Westerns... All'Italiana!

New DVD Release

2012-01-27T05:18:00.000-08:00

Testa o croce (Heads or Tails)

Year: 1969

Director: Piero Pierotti

Starring: : John Ericson, Sheyla Rosin, Edwige Fenech

Distribution: Medusa Home Entertainment

DVD / Video: PAL 1.85

Audio: Dolby Digital Mono Italian - 2.0, Italian Dolby Digital - 5.1

Subtitles: Italian for the Hearing Impaired

Extras: Italian Trailer, cast and crew credits

Running time: 95 minutes

Released: 8/24/2011

Who Are Those Gals? - Aurora Bautista

2012-01-27T05:15:00.000-08:00

Aurora Bautista Zúmel was born in Villanueva de los Infantes, Calladolid, Castilla-LaMancha, Spain on October 15, 1925. She attended primary school in Madrid, shortly before the Civil War. At the outbreak of the war, the family moved to the town Archena, and then went to Barcelona. Here she did her undergraduate studies and after completion joined the Barcelona Theatre Institute to study drama.

Aurora played in “Eco y Narciso”, which was her first play, and although she had no intention of being more than an amateur, in 1944 she debuted in “La malquerida de Benavente”, with the company of Lola Membrives and a year later, was represented in the Madrid Spanish theater work “The Dream of a Summer Night”, directed by Cayetano Luca de Tena, under whom she was also in “La conjuración de Fiesco” (1948).

In 1948 Aurota had her first movie role at the hands of Juan de Orduna, in the movie “Locura de amor”, starring alongside Fernando Rey and earned her the Award Interpretation. After the success of this film she played “Pequeñeces” (1949) and “Agustina de Aragón” (1950) and, for the theater, “The Barber of Seville”. In 1953 she returned to film in the “Condenaados”, directed by Mur Oti, and then made “La gata” (1955) and “El marido” (1956), along with Alberto Sordi. Under the direction of Juan Antonio Bardem in ”Sonatas” (1959) and “Teresa de Jesús” (1961). Also during this phase of her career plays the role of Antigone in “Requiem por un mujer” and in “A Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” and “Yerma”.

Bautista then went on tour in America, where she staged the miraculous masterpiece “The Shoemaker's Prodigious Wife”, by Garcia Lorca, filmed “Rodó” in Argentina, and married the doctor Hernán Ramón Cristerna. A few days after the wedding she returned to Spain to shoot with Miguel Picazo what is considered her best performance, “La tía Tula”, which earned her the National Award for Performance in 1965.

Two years later, in Mexico made a new version of “El derecho de nacer” and in 1968, “Cristobal Colón”, back in Spain. It was followed by the films “Pepa Doncel” (1968), the film version of Antonio Gala’s “Benavente”, “Una vela para el diablo” (1973), Eugene Martin, “Los pasajeros” (1975), Jose Antonio Barrero, along with Paul Naschy and Henry Gregor, “El mirón” (1977), by José Ramón Larraz, and a remake of “Cristobal Colón” (1977).

In 1977 Aurora returned to the stage with a work by Arrabal, “Oye, Patria, mi aflicción”, for which she won the X Prize in 1979 Mayte. In 1982 released the first play of Mario Vargas “Llosa, La señorita de Tacna”, which two years later she received the award for Best Actress Award Valladolid City Theatre. Then she did the series “Cómicos” (1985), for television, filmed “Extramuros”, and “Paso a paso”, by Richard Harris.

Returning to film, she shot in 1987 “Divinas palabras y” directed by Jose Luis Garcia Sanchez “Divinas palabras”, and the following year, “Amanece que no es poco”. Her other works during this period were the television series “El olivar de Atocha”, and the play “artas de mujeres y Morirás de otra cosa”, with lead actor Manuel Gutierrez Aragon, and “Bodas de Sangue” by Garcia Lorca, which was his debut Buenos Aires. Her last film appearance was in “Tiovivo c. 1950” (2004). The recognition achieved throughout her career has resulted in numerous awards and accolades, in addition to those already mentioned, include the Gold Medal of Fine Arts Circle and the silver medal of the city of Zaragoza.

Aurora appeared in three Euro-westerns in the mid to late 1960s in supporting and cameo roles. With her recognition in Spain her name was always a draw for film goers. Today Aurora is retired

BAUTISTA, Aurora (aka Aura Batis) (Aurora Bautista Zúmel) [10/15/1925, Villanueva de los Infantes, Valladolid, Castilla-LaMancha, Spain - ] – stage, TV actress.

Deguello - 1965 (Danger City woman) [as Aura Batis]

$20,000 on Number 7 – 1967 (Peggy)

One by One – 1968 (Dolly’s maid)

RIP Vadim Glowna

2012-01-26T06:45:00.000-08:00

Vadim Glowna has died

Vadim Glowna died, according to his agency after a short illness.

The actor Vadim Glowna has died in a Berlin hospital on January 24, 2011 after a short severe illness, he was 70.

Glowna is considered one of the most prominent German character actors who also celebrated successes abroad. He worked with Claude Chabrol, Romy Schneider and Klaus Kinski. Although he has appeared in more than 160 films in a wide repertoire, he is regarded by many as the "Böser vom Dienst". His lived to play the roles of outsiders: Such people embody "a remnant of freedom," he said. Culture Minister Bernd Neumann praised the deceased as a versatile character actor. "The German film and theater world has become poorer by his death as an extraordinary actor."

His film debut was in 1964 in Johannes Schaaf Glowna "Im Schatten der Großstadt" (In the shadow of the big city). It was followed by "Gruppenbild mit Dame" by Heinrich Boll, the author of the film "Germany in Autumn". In 1985 he was the senior teacher in the ARD version of the story "Runaway Horse" by Martin Walser. It was followed by numerous other productions, including "The Untouchables" starring Hannelore Elsner. Internationally, he excelled with movies such as Chabrol's remake of "Quiet Days in Clichy" and Sam Peckinpah's war film "The Iron Cross." His only Euro-western roles was that of Brian Jones in the TV film “The Lost Gold of the Incas” (1977).

Again and again he returned to the theater, most recently to the German Theatre in Berlin. There he starred alongside Angela Winkler in "Mother Courage". Glowna was at one time married to the Russian actress Vera Tschechowa [1940- ] from 1967 until the late 1980s.

THE LAST RIDE TO SANTA CRUZ

2012-01-26T05:59:00.000-08:00

Der letzte Ritt nach Santa Cruz – German title

La chevauchée vers Santa Cruz – French title

Ortiz le bandit – French title

I teleftaia efodos tis Santa Cruz – Greek title

La lunga strada della vendetta – Italian title

Ortiz il bandito – Italian title

El Sheriff implacable – Spanish title

The Last Ride to Santa Cruz – English title

A 1963 German, Austrian co-production [Magnet Film (Berlin), Wiener Stadthalle GmbH (Vienna)]

Producer: Heinz Pollak, Karl Spiehs

Director: Rolf Olsen

Story: Charles Sealsfield

Screenplay: Alex Berg (Herbert Reinecker)

Dialogue Otto Pischin [German], Herta Hareson [German]

Cinematography: Karl Löb [Eastmancolor, Ultrascope]

Music: Charly Niessen (Carl Niessen), Erwin Halletz

Running time: 95 minutes

Cast:

Rex Kelly – Edmund Purdom

Pedro Ortiz – Mario Adorf

Elisabeth ‘Liz’ Kelly – Marianne Koch

José – Klaus Kinski

Juanita – Marisa Mell

Woody Johnson – Walter Giller

Carlos – Thomas Fritsch

Fernando – Sieghardt Rupp

Steve Kelly – Florian Kühne

Sheriff Henry – Edmund Hashim

John – Rolf Olsen

Deputy Sheriff – Dan Barry (Joaquín Gómez)

With: Kurt Nachmann, Martin Urtel

Pedro Ortiz has been sitting in prison for the past ten robbery of a gold shipment. After his release he wants to raise the previously hidden loot and exact revenge on the sheriff who put him in jail. For the job he frees his cellmates, some very nasty criminals, and they begin the bloody trail of revenge. He finds that ex-Sheriff Rex Kelly now works in a bank. Ortiz kidnaps Kelly’s wife and son and keeps them hostage in a Santa Cruz mountain hideout. Kelly pursues the outlaws and there he faces a showdown between the two mortal enemies.

YouTube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSHwGPUegzE

New Book Release

2012-01-25T06:17:00.000-08:00

A new book detailing the stories of the "Dollars Trilogy", by Sergio Leone, which was shot in the Cuenca Alta del Manzanares

SERRANO GNACIO

MADRID

01/21/2012 day

"Son, why did you skip school?"

'Because I went to see Mr. Clint Eastwood shoot Indians in the meadow ...

The First half of the sixties, again and again, teachers in schools in Colmenar Viejo helplessly witnessed the arrival of unbeatable rivals to capture the attention of their kids: none other than Hollywood superstars Kirk Douglas as Spartacus or Charlton Heston in El Cid made the people crazy with its battles during weeks of filming, and making their own stunts in a freak show for the neighbors.

When it was the “Western’s turn, the classrooms were empty, like a dried bush blowing in the wind. The cowboys and Indians are a favorite of Spanish children, and under no circumstances did pupils want to miss the shooting of "The Man with No Name", also known as "El Manco ', the tough cowboy played by Clint Eastwood in" The Dollar Trilogy", by Sergio Leone.

The spaghetti westerns were shot in Spain with Almeria, as their headquarters. In la Dehesa de Colmenar de Viejo Navalvillar was built the town of Michelena-Lega torn down in 1973 by the construction of a military heliport, a stage for mass duels to the death and tavern fights, which became the towns of White Rocks in "For a Few Dollars More" and Peralta in "the Good, the Bad and the Ugly."

Three shots, Clint!

This illustrious cinematic history of the town will be remembered today in the presentation of "Clint, dispara! La Trilogía del dólar de Sergio Leone" (T & B Publishers), 400 pages with facts, anecdotes, drawings, original photos of the shooting and other graphic unpublished materials relating to the work of Sergio Leone with Eastwood in this and other villages.

The book also includes Eastwood's own reflections on the concept of the westerns filmed in Spain, an idea that seemed too eccentric. "I thought, at the time that the film would make a lot of money, or not do anything. Surely the latter-thought the actor.” I said, "This will be a failure, but I’ll get a free trip to Italy and Spain, and since I've never been to any of the sites, it will be a good experience. And if the dice of fate goes well, it will be a bonus. So I went, and did my job the best I could.”

The shooting of the whole ‘Dollars’ series led to many encounters between Eastwood and Colmenareños, who told of some of their comic discussions with Leone. "No, no, not like that ...You must shoot three times, Clint! "Shouted the Italian filmmaker in a sequence of a duel to four of the people watching. "I did shot three times, but you must not have seen me," said the actor showing Sergio his gun cylinder, which proved that his trigger finger was too fast for the eye of the camera.

The Spanish Manco

This is just one small but very endearing story that occured during the days of Eastwood in the mountain town, many of which will be remembered in today's event (at 12.30 p.m. in the department store El patio de la Sierra) the entire area of Colmenar Viejo was a set of some of the most celebrated films in cinema history, also showing will be an exhibition of original "props" from the same local, and the presence of the actor Paco Valladares, who gave the Spanish voice for Manco's character in the Spanish dubbed version of "the Good, the bad and the Ugly." Also the Spanish assistant director Julio Sempere of these films of "For a Few Dollars More", Julio Sempere and set decorator "For a Fistful of Dollars", Jose Luis Galicia.

The book, written by Víctor ‘Benito’ Matellano García, the grandson of screenwriter and assistant director Victor Matellano, and who acted as an extra in "El Cid", also reviews other people of the region of Manzanares el Real and Hoyo de Manzanares, where some of the most iconic scenes from the first episode of the series, "A Fistful of Dollars" was shot - and other nearby towns like Aldea del Fresno, where a branch of Alberche River was turned into the Rio Grande for the sequence of the slaughter of the Mexican soldiers in "A Fistful of Dollars."

This extensive and ambitious work has also received notes from contributors such as Sir Christopher Frayling, the highest authority on the cinematography of Sergio Leone, and the Italian Carlo Gaberscek, Eurowestern specialist on locations, who did not hesitate to participate in the project sponsored by the association "Colmenar Viejo, Film Land."

The book is set for release on January 23, 2012

YouTube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFKHz7m5BL4

Happy 85th Birthday Gregg Palmer

2012-01-25T06:04:00.000-08:00

Born on January 25, 1927 in San Francisco, California, Gregg Palmer started out as a radio disc jockey, billed under his given name of Palmer Lee. He launched his film career in 1950, usually appearing in Westerns and crime melodramas. During the 1950s, he could most often be seen in such inexpensive Sci-fi films as “The Creature Walks Among Us” (1956) and “Zombies of Moro Tau” (1957). Before his retirement in 1983, Gregg Palmer logged in a great many TV credits, including a 13-week stint as a Chicago gunman named Harry in “Run Buddy Run” (1966). Gregg appeared in two Euro-westerns “They Call Me Providence” (1972) and “Here We Go Again, Eh Providence?” as Hurricane Kid Smith co-starring Tomas Milian and credited as Gregg Hunter. Gregg has remained active in retirement and can be found at film conventions and as a public speaker. Today we celebrate Gregg Palmer’s 85^th birthday.

THE LAST REBEL

2012-01-24T06:06:00.000-08:00

Il suo nome e Qualcano – Italian title

El ultimo rebelled – Spanish title

Det Hansynlosa Ganget – Swedish title

The Last Rebel – U.S.A. title

A 1970 U.S.A., Italian co-production [Spangler Pictures Ltd. (Hollywood), Heritage Italiana (Rome)]

Producer: Larry G. Spangler

Director: Denys McCoy

Story: Warren Kiefer (Lorenzo Sabatini)

Screenplay: Warren Kiefer (Lorenzo Sabatini)

Cinematography: Carlo Carlini [Technicolor]

Music: Tony Ashton, Jon Lord

Songs: “I’m Dying for You”, “Oh Matilda” sung by Ashton, Gardner & Dyke (Tony Ashton, Kim Gardener, Ron Dyke)

Running time: 90 minutes

Cast:

Captain Hollis Burnside – Joe Namath (Joseph Namath)

Matt Graves – Jack Elam (William Elam)

Duncan – Woody Strode (Woodrow Strode)

Sheriff – Ty Hardin (Orison Hungerford II)

Pearl – Victoria George

Madam Dupres – Annamaria Chio

Ruby – Jessica Dublin

Camellia – Marina Coffa

Black boy – Bruce Eweka

Pool hustler – Mike Forest (Michael Charlebois)

Virgil – Renato Romano

Stagecoach agent – Dominic Barto

Lieutenant – Herb Andress (Herbert Greunz)

Bedroom man – Larry Laurence (Larry Spangler)

Union officer – Sebastian Segriff

Al the barman – Al Hassan

Tavern owner – Hermano Reynoso

Tall soldier – Art Johnson

Old soldier – Paul Sheriff

1^st rancher – Troy Patterson (Ettore Corvino)

2^nd rancher – Rick Wells (Richard Wells)

Deputies – Jim Garbo (James Garbo), Tomas Rudy (Tomas Rudi)

It's 1865 in Missouri and the Civil War has just ended. Confederate soldiers Hollis Burnside and Matt Graves flee from Union soldiers that want to imprison them. Hollis then frees a black man named Duncan from a lynching and they become a trio. Later when Hollis wins a lot of money at the pool table and Matt doesn't get any, the two soldiers become enemies. This leads to a showdown between Hollis and Duncan against Matt and the henchmen he has put together to steal the money.

YouTube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFdSY_2lEOw

Happy 95th Birthday Ernest Borgnine

2012-01-24T06:04:00.000-08:00

Ermes Effron Borgnino was born on January 24, 1917 in Hamden, Connecticut. In recent decades he's been one of America's finest over-actors, but long ago Ernest Borgnine was the real deal. He was Fatso in “From Here to Eternity” (1953), got beaten up by Spencer Tracy in “Bad Day at Black Rock”, and won his Oscar for playing the sensitive butcher in “Marty” (both 1955). Borgnine is best known as Lt. Cdr. Quinton McHale on TV's “McHale's Navy” and two 1960s movies spawned from the sitcom (“McHale's Navy” and “McHale's Navy Joins the Air Force”). He was also the voice of "Mermaid Man" on TV's “SpongeBob SquarePants”, ‘Carface’ in “All Dogs Go to Heaven II”, and the first "center square" on Hollywood Squares when the game show first debuted in 1966. He was married to Katy Jurado [1924-2002] (1959-1963) and Ethel Merman [1908-1984] (1964-1964) and presently Tova Traesnaes [1941- ] (1973- ). Borgnine appeared in five Euro-westerns including “A Bullet for Sandoval” (1969) and “Hannie Caulder” (1970). Today we celebrate Ernest Borgnine’s 95^th birthday.

Remembering Dan Duryea

2012-01-23T06:08:00.000-08:00

Daniel Duryea was born on January 23, 1907 in White Plains, New York. He became an American stage, motion picture, and television actor of the 1940s, ‘50s, and ‘60s. Dan appeared in several classic TV series such as "The Twilight Zone," "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour," and "Bonanza." He appeared in only one Euro-western “The Hills Run Red” (1966) as Colonel Winnie Getz. Dan is the father of actor Peter Duryea. Dan passed away on June 7, 1968 in Hollywood, California, U.S.A. Today we remember Dan Duryea on what would have been his 105^th birthday.

The Last Pistolero

2012-01-22T06:13:00.000-08:00

L’ultimo Pistolero – Italian title

The Last Pistolero – English title

A 2002 Italian production [Ass. Celluloide, CKS Cinema e Communications (Rome)]

Producer: Claudio Bronzo

Director: Alessandro Dominici

Story: Sebastiano Ruiz Mignone

Screenplay: Sebastiano Ruiz Mignone

Cinematography: Alessandro Dominici [black & white[

Music: Ennio Morricone

Running time: 8 minutes

Cast:

Pistolero – Franco Nero

An aging gunslinger conceives of a unique way to eliminate himself in a deserted warehouse.

Happy 75th Birthday Hugo Blanco

2012-01-22T06:12:00.000-08:00

Hugo Blanco Galiasso’s parents were Spanish and he was born on January 22, 1937 in Chaco, Argentina. He made his stage debut at the age of five in Buenos Aires. He won a national award for his performance in “Clerambaro”. After a short career in television he followed several other Argentinian actors to Spain and made his 1961’s “La patota”. He was then contacted by director Jesus Franco who offered him the role of Ludwig von Klaus in 1962’s “La mano de un hombre muerto” (The Hand of a Dead Man). Blanco settled in Spain and made a career as a supporting actor in many genre’s and a total of over 50 films and television appearances including eleven Euro-westerns starting with “Hands of a Gunman” (1965) to “Tex and the Lord of the Deep” in 1985. He then returned to Argentina with his last film appearance was in “The Ebro Runs Dry” (1991). Blanco acted under the pseudonyms Ugo Blanco, John Clark, John Russell, Hugh White, and J. White. Today we celebrate Hugo Blanco’s 75^th birthday.

New CD Release

2012-01-21T07:08:00.000-08:00

Blackthorn

(2011)

Director: Mateo Gil

Starring: Sam Shepard, Eduardo Noriega

Composer: Lucio Godoy

Country: Spain

Label: Quartet Records

Tracks: 27

Extras: 2 vocals by Sam Shepard

Total time: 43:48

Available: February 2012

Track listing

1. they were not there (1:04)

2. ain’t no grave (1:33) [vocal Sam Shepard]

3. memories (0:28)

4. camino a Potosí (0:50)

5. Cinco se escapa (1:14)

6. so you speak English (0:42)

7. Miss Etta Place (1:07)

8. a dozen maybe... (1:02)

9. dos mulas y un sombrero (0:49)

10. la mina (1:27)

11. shaking hands (0:44)

12. your uncle Butch (0:41)

13. Yanna (2:09)

14. ¿dónde está su amigo el español?... (3:23)

15. thanks for that (1:21)

16. I love you both... tell him (1:47)

17. take your burden to the Lord (1:10) [vocal Sam Shepard]

18. twenty years !... (3:12)

19. splitting up (1:52)

20. salir del salar (2:21)

21. Mackinley (2:10)

22. until today... (2:55)

23. Tupiza (0:48)

24. did you believe that?... (2:15)

25. saldremos al amanecer (2:28)

26. snow covered trees (1:20)

27. wayfaring stranger (1:41)

28. Blackthorn (1:30)

Spaghetti Western Locations

2012-01-21T07:06:00.000-08:00

Continuing with locations for “Duck You Sucker”. While looking at the buildings where the false front to the Bank of Mesa Verde was assembled, turn to the far left and you will see where the false front of the café was built covering the existing buildings in the town square of the Plaza de Mayor in Medinaceli. No wonder this location went undiscovered for so many years. An isolated town and false fronts covering the real buildings made it very difficult to find and identify. Thanks to Don Bruce’s determination and research it is now one of the location stops for those fans of Sergio Leone visiting Spain and the locations used in his films.

For a more detailed view of this site and other Spaghetti Western locations please visit my friend Yoshi ‘Garringo’ Yasuda’s excellent website: http://y-yasuda.net

Guess Who I Am

2012-01-20T20:32:00.000-08:00

I was born in Nardò, Puglia, Italy in 1946.

I appeared in over 35 films and TV appearances.

Of those films three were Euro-westerns.

Guess Who I Am.

Chris Casey correctly identified this week's photo as that of Antonio Marsina

Last of The Vargas

2012-01-20T06:11:00.001-08:00

El último de los Vargas – Spanish title

Last of the Vargas – U.S.A. title

A 1930 U.S.A. production [Fox Film Corp. (Hollywood)]

Producers: Edward Butcher, William Goetz, Harold B. Lipsitz

Director: David Howard (David Davis III)

Story: Zane Grey (Pearl Gray)

Screenplay: Francisco Moré de la Torre, Ernest Pascal

Cinematography: Sidney Wagner [black & white]

Music: ?

Running time: 61 minutes

Cast:

José Vargas – Jorge Lewis (George Lewis)

Elvira Núñez – Luana Alcañiz (Lucrecia Ubeda)

Blanco – Vicente Padula

Senora Vargas – Carmen Rodríguez

Lola – Christina Montt

Erche – Martin Garralaga (Martin Garralaga)

Rurales Captain – Juan de Landa

Estévez – Max Wagner (Maxwell Wagner)

Yucca – Hipólito Mora

Luke Ramos – Pablo Arenas

Senor Núñez – Amadeo Alcañiz

With: Nelly Fernández, María Teresa Renner, Carlos Villarías (Carlos Llano)

The Spanish version of the American film “Last of the Duanes” finds a cowboy, José Vargas, avenging his father's murder then fleeing from the law as a result of his act. Vargas then attempts to rescue a young woman from an outlaw, but becomes entangled with the outlaw's wife.

RIP Giancarlo Bigazzi

2012-01-19T06:53:00.000-08:00

Giancarlo Bigazzi has died, author of "Rose rosse", "Lisa dagli occhi blu" and "Ti amo"

The composer died in a hospital on Wednesday night in Viareggio. He wrote many of the greatest Italian pop hits. He was 71 years-old.

MILAN - The world of Italian music is in mourning. Giancarlo Bigazzi died on the night of Wednesday, January 18, at 71, the composer and lyricist Giancarlo Bigazzi. He was hospitalized for several days in the hospital in Viareggio Versilia. A record producer, Bigazzi was the leader of the group "Squallor" and wrote such hits as “Rose rosse”, “Ti amo”, “Gloria”, “Si può dare di più”, “Gente di mare”, “Self Control”, “Eternità”. "Red Roses", "I love you," "Gloria," "You can give more," "Sea People", "Self control " and "Eternity".

In 1971 Bigozzi created with his friend, and lyricist Daniel Pace, along the musicians Totò Savio, Alfredo Cerruti and Elio Gariboldi they recorded as Squalor. At first it was just a prank between friends who had unexpected success for over twenty years. For Squallor, Bigazzi wrote all the lyrics and some screenplays, appearing as an actor in two films as themselves Squallor in the Euro-western "Arrapaho" (1984) and "Birds of Italy." For these films he also wrote songs for the soundtracks: "Mery per sempre” and “Ragazzi fuori" performed by Marco Risi, Mediterraneo and Gabriele Salvatores.

Happy 70th Birthday Reiner Schone

2012-01-19T05:52:00.001-08:00

Reiner Schöne was born on January 19, 1942 in Fritzlar, Hesse, Germany. Reiner studied acting at the German National Theatre Weimar. He started his acting career in the '60s and since then has enjoyed his share of longevity in television and film. He works between European and western films and television series. Among his performances, Reiner is best known in films such as “The Eiger Sanction” (1975) starring Clint Eastwood. In television, he is best associated with episodes from “Star Trek: The Next Generation”, “MacGyver” and “Babylon 5”. In 1997, he appeared as the villain Shinnok in “Mortal Kombat: Annihilation”, the sequel to the movie based off the popular martial arts video game. Afterwards, Reiner continued darting back and forth between western and German productions. Schöne appeared in only one Euro-western but he’s well remembered as Lieutenant Clyde in “Return of Sabata” (1971) starring Lee Van Cleef. Reiner is married to jazz singer Francesca Capasso and at one time lived in Los Angeles, California before moving in 2002 to Berlin, Germany where he lives now. Today we celebrate Reiner Schöne’s 70^th birthday.

Remembering Guy Madison

2012-01-19T05:51:00.000-08:00

Robert Ozell Moseley was born on January 19, 1922 in Pumpkin Center, California. The ex-telephone lineman was serving his country in the Navy at the time he made his screen debut as an extra in David Selznick's “Since You Went Away” (1944). After the war, as Guy Madison he was signed by RKO, where he was given the star buildup in such films as “Till the End of Time” (1946) and “Honeymoon” (1947). Unpleasant publicity surrounding his stormy marriage to actress Gail Russell very nearly put an end to Madison's burgeoning career. Salvation came in the form of a syndicated TV series, “Wild Bill Hickok”, which starred Madison in the title role and which ran from 1951 through 1958. Thanks to his Hickok popularity, Madison was able to secure major roles in such "A" pictures as “The Charge at Feather River” (1953) and “On the Threshold of Space” (1956). After the cancellation of Wild Bill Hickok in 1958, Guy Madison's star faded somewhat, though he went on to make a good living as a leading man in Euro-western and Italian swashbucklers of the 1960s. Among his 9 Euro-westerns were “Shatterhand” and “Gunman of the Rio Grande” (both 1964), “Payment in Blood” (1967), “This Man Can’t Die” (1968) and “Reverend Colt” (1971). Guy died of emphysema in Palm Springs, California on February 6, 1996. Today we remember Guy Madison on what would have been his 90^th birthday.

LAST OF THE RENEGADES

2012-01-18T06:19:00.000-08:00

Winnetou – 2. Teil – German title

Winnetou II – German title

Giorno di fuoco – Italian title

Le trésor des montagnes bleues – French title

Vinnetou II deo – Yugoslavian title

Vinnetou – Rudý gentleman – Czechoslovakian title

Winnetou – och dödens ryttare – Finnish title

Winnetou ja kouleman ratsatajat – Finnish title

O thisavros ton Apache – Greek title

Winnetou, o adamastos polemistis – Greek title

Winnetou 2. - Az utolsó renegátok – Hungarian title

Winnetou II: Ostatni renegaci – Polish title

Grito de Guerra dos Apaches – Portuguese title

Winnetou - Revolta dos Apaches – Portuguese title

La carbina de plata – Spanish title

Furia Apache – Spanish title

Winnetou – Cerveny Gentleman – Russian title

Vasterns Laglosa – Swedish title

Krigarhovdingen – Swedish title

Kahramanlar Geliyor – Turkish title

Winnetou: Last of the Renegades – English title

Last of the Renegades – U.S.A. title

A 1964 German, Italian, French, Yugoslavian co-production [Rialto Film Preben-Philipsen (Berlin), Atlantis Film (Rome), Société Nouvelle de Cinématographie (Paris), Jadran Film (Zagreb)]

Producers: Erwin Gitt, Stipe Gurdulic, Horst Wendlandt

Director: Harald Reinl

Story: “Winnetou II” by Karl May

Screenplay: H.G. Petersson (Harald Petersson-Giertz)

Cinematography: Ernst W. Kalinks (Ernst Wilhelm Kalinke) [Eastmancolor, CinemaScope]

Music: Martin Böttcher

Runnting time: 95 minutes

Cast:

Old Shatterhand – Lex Barker (Alexander Barker, Jr.)

Winnetou – Pierre Brice (Pierre de Bris)

Bud Forrester – Anthony Steel

Ribanna – Karin Dor (Katerose Dor)

David ‘Luke’ Lucas – Klaus Kinski (Nikolaus Nakaszynski)

Colonel John Frederick Merril – Renato Baldini

Lieutenant Robert Merril – Mario Girotti

Susan Merril – Marie Noelle (Marie-Noëlle Barre)

Red – Ilija Ivezic

Carter – Velemir Chytil (Velemir Hitil)

Caesar – Stole Arandjelovic (Stojar Arandjelovic)

Captain Tom Bruce – George Heston (Djordje Nenadovic)

Uncle Gunstick – Mirkp Boman

Jesse – Rikard Brzeska

Ta-Sha-Tunga – Bogdan Bulijan

Chapatan – Petar Dobric

Lord Castlepool – Eddi Arent (Gebhard Arent)

White Bird – Gojko Mitic

Sergeant Wagner – Antun Nalis

Ronny – Valent Borovic

O’Brian – Rudi Sterpin

Clark – Jurica Dijakovic

Bill – Kasim Kučković

Henderson – Jura Katanec

Ponca – Sime Jagarinac (Simun Jagarinac)

Ponca Chief – Jozo Kovacevic

Bandit – Ivo Kristof (Ivan Kristof)

Soldier – Miro Buhin (Miroslav Buhin)

Kid – Aleksandar Gavric

Captain – Tomo Cvitanović

Narrator – Curt Ackermann (Kurt Ackermann)

With: Charles Wakefield

Apache chief Winnetou saves the life of Ribanna, the daughter of an Assiniboin chief who has declared war on the white settlers invading his tribe's hunting grounds. On his promise that he will try to keep the peace between the white men and the Indians, Winnetou intercedes on behalf of three troopers held captive by the Assiniboins, including young Lieutenant Merril, son of the local fort commander. Bud Forrester, an unscrupulous oilman, sends Luke and several other renegades to storm a Ponca settlement, after which they almost capture the lieutenant. The arrival of Old Shatterhand, Winnetou's blood brother, and his companion, Lord Castlepool, an English adventurer, prevents their abduction. Forced to burn his oil wells when Old Shatterhand arouses the oil workers against him, Forrester retaliates by kidnaping Lord Castlepool. Col. J. F. Merril acts as peacemaker, vowing to help Winnetou hunt down the perpetrators of the Ponca massacre, while his son guarantees the peace by offering to marry Ribanna. The rescue of Lord Castlepool by Winnetou and Old Shatterhand, and the uncovering of Forrester's plan to place the blame on the Indians for a recent attack of a wagon by his own men, pushes Forrester and his desperadoes to trap Lieutenant Merril, his wife, and the Indian women and children in a cave. Winnetou and his braves ride to their rescue, and peace is finally established. – TCM

YouTube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=viDCPCH2FUg

Remembering Raf Baldassarre

2012-01-18T06:17:00.000-08:00

Raffaele Baldassarre was born on January 18, 1932 in Giurdignano, Lecce, Italy. Being photogenic and a good stuntman it was easy for Raf to find work in the Italian film industry in the 1950s where he worked in Sword and Sandal and adventure films. He gained much recognition during the Spaghetti western era and became an active character actor using such aliases as Ralph Baldwin, Ralph Baldwyn and appeared in such films as “The Sign of Zorro” (1962), “The Implacabele Three” (1963), “The Stranger Returns” (1967) and “Blindman” (1971). In the 1970s he turned to Sex Comedies and narrated a religious film about the visit to Otranto, Italy by Pope John Paul II in 1980. Raf left the business after an appearance in Luigi Cozzi’s “The Adventures of the Incredible Hercules” (1985). He and several of his family members basically ran the town of Otranto being involved in politics, the police department and several businesses. Raf owned a large villa and owned a winery before his death the day before his 63^rd birthday in 1995 in Rome. Today we remember one of the great character actors of the Italian Westerns, Raffaele Baldassarre on what would have been his 80^th birthday.

Remembering Grazia Di Marza

2012-01-18T06:15:00.001-08:00

Grazia Di Marza was born on January 18, 1922 in Catania, Sicily, Italy. A supporting actress in over 20 films she is the mother of actor Franco Chillemi. Grazia appeared in only two Euro-westerns, “The Beast” (1970) with Klaus Kinski and “The Grandson of Zorro” with Franco Franchi. Little else is known about her or her career as her last film was 1982’s “Spaghetti House”. Grazia died in Rome on April 17, 1993. We remember Grazia Di Marzi today on what would have been her 90^th birthday.

Remembering Robert Carricart

2012-01-18T06:14:00.001-08:00

Robert Carricart was born on January 18, 1917 in Bordeaux, France. Although born in France he moved to the United States and became a stage actor appearing on Broadway in “Anthony and Cleopatra” (1947). He then turned to television and by the mid-1950’s he had left the stage and continued his career making more than 105 films and TV appearances. During his career he appeared in 26 westerns but only two Euro-westerns; “Villa Rides” (1968) as Don Luis and “Land Raiders” (1969) as Julio Rojas. His last film appearance was as Grandfather Domingo in “Eternity” (1990). Carricart died on March 3, 1993 in Los Angeles, California. Today we remember Robert Carricart on what would have been his 95^th birthday.

New CD Release

2012-01-17T06:16:00.000-08:00

Anda Muchacho Spara!
(Dead Men Ride)

(1971)

Director: Aldo Florio

Starring: Fabio Testi, Edjuardo Fajardo, Pepe Calvo

Composer: Bruno Nicolai

Country: Italy

Label: GDM #GDM4150

Tracks: 36

Extras: ?

Total time: 58:08

Available: 1/31/2012

Track listing:

1. Anda Muchacho, Spara! (seq. 1 - titoli) (02:07)

2. Anda Muchacho, Spara! (seq. 2) (01:12)

3. Anda Muchacho, Spara! (seq. 3) (01:50)

4. Anda Muchacho, Spara! (seq. 4) (01:32)

5. Anda Muchacho, Spara! (seq. 5) (01:04)

6. Anda Muchacho, Spara! (seq. 6) (01:26)

7. Anda Muchacho, Spara! (seq. 7) (01:29)

8. Anda Muchacho, Spara! (seq. 8) (01:16)

9. Anda Muchacho, Spara! (seq. 9) (00:58)

10. Anda Muchacho, Spara! (seq. 10) (01:26)

11. Anda Muchacho, Spara! (seq. 11) (00:53)

12. Anda Muchacho, Spara! (seq. 12) (01:20)

13. Anda Muchacho, Spara! (seq. 13) (01:39)

14. Anda Muchacho, Spara! (seq. 14) (00:25)

15. Anda Muchacho, Spara! (seq. 15) (01:26)

16. Anda Muchacho, Spara! (seq. 16) (01:55)

17. Anda Muchacho, Spara! (seq. 17) (01:45)

18. Anda Muchacho, Spara! (seq. 18) (02:06)

19. Anda Muchacho, Spara! (seq. 19) (02:10)

20. Anda Muchacho, Spara! (seq. 20) (02:37)

21. Anda Muchacho, Spara! (seq. 21) (03:01)

22. Anda Muchacho, Spara! (seq. 22) (01:31)

23. Anda Muchacho, Spara! (seq. 23) (01:12)

24. Anda Muchacho, Spara! (seq. 24) (01:12)

25. Anda Muchacho, Spara! (seq. 25) (02:35)

26. Anda Muchacho, Spara! (seq. 26) (00:45)

27. Anda Muchacho, Spara! (seq. 27) (01:14)

28. Anda Muchacho, Spara! (seq. 28) (02:02)

29. Anda Muchacho, Spara! (seq. 29) (00:42)

30. Anda Muchacho, Spara! (seq. 30) (01:07)

31. Anda Muchacho, Spara! (seq. 31) (01:40)

32. Anda Muchacho, Spara! (seq. 32) (01:32)

33. Anda Muchacho, Spara! (seq. 33) (01:19)

34. Anda Muchacho, Spara! (seq. 34) (03:09)

35. Tristezza messicana (singolo lato A) (02:06)

36. Anda Muchacho, Spara! (finale - singolo lato B) (02:25)

Who Are Those Guys - Steven Bauer

2012-01-17T06:14:00.000-08:00

Esteban Ernesto Echevarria Samson was born on December 2, 1956 in Havana, Cuba. Along with his parents they fled Cuba on July 4, 1960 after Fidel Castro’s Revolution. Settling in Miami, Florida he graduated high school and then studied Theater Arts at the University of Miami, where he became friends with actor Ray Liotta. His first acting job as Rocky Echevarria was on the PBS TV series ¿Qué Pasa, U.S.A.?, (1977-1979) and then the TV mini-series “From Here to Eternity” (1980) and “She’s in the Army Now” (1981) where he met his first wife Melanie Griffith (1981-1987). Changing his name to Steven Bauer he found stardom in the role of Manny Ribera in 1983’s “Scarface” with Al Pacino where he was nominated for a Golden Globe Award as Best Supporting Actor. In 1990 he took over the lead in the TV series “Wiseguy” from Ken Wahl. Steven has continued his career playing in mainly action films such as “Primal Fear” (1996), “Traffic” (2000) and “Burn Notice” (2007). In 2000 he made his only Euro-western to date as Jack in “Hooded Angels”.

BAUER, Steven (aka Rocky Bauer, Rocky Echevaria, Rocky Echevarria, (Esteban Ernesto Echevarria Samson) [12/2/1956, Havana, Cuba - ] - producer, TV actor, married to actresses Melanie Griffith [1957- ] (1981-1987), Ingrid Anderson (1989-1991).

Hooded Angels - 2000 (Jack)

Martin Luther King Day 2012

2012-01-16T06:06:00.001-08:00

THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS

2012-01-16T06:05:00.000-08:00

L’ultimo dei Mohicani – Italian title

Uncas, el fin de una raza – Spanish title

El ultimo de los mohicanos – Spanish title

La chute des Mohicans – Belgium title

Viimeinen mohijaani – Finnish title

Le dernier des Mohicans – French title

Kederstrumpf – der ketzte Mohikaner – German title

O teleftaios ton Moikanon – Greek title

Des siste Mohikanen – Swedish title

Fall of the Mohicans – English title

The Last of the Mohicans – English title

A 1965 Italian, Spanish, French co-production [ItalCaribe Cinematografica (Rome), Eguiluz Films (Madrid)]

Producers: Angelo Faccenna, Marius Lesoeur

Director:Mathew Kane (Mateo Jiménez)

Story: “The Last of the Mohicans” by James Fenimore Cooper (James Kent Cooper)

Screenplay: Alain Baudry, Vinicio Marinucci

Cinematography: Mike Mila (Miguel Fernández Mila), Carlo Carlini [Eastmancolor, CinemaScope]

Music: Bruno Canfora, Angelo Francesco Lavagnino

Running time: 85 minutes

Cast:

Duncan Edward – Jack Taylor (George Randall)

Hawkeye – Luis Induni (Luigi Radicci)

Unkas – Daniel Martin (José Martinez)

Colonel Munro – Paul Muller (Paul Mueller)

Cora Munro – Sara Lezana (Sarita Minguez)

Alice Munro – Barbara Lloyd (Maria Gentilini)

Cunning Fox – José Manuel Martin (José Pérez)

Chingachgook – Joseph Marco (José Davo)

Tamerind – Carlos Casaravilla (Carlos Rios)

Commandant – Lorenzo Robledo

Captain Pitt - Pedro Rodríguez de Quevedo

Higgins – Alfonso del Real

Doctor – Rufino Inglés (Rufino Garcia)

Indian - José Villasante

Marquis Montcalm - Pastor Serrador (Heriberto Serrador)

Assistants to the Marquis – Modesto Blanch, Pedro Fenollar

With: José Riesgo (José Cortina)

During the French and Indian War, the Marquis Montcalm lays siege to a fort, commanded by Colonel Munro, where the adventurous Alice and Cora, daughter of Colonel have just arrived assisted by Chingachgook the last of the Mohicans, and his son, Uncas, and the hunter Hawkeye. The repeated attacks of the French first lead Munro to evacuate the wounded along with his daughters, then to surrender. Meanwhile the fugitives fall into the hands of the traitor Sly Fox and Chingachgook, Uncas and Hawkey intervene on their behalf. Unfortunately Uncas is killed during the victorious battle with Cunning Fox.

RIP Rosy Varte

2012-01-15T10:49:00.000-08:00

French actress Rosy Varte died in the American Hospital in Paris on January 14, 2012.

Born in Istanbul, Turkey on November 22, 1923, her real name was Nevarte Manouélian, She died following a bout with bronchitis, which degenerated into a lung infection, according to her husband director Pierre Badel.

Rozy Varte had played in more than one hundred plays as an actress in several theaters in Paris - the Champs-Elysées Comedy, Theatre Edouard VII, Vieux Colombier Theatre Workshop .. - She is part of the NPT of Jean Vilar, where she created Ubu Roi in 1958.

Specializing in comic roles, she played from 1985 to 1993, the role of "MaGuy" with Jean-Marc Thibault in the hit television series of the same name, in 333 episodes, which aired on Antenne 2. For this role, she won the 2007 Golden 7 for the Best Actress. Her last television appearance was in 2007, in the French movie "Hubert and the dog."

For nearly 40 years, Rosy Varte had also played in fifty feature films among which was one Euro-western, “Vengeance at Camargue” (1949) and was also a voice actress in “Lucky Luke, Daisy Town” (1971) and “Lucky Luke, The Ballad of the Daltons” (1978).

RIP Serge Lhorca

2012-01-15T10:44:00.000-08:00

A Tribute to Serge Lhorca (1918-2012)

By: Rémi C.

He was one of our great "deans" the actor Serge Lhorca died January 13, 2012 in his sleep at the age of 93 years, it was learned from actor Patrick Floersheim.

Born on September 8, 1918 in Vergt, France, Serge Lhorca, it was difficult to find a picture of him and information on his theatrical career is quite rare.

We know that he started dubbing after the World War II. Originally from Spain, he imitates to perfection the Hispanic accent given by the artistic directors of the time dubbing a whole gallery of Mexicans in westerns. Because of his voice at once resonant and easily malleable he later plays numerous roles in the dubbing movies, series and cartoons, especially in the distributions of Jacqueline and John Porel-Pierre Dorat in the years 1970-1980 (Flaversham in “Basil Private Detective”, jingles in the first dubbing “The Black Cauldron”) but also the SND (Speedy Gonzales in the Looney Tunes, Master Yoda in the first Star Wars trilogy, Roddy MacDowall in “Planet of the Apes” and its sequels), the SOFI (Dr. Simon Wright Captain Future) and Synchro World. He also lends his voice to the crazy Uncle MacAllister of” Home Alone” and Oliveira de Figueira in the “Tintin” animated series of the 1990.

He doubled many important people, nevertheless lending his voice to the "stars", such as the notable Jack Lemmon (Mister Roberts, JFK), Mel Brooks (The Madwoman History of Space) and Gene Wilder (Transamerica Express). Although retaining a young man's voice, he dis not resume the role of Yoda in the new Star Wars trilogy, due to health concerns related to his venerable age. His last dubbing is certainly the character of Filch, the irascible caretaker of Hogwarts in the first two Harry Potter films. He then retired.

Serge was the French voice of Julian Mateos in "Return of the Seven" 1966 and he voiced undetermined actors in "Shalako" (1968), "Guns of the Magnificent Seven" (1969) and "Chato's Land" (1972).

New CD Release

2012-01-15T07:10:00.000-08:00

Django Spara Per Primo (Django Shoots First)

(1966)

Director: Alberto De Martino

Starring: Glenn Saxson, Fernando Sancho, Ida Galli

Composer: Bruno Nicolai

Country: Italy

Label: GDM #GDM4149

Tracks: 33

Extras: ?

Total time: 67:27

Available: January 31 2012

Track listing:

1. Django spara per primo (seq. 1 - titoli) (02:17)

2. Django spara per primo (seq. 2) (01:18)

3. Django spara per primo (seq. 3) (02:12)

4. Django spara per primo (seq. 4) (03:46)

5. Django spara per primo (seq. 5) (02:35)

6. Django spara per primo (seq. 6) (00:58)

7. Django spara per primo (seq. 7) (01:10)

8. Django spara per primo (seq. 8) (02:11)

9. Django spara per primo (seq. 9) (01:34)

10. Django spara per primo (seq. 10) (01:28)

11. Django spara per primo (seq. 11) (01:39)

12. Django spara per primo (seq. 12) (02:22)

13. Django spara per primo (seq. 13) (01:24)

14. Django spara per primo (seq. 14) (01:22)

15. Django spara per primo (seq. 15) (02:42)

16. Django spara per primo (seq. 16) (02:29)

17. Django spara per primo (seq. 17) (01:13)

18. Django spara per primo (seq. 18) (07:11)

19. Django spara per primo (seq. 19) (01:51)

20. Django spara per primo (seq. 20) (01:18)

21. Django spara per primo (seq. 21) (01:31)

22. Django spara per primo (seq. 22) (01:20)

23. Django spara per primo (seq. 23) (01:38)

24. Django spara per primo (seq. 24) (02:45)

25. Django spara per primo (seq. 25) (01:58)

26. Django spara per primo (seq. 26) (01:09)

27. Django spara per primo (seq. 27) (01:20)

28. Django spara per primo (seq. 28) (01:54)

29. Django spara per primo (seq. 29 - finale) (03:16)

30. Django spara per primo (titoli ripresa) (02:16)

31. Django spara per primo (trailer) (00:43)

32. Django spara per primo (seq. 1 - titoli mix stereo) (02:16)

33. Django spara per primo (seq. 12 mix stereo) (02:21)

Spaghetti Western Locations

2012-01-15T07:08:00.000-08:00

Continuing with locations for “Duck You Sucker”. The location for the bank of Mesa Verde was one of the most elusive of all the Leone locations to find. Don Bruce found the location in the late 1990s in the Plaza de Mayor in Medinaceli in the Provence of Soria. The reason it was difficult to locate and stirred much debate was the fact that Sergio constructed a façade over several of the buildings and when the film was finished this fake front was removed from the existing buildings. The bank of Mesa Verde entrance was a fake along with the small café where Juan finds Sean once again. This location has been used several times since including a Pepsi commercial with David Beckham filmed in 2003. While I was there with Don Bruce and Marla Johnson this commercial was being filmed so we could not get into the square until 8 p.m. after filming was completed for the day. I’ve included the commercial as a footnote at the end of this post.

For a more detailed view of this site and other Spaghetti Western locations please visit my friend Yoshi ‘Garringo’ Yasuda’s excellent website: http://y-yasuda.net

Pepsi commercial link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xddQMEIbkuo

Remembering Anna Maria Maggi

2012-01-15T07:02:00.000-08:00

Amina Pirani Maggi was born on January 15, 1892 in Verona, Italy. She became an actress in theater, film and television. Her starring period in the cinema was during the period 1930-1979. She started acting as a child on stage and then made her film debut with a small part in the film “Il treno delle 21,15”, directed by Palermi Hamlet (1933). After World War II as Anna Maria Maggi she became one of the most popular Italian supporting actresses, in roles that always manage to convey great sensitivity and talent. She will also appear in big budget films such as “Times Gone By” (1952) directed by Alessandro Blasetti and “The Naked Maja” in 1958, directed by Henry Koster. She then became an important figure invoice dubbing, which she had started doing in 1931 and was among the first group of players selected to voice the Italian version of foreign films. She remained a presence in the theater until old age dying in Rome on November 1, 1979. She was married to actor Italo Pirani. Anna Maria appeared in only one Euro-western 1942’s “The Girl of the Golden West” (1942). Today we remember Anna Maria Maggi on what would have been 120^th birthday.

Gene Hackman Injured in Bike Accident

2012-01-14T07:15:00.000-08:00

Oscar-winner Gene Hackman who starred in the 1971 Euro-western "The Hunting Party", was briefly hospitalized with bumps and bruises Friday after a pickup truck hit him from behind while he was riding a bicycle in the Florida Keys, his publicist said.
The 81-year-old Hackman was airlifted to a Miami hospital and released several hours later after routine tests, said publicist Susan Madore.

Hackman was riding without a helmet on an Islamorada street around 3 p.m. when the pickup hit him, throwing him onto the grassy shoulder, according to a Florida Highway Patrol report. No charges were immediately reported.