.Westerns...All'Italiana!

Monday, October 5, 2026

Little Known Spaghetti Western Actors ~ Willy Egger

[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.]

Willy Egger was born on March 8, 1929, in Vienna, Austria. He was an Austrian film producer and occasional actor. As a film producer, he was involved in a total of 56 film and TV productions between 1952 and 2001 as production manager or executive producer but appeared in some films he co-produced. In total, he was in front of the camera in 11 films, even in small roles.

In the Karl May film adaptations of the sixties, he was involved in “The Treasure of the Aztecs”, “The Pyramid of the Sun God” and “The Legacy of the Inca” as a production manager. In “The Treasure of the Aztecs” and in “The Pyramid of the Sun God”, he also appeared in front of the camera in a small role as Bazaine's secretary and was dubbed by Claus Jurichs.

Since the 1970s, Willy worked as a production manager, including Billy Wilder's star drama “Fedora”, which was filmed at the Bavaria Studios in Munich, among other places. Since the late 1980s, he served in this capacity in Horst Wendlandt's Rialto Film. With his help, Walt Disney films and operetta productions for WDR were created. Towards the end of his career, he was also involved in the production of several successful comedies by German star comedians Loriot, Otto Waalkes and Hape Kerkeling.

He also worked for television (for television films for ZDF) and sporadically appeared in front of the camera with guest roles in some films he produced. Willy Egger was a Protestant, married to Magda Egger in his first marriage, and after the divorce in his second marriage to the hairdresser Bärbele Z. He has three children (Gerhard from his first marriage, Susanne and Michael from the second) and most recently lived in Berlin where he died on August 2, 2005, at the age of 76.

Willy Egger appeared in two Euro-westerns: “Die Pyramide des Sonnengottes” (Pyramid of the Sun God” as Bazaine’s secretary in 1964 and reprised the role in the sequel “Der Schatz der Azteken” (Treasure of the Aztecs) in 1965.

EGGER, Willy (aka Willi Egger, Willy P. Egger) (Wilhelm Egger) [3/8/1929, Vienna, Austria – 8/2/2005, Berlin, Berlin, Germany] – producer, film, TV actor, married to Magda Eggerová father of Gerhard Egger, married to hairdresser Bärbele Z. father of Susanne Egger, Michael Egger.

Pyramid of the Sun God – 1964 (Bazaine’s secretary)

Treasure of the Aztecs – 1965 (Bazaine's secretary)

Spaghetti Western Directors, Screenwriters, Cinematographers

Spaghetti Western Director ~ Vance Lewis

Vance Lewis was an alias used by Luigi Vanzi an Italian film director, assistant director, and screenwriter known for his contributions to the Spaghetti Western genre, most notably directing the "Stranger" trilogy starring Tony Anthony in the late 1960s.

Born on June 8, 1924, in Ferrara, Italy, Vanzi entered the film industry in the early 1950s as an assistant director, contributing to productions such as “Love in the City” (1953) and “The Young Girls of San Frediano” (1954). He made his directorial debut with the documentary-style “World by Night” (1960) and subsequently helmed films across various genres, including the peplum “Seven from Thebes” (1964) and the controversial “So This Is God's Country?” (also known as “America paese di Dio”, 1966). His most prominent works remain the Spaghetti Westerns “A Stranger in Town” (1967), “The Stranger Returns” (1967), and “The Silent Stranger” (1968), often credited under the pseudonym Vance Lewis, which formed a loose series centered on a mysterious gunslinger.

Vanzi continued directing into the 1970s with projects such as “East Connection” (1970) and the crime drama “1931: Once Upon a Time in New York” (1972), occasionally using pseudonyms like Roy Ferguson and Gigi Vanzi. He died on January 22, 1992, in Rome, Italy at the age of 67.

Luigi Vanzi as Vance Lewis directed three Spaghetti westerns: “Un dollaro tra i denti” (A Stranger in Town) in 1966, “Un uomo, un cavallo, una pistola” (The Stranger Returns) in 1967 and “Lo straniero di silenzio” (The Silent Stranger) in 1968.

LEWIS, Vance (aka Roy Ferguson, Gigi Vanzi) (Luigi Vanzi) [6/8/1924, Ferrara, Italy – 1/22/1992, Rome, Lazio, Italy] – director, assistant director, writer, married to ? father of actress Alessandra Vanzi [1955- ].

A Stranger in Town – 1966

The Stranger Returns - 1967

The Silent Stranger – 1968

Spaghetti Western Screenwriter ~ Jacques Emmanuel

Jacques Emmanuel Welfling was a French screenwriter, actor, and dialogue writer renowned for his contributions to mid-20th-century cinema, particularly in comedy and drama genres. Born in Paris on January 13, 1920, he penned screenplays and adaptations for over 30 films, often collaborating with prominent directors and stars, while also appearing in supporting roles in more than a dozen productions. His work emphasized witty dialogue and character-driven narratives, reflecting the vibrant post-war French film industry. He also worked as a librettist for operas.

Emmanuel's screenwriting career gained prominence in the 1950s with notable credits including the screenplay for “Don Juan” (1956), a lavish adaptation starring Fernandel, and “The Law Is the Law” (1958), a comedy featuring Noël-Noël and Micheline Presle that highlighted his skill in blending humor with social commentary. He continued to write prolifically into the 1960s and beyond, contributing to films like “Trois enfants... dans le désordre” (1966), directed by Léo Joannon and starring Bourvil, where he crafted the screenplay and original story, and “Les gros malins” (1969), an adaptation known for its satirical take on rural life. As an actor, he took on character roles such as the notary in the period comedy “Dames galantes” (1990) and the publisher in “Amazing Monsieur Fabre” (1951), often bringing a subtle, understated presence to the screen.

Throughout his career, Emmanuel worked across various formats, including television episodes for series like ‘Les Globe-trotters’ (1967) and ‘Félix’ (1964), demonstrating versatility in adapting stories for both big and small screens. His collaborations with esteemed figures such as Brigitte Bardot, Fernandel, and Jean Carmet underscored his integral role in French cinematic circles, though he remained more behind-the-scenes than in the spotlight. Emmanuel passed away in Saint-Cloud, France on June 11, 1998, at age 78, leaving a legacy of enduring contributions to French film storytelling.

Jacques Emmanuel co-wrote the screenplay for one Euro-western, “Dynamite Jack, la terreur de l'Arizona” (Dynamite Jack) with Jean Bastia, Jean Manse and Jack Ary.

EMMANUEL, Jacques (aka J. Emmanuel) (Jacques Emmanuel Welfing) [1/13/1920, Paris, Île-de-France, France – 6/11/1998, Saint-Cloud, Hauts-de-Seine, France] – writer, actor.

Dynamite Jack – 1960 (co)

Spaghetti Western Animator ~ Vjekoslav Radilovic

Vjekoslav Radilovic was a Czechoslovakian director, writer and animator. He was born in Celje on April 16, 1926. Radilovic directed one film “Inka” in 1992 and wrote for two films in 1992 and 1997. Most of his career was spent as an animator on eight films between 1957 and 1997.

Radilovic died at the age of 70 in Zagreb, Croatia on November 3, 1996.

Was an animator on one animated on one Euro-western, “Dynamite Jimmy” with Berislav Fabek, Leo Fabiani, Vladimir Jutrisa, Vjekoslav Kostanjsek andJosip Peciknk.

RADILOVIC, Vjekoslav [4/16/1926, Celje, Slovenia – 11/3/1996, Zagreb, Croatia] – director, writer, animator.

Cowboy Jimmy – 1970 (co)

"The Mute, the Lame and the Blind"

The Mute, the Lame and the Blind – International title

A 2025 Italian short film production [?]

Producer: Christian Canderan

Director: Christian Canderan

Story: Christian Canderan, Chiara Errico

Screenplay: Christian Canderan, Chiara Errico

Cinematography: Christian Canderan [color]

Music: www.pixabay.com

Running time: 60 minutes

Cast:

Pauli Nauli, Narcisio Levan, Paolo Bortolin, Marco Antonini

Director Stefano discovers the talent and irony of Narcisio, Paolo and Marco, three men with different disabilities. Together, they embark on the challenge of shooting a western movie. The filming becomes an adventure of laughter, dreams and discoveries, proving that disability does not define the individual and celebrating art as pure freedom.

Spaghetti Western locations Then & Now – “Chato’s Land”

In 1972 “Chato’s Land” the posse stopped at the ranch of Ezra Meade where they rest up have dinner and then once again depart on their obsession to find Chato.

Meade’s ranch set was built in the Tabernas Desert.

Here’s the same location as seen in 2026.

European Western Comics - Collana Strenne Corticelli

Corticelli Gift Books Series

This comic book series was published in Milan by Ugo Mursia Editore. It revives the name of the Milanese publisher Corticelli, whose publishing assets were acquired by Mursia. Featuring an elegant hardcover format, the series, as stated by the publisher, "is the only Italian one privileged to introduce young readers to classic and modern texts of high literary merit, presented in unabridged editions with an elegant, understated design." The few works that are necessarily abridged are marked in the list with an (R). While featuring foreign authors, the series also publishes works by Salvatore Gotta, Giana Anguissola, Wanda Bontà, Gianni Rodari, and Mino Milani. Page counts range from 160 to 440. Illustrators include Franco Donatelli, Giuseppe Pagotto, and Mario Uggeri. The volumes do not bear numbering on the covers, only on the title page; for cataloging convenience, individual titles are therefore listed by author.

The first issue was release on an unknown date and ended with issue 111 in 1982. Each issue contained between 160 and 440 black and white pages with color covers.

Titles of western importance:

James Fenimore Cooper

000 (00.00.00) - “L'ultimo dei Mohicani” - 324 pgg. (The Last of the Mohicans)

Jack London

000 (00.00.00) - “Il richiamo della foresta” - 284 pgg. (The Call of the Wild)

000 (00.00.00) - “Zanna Bianca” - 264 pgg. (White Fang)

Mino Milani

074 (00.00.00) - “Tommy River e lo scozzese” - 204 pgg. (Tommy River and the

Scotsman)

000 (00.00.00) - “L'avventura di Tommy River” - 256 pgg. (The Adventure of Tommy

River”

000 (00.00.00) - “Tommy River” - 244 pgg. (Tommy River)