FILM (1971)

A Fistful of Dynamite Rod Steiger, James Coburn, Romolo Valli Director: Sergio Leone

'I used to believe in many things, all of it! Now I only believe in dynamite,' James Coburn says in this Sergio Leone classic, and he wasn't joking.

The film was initially called Duck, You Sucker! - Coburn's stock phrase just before he's about to set off another explosion. However, the United Artists studio wanted to market it alongside Leone's previous spaghetti western successes, so it was quickly re-issued as A Fistful of Dynamite.

The film centres on Irish Republican Army explosives expert Sean Mallory (Coburn, right) on the run from British forces, who arrives in Mexico at the turn of the 20th century. He meets an amoral Mexican bandit, Juan Miranda (Rod Steiger), and after witnessing Mallory's knack for blowing things up, Miranda asks him to join his gang and help him rob banks. Before long they're both caught up in the Mexican revolution and are soon, quite literally, having a blast as the bombs come thick and fast.

Eli Wallach had originally been cast as Miranda but United Artists wanted an actor with a more international appeal and he was dropped for Steiger. Similarly, Jason Robards had been cast as Mallory but the studio again wanted a bigger name; Coburn was hired.

By this stage Leone was sick of making westerns and was only going to produce the film. US director Peter Bogdanovich was given the duties behind the camera, but soon left after too much studio interference. He was replaced by Leone's regular assistant director, Giancarlo Santi, but after 10 days of shooting Steiger and Coburn refused to continue unless Leone took over the reins.