Jennifer Jason Leigh, who played the role of Daisy Domergue in “The Hateful Eight,” the most recent film by Quentin Tarantino, was particularly attached to the antique Martin guitar that was smashed by John Ruth, played by Kurt Russell.
“I was heartbroken about the guitar, because I was quite in love with it,” Leigh said, as quoted in the Hollywood Reporter, adding that she had learned to play on that guitar. “I got to actually take it home with me, and I played it every day. It had the most beautiful, warm tone.”
According to the Hollywood Reporter, Leigh said she had hoped to buy the guitar before learning that it was a museum piece. “Then Quentin gave me another Martin guitar from the 1880s as my wrap present, which was kind of extraordinary,” she said.
It ended up being great for the scene, but very sad for the guitar, and for my guitar teacher, and for me.”
Leigh also granted Quentin Tarantino the benefit of the doubt regarding whether he deliberately allowed the guitar to be smashed, as implied in previously reported stories.
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“I don’t think Quentin knew that it was the (vintage instrument), either. The scene was going exactly the way he wanted it to go, and he wanted to play one scene in the movie in real time without a cut, in one long take,” she said, as quoted in the Hollywood Reporter. “Kurt felt terrible; he had no idea. When he found out, his eyes literally welled up. It ended up being great for the scene, but very sad for the guitar, and for my guitar teacher, and for me.”