Oh it breaks my heart to see those stars
Smashing a perfectly good guitar
I dont know who they think they are
Smashing a perfectly good guitar— John Hiatt
This just hurts — as a historian, as a guitar picker… And just for the record, Quentin Tarantino is an asshole.
From Guitar Player Magazine — Christopher Scapaletti
Apparently, Kurt Russell didn’t get the memo about the historic Martin guitar that makes an appearance in Quentin Tarantino’s latest film, The Hateful Eight. In the scene, the character Daisy Domergue, played by Jennifer Jason Leigh, is singing and playing the instrument when John Ruth, Russell’s character, decides he’s heard enough. “Music time’s over,” he yells before grabbing the guitar from her and smashing it to pieces against a large wooden support.
The Martin, a model from the 1870s, was on loan from the company’s museum and, according to Mark Ulano, the film’s Academy Award–winning sound mixer, “was priceless.” Six doubles were created as stand-ins for the scene.
“We were supposed to go up to that point, cut and trade guitars and smash the double,” Ulano explains to SSNInsider.com. “Well, somehow that didn’t get communicated to Kurt, so when you see that happen on the frame, Jennifer’s reaction is genuine.”
“Kurt shattered the antique guitar and everyone was pretty freaked out. Tarantino was in a corner of the room with a funny curl on his lips, because he got something out of it with the performance.”
Reportedly, Martin Museum reps took it in stride. According to Ulano, they asked, “Do you need another one and can we please have all the pieces to display in our museum?”
UPDATE: It gets worse. Martin did NOT “take it in stride.” They were given bullshit information and obfustication. Again, Guitar Player:
The makers of Quentin Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight never told Martin Guitars how a historic acoustic guitar on loan from its museum came to be destroyed on the set of the 2015 film.
Dick Boak of C.F. Martin said the company did not learn that the instrument was smashed by actor Kurt Russell until the incident was reported on Tuesday by Reverb.com, an online marketplace for gear. That story was itself based on an interview with the film’s sound mixer, Mark Ulano, that ran on SSNInsider.com.
Boak, director of the museum, archives and special projects for C.F. Martin & Co, said the company was initially told the guitar had been damaged in an accident on the set. “We assumed that a scaffolding or something fell on it,” Boak told Reverb.com, in response to its story.
“All this about the guitar being smashed being written into the script and that somebody just didn’t tell the actor, this is all new information to us,” Boak said. “We didn’t know anything about the script or Kurt Russell not being told that it was a priceless, irreplaceable artifact from the Martin Museum.”
As a result of the incident, Boak said Martin will no longer loan guitars to movies “under any circumstances.”
deuce says
February 5, 2016 at 7:16 amAgreed. I enjoyed his first two movies (plus True Romance, which I consider better for him not directing), but I’ve come to dislike/loathe everything he’s done the last 20yrs.
Too bad Russell got mixed up in all that.
Very sad that the guitar was destroyed. Why was an original required at all? It doesn’t make sense.
Tarantino is just another example of our cultural nihilism.
JimC says
February 5, 2016 at 7:24 amX-ring. And I can’t understand why the 1870 Martin was needed either. The image of Tarantino smirking because he got a real reaction — to the destruction of an irreplaceable artifact — just makes my blood boil. Like that smirking little pharma shit whatsisname. Just want to smite ’em with a joint of beef, eh?
Greg Marshall says
February 5, 2016 at 8:06 amSelf-indulgent twaddle. Tarantino is over for me after this film.
When I think Martin Guitars, I think of the beautiful instrument my dad bought my younger brother when he was 12 and a lonely farm kid who did not yet have a driver’s license. It was a financial stretch for my dad, believe me.
He learned to play it well, kept playing through university, a PhD in physics, postgrad work in Switzerland and still plays it daily at 63. It has the sweetest sound of any guitar I’ve ever heard.
Wilfully destroying an instrument like this, historical or not, is an act of vandalism and even in the service of “art” is a horrifying thing. Musical instruments are mostly hand made, and to me, carry a bit of the soul of the craftspeople who made them.
JimC says
February 5, 2016 at 9:12 amIt’s amazing how those instruments sound as they age.
Craig Rullman says
February 5, 2016 at 9:30 amTarantino is a tithead. He’s been re-packaging the same script for 20 years–which has produced an opportunity for some fine acting–but he’s long crossed over the mountain passes into the land of self-indulgence and naked narcissism. I was listening to the Cormac McCarthy, Werner Herzog, Lawrence Krauss radio discussion the other night. Tarantino in that room, with actual creative heavyweights? Not by a country mile.
JimC says
February 5, 2016 at 9:46 amIn my fantasy world, I envision Sam Peckinpah beating Quentin Tarantino within an inch of his life with a tequila bottle. While Bob Dylan sings “Knocking On Heaven’s Door.”
Craig McDonald says
February 5, 2016 at 5:33 pmGiving you an amen, Jim.
JimC says
February 5, 2016 at 5:38 pmWelcome back buddy! Hope that Peacemaker still resides by the typewriter…
deuce says
February 5, 2016 at 10:14 amRight on, Jim.
My tipping point came when I was listening to QT’s comments on the “True Romance” dvd. It was during the torture scene. I’d always found that very powerful. Hopper realizes that he’ll be tortured into revealing his son’s whereabouts eventually and decides to goad Walken into killing him first. He does so with calm and dignity. In doing so, Hopper, who hadn’t done all that well by his son up to that point, redeemed himself as a father, paying the ultimate price.
What did QT babble about the whole time? The whole “Sicilians were spawned by niggas” thing. QT was SO proud of that. He crowed about bringing the “historical truth” to the world. Too bad he has no idea about the obvious phenotype of “Moors”/Berbers in North Africa, all of which is being backed up by genomics now. He “learned” all of this from the ex-con brother of his mom’s best friend who “learned” it in prison.
Tarantino doesn’t care about art (or historical accuracy), just shock and agitprop.
JimC says
February 5, 2016 at 10:26 amYep.
clay m says
February 5, 2016 at 1:27 pmH8ful Eight was a horrible movie just self indulgent crap and then to find out they smashed a grand old guitar. Too much… won’t see another QT film.
JimC says
February 5, 2016 at 1:44 pmPretty much there myself.
deuce says
February 5, 2016 at 4:02 pmI love how the reporter in the link called the guitar-smash “funny” and “amusing”.
JimC says
February 5, 2016 at 4:06 pmY’know, the more I think about it, the more I suspect that Tarantino deliberately set that up. Cynical?
deuce says
February 5, 2016 at 4:18 pmNope. These days, I wouldn’t put anything past ‘im. To think, I was a pretty big fan back in the mid-’90s. Then every movie pretty much kept getting worse in one way or another. The only thing I can say for ‘im now is that he gives some neglected actors work now n’ then.
Patrick McG says
February 5, 2016 at 4:59 pmThis kind of stuff pisses me off. You hired your actors for a reason. It’s just enfant terrible shit. He doesn’t trust Kurt Russell or Jennifer Jason Leigh to give an honest performance? I saw the movie and that moment wasn’t something that stood out as anything special. I didn’t hate the movie and generally like his movies even when they don’t quite work. I like that he has created two westerns but yeah, after this, its going to be difficult to “want” to see what he does next.
JimC says
February 5, 2016 at 5:01 pmYeah, what did anybody really get out of it?
deuce says
February 5, 2016 at 5:18 pmI think SLJ getting a hummer was the entire reason the movie was made.
JimC says
February 5, 2016 at 5:26 pmSadly, that’s probably true…
Saddle Tramp says
February 6, 2016 at 1:09 amWell boys…
First let me say that I take all the comments with a sincere appreciation and regard from whence they come.
As the one who introduced this film to the forum I take it as my duty to weigh in.
Am I a Tarantino fan? Not in any particular fashion. His signature over the top bloodletting has no appeal to me. Stylistically I do appreciate a lot of his other techniques though.
However, blowing up vintage Martins ( intentionally ) would never be on the list. This all appears very suspect to me. Martin itself does not appear (from the reporting thus far) to be as torn up about it as others opining here seem to be.
Why do it in the first place? It’s not as if it were a coca cola product placement. Was it to add authenticity to the film?
Martin loaned it without renumeration? Perhaps, but how many would even notice it’s lineage and destroying (the real thing) would not seem at all necessary for it’s intended purpose which was never really adequately explained. Something is not adding up here. Dunno! I am open to suggestion.
So let’s get to the bottom of the reason for lambasting QT and the film. First let me say this. Is Bruce Dern a fool? Is Kurt Russell a fool? Are they only opportunistic money grubbers on their last gasp and only out for a money grab? I think not. Over indulgent narcissistic bastards? Come on now. I am no acolyte of QT nor am I acting as his apologetic, but I do respect his respect for filmmaking and for filmmakers. There is much of this film I did not care for. At times ( regarding JJL especially ) I thought I was watching THE EXORCIST in a most ill placed manner and she is up for Best Supporting Actress. She was the least compelling character to me even though it was her neck in the noose. All the bloodletting was a little too much to say the least and I know this is one of QT’s signature trademarks and one I appreciate the least or not at all.
However, comparing him
to a price gouging Wall Street predator exploiting medically dependent victims might be a stretch. That guy does deserve the noose!!
America at it’s most guilty.
Exploiting loopholes to keep your neck out of the loop.
Also, I did actually see his smirk as I heard him plead the fifth watching him on the news, whereas it is only a rumor regarding that of QT’s supposed smug satisfaction after the scene was in the can.
How about a fair trial?
What if that take would have failed? Sounds like the stuff of Hollywood myth making to me. Personally, QT can be quite off putting to me, but I choose not to throw out the baby with the bathwater. Hell, I was pissed at Jim Morrison for destroying a bunch of great and rare jazz records of Ray Manzarek’s personal collection, but I still love L.A. Woman. I digress.
Personally ( and I could be wrong ) I think QT truly loves great western films and goes to great lengths to deliver the goods and is not motivated by narcissistically pathological reasons. What I got out of this film was the tension created in a blizzard forced situation of a group at gunpoint bargaining for their own survival and profit ( with the exception of Bruce Dern’s character ). Kind of like our current political circus taking place where a helluva lot more is at stake!
Was the demise of the vintage Martin unintentional collateral damage? I hope so! I would not take it’s loss lightly or take kindly to a conspiracy between the prop person and QT to gain only a continuity in shooting the scene while unbeknownst to Kurt Russell he was destroying a priceless guitar. Something just does not smell right. War is hell and so can making a movie or so it would seem. Innocents get hurt. I hope it was all a accident. If not I have lost my respect for the whole lot of them. Maybe I missed something. I hope not.
Assuming it was all an unfortunate accident where does it leave this film? I enjoyed the presentation of the venue I saw it in. The opening scene drew me in from the git go. From there about a good 90 % of the film was watchable. Tarantino is known for his little mistakes (or not) that can be irritating.
Call it poetic license if you will.
Purposely destroying vintage Martins does not qualify for this. Eccentricity does not justify this. A directors ego does not excuse it. Worse things have happened.
I do believe he tried to deliver the spirit of the time honored western with a twist of wry observation while at the same time stepping on the toes of some very traditional cowboy boots. All of this while once again putting racism and bloody violence in the face of it all. Whether you like his style or not I don’t think that this premise can be questioned. Over indulgence or pitting us in a moral dilemma? Probably both!
With or without trial?
Vigilanteism or Judge Parker?
Or is this one…
Dead or Alive!!
With all due respect…
We are all entitled to our opinions.
JimC says
February 6, 2016 at 6:49 amThanks for the thoughtful comments ST. I admit I was pretty quick to grab a rope. The image of Tarantino with “a funny curl on his lips, because he got something out of it with the performance” really got up my nose and prompted the comparison with the smirking pharma bro. Yeah, it’s someone’s account, but we’ve all seen that self-satisfied look on QT’s face, haven’t we?
You’re right — as John Maddox Roberts has pointed out right here on this blog, we’d lose a whole lot of art if we threw it out just because we abhor the behavior of the artist. Like you (no surprise) I love L.A. Woman despite Morrison being a drunken prick. Hell, Peckinpah was no angel, right? I’d argue that either of those guys’ best work is more significant that anything Tarantino has done, but, still, your point is well taken.
I have always found something particularly bratty and self-indulgent about QT — and if (I realize it’s an “if) he allowed that guitar to be smashed knowingly just to get a reaction, well, I stand by my vision of Sam Peckinpah bludgeoning him with a tequila bottle. That would be true justice. And, properly shot…. art.
Saddle Tramp says
February 6, 2016 at 10:47 amThanks for the reply Jim.
Your point is well taken and well presented as always.
I do not take it lightly and the same goes for everyone else.
Intelligent discourse is a rare commodity these dark days.
Yes, Tarantino is no Sam Peckinpah or Monte Hellman for that matter, in either stature or artistic ethics and aesthetics, but I do not dismiss his adherence to a purity of purpose. Trust me when I say that I hold so many many more in much higher regard when it comes to both personality and work. Does he even belong or deserve to belong in the pantheon of great American westerns or Is it an anomily that is a distortion of that spirit? No doubt it is debateable. I take what I like and disregard the rest.
I bought Criterion Collection’s 3:10 to Yuma (1957) along with every other classic western they put out including Hellman’ pair of anti-westerns The Shooting / Ride In The Whirlwind. I don’t believe Tarantino could ride with this outfit when it comes to the western genre. We’ll see.
I have never bought anything by him. Tarantino abhors the DVD anyway. I do respect and understand his love of actual film though. He does so even at his own peril. I guess any defense of him is at my own peril as well. Just want to set the record straight as to who I truly admire as opposed to those I have a passing interest in at the moment. Anyone who can muster up the west with a degree of integrity has my attention.
Frontier Partisans gets me there and takes it up a notch!!
Much appreciated.
JimC says
February 6, 2016 at 11:06 amThanks for the kind word — I love it that we can all hash this kinda stuff out like “civilized” folks. A lost art on the internet…
Saddle Tramp says
February 6, 2016 at 12:26 pmP.S.
Jim, I have a few qualifiers to add to your scene and method of retribution:
Make damn sure it is not a rare and vintage bottle of Tequila. We don’t want those people upin arms.
Also, it’s not a real fight unless the other man’s blood gets on you. This also relates to your recent post on weaponry.
Make damn sure you get it right on the first take. Ha!
JimC says
February 6, 2016 at 1:16 pmIf it’s Sam, that tequila bottle will be empty.
One take and “order more blood!”