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Wallach and Leone had built a good relationship during shooting The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, but had a falling-out later on.

Leone had asked Wallach to play a role in his upcoming film, A Fistful of Dynamite, but the actor explained he had a scheduling conflict.

After much pleading, Wallach finally relented and turned down the other offer and waited for Leone to raise enough Hollywood money for the picture.

However, the studio Leone went to had an actor, Rod Steiger, with one more picture in his studio contract and the studio announced that Leone would have to use him if they were to put up any financing.

Leone then called to apologize to Wallach, who remained dumbstruck on the other end of the line.

After even refusing to give Wallach a token payment for losing out on two jobs, the actor said, " I'll sue you "— to which Leone replied, " Get in line ", and slammed down the phone.

In his autobiography, Wallach relates the incident as regrettably being the final time the two spoke to one another.