.Westerns...All'Italiana!

From the WAI! vault

Little Known Spaghetti Western actors ~ Giulietta De Riso

[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.]

Giulietta De Riso was born on July 16, 1898, in Smyrna, Turkey, Ottoman Empire. She was the elder sister of the screenwriter Arpad De Riso and a relative of the actors Alfonso, Camillo, and Giuseppe De Riso.

De Riso made her debut as a film actress in 1911 at the age of thirteen with short films produced by Arturo Ambrosio for Ambrosio Film alongside Giuseppe De Riso. She mostly played supporting parts at Ambrosio.

From 1913, De Riso also acted in features at Ambrosio, among which the 1913 film “Mater Dolorosa”, starring Mary Cléo Tarlarini. In 1914-1915, Enrico Novelli, son of actor Ermete Novelli and using the pseudonym of Yambo, cast De Riso in several films such as “L'eredità della laguna” (1914) and “Fiorenza mia!” (1915).

In 1917 De Riso was one of the actors in the D'Annunzio adaptation “La crociata degli innocenti” by Alessandro Blasetti, Gino Rossetti and Alberto Traversa in 1917, also with Bianca Virginia Camagni and Luigi Serventi. This debut of Blasetti as film director, nowadays a lost film, has a bizarre plot scripted by Gabriele D'Annunzio, after his stage play.

Giuletta appeared in twenty-two films between 1911 and 1957.

In the 1920s De Riso then concentrated on her stage performances. She was part of the company of Luigi Almirante, with Italia Almirante and Tullio Carminati.

In 1928 she founded her own company with Memo Benassi. During the sound era De Riso's film presence was sporadic; she only appeared in four films between 1934 and 1957. Her role as Isabella Pietramelara is relevant in the first sound version of “Il cardinale Lambertini/Cardinal Lambertini” by Parsifal Bassi in 1934 which starred Ermete Zacconi.

Giulietta De Riso appeared in one Euro-western “Il bersaglio vivente” (The Human Target) as Lucy in 1913.

De RISO, Giulietta [7/16/1898, Smyrna, Turkey, Ottoman Empire – 4/17/1988, Rome, Lazio, Italy] – theater, film, radio, actress, sister of writer Arpad De Riso [1909-1983].

The Human Target – 1913 (Lucy)

Spaghetti Western Director, Screenwriter, Cinematographer

Spaghetti Western Director ~ Alfonso Brescia

Alfonso Brescia was born on January 6, 1930, in Rome and was a director, assistant director, writer and actor.

Brescia was best known for his prolific output in low-budget exploitation cinema, spanning genres such as peplum (sword-and-sandal), science fiction, spaghetti westerns, and gialli thrillers during the 1960s through the 1980s. He entered the film industry as an assistant director in the late 1950s, defying his family's expectations, and went on to helm over 50 feature films, often under the pseudonym Al Bradley for international distribution. His work frequently featured acrobatic action sequences, stock footage, and B-movie tropes, contributing to Italy's vibrant post-war genre film scene.

Brescia's early career focused on peplum films, a staple of Italian cinema in the 1960s, with notable entries like “The Magnificent Gladiator” (1964) and “The Conqueror of Atlantis” (1965), which capitalized on the era's fascination with mythological epics and muscle-bound heroes. He later diversified into Spaghetti westerns, directing titles such as “My Gun Is the Law” (1965) and “If One Is Born a Swine... Kill Him” (aka Cry of Death) (1968), blending gritty violence with operatic flair characteristic of the subgenre.

In the 1970s and 1980s, Brescia embraced science fiction amid the Star Wars boom, producing hasty, effects-light space operas like “Cosmos: War of the Planets” (1977), “Battle of the Stars” (1977), and “The Beast in Space” (1980), which repurposed props and footage for quick theatrical releases. He also ventured into erotic thrillers and comedies, including the giallo “Naked Girl Killed in the Park” (1972) and the comedy “Super Stooges vs. the Wonder Women” (1974), showcasing his versatility in catering to diverse audience tastes.

Throughout his career, Brescia collaborated with stars like Gordon Mitchell, Alan Steel, and the Italian Stooges trio, emphasizing fast-paced storytelling over high production values, which earned him a cult following among fans of Eurocult cinema. His final directorial efforts included action films like “Iron Warrior” (1987) and “Miami Cops” (1989), before he passed away in Rome on June 6, 2001 at the age of 71. Brescia's films, though critically overlooked in their time, exemplify the ingenuity and commercial drive of Italy's genre filmmaking golden age.

Alfosno Brescia directed eight Spaghetti westerns mostly using in the alias Al Bradley: “La Colt è la mia legge” (The Colt is My Law) in 1965, “I giorni della violenza” (Days of Vengeance), “Killer calibre .32” (Killer Caliber .32), “Voltati… ti uccido” (Turn I’ll Kill You) all in 1967, “Sei una carogna… e t’ammazzo! (Cry of Death) and “Carogne si nasce” (Lynching) in1968, “La Spacconata” (White Fang and the Gold Diggers) in 1974 and the sequel “Zanna Bianca e il cacciatore solitario” (White Fang and the Lone Hunter) in 1975.

BRESCIA, Alfonso (aka Al Bradey, Al Bradley, Al Bradly, Albert B. Leonard) [1/6/1930, Rome, Lazio, Italy – 6/6/2001, Rome, Lazio, Italy] – director, assistant director, writer, actor.

The Colt is My Law – 1965 [as Al Bradley]

Days of Vengeance – 1967 [as Al Bradley]

Killer Caliber .32 – 1967 [as Al Bradley]

Turn… I’ll Kill You – 1967 [as Al Bradley]

Cry of Death – 1968 [as Al Bradley]

Lynching – 1968 [as Al Bradley]

White Fang and the Gold Diggers – 1974

White Fang and the Lone Hunter – 1975

Spaghetti Western Screenwriter ~ Aldo Barni

Little is known about Italian writer Aldo Barni except that he wrote stories and screenplays for six films between 1954 and 1971. He wrote the stories for 1965’s Spaghetti western All’ombra di una colt” (In a Colt’s Shadow) and “Quelle sporche anime dannate” (Paid in Blood) in 1971.

The only Spaghetti western screenplay he wrote was for “Quelle sporche anime dannate” (Paid in Blood) in 1971.

BARNI, Aldo [Italian] – writer.

Paid in Blood – 1971

Spaghetti Western Cinematographer ~ Julio Burgos

Julio Burgos was born Julio Diaz and is/was a Spanish cinematographer, cameraman who worked on sixty-three films as a cameraman from 1966 to 1992 including two Euro-westerns “El lobo nefro” (The Black Wolf) and it’s sequel “Duelo a Muerte” (Revenge of the Black Wolf) both in 1981. He was a cinematographer on seventeen films from 1982 to 1992.

Julio Burgos was a co-cinematographer on “L’Apache Bianco” (White Apache) in 1985 with José María Cunillés and “Scalps” in 1986 with Luigi Ciccarese.

BURGOS, Julio (Julio Diaz) [Spanish] – cinematographer, cameraman.

White Apache – 1985 (co)

Scalps – 1986 (co)

La armónica y el cielo

La armónica y el cielo – Spanish title

[The Harmonica and the Sky – English translated title

A 2010 Spanish short film production [Kinema (Valencia)]

Producers: Jorge Barrio, Diego Bayano, Gotzon Bareño, Garazi Pedreira.

Director: Roberto Ruiz (Roberto Céspedes)

Story: Roberto Ruiz (Roberto Céspedes)

Screenplay: Ander Fernandez, Iosu Usandizaga

Cinematography: Kenneth Oribe [color]

Music: Jadris

Running time: 9 minutes

Cast:

Peasant woman – Rut Artazkoz

Farmer - Nelson Montoya

Cruel Captain – Roberto Ruiz (Roberto Céspedes)

henchman – Gorka Goitia

Early twentieth century. An oppressed farmer is affected by the disagreements of a forbidden and irremediable love, within an extremely racist environment. His only consolation is to resort to his old worn harmonica.

Film link: https://vimeo.com/100835630

Spaghetti Western Locations for “I Want Him Dead”.

We continue our search for Spaghetti western locations for “I Want Him Dead”. The scene shifts from the two opposing army detachments from arriving at the courthouse to moving to the interior. The two generals sit opposite each other at a table while a secretary begins to take notes and writes out the surrender agreement. The Union general reads the terms of the surrender to the Confederate general.

This scene would have been shot at a sound stage most likely in Rome.

For a more detailed view of this site and other Spaghetti Western locations please visit my friend Yoshi Yasuda’s location site: http://y-yasuda.net/film-location.htm and Captain Douglas Film Locations http://www.western-locations-spain.com/