Spaghetti Western Director ~ Christian-Jacque
Christian Albert François Maudet was born on September 4,
1904, in Paris, France and was a French film director and screenwriter renowned
for his prolific output of over 50 feature films spanning comedy, drama, and
period pieces, establishing him as one of the most commercially successful
filmmakers in post-war French cinema.
Educated in architecture Maudet began his career in the
1920s as a film poster designer and journalist before transitioning to set
design and assistant directing. He adopted the professional pseudonym
Christian-Jaque from a collaboration and made his directorial debut in 1932
with the short film “Le Bidon d'or”, quickly gaining recognition with early
comedies featuring Fernandel, such as “Un de la légion” (1936) and “François
Ier” (1937). During the 1940s, amid World War II—in which he served in the
French Forces of the Interior—he directed notable works including the mystery “Les
Disparus de Saint-Agil” (1938), the biopic “La Symphonie fantastique” (1942) on
composer Hector Berlioz, and adaptations like “Carmen” (1945) and “Boule de
suif” (1945), often collaborating with stars such as Jean Marais, Micheline
Presle, and Louis Jouvet.
His international breakthrough came in the 1950s with
swashbuckling adventures and lavish productions, highlighted by “Fanfan la
tulipe” (1952), starring Gérard Philipe, which won the Director's Prize at the
Cannes Film Festival. Other acclaimed films from this era include “Si tous les
gars du monde” (1956), a drama about international cooperation, and “La Tulipe
noire” (1964) with Alain Delon. Later in his career, he shifted to television,
directing adaptations like ‘L'Homme de Suez’ (1983), before receiving an
honorary César Award in 1985 for his lifetime contributions to French cinema.
He died in Boulogne-Billancourt, France from a heart
attack on July 8, 1994. He was a month shy of turning 90.
Christian-Jacque co-directed one Spaghetti wsetsrn, “Les
Pétroleuses” (The Legend of Frenchie King) with Guy Casaril in 1971.
CHRISTIAN-JACQUE (aka Christian
Jacque, Christian Jaque) (Christian Maudet) [8/4/1904, Paris, Île-de-France, France –
7/8/1994, Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, France (heart attack)] –
director, journalist, writer, actor, married to Germaine Berthe Adèle Marie Spy
[1912-1990] (1931-1938), married to Simone Renant (Georgette Simone Alexine Buigny) [1911-2004] (1940-1944), married to actress Renée Faure (Renée Paule Nanine Faure) [1918–2005] (1947-1953), married to
actress Martine Carol (Maryse Louise
Mourer) [1920–1967] (1954-1959),
married to Laurence Christol (1961-1983), married to assistant director Denise
Morlot [1928- ] (1992-1994), awarded
lifetime achievement César Award [1985].
The Legend of
Frenchie King – 1971 (co)
Spaghetti Western
Screenwriter ~ Diego Bonuccelli
Diego Bonuccelli is
an Italian film director known for his independent short films, documentaries,
and commercials, in which he frequently serves as writer, editor, and
cinematographer. Born on November 11, 1993, in Viareggio, Tuscany, he studied
cinema at the University of Pisa and began directing in 2013. Diego has
directed over a dozen projects, often handling multiple creative roles on
low-budget productions that explore themes of history, solitude, and regional
culture. Notable works include the short films “Il triciclo”, “Liguri Apuani”, “Torve
fantasie”, “XII844” (addressing the Sant'Anna di Stazzema Massacre), and “Più
accecante della notte” (featuring comedian Giorgio Panariello), as well as the
video “Maria Says No”. His work has appeared in international contexts,
including France, and he has received several awards and nominations for his
contributions to independent cinema.
Bonuccelli has been
a screenwriter for two Euro-westerns which he also has directed, “The Green
Furies” in 2012 and “Welcome to Elderstorm” in 2014.
BONUCCELLI, Diego [11/11/1993,
Viareggio, Tuscany, Italy - ] –
producer, director, writer, cinematographer, film editor actor.
The Green Furies –
2012
Welcome to
Elderstorm – 2014
Spaghetti Western
Cinematographer ~ Jaime Deu Casas
Jaime Deu Casas was
a Spanish actor, cameraman and cinematographer. He was a cameraman on
twenty-two films between 1960 and 1977. He worked on sixty-three films as a
cinematographer between 1963 and 1981.
For such a prolific cinematographer
there is virtually no biographical information on him other than his
filmography, and I cannot even find a photograph of the man.
Deu Casas was a
cinematographer on ten Spaghetti westerns; “La venganza de Clark Harrison” (The
Ruthless Colt of the Gringo) with Marcello Gatti in 1965, “Sartana no perdone”
(Sonora) in 1968, “Legge della violenza – tutti o nessuno” (The Law of Vilence)
with Oberdan Troiani in 1969, “Vamos a matar Sartana!” (Let's Go and Kill
Sartana) with Giovanni Raffaldi in 1971, “Hijos de pobres, pero deshonestos
padres… le llamaban Calamidad” (Now They Call Him Sacramento), “El retorno de
Clint el solitario” (The Return of Clint the Stranger) and “Judas... ¡toma tus
monedas!” (Watch Out Gringo! Sabata Will Return) all in 1972, “Demasiados
muertos para Tex”, “Storia di karatè, pugni e fagioli” (Karate, Fists and Beans)
and “… e cosi divennero i 3 supermen del West” (Three Supermen of the West) all
in 1973.
DEU CASAS, Jaime (aka Jaime Del Casas, Jaime Deu Dasas) [Spanish] – cinematographer,
cameraman, actor
The Ruthless Colt of
the Gringo – 1965 (co)
Sonora – 1968
The Law of Violence
– 1969 (co)
Let's Go and Kill
Sartana – 1971 (co)
Now They Call Him
Sacramento – 1972
The Return of Clint
the Stranger – 1972
Watch Out Gringo!
Sabata Will Return - 1972
Demasiados muertos
para Tex – 1973
Karate, Fists and
Beans - 1973
Three Supermen of
the West – 1973
