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The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly movie cover Movie Locations Guide

Where was The Good, the Bad and the Ugly filmed?

1966

City Locations

Rome (Italy), Burgos, Colmenar Viejo, Granada, Almería, (Spain), Durango (USA), Mexico

Location Types

Ranch, Unusual, Hospital, Film Studio

Location Styles

Desert, Colonial, Dilapidated, Ranch Style, Rustic

About The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Sergio Leone's Italian-American Western The Good, the Bad and the Ugly stars Clint Eastwood, Eli Wallach, and Lee Van Cleef. The remarkable screenplay was composed by Age & Scarpelli, Luciano Vincenzoni, and Leone himself (with an additional contribution from uncredited Sergio Donati), with an original story from Vincenzoni and Leone as its basis. Initially released with a 177-minute-long runtime in Italy, it received cuts to shorten its run time for later showings.

Set during the American Civil War, it tells the story of three outlaws searching for a cache of gold amid arduous circumstances. The film follows Clint Eastwood's character, Blondie "the Good.” He faces off with Angel Eyes( Lee Van Cleef), a bounty hunter, and Tuco (Eli Wallach), a Mexican bandit, for the loot. While not outright good himself, Blondie is more cunning than his opponents and uses this to his advantage.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly was recorded in Techniscope by Tonino Delli Colli, giving it an epic scope that made it stand out from other spaghetti Westerns. It is also noted for its iconic score composed by Ennio Morricone.

The film was an international success upon release, earning over $25 million against its budget of $1 million. It is also the recipient of multiple awards, including a 1966 Faro Island Film Festival award for Best Actor (Clint Eastwood), a 2021 Online Film & Television Association for Score (Ennio Morricone), and a 2016 Motion Picture Award.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Locations

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly is a classic Western movie with scenes that have been burned into the memories of movie fans worldwide. Filming took place across four countries, including Italy, Spain, West Germany, and the United States. However, Spain provided the setting for most of the film’s scenes.

Spain features magnificent backdrops, from bustling cities to deserts, beaches, and plenty of open spaces. Indeed, it was perfect for establishing the atmosphere of the spaghetti Western, with awe-inspiring vistas.

The film's production first took place at Cinecittà studio on Via Tuscolana, 1055, in Rome. This is where they shot the iconic opening scene when Blondie captures Tuco. The Elios Film production company in Piazzale Flaminio, 19 housed several of The Good, the Bad and the Ugly film sets.

Blondie meets Tuco scene in The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Via Tuscolana, 1055, 00173 Roma RM, Italy

Filmed in Rome, the scene starts with Blondie riding into town, with Tuco shackled to its back. They walk across the arid landscape of Monument Valley and enter a small western town. Upon their arrival, Blondie collects Tuco's $2,000 bounty from the local sheriff (John Bartha).

However, as Tuco is about to be hanged for his crimes, Blondie intervenes and uses his revolver to sever the noose and free him. The two escape on horseback amidst a flurry of gunfire from their pursuers.

Often parodied in other movies and TV shows, such as South Park and Family Guy, it captured the essence of a classic western shootout. The "showdown-style” frames and the unmistakable Western soundtrack add to the tension of the scene’s climax.

Cinecittà Studios in Rome, which opened in 1937 as Europe’s first large-scale movie studio complex, provided the setting for the scene. Italy’s most famous filmmakers, such as Federico Fellini, who famously shot La Dolce Vita there in 1960, and Martin Scorsese, who worked on Gangs of New York in 2001, did some of their best work at the studios.

To visit Cinecittà Studios, you can easily get there by bus or car from Rome’s city center. It takes around 30 minutes along Via Tuscolana 1055. Alternatively, a train takes about 30 minutes from Roma Tiburtina via Metro Line A (orange).

Bridge explosion scene in The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

The Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park, Níjar, Almería, Spain

One of the most memorable scenes in The Good, the Bad and the Ugly is when the town is besieged by cannon fire. The Almeria province of Spain served as the backdrop for the scene, and the explosive bridge scene was also shot in the same area. However, a reshoot was necessary after all three cameras were destroyed during the first take!

Blondie and Tuco blow up a bridge connecting Union and Confederate army camps. Hoping to find buried treasure in a nearby cemetery, viewers are left on edge of their seats as they wonder what will happen next. The tension culminates with an explosion that stuns everyone watching.

Several places in Almeria provided settings for the scene, including The Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park close to Níjar City which showcased the desert walk scene, Tabernas welcomed the film crew for various moments, and Los Albaricoques' Cortijo del Fraile or Farmhouse of Friar served as another filming site.

To visit these locations today, begin the journey in Almeria and head towards Níjar via road 54007. Once there, explore the magnificent countryside that provided, such a unique atmosphere to Leone’s masterpiece. Tourists who wish to get an even closer look at some of the sets used in The Good, The Bad and The Ugly can go on guided tours offered by local companies.

Graveyard scene in The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

09613 Contreras, Burgos, Spain

The scene in The Good, the Bad and the Ugly sees Blondie and Angel Eyes engage in a showdown. As they are both ready to draw, Tuco watches on. Tensions rise, and Blondie reveals that the gold is buried beside Arch Stanton's grave, marked "Unknown." It quickly becomes apparent that Blondie has deceived Tuco, who finds himself hanging helplessly in a noose while Blondie rides away with his half of the gold.

The infamous scene is often cited as one of Eastwood's most outstanding performances. Tucked away in a small valley encompassed by stunning rock formations reminiscent of the landscapes seen in Western films, Sad Hill can be accessed via a narrow road commonly used by hikers.

Sergio Leone had ten thousand graves built on site, with no bodies inside, ensuring that it would become an awe-inspiring film set. After undergoing extensive renovation works over 49 years later, visitors can still experience this fantastic location in all its cinematic glory!

This scene was filmed at 09613 Contreras, Burgos in Spain. This area is located in the country's south-eastern region in Castilla y Leon province, just northwest of Madrid. From Madrid, take the A1 highway towards Bociguillas until you reach Exit from A-1, and take BU-910. From there, follow local roads until you reach Contreras, where you will find 09613 Contreras.

Railroad station scene in The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

C. Zacatín, 4, 18512 La Calahorra, Granada, Spain

Tuco places a corpse across the railroad tracks and then lies on top of it. He waits until a train comes to sever the chain holding the dead body in place with its wheels. Unknown to him, the box cars have iron steps jutting out that could have decapitated him if he stood up at an inopportune moment.

This suspenseful moment was filmed at Estación de Calahorra in La Calahorra, Guadix, about midway between Granada and Seville in Spain. It is a striking building with a distinctive brickwork exterior and a classic red-tiled roof. The station serves as a stop for passengers on both regional and intercity trains.

It is also known as La Estación del Sol (the Station of the Sun). Visitors can tour this historic building and explore its interior, decorated with vintage artifacts and murals depicting scenes from Spanish history.

To get to La Calahorra by car, take Highway A-92 south from Granada or north from Seville until you reach the village of Viznar, where you should then take the exit for 312 from A-92. Alternatively, catch one of several daily buses that depart from Granada’s bus station to La Calahorra several times daily.

Tuco reunites with his brother scene in The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Plaza Fundadores, Zona Centro, 34000 Durango, Dgo., Mexico

Tuco and his brother Pablo (Luigi Pistilli) reunite at a mission in Mexico. The tense reunion between the two estranged brothers provides a critical moment of reflection in the movie as we see how their past has affected their present.

We are also reminded of the duality of Tuco's character - on the one hand, he is a wily criminal who will do anything for money. Yet, on the other, he still loves his brother and values family above all else.

The Plaza de Fundadores in Durango City, Mexico serves as a reminder of the city's rich heritage and history. This public square dates back to colonial times and is home to several historic structures, such as the Palace of Government and San Agustin Church; these buildings have become lasting symbols of Mexican culture.

To visit Plaza de Fundadores, take a bus from Mexico City or Monterrey to Durango City or fly into Durango International Airport. You can then hop on a taxi or local bus to Zona Centro, where Plaza de Fundadores is located. Alternatively, traveling around Mexico by car takes about 12 hours from Monterrey to Durango City via Highway 15 North.

Conclusion

Blondie’s mission to uncover Confederate gold during the American Civil War makes for an interesting watch. Eli Wallach brings hilarious wit with his portrayal of “Ugly” while Lee Van Cleef convincingly plays “Bad" menacingly well. With Ennio Morricone's score combining these performances in an operatic experience that has gone down in cinema history, it is no wonder why this spaghetti Western still resonates today.

The script for The Good, the Bad and the Ugly is incredibly well written and the actors' performances are all top-notch, with Eastwood bringing a cool detachment to his character while still conveying emotion in subtle ways. Wallach’s performance as Ugly is particularly memorable, providing much of the movie’s dark humor through his self-mocking.

Leone's mesmerizing widescreen Western backdrop was revolutionary for its time. The explosive film sparked a wave of filmmakers inspired by this genre, giving rise to what we now refer to fondly today, the Spaghetti Western.

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly 1966 is an absolute must-watch for any Sergio Leone movie fan or anyone interested in classic Western films. It still holds up remarkably well due to its timeless themes of violence and morality. Above all else, though, it showcases Sergio Leone at his very best - crafting a unique world filled with humor, action, and drama that viewers will remember sometime soon.