RIP Margarita Andrey

 

Spanish actress Margarita Andrey died in Madrid at the age of 99 on July 15 in Madrid, Spain, the management entity AISGE reported on Wednesday. Born in Madrid on September 19, 1926, she achieved fame in just a decade of profession in films such as “Historias de la Radio” and “Aeropuerto”, before retiring from the profession after marrying in 1956 and having two children. Andrey appeared in one Euro-western, “El sobrino de don Buffalo Bill” (The Nephew of Buffalo Bill) as Mariana Sheriff in 1944.

Little Known Spaghetti Western Actors ~ Marie Dorly

[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.]

Marie Dorly was a French actress who was born sometime in the late 1800s. She was probably a stage actress who also made over 50 films between 1909 and 1917. Marie was highly active in the 1910s and she is best remembered for her collaborations with legendary directors like Louis Feuillade and Léonce Perret, often playing supporting roles such as mothers, maids, or housekeepers in early cinema classics. There were a number of actors, actresses and singers named Dorly who were active during this period but their relationships to one another is unknown.

Marie Dorly appeared in on Euro-western, “Calino Wants to be a Cowboy) as a saloon patron in 1911.

DORLY, Marie [French] – film actress.

Calino Wants to be a Cowboy – 1911 (saloon patron)

Spaghetti Western Directors, Screenwriters, Cinematographers

Spaghetti Western Director ~ John Guillermin

John Guillermin was a French-British film director renowned for his work on major Hollywood blockbusters, including “The Towering Inferno” (1974), “King Kong” (1976), and “Death on the Nile” (1978).

Born Yvon Jean Guillermin on 11 November 1925 in London to French parents, he grew up in Surrey and attended the University of Cambridge, where he graduated shortly after World War II. At age 19, he joined the Royal Air Force and served for three years before pursuing filmmaking, initially working on documentaries in France. Guillermin co-founded the production company Advent Films and made his directorial debut with the low-budget British comedy “High Jinks in Society” (1949) at age 24, followed by a string of B-movies and thrillers in the 1950s, such as “The Crowded Day” (1954) and “Town on Trial” (1957).

Transitioning to international projects, Guillermin directed adventure films like “Tarzan's Greatest Adventure” (1959) and the World War I aviation drama “The Blue Max” (1966), which helped establish his reputation for handling action sequences and large-scale productions. His career peaked in the 1970s with high-profile disaster and adventure epics; “The Towering Inferno”, starring an all-star cast including Paul Newman and Steve McQueen, earned three Academy Awards and was nominated for eight, including Best Picture. The 1976 remake of “King Kong”, featuring Jeff Bridges and Jessica Lange, was a commercial success despite mixed reviews, while “Death on the Nile” (1978), starring Peter Ustinov as Hercule Poirot, won the Evening Standard British Film Award for Best Film in 1980.

Guillermin directed over 35 films across five decades, often noted for his perfectionism and occasionally volatile on-set demeanor. He was married twice, first to actress Maureen Connell after collaborating on “Town on Trial”, with whom he had two children, a son who predeceased him and a daughter, Michelle; his second wife was Mary Guillermin Guillermin retired after directing “The Tracker” (1988) and passed away on 27 September 2015 at his home in Topanga Canyon, Los Angeles, at the age of 89.

John Guillermin directed one Spaghetti western, “El Condor” in 1969

GUILLERMIN, John (Yvon Jean Guillermin) [11/11/1925, London, England, U.K. - 9/28/2015 Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.] – director, married to actress Maureen Connell [1931-    ] (1956-1999) father of Michael Guillermin [1963-1989], Michelle Guillermin [1959-    ], married to writer Marianne Martindale (1999-2015), co-founded the Advent Films.

El Condor – 1969

Which Way Did They Go? – 1971 [film was never made.]

Spaghetti Western Screenwriter ~ Marcello Coscia

Marcello Coscia is/was and Italian producer, director and writer. He produced and directed one TV film “Sapore di gloria” in 1988. He made his name in the films industry as a screenwriter where he wrote thirty-nine between 1958 and 2002.

I can find no biographical information on him.

Marcello Coscia was a screenwriter on two Spaghetti westerns: “Viva la muerte... tua!” (Long Live Your Death) with Massimo De Rita, Dino Maiuri and Duccio Tessari and “Tex e il signore degli abissi” (Tex and the Lord of the Deep) with Gianfranco Clerici, Duccio Tessari and Giorgio Bonelli in 1985.

COSCIA, Marcello [Italian] – writer.

Long Live Your Death – 1971 (co)

Tex and the Lord of the Deep – 1985 (co)

Spaghetti Western Cinematographer ~ Antonio Macasoli

Antonio Macasoliwas an Spanish director, cinematographer, cameraman and special effects man who was born in Spain in 1923. He directed one Spanish film short “Madrid en diez minutos” in 1956 and worked as a cameraman on twenty-three films between 1947 and 1977. He made his name as a cinematographer where he worked on forty-five films between 1943 and 1970. Antonio died in Spain sometime in 1993 at the age of 70.

Antonio Macasoli was a cinematographer on five Spaghetti westerns, “Il segno di Zorro” (Duel at the Rio Grande) with Bitto Albertini in 1962, “El dedo en el gatillo” (Finger on the Trigger) in 1965, “Bang, Bang” (The Bang-Bang Kid) in 1967, “La furia de los 7 magníficos” (Guns of the Magnificent 7) in 1968 and “Cañones para Córdoba” (Cannon for Cordoba) in 1970.

MACASOLI, Antonio (aka Anthony Lawrence, Macasoli, A. Macasoli) (Antonio Macasoli Hernandez) [1923, Madrid, Spain – 1993, Spain] – director, cinematographer, cameraman. SFX.

Duel at the Rio Grande – 1962 (co)

Finger on the Trigger – 1965 [as Anthony Lawrence]

The Bang-Bang Kid - 1967

Guns of the Magnificent 7 – 1968

Cannon for Cordoba – 1970

A Cult '60s Western Is The Best Odyssey Adaptation You've Never Seen

Slash Film

By Witney Seibold

July 4, 2026

To clear something up right away: Duccio Tessare's 1965 Spaghetti Western "The Return of Ringo" is actually not a sequel to Tessari's "A Pistol for Ringo." This is confusing because both films were directed by the same person, and both star Giuliano Gemma (credited as "Montgomery Wood") as a character named Ringo. They were also released one right after the other, with "Pistol" released in May of 1965, and "Return" coming out in December. Also, the filming crew was largely the same, and both films share a number of supporting actors. 

Ennio Morricone did the scores for both films as well, but Ennio Morricone was overwhelmingly prolific; he scored 11 additional films in 1965 alone, including the seminal Sergio Leone classic "For a Few Dollars More." Morricone passed away in July of 2020 at the age of 91, and only slowed his output in the 2010s. Although he still won an Oscar in 2015. 

"The Return of Ringo" is, in actuality, a fun Italian Western spin on Homer's "The Odyssey." Specifically, it's about the part of "The Odyssey" after Odysseus has already returned to Ithaca after his many monster-like adventures to find that his home is populated by crass, slovenly suitors. Those of us who read "The Odyssey" in high school will recall that a large, extended portion of the story involved Odysseus having to disguise himself as a beggar and slowly insinuate himself back into his own home before he had the opportunity to slaughter all the suitors. The 2024 Ralph Fiennes film "The Return" was specifically about this portion of "The Odyssey."

"The Return of Ringo" covers that same portion, only in an Old West town, and with six-shooters instead of short swords. 

The Return of R

ingo is the Spaghetti Western version of The Odyssey you've been looking for

"The Return of Ringo" takes place in the wake of the Civil War but is very much about an Odysseus-like character, Ringo, returning home. He was once a rich man in town, so he disguises himself as a beggar to allay suspicion, and to allow him to observe the wickedness that has arisen in his absence. He takes a job as a florist's assistant, and some reviews on Letterboxd have pointed out that the flowers and the use of color in "The Return of Ringo" are first-rate. Indeed, many of the reviews from fans of Spaghetti Westerns seem to note that "The Return of Ringo" is better than "A Pistol for Ringo," and many appreciate the various references to "The Odyssey." 

There are a few fun translations from Homer to the Old West. Instead of random suitors, Ringo's home invaders are a gang of Mexican gangsters. The head of the gang, Esteban (Fernando Sancho) is all set to marry Ringo's wife, Hally (Italian actress Lorella De Luca, credited as "Hally Hammond"), and has essentially usurped all of Ringo's old wealth. Also, unlike in "The Odyssey," the Odysseus character finds that he has a daughter that he didn't know about. 

It's worth noting that Odysseus was away from Ithaca for 20 years, having spent a decade fighting in the Trojan War, and another decade just getting back home. Ringo, meanwhile, was a Union soldier in the Civil War, a conflict that lasted only about four years. The comparative brevity of Ringo's absence allows for a more interesting dramatic dynamic. This time, Ringo would certainly be recognized.

What fans think of The Return of Ringo

Ringo's short absence also gives the wicked bandits a more villainous edge. They weren't living in Ringo's home for decades trying to seduce his wife. They were just thieves and usurpers who took what they wanted. The morality is a little more clear-cut, fitting more safely into the trappings of the Western genre. 

There aren't a lot of easily accessed professional reviews of "The Return of Ringo." It seems to have received very little attention overall. The Letterboxd critics, however, are generally quite positive on the movie, with some noting that Giuliano Gemma gives a sober, serious performance, and that he could, according to one user, give Clint Eastwood a run for his money. Many also note that the score and the opening ballad are both amazing. The movie came out at a time when crooning, plaintive ballads were a common feature of the genre. You can listen to the soundtrack online. 

And luckily, the movie is still easy to find. One can watch it for free right now on the Plex movie player. One can also rent it in the Apple TV store for only $3.99. If you are unfamiliar with the vast, overpopulated world of Spaghetti Westerns, "The Return of Ringo" is as good a place to start as any. And the connections to "The Odyssey," it seems, will serve as great guideposts through the story. 

It's just a pity that "The Return of Ringo" skipped over the cyclops and the sorceress and all the fun magical/monstery stuff in "The Odyssey." I'd love to see an Old West Scylla. It remains to be seen if "The Return of Ringo" is better than Christopher Nolan's 2026 version of "The Odyssey." 

Special Birthdays

Marcello Marrocchi [musician] – is 85 today.

Al Cliver (actor) is 75 today.

Little Known Spaghetti Western Actors ~ Ivan Dorin

 [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.]

Ivan Dorin is was believed to be a Russian actor. He appeared in nine films between 1968 and 1974. Little else is known about him and I can find no biographical information on him.

Ivan Dorin appeared in one Euro western, “Osceola” as Arpeika in 1970.

DORIN, Ivan – film, TV actor.

Osceola – 1970 (Arpeika)

Spaghetti Western Directors, Screenwriters, Cinematographers

Spaghetti Western Director ~ Romolo Guerrieri

Romolo Guerrieri was born on December 5, 1931) is an Italian film director and screenwriter best known for his work in genre cinema, spanning spaghetti westerns, crime thrillers, detective stories, and comedies during the 1960s through the 1990s.

Born in Rome as Romolo Girolami, Guerrieri hails from the influential Girolami family of filmmakers, which has significantly shaped Italian cinema; he is the brother of director Marino Girolami and uncle to Enzo G. Castellari (Enzo Girolami) and Ennio Girolami. He began his career in 1952 as an assistant director on his brother's film "Noi due soli", later collaborating with notable directors such as Carlo Campogalliani, Mario Bonnard, Franco Brusati, Giuseppe De Santis, and Sergio Corbucci. His directorial debut came in 1966 with the spaghetti western “7 magnifiche pistole” (also known as Seven Guns for Timothy), released under the pseudonym Rod Gilbert, marking the start of a prolific output of 17 films as director and screenwriter until 1992.

Guerrieri's filmography highlights his versatility within Italy's popular genre traditions, with standout works including the spaghetti westerns “Johnny Yuma” (1966) and “10.000 dollari per un massacre” (1967), the giallo-influenced thriller “Il dolce corpo di Deborah” (1968), the crime drama “Un detective” (1969), and later entries like the action film “Liberi armati pericolosi” (1976) and the comedy “L'importante è non farsi notare” (1979). His contributions earned recognition in later years, such as a 2025 Fondazione Prada event featuring screenings and discussions of his films, underscoring his lasting impact on Italian B-movies and genre storytelling.

Romolo Guerrieri directed three Spaghetti westerns: “Johnny Yuma” and “Sette magnifiche pistole” (Seven Guns for Timothy) both in 1966 and “10.000 dollari per un massacre” ($10,000 Blood Money) in 1967.

GUERRIERI, Romolo (aka Rod Gilbert) (Romolo Girolami) [12/5/1931, Rome, Lazio, Italy –     ] – director, assistant director, writer, brother of producer, production manager, director, assistant director, writer, actor Marino Girolami [1914-1994], uncle of producer, director, assistant director, writer, stuntman, actor, Enzo G. Castellari [Enzo Girolami] [1938-    ], assistant director, film actor Ennio Girolami [1935-2013]

Johnny Yuma – 1966

Seven Guns for Timothy - 1966 [as Rod Gilbert]

Casanova West – 1967 [film was never made]

$10,000 Blood Money – 1967

Spaghetti Western Screenwriter ~ Anya Corvin

Anya Corvin is/was a writer who was involved in the German cinema in the 1960s. She co-wrote three screenplays between 1962-1969. Before and after that time period there is no biographical information available.

Anya Corvin co-wrote the screenplay for one Spaghetti western, “Duell vor Sonnenuntergang” (Duel at Sundown) with Leopold Lahola in 1965.

CORVIN, Anya – writer.

Duel at Sundown – 1965 (co)

 

Spaghetti Western Cinematographer ~ Angelo Lotti

Another enigma in Italian film is cinematographer Angelo Lotti. Lotti was a cinematographer on fifty-two films and a cameraman on twenty-four films between 1953 and 1987 yet there is no mention of him in Italian Film: A Who’s Who or any biographical information on line, just a list of the films he was involved in.

Angelo Lotti was a cinematographer on four Spaghetti westerns: “Un poker di pistole” (Poker With Pistols) in 1967, “Il 13 e’sempre Giuda” (The Last Traitor) and “La vendetta e un piatto che si serve freddo” (Vengeance Trail) both in 1971 and “I sette del gruppo Selvaggio” (Seven Devils on Horseback) with Silvio Fraschetti in 1972

LOTTI, Angelo [Italian] – cinematographer, cameraman.

Poker With Pistols - 1967

The Last Traitor – 1971

Vengeance Trail – 1971

Seven Devils on Horseback – 1972 (co)