Spaghetti Western Trivia ~ There’s no place like home “Chato’s Land”

 

The Hooker brother’s ranch house and barn are the same as the McBain house and barn in “Once Upon a Time in the West” (1968). Today the site is called Rancho Leone.

Little Known Spaghetti Western Actors ~ Bruno Dussart

[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.]

Not to be confused with the French cameraman and lighting technician of the same name. Bruno Dussart is a French actor. I can find no biographical information on him.

Bruno Dussart appeared in two Euro-westerns: “Per un pugno di spaghetti” as the the Stranger in 2014 and again as the Stranger in the 2015 sequel “Per un pugno di spaghetti 2: Rosalita”

DUSSART, Bruno [French] – assistant director, cameraman film actor.

Per un pugno di spaghetti – 2014 (The Stranger)

Per un pugno di spaghetti 2: Rosalita – 2015 (The Stranger)

Spaghetti Western Directors, Screenwriters, Cinematographers

Spaghetti Western Director ~ Carlo Koch

Carl Koch was a German film director, cinematographer, and writer known for his pioneering work in silhouette animation alongside his wife Lotte Reiniger and for directing live-action features in France and Italy during the late 1930s and early 1940s.

Born on July 30, 1892, in Nümbrecht, Germany, Koch initially trained as an art historian before entering the film industry, where he contributed technical expertise and creative direction to early animated projects. He married animator Lotte Reiniger in 1921, beginning a lifelong professional partnership that produced landmark works in silhouette animation, including the groundbreaking feature “The Adventures of Prince Achmed”. Koch served as cinematographer and uncredited co-director on that film, helping establish techniques that influenced later animation.

Following the rise of the Nazi regime, Koch and Reiniger relocated, working on productions in France, where he contributed to films by Jean Renoir such as The Rules of the Game, and later in Italy, where he directed under the name Carlo Koch. His directorial credits include “Tosca” (1941) and “Una signora dell'ovest” (1942), adaptations that reflected his literary interests and cross-cultural experiences. After World War II, he continued collaborating with Reiniger on animated shorts while living in England, where he died on December 1, 1963 at the age of 71.

Koch's career bridged animation innovation, French poetic realism, and Italian cinema, marked by consistent collaboration, technical ingenuity, and adaptation across genres and nations.

Carlo Koch directed on Euro-western, “Una signora dell’ovest” (The Girl of the Golden West) in 1942.

KOCH, Carlo (aka Koc h, C. Koch) (Carl Koch) [7/30/1892, Nümbrecht, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany – 12/1/1963, Barnet, London, England, U.K.] – producer, production manager, director, assistant director, writer, cinematographer, animator, film editor, married to producer, director, assistant director, writer, cinematographer, animator Lotte Reiniger (Charlotte Reiniger) [1899-1981] (1921-1963).

The Girl of the Golden West – 1942

Spaghetti Western Screenwriter ~ Massimo DeRita

Massimo DeRita was an Italian producer, production manager, writer, actor born in Rome on August 11, 1935. After attending the Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia, he began collaborating with Fellini as a production assistant, at the end of the fifties he was a producer of highly innovative films such as The Mask of the Devil, but soon chose to pursue a career as a screenwriter.

He worked in several audiovisual works, from the police cinema of the seventies to the biographical and religious television dramas of the 2000s, passing through Spaghetti westerns and the films of Giuseppe Tornatore.

DeRita died in Rome on May 13, 2013 at the age of 77.

Massimo DeRita co-wrote two screenplays for Spaghetti westerns: “Vamos a matar, companeros! “ (Compaeros!) with Sergio Corbucci, Fritz Ebert and Dino Maiuri in 1970, “Viva la muerte... tua!” (Long Live Your Death) with Marcello Coscia, Dino Maiuri, Duccio Tessari in 1971 and “Valdez, il mezzosangue” (Chino) in 1973.

DeRITA, Massimo (aka M. de Rita, Max De Rita, Max von Ryt) [8/11/1935, Rome, Lazio, Italy – 5/13/2013, Rome, Lazio, Italy] – producer, production manager, writer, actor.

Companeros! – 1970 (co)

Long Live Your Death – 1971 (co)

Chino – 1973 (co)

Spaghetti Western Cinematographer ~ Vladimir Novotny

Vladimír Novotný was a Czech cinematographer renowned for his innovative special effects and cinematography in Czechoslovak cinema, particularly during the 1960s New Wave and in popular fantasy films. Born on October 17, 1914, in Tábor, Bohemia, he developed expertise in trick photography and optical illusions under limited technical conditions, earning recognition as a pioneer of Czech trick cinematography and contributing to early stereoscopic film and television experiments.

Novotný began his career in the 1930s with minor acting roles and as a camera assistant before specializing in special effects and co-founding the AFIT trick-film studio in 1935. After World War II, he collaborated on animated works with Jiří Trnka and transitioned to feature films, later teaching at FAMU film school from 1952 onward. His notable collaborations include cinematography for the Academy Award-winning “The Shop on Main Street” (1965), directed by Ján Kadár and Elmar Klos, the satirical western parody “Lemonade Joe” (1964), the absurdist “Happy End” (1967), and fantasy classics by Václav Vorlíček such as “The Girl on the Broomstick” (1972) and “How to Drown Dr. Mráček” (1974).

He received several national awards for his contributions, including a National Prize in 1949 and various artistic recognitions, and held a patent for stereoscopic television technology demonstrated in 1965. Novotný passed away on April 14, 1997, in Prague at the age of 82.

As mentioned above Vladimir Novotny was a cinematographer on one Euro-western, “Limonádový Joe aneb Konská opera” (Lemonade Joe) in 1965

NOVOTNY, Vladimir (Vladimír Novotný) [10/14/1914, Tabor, Bohemia, Austria-Hungary – 4/14/1997, Prague, Czech Republic] – cinematographer, cameraman, SFX, actor.

Lemonade Joe - 1964

 

Voices of the Spaghetti western – “White Comanche”

As we know most of the Euro-westerns were co-productions from Italy, Spain, Germany and France which incorporated British and American actors to gain a worldwide audience. The films were shot silent and then dubbed into the various languages where they were sold for distribution. That means Italian, Spanish, German, French and English voice actors were hired to dub the films. Even actors from the countries where the film was to be shown were often dubbed by voice actors for various reasons such as the actors were already busy making another film, they wanted to be paid additional salaries for dubbing their voices, the actor’s voice didn’t fit the character they were playing, accidents to the actors and in some cases even death before the film could be dubbed.

I’ll list a Euro-western and the (I) Italian, (S) Spanish, (G) German and (F) French, (E) English voices that I can find and once in a while a bio on a specific voice actor as in Europe.

 

Today we’ll cover “White Comanche”

[(I) Italian, (S) Spanish, (G) German, (F) French, (E) English

Sheriff Logan – Joeph Cotten (S) José Martínez Blanco, (G) Heinz Engelmann

Johnny Moon/Notah – William Shatner (S) Paco Valladares, (G) Fred Maire

Kelly – Rosanna Yanni (S) Lola Cervantes, (G) Helga Trümper

White Fawn – Perla Cristal (S) Mayte Santamarina

Mayor Bolker - Barta Barri (S) José María Cordero

General Garcia – Mariano Vidal Molina (S) Benjamín Domingo, (G) Christian Marschall

 

Benjamín Domingo  (19??-2???)

Benjamín Domingo was an unforgettable actor and dubbing director with a magnificent, deep-register voice. Domingo was an excellent character actor who, for many years, demonstrated extraordinary mastery in lending his voice to all kinds of characters across every genre—adventure, comedy, drama, action, horror, crime.

In fact, there is one series that holds legendary status for many Spaniards ‘Cannon’, featuring the portly private investigator William Conrad, whom no villain could stop once he took on a new case. With a spectacular opening sequence, or "intro," as we would call it today, and a tone that was engaging, lively, and fun, yet rich in mystery, danger, and action, the series dominated TVE’s evening lineup. The night a new episode of ‘Cannon’ aired was, in television terms, one of the most anticipated of the week.

He was also remembered for voicing such classic films as “Dr. No” Rick Lester (Guard) in1962), “The Great Escape” James Donald as Ramsey SBO in 1963) and “Thunderball” Desmond Llewelyn as Q in 1965, Wolfgang Lukschy in “Fistful of Dollars”, Luigi Pistilli in “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly in 1966

His voice was also engraved in the collective memory of Spain for being the voice of the classic and remembered messages of Legal notice and warning at the beginning of VHS videotapes.

Special Birthdays

Harry Bagge (actor) would have been 130 today but died in 1967.

Fernando Palacios (director) would have been 110 today but died in 1965.

Herbert Weicker [voice actor] – would have been 105 today but died in 1997.

Alberto Plebani (actor) is 100 today (?).

Little Known Spaghetti Western Actors ~ Carlo Duse

[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.]

Carlo Artemio Vittorio Duse was born in Udine, Friuli-Venezia Giulia on January 5, 1898. He was an Italian actor, director, playwright, and screenwriter, best known for his extensive work in theater and cinema during the early to mid-20th century.

Born into a family of artists related to the celebrated actress Eleonora Duse, Duse began his career as a young stage performer in prominent Italian theater companies led by directors such as Antonio Gandusio, Dina Galli, and Ermete Zacconi. He also contributed as a playwright, penning works like “Primavera” and “Il dono della notte”. Duse made his film debut in 1918 with “Uragano” and later appeared in “Gli ultimi giorni di Pompei” (1926), directed by Carmine Gallone and Amleto Palermi; he went on to appear in more than 80 films, often portraying villains or complex character roles in the 1930s and 1940s. His screen credits include notable films such as “Scipione l'africano” (1937), “I promessi sposi” (1941), “Giarabub” (1942), “Totò sceicco” (1950), and the Don Camillo series, including “Don Camillo” (1952) and “Don Camillo e l'onorevole Peppone” (1955). In addition to acting, Duse served as a screenwriter and assistant director for projects by filmmakers like Alessandro Blasetti, Guido Brignone, and Giacomo Gentilomo, contributing to the development of Italian cinema during the Fascist era and postwar period. He continued working until his death in Rome on August 8, 1956, at age 58.

Carlo Duse appeared in one Euro-western, “Una signora dell’ovest” (Lady of the West) as Paloma in 1942.

DUSE, Carlo (aka C. Duse) (Carlo Artemio Vittorio Duse) [1/5/1899, Udine, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy – 8/9/1956, Rome, Lazio, Italy] – director, assistant director, playwright, writer, film actor, grandson of actor Luigi Duse [1792-1954], son of actor Vittorio Duse, brother actor Eugenio Duse [1889-1969], nephews of actor Vincenzo Alessandro Duse, cousin of actress Eleanor Duse (Eleonora Giulia Amalia Duse) [1858-1924], married to actress Italia Vitaliani [1866-1938] (191?-1938) father of Erminia Duse, Giorgio Duse.

Lady of the West – 1942 (Paloma)

Spaghetti Western Directors, Screenwriters, Cinematographers

Spaghetti Western Director ~ Emil Kneiss

The illustrator and caricaturist Emil Kneiss was born on December 3, 1867, in Frankfurt, Germany. After completing his school education, Emil Kneiss completed an apprenticeship as a lithographer and then went to the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich. Later he studied at the art academy in Berlin and he contributed illustrations for the publication "Berliner Wespen".

He was active working for the magazine "Jugend" from 1896 to 1897 and realized around 20 drawings. In 1899 he was appointed artistic director of the lithographic institute Schneller in Nuremberg but gave up the position in 1902 when he returned to Munich. In the studio he founded there, he produced numerous advertising drawings, posters and postcards as a graphic artist. With the outbreak of the First World War, illustrated postcards experienced a great boom and Emil Kneiss created numerous motifs that quickly became popular.

When he was commissioned in 1917 to make an animated film that was shown to students as a

teaching aid on the subject of "obstetrics", he took a liking to this new profession, and he drew several humorous animated films such as the "Texas Jack" series of films in the following years.

In 1921 he founded Minverva Film GmbH, which concentrated on the production of animated and educational films.

In the years of the 2nd World War, he successfully continued his career as a caricaturist and heralded his last work-intensive period as a draughtsman. After the war, Kneiss increasingly showed problems with his eyesight, and he realized only a few illustrations.

Kneiss died on March 22, 1956, at the age of 88 in Munich, Germany.

Emil Kneiss directed on silent Euro western, “Texas Jack zähmt ein wildes Pferd” (Texas Jack Tames a Wild Horse) in 1922

KNEISS, Emil (Emil Kneiß) [12/3/1867, Frankfurt, Main, Germany – 3/22/1956, Munich, Bavaria, Germany] – director, son of actor, singer Ludwig Kneiß [1830-1900], founded Minverva Film GmbH [1921].

Texas Jack – 1922 [series titles “Der Todessattel” (Texas Jack – The Deathly Hallows), “Firestarter”. “Texas Jacks Todesritt” (Texas Jacks Deadline), “Die Todesfarm”]

 

Spaghetti Western Screenwriter ~ Arpad de Riso

Arpad DeRiso was a Hungarian-born Italian screenwriter known for his contributions to low-budget Italian genre cinema during the 1960s and 1970s, particularly in the peplum (sword-and-sandal), spaghetti western, and giallo genres.

Born on December 13, 1909, in Budapest, Hungary, DeRiso worked extensively in the Italian film industry and resided in Rome, where he died in 1983. His screenwriting career focused on popular exploitation and adventure films, often produced quickly for international markets, and he frequently received credit under variant spellings such as Arpad De Riso or De Riso Arpad.  Among his notable works are “La strada dei giganti” (1960), “Maciste contro i mostri” (1962), “Death Carries a Cane” (1973), and “Death Steps in the Dark” (1977).

Arpad de Riso wrote and co-wrote ten Spaghetti westerns: “Sansone e il Tesoro degli Incas” (Lost Treasure of the Aztecs) with Piero Pierotti in 1964, “Uccidete Johnny Ringo” (Kill Johnny Ringo) with Nino Scolaro in 1965, “Il magnifico Texano” (The Magnficent Texan) with Luigi Capuano and Manuel Martínez Remís in 1967, “Garrringo” with Joaquin Luis Romero Marchent and Nino Scolaro in 1969, “In nome del padre, del figlio e della Colt” (In the Name of the Father, the Son and the Colt) with Mario Gariazzo, Eduardo M. Brochero and “I senza Dio” (Thunder Over El Paso) with Antonio Fos and Maurizio Pradeaux both in 1971, “Küçük Kovboy” (Cowboy Kid) with Guido Zurli, Gianfranco Pisano, Fuat Özlüer and Erdogan Tünas, “La colt era il suo Dio” (God is My Colt .45) with Luigi Batzella, “Storia di karatè, pugni e fagioli” (Karate, Fists and Beans) with Giovanni Scolaro and “Il figlio di Zorro” (The Son of Zorro) with Guido Zurli and Gianfranco Baldanello both in 1973

de RISO, Arpad (aka A. De Riso, Arpad De Riso, Robert Keaton) (Arpad DeRiso) [12/13/1909, Budapest, Hungary – 1983, Rome, Lazio, Italy] – writer, brother of actress Giulietta De Riso [1896-1988].

Lost Treasure of the Aztecs – 1964 (co)

Kill Johnny Ringo 1965 (co)

The Magnificent Texan – 1967 (co) [as Robert Keaton]

Garringo – 1969 (co)

Soltanto il diritto di morire – 19?? (co) [film was never made]

In the Name of the Father, the Son and the Colt – 1971 (co)

Thunder Over El Paso – 1971 (co)

Cowboy Kid – 1972 (co)

God is My Colt .45 – 1972 (co)

Karate, Fists and Beans – 1973 (co)

The Son of Zorro – 1973 (co)

Soltanto il diritto di morire – 19?? (co) [film was never made]

Spaghetti, western e karate – 19?? (co) [film was never made]

 

Spaghetti Western Cinematographer ~ Enrique Novials

Enrique Novials was born in Mequinenza, Zaragoza, Spain on July 13, 2002, and graduated in Humanities from the UOC (Barcelona 2014) and Film Production and Direction (San Sebastián, SGAE 2009) with Pablo Malo. He started as an actor at the Globe Theater in Zaragoza and he moved to Tarragona where he worked as an actor at Universal Studios Port-Aventura. He began directing amateur theater groups and directing / producing short films selected at various national and international festivals. His stories always have always a personal and poetic thread. Enrique is member of the PNR platform that brings together new talents from independent Spanish cinema and the Aragonese Film Academy.

Enrique Novials was a cinematographer on two Euro-westerns: “The Searcher” in 2024 and “The Bounty Hunter” in 2025.

NOVIALS, Enrique [7/13/2002, Mequinenza, Zaragoza, Spain - ] – director, writer, cinematographer, actor.

The Searcher – 2024

The Bounty Hunter - 2025