 Henry Fonda (qv) originally turned down a role in the picture.  Director Sergio Leone (I) (qv) flew to the United States and met  with Fonda, who asked why he was wanted for the movie. Sergio  replied, "Picture this: the camera shows a gunman from the waist  down pulling his gun and shooting a running child. The camera pans  up to the gunmans face and... its Henry Fonda."