[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.]
As a boy Colin appeared in one Euro-western, “Talento por amor” (A Talent for Loving) aka “Gun Crazy” as the boy on the train.
COLIN, Michael – producer, production manager, editor, film actor.
A Talent for Loving – 1969 (boy on train)
Spaghetti Western
Director ~ Carlo Lizzani
Born in Rome on April 3, 1922, he began his career in the 1940s as a film critic and screenwriter, co-writing key neorealist works such as “Bitter Rice” (1949), which earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Motion Picture Story, and contributing to films like Germany “Year Zero” (1948).
His directorial debut came with “Achtung! Banditi!” (1951), and he went on to direct acclaimed films including “Chronicle of Poor Lovers” (1954), “The Violent Four” (1968), and “Celluloide” (1996), often exploring social, historical, and political themes.
Lizzani collaborated with major figures in Italian and international cinema, including Jean-Luc Godard, Bernardo Bertolucci, and Pier Paolo Pasolini, and directed segments in collective projects such as “Love and Anger” (1969). He also made documentaries, including an early one on Italian Communist leader Palmiro Togliatti, reflecting his long association with leftist politics. From 1979 to 1982, he served as director of the Venice Film Festival, where he helped foster new generations of filmmakers, and he later served on the Berlin Film Festival jury in 1994.
Lizzani died in Rome where he committed suicide on October 5, 2013, at age 91, by jumping from the balcony of his apartment. His body of work, spanning fiction, documentaries, and television, cemented his legacy as a versatile and influential figure in postwar Italian film.
Carlo Lizzani directed two Spaghetti westerns: “Un fiume di dollari” (The Hills Run Red) in 1966 and “Requiescant” (Kill and Pray) in 1967.
LIZZANI, Carlo (aka Lee W. Beaver) [4/3/1922, Rome, Lazio, Italy - 10/5/2013, Rome, Lazio, Italy (suicide)] – producer, director, assistant director, writer, film editor, actor, married to actress Edith Bieber [192?-2015] (1949-2013) father of director, assistant director Francesco Lizzani [1958- ], casting director, actress Flaminia Lizzani [1963- ].
Hills Run Red – 1966 [as Lee W. Beaver]
Kill and Pray – 1967
Burning Daylight – 1973 [film was never made]
Spaghetti Western Screenwriter ~ Harry Essex
Harry Essex was an American screenwriter, director, and playwright best known for his prolific contributions to 1950s science fiction and horror cinema, including the screenplays for the landmark 3-D films “It Came from Outer Space” (1953) and “Creature from the Black Lagoon” (1954). Born in New York City on November 29, 1910, he graduated from St John's University in 1936 and pursued writing from an early age, balancing welfare work with theater writing before his Broadway play Something for Nothing was produced in 1937.1 His Hollywood career began in the early 1940s but was interrupted by service in the US Army Signal Corps during World War II.
Essex established himself as a versatile screenwriter across genres, with early credits including the film noir “Desperate” (1947) and the thriller “The Killer That Stalked New York” (1950). He gained particular recognition for his work in science fiction and horror, adapting Ray Bradbury's story for “It Came from Outer Space” (1953) and co-writing “Creature from the Black Lagoon” (1954), both notable for their innovative use of 3-D effects and memorable creatures. He also directed several films, making his directorial debut with the adaptation of Mickey Spillane's novel “I, the Jury” (1953). Later in his career, Essex contributed to Westerns such as co-writing “The Sons of Katie Elder” (1965) starring John Wayne, and wrote for television anthologies and series including ‘Philco TV Playhouse’, ‘Playhouse 90’, and ‘The Untouchables’.
Essex's career spanned more than five decades, encompassing plays, novels, short stories, feature films, and television, with a particular impact on mid-century genre filmmaking before dying in Los Angeles, California on February 6, 1997 from heart failure at the age of 86.
Harry Essex co-wrote the screenplay for one Spaghetti western, “Los amigos” (Deaf Smith & Johnny Ears) with Oscar Saul, Paolo Cavara, Lucia Brudi and Augusto Finocchi in 1972
ESSEX, Harry (aka H.J. Essex) (Harry J. Essex) [11/29/1910, New York City, New York, U.S.A. – 2/6/1997, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A. (heart failure)] – producer, director, author, writer, married to Lee Berman [1911-1987] (1936-1997) father of actor David Stephen Essex [1948- ], Vickie Essex.
Deaf Smith & Johnny Ears – 1972 (co)
Spaghetti Western Cinematographer ~ Tom Richmond
Born in Bronxville, New York on January 18, 1950, Richmond initially studied architecture and photography at Harvard University before pursuing graduate studies at the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television (1976–1978) and the American Film Institute (1979–1980), where his passion for still photography transitioned into filmmaking.
His early professional roles in the 1980s included additional photography on Alex Cox's “Repo Man” (1984) and camera operation on Oliver Stone's “Salvador” (1986), before he earned his first director of photography credits on low-budget features like “Chopping Mall” (1986) and “Straight to Hell” (1987).
He forged long-term partnerships, notably shooting all five features directed by Keith Gordon—including “A Midnight Clear” (1992), “Mother Night” (1996), and “The Singing Detective” (2003), and launching careers with debuts like Rob Zombie's “House of 1000 Corpses” (2003), Tamara Jenkins's “Slums of Beverly Hills” (1998), and James Gray's “Little Odessa” (1994).
Beyond features, he lensed music videos for artists such as Pearl Jam ("Jeremy"), Foo Fighters, and Neil Young, as well as commercials for brands like Nike and Verizon.
Throughout his career, Richmond received critical acclaim, including Independent Spirit Award nominations for Best Cinematography for “Stand and Deliver” (1988), “Pastime” (1990), and “Little Odessa” (1994), and a win for Best Cinematography at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival for “Right at Your Door”.
In his later years, he joined the American Society of Cinematographers in 2012 and served as an adjunct professor of advanced cinematography at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts and Brooklyn College, where he mentored emerging talents like future ASC members Jaron Presant and Jody Lee Lipes.
Richmond died in New York City at age 72 in New York City on July 29, 2022, leaving a legacy of supporting bold, human-centered storytelling in independent film.
Tom Richmond was a cinematographer on one Euro-western, “Straight to Hell” in 1986. He also filmed the follow up documentary “Back to Hell” in 2000.
RICHMOND, Tom (Thomas Julian Richmond) [1/18/1950, Bronxville, New York, U.S.A. – 7/29/2022, New York City, New York, U.S.A.] - cinematographer
Straight to Hell – 1986
Back to Hell – 2000 [documentary]
10:00 h / Theatre / Projection
Official International Short Film Section II
(Several / 100’, VOSE).
With the presence of its directors.
‘Be a Man’ by Lucas Parra (Spain, 20′, 2025).
Grace Wriggles’ Red River Cowboy (Australia, 17′, 2025)
‘Spaghetti Western’ by Dalila Lange (Italy, 17′, 2025).
‘Cara de cona’, by Guillermo de Oliveira (Spain, 18′, 2026).
The Old Man and the Grave by Prabhat Gurung (South Korea, 6′,2025).
‘Beyond’, by Margaux Colarusso (Belgium, 20′, 2025).
12:00 h / Theatre / Projection
Official Section (Spirit of the West Award): ‘Testa or croce?’
(Heads or Tails, Alessio Rigo de Righi and Matteo Zoppis / Italy / 2025 / 116’ / +16, VOSE).
With the presence of its director.
‘The costumes as a narrative entity’, by Paola de Diego.
Previous registration.
21:00 h / Theatre / Closing Gala
Delivery of the Palmares 16 edition of AWFF.
Award of the ‘Tabernas Desert’ award to director Gerardo Herrero.
Presents Luis Larrodera.
With the performance of Blanca Paloma.
With the participation of Samantha Ballentines.
‘The costumes as a narrative entity’, by Paola de Diego.
Previous registration.
21:00 h / Theatre / Closing Gala
Delivery of the Palmares 16 edition of AWFF.
Award of the ‘Tabernas Desert’ award to director Gerardo Herrero.
Presents Luis Larrodera.
With the performance of Blanca Paloma.
With the participation of Samantha Ballentines.
Official Section / Closing Film: ‘Rebuilding’
(Max Walker-Silverman / USA / 2026 / 96’ / +13, VOSE).
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 11 AT FORT BRAVO TEXAS HOLLYWOOD
13:00 / Carrot Show / Projection
Outlaw Section ‘Made in Almería’
The Last Gold Digger by Martin Michiels (16, 2026)
Anyone for Tucumcari? by Karen Nixon (15, 2026).
‘Solanero, snore of the desert’, by Ramón Ramos and Guillermo Rojo (4’, 2025).
‘Red Iron’, by Diego Jesús Miranda Yepes (16’, 2026).
‘Pañuelo negro’, by Víctor Aguilar Rubio (12’, 2026).
With the presence of its directors.
14:00 h / Square / Show western
15:30 h / Mexican village / Film inventions
The Fair of Illusions.
Pedagogical activity for all ages.
16:00 h / Mexican church / Master class
Western narrative workshop, by writer Jon Bilbao.
Previous registration.
16:00 h / Carriage room
Play Western: Western cinema dubbing interactive set.
Playful activity for all ages.
17:00 h / Saloon / Honorary Award
‘Spirit of the West’ award to director Alessio Rigo de Righi.
Outlaw International Section
Jonathan Sebastian Cabrera’s ‘Box’ (Spain, 3’, 2026).
‘Dues’, by Claudio Cirri (Italy, 18’, 2026).
‘El Duelo’, by José Rafael Benítez (Venezuela, 5’, 2025).
‘I vigliacchi di Big Creek’, by Gaetano Cucciardi (Italy, 18’, 2025).
Kung Fu Western: Journey to the West by Kailani D’Amour and Tin Huyen Pham (Australia, 8” 2025)
‘For the Soda’ by Emiliano Goyeneche (Argentina, 8’, 2025).
Rebel Heart by Rebekah Durán (USA, 8’, 2026).
Anthony Murphy’s Ringos Tally (Ireland, 13,” 2026)
The Shootings by Jongyeong Woo (USA, 9’, 2026)
With the presence of its directors.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
XIII Route of the Western Lid
From 2 to 12 October 2026.
Get your brochure in the participating bars or on our website.
Photo exhibition ‘The Sea of the Tavern Desert’
In the hermitage of San Sebastian.
From 8 to 17 October, from 11:30 to 15:00 h.
IX Showcase Decoration Contest
One more attraction to visit the town of Tabernas and enjoy the western atmosphere in its streets and shops.
“El Bueno, el Feo, y el Malo”
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly)
Author: Carlos Aguilar/Anita Haas
Country: Spain
Publisher: Calamar Edicions
Language: Spanish
Pages:
ISBN: 978-84-96235-95-3
Available: October 9, 2026
FAR OUT
By Aimee Ferrier
October 16, 2024
However, there is a long history of westerns being made by British filmmakers and producers, although very few have actually become successful. These have become known as ‘roast beef westerns’, a term coined by Sheldon Hall. It seems as though the English countryside just doesn’t work as well as a backdrop for western stories, resulting in most British western movies taking place in other countries, like Spain. It is a shame that British filmmakers haven’t taken full advantage of the genre, which certainly could be adapted to work within the country’s limitations – whether through a modern interpretation or a historical setting.
In fact, the first western ever made emerged from England. In 1899, the short film Kidnapping By Indians was made in Blackburn, which paved the way for future entries into the genre. It explored the kidnapping of a young girl by a group of Native American people, resulting in a fight with some cowboys. While the racial politics are problematic, it is clear to see that this has evidently been an issue since the beginning of the western genre.
Most westerns made with British funding or actors have failed to reach half the heights of their American or Italian counterparts, although many featured well-known stars. Take Shakalo, starring Sean Connery and Brigitte Bardot, which critics weren’t particularly sold on. While it was relatively popular upon its release, it has hardly endured within the western genre. Other roast beef westerns that failed to make much of an impact include Diamond City and The Trap, with the latter starring Oliver Reed and Rita Tushingham.
It seems that putting British people into western situations just doesn’t work as well as when Americans do it. There is too much self-awareness and humor that doesn’t pair easily with the dramatism, patriotism, and seriousness that come with many American westerns. As a result, British attempts at Westerns often feel rather inauthentic.
With that being said, the western genre might not have developed in the way it did without the influence of British cinema, as evidenced by Kidnapping By Indians and The Savage Guns, which is often dubbed the first proper spaghetti western. While it starred an American and Spanish cast, it was written, directed, and produced by a predominantly British crew.
Still, there are very few British western movies that have actually become memorable pieces of cinema. Some fans of the ‘70s horror movie Witchfinder General consider it a western, and it is not hard to see why. While it doesn’t have the same backdrop as American versions of the genre, its themes of revenge and horse riding are surely enough to make it a great example of a British interpretation of the western genre.
It appears that most British westerns have ended up being parodies of the genre, as evidenced by Carry On Cowboy from the infamous film series starring Sid James and the late ‘30s comedy The Frozen Limits. Clearly, westerns have thrived more as a serious genre in America and Italy.
Trailer link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9S1971lMhoYc
Trailer link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xigZ-k5J1A
Duccio Tessari (director, writer) would have been 100 today but died in 1994.
Bruce Starin (actor) is 75 today.
