Behind the Scenes of El Condor (1970): The Giant Fortress, a Fistfight, and Lee Van Cleef's Comic Turn

El Condor (1970), starring Lee Van Cleef and Jim Brown, is an often-overlooked but utterly spectacular Western. A hybrid of the American action movie and the Spaghetti Western genre, its production was as explosive as its on-screen fortress assault, defined by a colossal, reusable set, backstage drama, and a rare comedic role for Van Cleef.

The Fortress that Became a Star 

The film's most remarkable feature wasn't the actors, but the incredible fortress they sought to conquer:

• A Colossal, Purpose-Built Set: The massive Fuerte El Condor was built from scratch in the Tabernas Desert of Almería, Spain, a favorite location for Spaghetti Westerns. Designed by art director Julio Molina de Juanes, the complex featured 30-foot adobe walls, stables, and a two-story palace. The construction took about two months.

• A Script Rewrite for the Scenery: The set was so huge and impressive that screenwriter Larry Cohen was reportedly asked to rewrite the entire plot to focus the action around the fortress. The goal was to ensure the film maximized the visual impact of the colossal construction.

• Cinematic Legacy: The fort's spectacular nature—and its explosive destruction—meant it was too valuable to use just once. It became a piece of movie history, a reusable set for future productions including the war film A Reason to Live, a Reason to Die (1972) and even making a brief appearance in Conan the Barbarian (1982).

Conflict, Comedy, and Controversy

While Jim Brown and Lee Van Cleef formed an engaging, if untrustworthy, partnership on screen, behind the camera, things were less harmonious, and the casting was a major risk.

• A Director-Producer Brawl: The set was plagued by tension between director John Guillermin and producer Andre de Toth. According to Larry Cohen, de Toth, who had directorial ambitions, constantly clashed with Guillermin. This professional conflict reportedly escalated into a fistfight during filming.

• Lee Van Cleef's Unexpected Role: Van Cleef was a worldwide star known for playing ruthless, ice-cold villains ("Angel Eyes"). He initially quit the film after an associate advised him that the role of Jaroo, a drunken, buffoonish prospector, was "ridiculous" and would damage his career. Cohen personally talked him back into the part, arguing it was a chance to play a comedic scoundrel in the vein of a Humphrey Bogart character. Van Cleef ultimately delivered a memorable, uncharacteristically grinning performance, showcasing his range.

• The R-Rated Stunt: The film made headlines for its explicit content, notably the extended scene where the General's mistress, Claudine (Marianna Hill), strips completely naked in her window to distract the garrison. This use of spectacle, violence, and sex earned the film its R-rating and fueled critical debates about the new "nihilistic" wave of Westerns.

Despite the on-set drama and the harsh critical reaction at the time—with critics like Roger Ebert condemning its "stupidity" and "cynical violence"—El Condor remains a thrilling, large-scale entry in the Western genre, memorable above all for its impressive set and the rare chance to see Lee Van Cleef lighten up.