Welcome to theBad.net Lee Van Cleef Blog! Here you will find information, photos, videos, and some of my opinions of the badman himself.

Many thanks to the wonderful fans of theBad.net for their contributions and continued enthusiasm!

Saturday, December 26, 2015

Location: Nijar - El Condor Bar



Just outside of Los Albaricoques, and next to the exterior of Steven's Ranch from The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, are the remains of the bar used to introduce us to LVC's character of Jaroo in El Condor.

The structure itself is in terrible shape, much of which seems to sadly be a recent development (based on comparisons with Google Street View).  Below are some screencap comparisons.  What a difference 45 years makes!


The front of the structure
 

Luke arrives in search of Jaroo
 

"If my mother was a whiskey cow..."
 

Jaroo reconsiders his tall tale of gold
 

The front of the bar, now gone...
 
 
Below are some additional photos from the location.  Click to enlarge!





 
 

Saturday, December 19, 2015

Ride Lonesome Promotional Tour

Here are some candid pics of LVC promoting Ride Lonesome in 1959 at Wild West City in Stanhope, New Jersey.

Click to enlarge!

 



Saturday, December 12, 2015

Location: Nijar - Day of Anger Horse Duel

 
In Day of Anger, the greatest scene (in my opinion) is the horseback front-loading rifle duel between Lee Van Cleef and Benito Stefanelli.  While much of the film was shot in Italy, this particular sequence was shot in Spain, near San Jose (where the Bill Farrow Ranch scenes were shot).
 
Today the location, is mostly unchanged, just a bit more unkempt.  The tracking shot of the moving horse duel was actually filmed from the roadway, which is the main street into San Jose today.
 
 
LVC readies for action!
 

Benito is ready...
 
 
The duel commences!
 

 ...and ends!


As if there was any doubt who the winner would be!
 


Saturday, December 5, 2015

Saturday, November 28, 2015

Location: Nijar - Big Gundown Ride Off

 
Literally steps away from the horse duel location used in Day of Anger, is the wide open vista that Corbett and Cuchillo ride across at the very end of The Big Gundown.  This scene is only present in the original cut, and not the shortened US version.
 
Today, the landscape remains much the same, although with the addition of the paved road into San Jose.


start of sequence, panning left to right 
 
 
pavement and power lines enter the landscape


Lee literally rides into his next movie!
 
 
 
 

Saturday, November 21, 2015

Blu-ray Review: The Octagon


The Octagon, is a bit of a transitional movie for LVC.  It takes him out of the starring roles he portrayed for 15 years, an moves his career to return to that of a supporting player, which would define the rest of his career in the 1980's.  Make no mistake, The Octagon is a Chuck Norris film, LVC just appears a few times.

The blu-ray release was put out by Scorpion Releasing, and is a great disc overall.


VIDEO

The blu-ray was mastered from the film's original interpositive, and the results look great.  Excellent detail throughout, with strong colors and consistent slight grain giving the presentation a very nice film like appearance on video.  A worthy upgrade over it's DVD counterpart.

Screengrabs below.  Click to enlarge-







AUDIO

Audio has been remastered in 5.1, but the original mono track is retained as well.


EXTRAS
  • Audio commentary with Director Eric Karson
  • Making of 'The Octagon'
    • 2003 documentary on the making of the film.  Director Karson has some nice things to say about LVC in this.
  • Interview with star Tadashi Yamashita featurette
  • Original trailer


Overall I was very satisfied with this release.  Recommended to all LVC fans (and Chuck Norris fans too!)


Full stats and ordering info-
  • Region: Region A
  • Language: English
  • Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Studio: Scorpion Entertainment
  • Run Time: 104 minutes

Amazon.com -The Octagon [Blu-ray] (widescreen)

Saturday, November 14, 2015

Location: Pechina - The Big Gundown

 
A continuation from the previous post on the finale location of The Big Gundown, this time focusing on the duel between LVC's Jonathan Corbett and Gerard Herter as the masterfully monocled Baron von Schulenberg. 

Located in Pechina, south of Tabernas, this location remains for the most part, unchanged since 1966.

Below are the location comparisons from the final duel-


The duel begins
 


The completely unchanged landscape


Erosion has changed much of the landscape of the Barron's hill
 

Wide shot (not as high up as it looks)


Final shot of the duel


Everyone is shot!


Brockston is still the man in charge!

 
...or not!
 
 
Victorious, Jonathan Corbet rides off
 
 
 
 

Saturday, November 7, 2015

Location: Pechina - The Big Knifedown

 
This entry will be part one of two focusing on the finale of The Big Gundown.  Located in Pechina, south of Tabernas, this location remains for the most part, unchanged since 1966.  This location is currently on private property, but I was fortunate enough to get permission to visit and take photos.

Below are the location comparisons from the final duel between Cuchillo (Tomas Millian) and Chet (Angel del Pozo).


"No... The Blade!
 

Corbet retrieves his blade for Cuchillo


Man vs. Knife! 





Final shot of the duel
 
 
Chet gets a knife to the head, and Brockston arrives to declare...
 
 
"You're really too damn smart to be a Senator"


Next entry... The Big Gundown!