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!

 

Sabata - Pressbook

Click to enlarge!

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!