Monday, June 8, 2026

Little Known Spaghetti Western Actors ~ Dragutin Dobricanin

[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.]

Dragutin Dobricanin was a Serbian actor, writer, screenwriter born in Prokuplje, Serbia, Yugoslavia on July 9, 1922. He made his first acting appearance on stage, as a member of the Cultural Society "Ivo Lola Ribar", in the one-act play Bojarka, based on the novel by N. Ostrovsky How Steel Was Tempered (directed by R. L. Đukić). He was a member of the Drama Group of Radio Belgrade and the Children's Theatre "Boško Buha" (1946–1950), the Comedy Theatre (1950–1954), the Belgrade Comedy (1954–1959), the Contemporary Theatre (1959–1964), and occasionally he was a guest on the stage of Atelje 212. In the early 1950s, he began his career as a playwright. He quickly gained recognition in theater, radio and television. A crucial role was played by the radio show ‘Merry Evening’ (launched in 1949), in which he collaborated with numerous humorists and successfully performed as a writer and interpreter of sketches, especially the role of Uncle Proka. A personality of curious and renaissance spirit, he selflessly gave himself to the theater. As a character comedian, he was characterized by flexibility, ingenuity, restraint, great power of transformation and the ability to achieve a comic effect on stage with minimal means. He also played for children, and wrote theatrical fairy tales

(Everything, Everything But Craft, The Quacking Fairy Tale, The Golden Apple and the Nine Peacocks, The Tale of a Calendar, etc.). He is the author of the plays “The Man from Mars”, “The Creation of the World”, “The Cheerful and Sad Ginjol”, and “The Repaid Society”. His greatest success and fame was brought by the legendary comedy “Shared Apartment”, one of the first works of our contemporary dramaturgy, which was performed in European countries and translated into over thirty languages. It was directed by Marko Fotez on the stage of the Humor Theatre in Belgrade, it was performed on the stages of Serbia, Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro, Macedonia, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Russia, the Czech Republic, Poland, Sweden, France, Belgium, etc. A film was made based on the Belgrade play (directed by M. Vajda, 1960). He played in R. L. Đukić's films “The Lake” (1951), “To the Place, Citizen Submissive” (1964), “The Man with Four Legs” (1983), “The Golden Slingshot” (1967); M. Vajde, “The Shared Apartment” (1960); Soje Jovanović's “Eagles Fly Early” (1966); F. Hadžić's “Protest” (1967), “Idu dani” (1970); O. Gluščević's “The Naked Man” (1968) and others. He has also enriched a number of diverse characters in popular, popular TV series:’ Ćutolog’, ‘Gile’, ‘Braca Raca’ (R. L. Đukić, N. Novak, ‘Face to Face’, ‘People and Parrots’, ‘Sačulatac’), Sredoje (R. L. Đukić, Black Snow), ‘Gnjavator’, Vasa S. Tajčić (N. Novak, ‘Duty Street’, ‘Theater in the House’), Moca (Lj. Kozomara, Levaci) and others. In 1967, TV Belgrade made a series based on his script, directed by Soja Jovanović. In the theater he is remembered for his roles: “Man with a Leg”, “Svetislav”, “Arsa” (B. Nušić, “Around the World, Protection, Power”), Predrag, Špira (A. Popović, “The Development Path of Bora Šnajder”, Ljubinko and Desanka), “Grandfather of God” (D. Dobričanin, “Shared Apartment”) and many others. He is the author of the book of humorous writings Memoirs of Joko Kokot (Bg – Nk 1988).

Dobricanin died in Belgrade, Serbia, Yugoslavia on November 28, 1988, at the age of 66.

Dragutin Dobricanin appeared in one Euro-western, “Zlatna pracka” (The Golden Sling) as Blacky in 1967.

DOBRICANIN, Dragutin (aka D. Dobricanin, Dragoljub Dobricanin, Dragutin Guta Dobricanin, Dragutin Dobricanin-Guta) [7/9/1922, Prokuplje, Serbia, Yugoslavia – 11/28/1988, Belgrade, Serbia, Yugoslavia] – writer, film, TV actor.

The Golden Sling – 1967 (Blacky)

Spaghetti Western Directors, Screenwriters, Cinematographers

Spaghetti Western Director ~ Jess Franco

Jesús Franco was a Spanish film director, screenwriter, composer, and actor known for his extraordinarily prolific output of cult horror, erotic, and exploitation films characterized by psychedelic gothic style, explicit sexuality, and surreal elements. Born Jesús Franco Manera in Madrid, Spain on May 12, 1930, he directed nearly 200 feature films across more than five decades, often under the pseudonym Jess Franco and numerous other aliases, while frequently working on extremely low budgets and facing censorship challenges in Francoist Spain.

Franco began his career in the 1950s as a composer, assistant director, and film school student in Madrid and Paris before directing his debut feature “Tenemos 18 años” in 1959. His breakthrough came with the horror film “The Awful Dr. Orloff” (1962), followed by international recognition through works such as “Succubus” (1968), praised by Fritz Lang as a beautiful piece of cinema. During the 1960s and 1970s he created numerous genre entries including “Count Dracula” (1970), “Vampyros Lesbos” (1971), and “Female Vampire” (1973), often featuring long-term collaborator and muse Lina Romay as well as actors like Christopher Lee and Klaus Kinski, while also serving as second-unit director for Orson Welles on “Chimes at Midnight” (1965). His films frequently existed in multiple versions tailored for different markets and audiences, blending influences from classic gothic horror, pulp fiction, and the Marquis de Sade into a distinctive, voyeuristic vision that earned him a dedicated cult following despite ongoing controversy and marginal industry status.

Franco maintained a tireless pace into the 21st century, transitioning to video production and even hardcore pornography while continuing to explore his obsessions with low-budget independence, ultimately premiering his final film “Al Pereira vs the Alligator Ladies” shortly before his death in Málaga on April 2, 2013, at the age of 82. His legacy rests on an uncompromising commitment to personal creative freedom within the fringes of commercial genre cinema, making him one of the most restless and prolific auteurs in European exploitation film history

Jess Franco directed three Euro-westerns: “Convoi de femmes” (Convoy of Women) with Pierre Chevalier, “Les chatouilleuses” (The crazy Nuns) in 1974 and  “ La marque de Zorro” (The Mark of Zorr) with Marius Lesoeur and Alain Payet

FRANCO, Jesús (Jesús Franco Manera) [5/12/1930, Madrid, Madrid, Spain - 4/2/2013, Malaga, Andalusia, Spain (stroke)] – producer, director, writer, actor, brother of music critic Enrique Franco (Enrique Franco Manera) [1920-2009] married to writer, actress Nicole Guettard [19??-1996] (1962-1980), married to actress Lina Romay [1954-2012] (2008-2012).

Convoy of Women – 1974 (co)

The Crazy Nuns - 1974 [as Clifford Brown]

The Mark of Zorro – 1974 (co)


Spaghetti Western Screenwriter ~ Robert Ruiz Cespedes

Robert Ruiz Cespedes is a Spanish novelist, screenwriter, film director and first assistant director. Born in Santander, Cantabria, Spain in June of 1987, he graduated in Film Directing from the KINEMA film school in Bilbao and with a master's degree in Scriptwriting for Film and TV from the TAI school in Madrid. He has written and directed 20 short films, two experimental films and one high budget film. His first commercial film was “Stoyan.” Starring Tristán Ulloa, Marta Milans, Max Ulloa, Carlos Mestanza, Susana Hornos, Nicolás Coronado, Mariano Venancio, Alfonso Torregrosa and Natalia Rodríguez. With Official Selection at the 5th Pitchbox 2018 and Special Mention at the Sitges Pitchbox 2017, produced by Gold Tower Producciones, American Road Films, Hache Producciones and “Stoyan A.I.E.” “Stoyan” has accumulated 116 international awards, 50 official selections and 7 mentions. With theatrical release in early 2023 and world premiere at the 44th Moscow International Film Festival. His short film “Broken Basket”, starring Belén Rueda, was selected in more than 40 festivals within the Oscar Shortlist, such as the Short Film Corner (Cannes), Honorable Mention of the Jury for Belén Rueda at the Queens World Film Festival (New York), Chelsea Film Festival (New York), Zinebi (Bilbao) and Carmel International Film Festival (California), among others. The film “Stoyan” is based on this award-winning short film. He has written three fantasy novels. The last one Marma, Rabbit Boy (2020), published by Editorial Amarante. The first entitled Los Himenez suenan como quieren (2017) and the second Mero Firmamento (2018), both by Ediciones Camelot. His fourth and fifth novels,are  in the process of seeking editing, are being represented by MJR Literary Agency (Madrid). He has written more than 20 feature film, series and fiction miniseries scripts in development stage. Cespedes worked as first assistant director, assistant director/producer, script and art director in feature films, short films and fiction series. His last jobs have been as First Assistant Director in the film “8 Anos”, by JD Alcázar (2020) and as Assistant Director in the series ‘El Cid’, by Zebra Producciones for Amazon Prime Video (2020).

Robert Ruiz Cespedes wrote screenplays for two Euro-westerns: “Toma ParteR” in 2007 and “Negativa” in 2008.

CESPEDES. Robert Ruiz (Roberto Ruiz Céspedes) [6/?/1987, Santander, Cantabria, Spain -     ] – producer, director, assistant director, novelist, writer.

Toma ParteR – 2007

Negativa – 2008


Spaghetti Western Cinematographer ~ Josef Illig

Josef Illig was a German cinematographer who contributed to over 44 film projects, primarily in the German cinema of the mid-20th century.

Born in Munich, Germany on May 5, 1908, he began his career as an assistant camera operator in the 1930s, Illig worked on early films such as “Der Gefangene des Königs” (1935) and “The Fight with the Dragon” (1935), handling roles in camera departments.

By the late 1940s, he advanced to full cinematographer (Director of Photography) positions, collaborating on notable post-war productions including “König für eine Nacht” (1950), “Der Herrgottschnitzer von Ammergau” (1952), and “Noc nevesty” (1967).

His work often featured in genres like drama, comedy, and adventure, with credits spanning German studios and occasional international co-productions until the late 1960s

Josef Illig died on 20 May 1970 in Munich, Bavaria, West Germany, at the age of 62.

Josef Illig was a co-cinematographer on one Euro-western, “Wasser für Canitoga” (Water for Canitoga) with Franz Koch in 1939.

ILLIG, Josef [5/5/1908, Munich, Bavaria, Germany – 5/20/1970, Munich, Bavaria, Germany] cinematographer, cameraman.

Water for Canitoga – 1939 (co)

Spaghetti Western locations Then & Now – “The Longest Hunt”

Here in this screen capture from the 1968 film “Spara, Gringo, spara" (aka The Longest Hunt and Stark, el pistolero we see a camp scene.

This was filmed at a location called Cortijo Blanco in Pechina, Almería, Spain.

Here’s the same location as seen in 2023.




European Westerns ~ Collana eroi del West

 





Bill West

Bill West was Small-format strip-style comic booklet of medium length (80–96 pages). The series primarily bears the Bill West masthead and reprints Bill West (reproduced from Lone Ranger film stories), Roger Falco by Svan, Guida, and Carretti (Gui-Car), Gordon Short by Annibale Casabianca, Buffaletto Bill by Giovanni Benvenuti, Jim West by Vincenzo Chiomenti, and Zeffirino by Enver Bongrani. Issues #2, #3, #5, #6, and #7 feature standalone stories by Casabianca, originally drawn from the Albi Condor series (Cecchini, 1955).

There also exists a special series with soft covers, priced at 30 Lire, which reprints Roger Falco by Svan and Carretti and Buffaletto Bill by Buzzelli; these were produced using the printing plates from the Eroi Dell’Avventura series (Flaminia, 1962).

Bill West was published from1953-1965 by OMG in Milan, Italy with issue #1 being released in January 1963 and ending with issue #16 in 1965. Each issue contained 96 black and white pages with color covers.

 

Titles

01 - "Bill West" (tit. int.: "Bill West in Evasione") (Bill West: The Escape)

02 - "Colt 45" (Colt .45)

03 - "FW-57 chiama Jungla" (tit. int. "Missione senza ritorno") (Mission of No Return)

04 - "Bill West" (tit. int.: "Roger Falco - Il ratto di Marion") (Roger Falco: The

        Abduction of Marion)

05 - "Furore al Messico" (Fury in Mexico)

06 - "La confraternita dei dannati" (The Brotherhood of the Damned)

07 - "La valle della morte" (The Valley of Death)

08 - "Bill West" (tit. int.: "Roger Falco 1° episodio - Il seme dell'odio") (Roger Falco:

        Episode 1 – The Seed of Hatred")

09 - "Bill West" (tit. int.: "Roger Falco - La maschera del traditore") (Roger Falco: The

        Traitor's Mask)

10 - "Bill West" (tit. int.: "Gordon Short - Il Passo della Morte") (Gordon Short: The Pass

        of Death)

11 - "Bill West" (tit. int.: "Un infame progetto", con Buffaletto Bill) (An Infamous Plot,"

        featuring Buffaletto Bill)

12 - "Bill West" (tit. int.: "Il palo del supplizio", con Buffaletto Bill) (he Torture Stake,"

        featuring Buffaletto Bill)

13 - "Bill West" (tit. int.: "La carovana dei pionieri", con Buffaletto Bill) (The Pioneer

        Caravan," featuring Buffaletto Bill)

14 - "Bill West" (tit. int.: "Jim West - Il Picco della Luna") (Jim West: Moon Peak)

15 - "Bill West" (tit. int.: "Jim West - Il Picco della Luna") (Jim West: Moon Peak)

16 - "Bill West" (tit. int.: "Jim West - Il Picco della Luna") (Jim West: Moon Peak)

Special Birthdays

Tonio Selwart (actor) would have been 130 today but died in 2002.









Giulio Marchetti (actor) would have been 115 today but died in 1993.









Aristide Caporale (actor) would have been 105 today but died in 1990.









Patrick Durkin (actor) would have been 90 but died in 2009.








Natalie Portman (actress) is 45 today.


 

Sunday, June 7, 2026

From the WAI! vault

 












Little Known Spaghetti Western Actors ~ Dan Dobre

[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.]

Dan Dobre was born on December 28, 1938 in Dumbraveni, Sighisoara, Romania. He was a Romanian actor known for his work in Romanian cinema, particularly in films from the 1960s to the 1980s. In 1962 he was admitted to the Acting Department at the I.L. Caragiale Institute of Theatre and Film Arts (IATC) in Bucharest, where he trained under professor George Carabin and conferențiar George Rafael. Following his graduation, Dobre secured a position at the Teatrul Dramatic Brașov, marking the start of his long-term engagement with that institution

He gained recognition for performances in notable productions such as “Vin ciclistii” (1968) and “The Carpathian Castle” (1981), contributing to the landscape of Romanian film during that period. His roles often appeared in local features, reflecting the era's cinematic output under Romania's socialist system.

Dan departed Romania in 1988 for Germany.After emigrating to Germany Dobre settled in the United States. He remained abroad until 2007, when he repatriated to Romania upon retirement. Despite his return to Romania, his death occurred in the United States where he died in New York City, New York on July 7, 2020 at the age of 81.

Dan Dobre appeared in two Euro-westerns: “Ulzana” as a lieutenant in 1973 and “Sing, Cowboy, Sing” as one of Dave Arnold’s henchman in 1980

DOBRE, Dan (Dan Virgil Dobre) [12/28/1938, Dumbraveni, Sighisoara, Romania – 7/7/2020, Rego Park, New York City, New York, U.S.A.] – theater, film actor, married to Ilse Schmit father of a son, married to philologist Doina Precup, married to actress Rucsandra Ionescu-Tintu, married to Laura Oltean [1965-    ].

Ulzana – 1973 (3rd lieutenant)

Sing, Cowboy, Sing – 1980 (Dave Arnold henchman)