Sergio”, he believes that it is Sergio Leone. He is at the table with Corbucci and Nori, and he says:

– Quite frankly, I was blown away by the performance of Clint Eastwood. He has never been so good and he will never do better. You were extremely well directed, it was fabulous.

This is where Sergio and Nori understand that he thinks he is talking to Leone. Sergio replied:

– It was not me who made the film, but my friend Sergio Leone. I will not fail to tell him that you liked it.

Marvin is completely humiliated. Rick said to him:

– Why did you show me this film?

– So that you familiarize yourself with the genre!

Rick retorts:

– I don't know this word! What is a genre? The film is directed by a Sergio, and I thought it was this sergio!

Nori reassures them:

– Marvin, don't worry, he doesn't talk Italian, and there is so much Sergio … He hadn't understood.

Sergio answers:

– I barely know him and it doesn't matter if he doesn't know me.

Unfortunately, Rick makes another blunder. He is asked about the Italian westerns, and he says that he saw a very bad on the plane. Corbucci asks:

– Ah good ? which one was?

– A horrible film with Burt Reynolds, where he wears a wig that makes him look like Natalie Wood. It's called Navajo Joe.

And he continues to speak … Sergio lets them know anything, and he announces that he is the director of the film. Sergio hands him another pole.

– Have you seen the English version?

-Yes !

– I can't stand it!

– The English version is horrible, I agree.

At one point, Nori and Marvin leave the table, and Sergio said to Rick:

– Listen, you have no respect for me or for Italian cinema. Do you denigrate my film … But do you want a role? You are an interesting and arrogant type, like Nebraska Jim, so it goes. But why give you a role if you lower my films?

Rick answers:

– Sergio, I understand nothing about Italian westerns, that's true. I know the movies of Hoot Gibson and Lash Larue. Those of Mario “Banananano”, not at all. Italian culture goes over me. I get nothing to the cinema, unlike you, but it doesn't matter. Is it so important for me to love Nebraska Jim? I know how to play cowboys. Give me a hat, a nice costume, a horse, and you will be convinced. I will be a good Nebraska Jim.

Sony Pictures Entertainment Deutschland GmbH

He persuades Corbucci, who gives him the role. This is his first Italian film, and he is not used to Italian shootings, where it feels like Babel's tower. The bad sheriff is German, the Israeli daughter, the 2nd villain is Spanish, and all the others are Italian. He does not bear the filming conditions, they were in the middle of nowhere. And the explosions were real dynamite. So he posed some problems during the shooting, and he stung crises from time to time.

Later, he will shoot four other Italian films, including “Operation Dyn-O-Mite!”. He works with excellent directors: the fun Antonio Margueriti; Calvin Jackson Padget; And a brilliant director of Westerns Paella, Joaquin Romero walk. It was after playing in these films that he realizes that Corbucci is a remarkable filmmaker.

While he is about to leave Italy, Corbucci is preparing to shoot his new film, The specialist. Rick wants to play the role of Hud. He will dine with Sergio, who is touched by Rick's new humility. He appreciates it, but Rick has caused too many problems, and it's very difficult to forget for a director. He thinks of Rick for the specialist, but he will finally choose Johnny Hallyday“.

Fascinating to measure how much Tarantino was able to build and above all cultivate a whole mythology around his character of Rick Dalton, to the point of having announced in 2023 his death, giving up his virtual filmography as a tribute.