20 Things You Didn't Know About The Good, The Bad And The Ugly

9. Eli Wallach Was Almost Killed By An Oncoming Train

The Good The Bad And The Ugly Tuco Train
United Artists

Later on in the film, when escaping Union Army captors, Tuco uses the wheels of an oncoming train to break his handcuffs and escape to freedom. Sergio Leone insisted that Eli Wallach himself perform the stunt, as he wanted Tuco's face to be clearly visible.

Assuring Wallach that the train would be loud and scary but ultimately completely safe, Leone failed to mention the low-hanging step rails that protruded from the carriages. These were just inches above Wallach's head, and would have decapitated him had he raised up at all.

The rails in question can even be seen in the wide shot, and it shows how eye-wateringly close they were.

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A self-taught video editor with nearly 25 years of experience, Joe worked in freelance videography for many years before joining WhatCulture in 2018. During that time, he has expanded his work to include both writing and presenting, and has been at the forefront of several new channel launches including WhatCulture Horror and WhatCulture Star Wars, largely defining their visual identity through the design and curation of their bespoke assets. As a dedicated WhatCulture Gaming staff member, he has spearheaded numerous new content strategies and formats, and has taken the lead on various charitable projects that have raised large sums of money for charities close to his heart. Bluesky and Instagram: @jjpinwheel