Spaghetti Western Director ~ B. Ron Elliott
B. Ron Elliott is an alias for Byron Elliott Mabe who was
an American actor and film director known for his work in 1960s exploitation
cinema. Born on April 10, 1932, in Walkertown, North Carolina, he pursued a
multifaceted career in low-budget filmmaking, directing, acting, producing, and
contributing to various production roles across several independent features.
His directorial efforts often embodied the era's drive-in and grindhouse
sensibilities, with notable films including “She Freak” (1967), “The Acid
Eaters” (1967), and “Space Thing” (1968). Mabe also appeared as an actor in
projects such as “The Doberman Gang” (1972) and various television roles. He
was an Air Force veteran and a member of the Screen Actors Guild. He resided in
Orlando, Florida, later in life—having moved to Central Florida in 1981—and
died there on May 13, 2001, from cancer.
Mabe's films frequently explored sensational themes
typical of exploitation genres, ranging from horror and science fiction to
counterculture subjects, contributing to the broader landscape of independent
American cinema during that period. His versatile involvement in film
production extended beyond directing and acting to include editing,
cinematography, and other technical positions on select projects.
As B. Ron Elliott he directed on Spaghetti western, “Django
Nudo und die husternen Madchen von Porno Hill” (Nude Django) in 1968.
ELLIOTT, B. Ron (aka B. Ron Elliot,
B. Ron Elliott, Al Gotz, B.E. Mabe, Ronnie Runningborad) (Byron Elliott
Mabe) [4/10/1932, Walkertown, North Carolina, U.S.A. – 5/13/2001,
Orlando, Florida, U.S.A. (cancer)] – producer, director, actor, married to
Patricia Joyce Steffey [1934-????] (1951-19??), married to Katherine Landstein
(1964-1978) father of one child, married to Jennifer Ann Sharkey (1981-1990)
father of one child.
Nude Django – 1968
Spaghetti Western
Screenwriter ~ Alberto Cardone
Alberto Cardone was
an Italian film director, screenwriter, second unit director, and film editor
known for his contributions to the Spaghetti Western genre during the 1960s,
often under the pseudonym Albert Cardiff. Born on September 16, 1920, in Genoa,
Liguria, Italy, he began his career in the film industry as an assistant
director and second unit director, working on major international productions
including “Ben-Hur” (1959) directed by William Wyler and “Barbarella” (1968)
directed by Roger Vadim.
Cardone directed
several Spaghetti Westerns that exemplified the genre's characteristic style of
stylized violence, anti-hero protagonists, and atmospheric cinematography,
including
Blood at Sundown”
(1966), “Seven Dollars to Kill” (1966), and “The Long Day of the Massacre”
(1968). His films helped sustain the popularity of Italian Westerns amid the
genre's boom in the mid-to-late 1960s.
Cardone died on
October 20, 1977, in Rome, Italy at the age of 57.
Albertto Cardone wrote
screenplays for four Spaghetti westerns: “Il lungo giorno del massacre” (The
Long Day of the Massacre) with Armando Morandi, Mario Gariazzo and
“Kidnapping: paga o uccidiamo tuo Figlio” ($20,000 for Seven) with Ugo Guerra,
Vittorio Salerno and Manuel Sebares and “L’ira di Dio” (Wrath of God) all in
1968 and “Mano rápida” (Fast Hand is Still My Name) with Sergio Ciani, Vittorio
Salerno and Eduardo M. Brochero.
CARDONE, Alberto (aka Albert
Cardiff, A. Cardone, Alfredo Cardone) [9/16/1920, Genoa, Liguria, Italy –
10/20/1977, Rome, Lazio, Italy] – production manager, director, assistant
director, writer, film editor.
The Long Day of the
Massacre – 1968 (co)
$20,000 for Seven –
1968 (co)
The Wrath of God -
1968
Fast-Hand is Still
My Name – 1973 (co)
Spaghetti Western
Cinematographer ~ Remo Grisanti
Remo Grisanti' was
an Italian cinematographer known for his extensive work as director of
photography on Italian films across several decades, contributing to genres
including giallo, comedy, and drama. Born on March 2, 1922, in Roviano, Lazio,
Italy, he began his career in the camera department, serving in roles such as
assistant camera and camera operator before advancing to cinematographer. His
career spanned from the early 1960s to the 1990s, during which he worked on
numerous productions, often within Italy's vibrant exploitation and genre
cinema scenes.
Grisanti's notable
credits as cinematographer include films such as “Fra' Tazio da Velletri”
(1974) and “Una donna da guardare” (1991), reflecting his versatility in
capturing varied visual styles for Italian directors. He passed away on July 21,
2007, in Rome, Lazio, Italy, at the age of 85 leaving behind a prolific body of
work in the Italian film industry
Remo Grisanti was a
cinematographer on one Spaghetti western, “L’uomo della velle maledetta” (The
Man from the Cursed Valley) with Alfredo Fraile in 1964.
GRISANTI, Remo (aka Remo Crisanti,
John Stesy) (Remo Benvenuti Grisanti) [3/2/1922, Roviano, Lazio, Italy –
7/21/2007, Rome, Lazio, Italy] – cinematographer, cameraman.
The Man from the
Cursed Valley – 1964 (co)
