From the WAI! vault

 

Little Known Spaghetti Western Actors ~ Giustino Durano

[These daily posts will cover little known actors or people that have appeared in more recent films and TV series. Various degrees of information that I was able to find will be given and anything that you can add would be appreciated.]

Giustino Durano was an Italian actor renowned for his versatile career across stage, film, television, radio, vaudeville, and musical comedy, with his most prominent role as the uncle Eliseo Orefice in Roberto Benigni's “Life Is Beautiful” (1997).

Born in Brindisi, Puglia, Italy om May 5, 1923, Durano's extensive theatrical work included collaborations with Nobel laureate Dario Fo, the De Filippo brothers (Eduardo and Peppino), and directors Paolo Grassi, Giorgio Strehler, and Patrice Chéreau at Milan's Piccolo Teatro, establishing him as a key figure in post-war Italian theater.

In cinema, he featured in notable films such as Carlo Lizzani's “Lo Svitato” (1955), Alessandro Blasetti's “Lucky to Be a Woman” (1956) and “Io, io, io... e gli altri” (1966), and Vittorio De Sica's “After the Fox’ (1966), often in character roles that highlighted his dramatic range.

His performance in “Life Is Beautiful”, portraying the doomed uncle of the protagonist amid Holocaust deportation, earned him the Nastro d'Argento for Best Supporting Actor in 1998, marking a late-career pinnacle as the film achieved international acclaim and Academy Awards.

Durano died of cancer in Bologna at age 78, survived by his wife and daughter, actress Olga Durano.

Giustino Durano appeared in one Spaghetti western, “Bang, Bang” (Bang Bang Kid) as Hotchkiss in 1967.

DURANO, Giustino [5/5/1923, Brindisi, Puglia, Italy – 2/18/2002, Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy (cancer)] – writer, theater, film, radio, TV actor, singer, married to Graziella Galvani [1931-2022] (1954-19??) father of actress Olga Durano [1955-    ].

The Bang-Bang Kid – 1967 (Hotchkiss)

Spaghetti Western Directors, Screenwriters, Cinematographers

Spaghetti Western Director ~ Arnold Klein

Arnold Klein was a German silent film director born on February 28, 1884 in Teutschenrust, German Bohemia. Little is known of him other than he directed at least six films between 1920 and 1924.

Arnold Klein directed one silent Euro-western, “Das schwierige Testament” (The Defiant Testament) in 1921.

KLEIN, Arnold [2/28/1884 Teutschenrust, German Bohemia – 19??, Germany] – director, writer.

The Defiant Testament - 1921

 

Spaghetti Western Screenwriter ~ Fred Denger

Alfred ‘Fred’ Denger was a German playwright, actor and writer born on June 12, 1920, in Darmstadt, Hesse, Germany. After graduating from high school, Denger initially worked as an actor and cabaret artist. During World War II, Denger was a member of The Onkel Emil Resistance Group. After the war he became a writer. Denger first drew attention to himself with the play “Wir Heißen Euch Hoffen” in 1946 at the Deutsches Theater in Berlin. His play “Langusten” (1957) (a one-person play) is considered a classic of popular theatre. Denger wrote thirteen novels, including Cloth In Strange Beds (1950) and (Offered Here) The God Damned Year / Der Gottverdammte Jahrgang (1951), as well as numerous short stories, travelogues and court reports, most of which he published under a pseudonym. The 1982 book The Big Boss, Denger's free adaptation of the Old Testament of the bible, was particularly successful. He did not live to see the success of the book because he died in an accident.

Denger wrote numerous screenplays for successful German cinema productions, including some German Karl May and Edgar Wallace films. In addition to his work as a writer, the Berlin author worked as an animal Keeper, ballet singer, circus acrobat and theater director at various stages of his life. In the 1970s, Denger moved to the Lüchow-Dannenberg District and was involved in The Lüchow-Dannenberg Environmental Protection Initiative against the nuclear waste plants in Gorleben and Dragahn. About his personal life, it is worth noting that Fred Denger was narried twelve times. Denger fell down a flight Of Stairs on October 30, 1983, in Hohegeiß, Lower Saxony, West Germany and was fatally injured.

Fred Denger wrote screenplays for five Euro-westerns: “Old Surehand - I. Teil” (Flaming Frontier) with Eberhard Keindorff, Johanna Sibelius, Alfred Vohrer, “Der Ölprinz” (Rampage at Apache wells) with Harald Philipp and “Onkel Toms Hütte” with Géza von Radványi all in 1965 and “Winnetou und das Halbblut Apanatschi” (The Halfbreed) in 1966.

DENGER, Fred (Alfred Denger) [6/12/1920, Darmstadt, Hesse, Germany – 10/30/1983, Hohegeiß, Lower Saxony, West Germany] – playwright, writer, actor, married twelve times.

Flaming Frontier – 1965 (co)

Rampage at Apache Wells – 1965 (co)

Onkel Toms Hütte – 1965 (co)

The Halfbreed – 1966

Spaghetti Western Cinematographer ~ Alessandro Nardone

Alessandro Nardone is an Italian cameraman and cinematographer. Hew’s worked as a cameraman on ten films and television shows between 2017 and 2026 and as a cinematographer on ten films between 2013 and 2022.

Alessandro Nardone has been a cinematographer on two Euro-westerns: “Resurrection” in 2017 and “Never Dies” in 2020.

NARDONE, Alessandro [Italian] – cinematographer, cameraman.

Resurrection - 2017

Never Dies - 2020

“Classic – Spaghetti Western Steakhouse” to Open Early September

Tucson Foodie

By Jackie Tran

August 22, 2026

When you hear the term Spaghetti Western, you probably visualize a gritty young Clint Eastwood in the desert. However, Classic – Spaghetti Western Steakhouse will add a plate of spaghetti and a T-bone steak to your mental imagery once the restaurant opens in early September.

Proprietor Kade Mislinski and co-owners David Musso and Joey Medina’s newest restaurant will feature the expected Old West vibe but will also rock a menu of classic neighborhood Italian food and western-style steak grilled over mesquite.

For the uninitiated, the Spaghetti Western is a sub-genre of Western films that were produced and directed by Italians in Italy. While a western steakhouse isn’t a unique concept in Tucson, Classic will translate the Spaghetti Western into a culinary context in the Bronx Park neighborhood early September at 1535 N. Stone Ave., which previously housed Roberto’s Mexican Kitchen.

“With what Brother John’s is doing, and Mother Hubbards and Pho #1, I believe this can be the next major food corridor,” Mislinski said.

Mislinski credits his good friend Rob Gallo as the “chief inspirer” of the concept. Mislinski’s six-year-old post-production enthusiast son Polo, who he takes to Old Tucson every six months, also helped inspire the concept with his stepdaughter Luna, 16, who is into wardrobe production.

While the building will retain much of the furniture from Roberto’s, the western vibe will kick up a notch with paintings of Spaghetti Western icons such as Clint Eastwood from local artist Danny Martin.

Kade Mislinski, proprietor of Classic – Spaghetti Western Steakhouse

The Western vibe will expand further with a dress-up area with props and a backdrop. While there won’t be a photographer on site, the area will be selfie-friendly. Furthermore, Classic will also feature a small gift shop with western and local trinkets.

“We want to sell your art, clothing, postcards, food products, movies, mixed tapes, records, CDs, jewelry, memorabilia, local music and such,” Mislinski said.

Additionally, Classic will feature occasional live music from local acts such as Hey, Bucko!

The kitchen team will be led by executive chef Andrew Larkin with support from CJ Hamm, executive chef at sister restaurant Saguaro Corners. The “classic neighborhood Italian” cuisine consists of dishes such as shrimp scampi, saltimbocca, seasonal risotto, veggie lasagna, and more. Both dry pasta and house-made fresh pasta will be available. 

Meaty options include the flagship T-bone steak along other cuts such as tri-tip, lamb chops, veal chops, and swordfish. Sandwiches and salads will also be available.

One of Mislinski’s goals is to execute value on a plate and provide a wider range of vegetarian options not often seen in steakhouses. The menu will be kid-friendly as well, since Classic will be all-around family-friendly.

Classic – Spaghetti Western Steakhouse is located at 1535 N. Stone Ave. Keep up with Classic Spaghetti Western Steakhouse on Facebook.

Spaghetti Western Locations for “Companeros”.

We continue our hunt for filming locations for “Companeros”. As The Swede leaves Vasco behind the scene switches to a man, John Svedese, and his pet hawk named Marcia. John is smoking a cigarette. One of his companions reads aloud about the stolen train and mention’s the Swede’s name. John recognizes the name. John sends Marcia soaring skyward to look for the train and let them know when it is near.

This scene was filmed at what was called the Gor station on the Guadix rail line.

For a more detailed view of this site and other Spaghetti Western locations please visit my friend Yoshi Yasuda’s location site: http://y-yasuda.net/film-location.htm and Captain Douglas Film Locations http://www.western-locations-spain.com/

Secial Birthdays

Bruno Sörwing (actor) would have been 105 today but died in 1984.

Franco Lo Cascio (director) is 80 today.

Spaghetti Western Trivia – Three Supermen in the West: Before there were three, there was one or two SuperHombre.

 

"SuperHombre" was created by Brit writer/artist Mick Anglo (born Maurice Anglowitz, 19 June 1916 – 31 October 2011) in Spanish for the Barcelona-based publisher Editorial Ferma [Juan Fernández Mateu] in 1958-59.

It ran for 68 issues.

Most likely the name "SuperHombre" was chosen not just for the local Spanish market but to keep DC comics at bay. Can you say "Faster than a cow-boy's bullet"...

Anglo later revived the character, changing the name, but not the general look, to "MiracleMan" (1965-66) for T & P - Thorpe & Porter (London) as part of their Top Sellers imprint.  "Miracleman" continued on for 13 English language issues (best of reprints).

¿One wonders if Barcelona born George Martin [Francisco Martínez Celeiro] the producer/writer/actor from "Three Supermen in the West" (1973) read them as an impressionable young man?

Hmmm?

Michael Ferguson

[Mick Anglo will have been dead fifteen years this coming Halloween (October 31)

He fits as a Brit and as a Spanish strip].