Yes, but that might be a trimmed shot, and maybe originally there was a much longer pull-back.
I still think that this scene was shot for a dying Clay.
Looks like it, yes. But Corbucci was a man of many ideas, often contrary ideas. In Django he first wanted this, than that, today mud, tomorrow snow. And he ran away from an unfinished Johnny Oro because he couldnât wait to start with Django. He often reworked entire scripts on the set and than changed his ideas again in the last minute. So both endings could be âoriginalâ: the scene youâre referring to was shot for a dying Clay, but Corbucci wasnât sure, he had not yet completely made up his mind and therefore wanted to try an alternative ending with a surviving Clay as well. The last shot is beautiful, and the entire scene with Clay shooting holes in the glasses, is a genuine Corbucci idea, ridiculous of course, but he was one of those directors who could make ridiculous ideas work. Like I said in my review: I like both endings, they both work for me.
I read them, it doesnât really mean anything. If the producer forced an ending, this decision could have been made at any point, including well before the ending was ever shot⌠it doesnât mean that Corbucci didnât have an ending in mind before shooting the scene
Also this relates to the above points about shot abruptness, since Corbucci may have also changed his mind after the shootâŚ
Yes the holy glasses are wonderful, but this aside, not sure why anyone would think the happy ending would be Corbucciâs choice. Perhaps after seeing how stupid it was, he then changed his mind, not recognizing it at first 
Sure, but you are nonetheless basing your suggestion on the Sergio Corbucci that later came to be known for such things rather than the Sergio Corbucci at the time of shooting (that doesnât mean to say he didnât have it in him at an earlier stage, but just that your perspective is different).
Donât get me wrong, I see arguments on both sides. I just need to see if I can find him having said anything anywhere about it. Although that in itself is weird because if he had wanted a different ending he probably would have been more vocal about itâŚ
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True, and Iâm not trying to say anything for sure of course.
My opinion is more based on the fact that the happy ending just isnât very good, aside from the glasses. While that last shot is excellent, the ending itself is rather bad, happiness aside. So it would make sense to me that he would instead want the other.
But putting it this way you can also easily defend the alternative TGS ending ⌠
Minnesota Clay is not a western which needs a bad ending, a happy one would be just fine for me, but if the black Sergio wanted himself a good ending, why not directing a more convincing one? And not one which bears the risk to turn the whole film into a joke.
Nahh, as I said before, this ending smells very much like a producerâs idea, which Corbcci then turned into that joke, like he did with that TGS ending.
Btw what do you guys think about the I crudeli ending? Is that a premature ending, prematurely cut to suggest that both leads are not dying?
Itâs a shame that there are not more interviews which could shed some light on Corbucciâs intentions and preferences. This semi autographic book by his widow would probably tell a lot.
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Not really, we have more info about how things went in the case of The Great Silence.
Iâm btw not defending anything (other than that the happy ending works for me as well as the unhappy one), just trying to said what could have happened. I have been looking and asking people who possibly knew more but havenât been able to find any conclusive evidence on the subject.
Could be, I always had the idea there was something wrong with the ending. Something seems to be missing and itâs to brief and also to ânormalâ compared to the long, bloody opening massacre. But I should rewatch the entire movie to say anything conclusive about this
For some reason this movie has slipped through in my to-watch-list, I guess that the fact that it is a pre-Django spag from the âtraditionalâ era made me overlook it, and now realize that it may be the case for others aswell since the movie doesnât get the praise it really should IMO. Iâm very happy that I watched it. First of all I enjoyed it all around a lot and second because it gave me a whole new perspective on Corbucciâs abilities as a story teller and director, having only seen the post-Django Corbucciâs I would honestly not think that Minnesota Clay would come out from him, I guess the boom of the Leone movies had him taking him another path. I look forward to watch Johnny Oro now aswell!
Gave this one a re-watch and added a review to my blog.
This may not be top 20 film for me but it is still well above average and plenty to enjoy.
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This is one I should dig out again ⌠been ages since I watched it, and I have no real memory except that I enjoyed it.
Yeah, itâs pretty good one for such an early sw. One of the few Iâve seen in cinema.
I looked for my VCI DVD copy of it today, canât find it 
Ouch, that sucks! Even more reason to hope for a Blu-ray release!
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Gaumont issued an Italian/French blu ray of it in 2016.
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Revisited this through the reccent BR release from Explosive Media. This film has never looked better. A stunning transfer.
And what a film⌠A finely crafted film from a man who certainly knew his westernsâŚ
Has anyone else thought about Mr. Fox and his LVC resemblance?
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Bought the Koch Media version recently, never saw it before, and I thought it was probably one of the most underrated spaghetti fliks⌠Corbucciâs unflinching style was starting to come through⌠The original ending should have been left as it was
A classic early spaghetti flik
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Cover of one of the many photo comics with Patrizia Del Frate, also known under the pseudonym Diana Martin.
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Just watched. Never seen before. Great movie. I even liked that happy ending. Indeed, Mr. Fox is very similar to Lee Van Cleef.
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