A Fistful of Dollars Rare Make-up test shots

A Fistful of Dollars Rare Make-up test shots

I’ve been meaning to post these incredibly rare shots since someone sent me them a couple of months ago. The photos are likely to be test shots or final make-up shots taken in preparation for the incredibly vicious beating inflicted upon ‘Joe’ by the Rojo brothers and in order to extract information. 

These scenes were so vicious, that they were majorly trimmed by the censors (the BBFC) here in the UK. 

Subsequently, when the film was later shown on British TV networks such as the BBC, the full sequence was also still cut. It wasn’t until much later, and the emergence of Home Video, that this particular sequence began to be seen in a much fuller version. The make-up team on A Fistful of Dollars consisted of Alberto Gutiérrez and Sam Watkins, alongside uncredited assistant makeup artist José Luis Pérez. José María Sánchez served as the overall make-up department head (also uncredited). With these photos, we thought it was about time they deserved to be mentioned.

In the film, Joe of course manages to escape the confines of the Rojo’s and hides out until his wounds are healed and he is strong enough to make a return visit and settle the score. 

The beating hasn’t really become any easier on the eye over the years and still delivers a brutal punch, helped naturally with the aid of some pretty convincing make-up.

Below: A Spanish Lobby Card shows Joe left for dead after the Rojo beating

Below: From the film, Joe begins to make his recovery