AN ANIMAL CALLED MAN

Un animale chiamato uomo – Italian title
Bill oc John vaelter byen – Danish title
Bill & John - Lännenveijarit vauhdissa - Finnish title
Cei homme est un animal – French title
Les 2 pistoleros de Sylver City – French title
Violence dans la valle – French title
Enas Satanas pou ton legane anthropo – Greek title
El cadaver nuestro de cada dia – Spanish title
Bill & John – westerns storsta oljud – Swedish title
Dom kallar mig odjuret - Swedish title
El cadaver nuestra de cada dia – Venzuelan title
An Animal Called Man – English title

A 1972 Italian production [Lattes Cinematografica, Virginia Cinematografica (Rome)]
Producer: Mano Vincenzo (Romano Vincenzo)
Director: Roberto Mauri
Story: Roberto Mauri
Screenplay: Roberto Mauri
Cinematography: Luigi Ciccarese [Eastmancolor]
Music: Carlo Savina
Running time: 102 minutes

Cast:
Bill “Manolesta” Matson - Vassili Karis (Vassilli Karamesinis)
Dr. Yvette - Lillian Bray (Gillian Bray)
Mark Forester/Foster - Craig Hill (Craig Fowler)
Johnny “Lingua Veloce” Matson - Omero Capanna
Sheriff - Paolo Magalotti
Joe - Gilberto Galimberti
Blond brawler - Roberto dell’Acqua
With: Sergio Serafin (Sergio Serafini), Carla Mancini, Giuseppe Carbone, Aristide Caporale


This comedy western is one of the worst of the genre, which is really saying something. It’s another Trinity rip-off, where two drifters Bill and Johnny, arrive in the town of Silver City, which is run by Mark Forrester and his gangsters. Our heroes try and compete with Forrester and Bill even beats him in a shooting contest, winning $500 and the admiration of Yvette, a doctor from Paris. Bill and Johnny then pose as tax collectors and try and con the townspeople out of their hard earned money. They end up getting rid of Forrester and his gang and are given a huge reward by the town but being the con-men they are they decide to move on with Yvette. This film is so bad that Craig Hill left in the middle of it so Mauri cover’s it up by having the screenplay make that he was assassinated. You’ll also want to stop watching and leave this mess about 15 minutes into the film.


Trailer link: http://www.listal.com/video/5779451

New Spaghetti Western DVD

A LONG RIDE FROM HELL

Released March 17, 2009

For the first time available on DVD in the U.S.A

A Long Ride From Hell theatrical version in its original aspect ratio: Region 1, 1:85. English language, 92 minutes

Extras include an interview with Mimmo Palmero aka Dick Palmer, and at home with Steve Reeves.

LONG RIDE FROM HELL (1968) – Director: Camillo Bazzoni, Story: “Judas Gun” by Gordon D. Shireffs, Screenplay: Roberto Natale, Steve Reeves, Cinematography: Enzo Barboni [Eastmancolor], Music: Carlo Savina, Cast: Steve Reeves, Dick Palmer (Mimmo Palmara), Wayde Preston, Lee Burton (Guido Lollobrigida), Silvana Venturelli.

This is Steve Reeves only Spaghetti Western and it’s better than average for the genre. Made in 1968 under the Italian title “Vivo per la tua morte” and based on the novel the “Judas Gun” by Gordon D. Shireffs, it tells the story of a man and his brother who are falsely accused and imprisoned for a crime they didn’t commit. After his brother’s death in the harsh confines of Yuma Prison, Reeves escapes to wreak vengeance on the man he holds responsible. Steve was a natural westerner being born in Montana. He was still in great shape at 42 and appears shirtless several times to show off his Herculean physique. Steve co-wrote the screenplay and calls in several experts (Enzo Barboni on camera and Carlo Savina scoring) to help make the film a classic little gem of the genre. Filmed in Spain it gives the feeling of the Southwest as depicted in the story. Wayde Preston is outstanding as the main villain and a good supporting cast also helps. Too bad Steve didn’t make more westerns as he sure knew how to get the job done.

Wild East has done another remarkable job of releasing a good western in a great presentation. The extras have become a real bonus for Ally and Eric as the interview with Dick Palmer (Mimmo Palmara) is right up there with the ones done with Ken Wood and Edd Byrnes. Thanks gentlemen another job well done.

RIP Maurice Jarre

French born film composer Maurice Jarre died of cancer in Los Angeles today at the age of 84. Jarre was born in Lyon, Rhône, Rhône-Alpes, France on September 13, 1924. He is the father of electronic composer Jean-Michel Jarre. He rose to prominence late in his life with a breakthrough score for “Lawrence of Arabia” in 1962 for which he received an Academy Award for Best Score. He won two more Oscars for “Doctor Zhivago” and “A Passage to India”. In all he scored more than 150 films scoring for such directors as David Lean, Alfred Hitchcock, John Huston and Luchino Visconti. Jarre also wrote symphonic music for theater, ballet and television. Maurice moved to the United States in the 1960s, was married four times. In February he received a lifetime achievement award at the Berlin International Film Festival. Director Dieter Kosslick summed up Jarre’s music to a tee by saying, “Film composers often are left in the shadows of great directors and acting stars. It’s different with Maurice Jarre – the music of Doctor Zhivago, like much of his work is world-famous and remains unforgettable in cinema history.”

Maurice Jarre composed the music for four Euro-westerns: “Villa Rides!” (1968), “El Condor” (1970), “Red Sun” (1971) and “Shadow of the Wolf” (1992).

An Adventurer's Love

Amore di Apache – Italian title
Amour d’Apaches – French title
Amor de Apache – Spanish title
An Adventurer’s Love – English title

A 1906 Italian title [Cines Film (Rome)]
Producer: Filoteo Alberini, Dante Santoni
Director: ?
Screenplay: ?
Cinematography: ? [black & white]
Running time: 728 feet

Story: ?

Cast:


Made in Italy in 1906 but not released in France, Spain or England until 1912.

Happy 70th Birthday Terence Hill

He was born Mario Girotti on March 29, 1939 in Venice Italy. As a child he lived in the small town of Lommatzsch, Germany from 1943-1945, during World War II, surviving the Dresden Bombing. His mother was German and his father an Italian chemist. He was discovered at the age of 12 by Dino Risi and appeared in the 1951 film “Vacanze col Gangster”. He returned to Germany in 1956 and appeared in several films including a few Winnetou films. Returning to Italy in 1967 and was offered a part in “God Forgives I Don’t” replacing Peter Martell who had broken his foot. He changed his name to the American sounding Terence Hill. Teaming with Bud Spencer (Carlo Pedersoli) the two have become a comedy legend in Italy and around the world. He is still working today and appears in his highly successful TV series Don Matteo. He recently made a new western called “Doc West” filmed in Santa Fe, New Mexico last fall and which will be shown on Italian TV in April of this year. This is a pilot for hopefully a new TV series. Happy 70th birthday Terence Hill.

Spaghetti Collectables

The Man with No Name poncho

No respected Spaghetti Western fan would not want a replica Man with No Name poncho. Get yours for only $399.99 at Larry Green Productions.

Website link: http://hollywoodprop.com/spaghettiponchos.htm

Amitie the Cowboy

Amitié de cow-boy – French title
Amitie the Cowboy – English title

A 1910 French production [Lux (Paris)]
Director: Jean Durand
Screenplay:
Cinematography: [black & white]
Running time:

Cast:
Joë Hamman, Gaston Modot


Another silent film adventure starring Joë Hamman.

Spaghetti Western Locations

A Pistol for Ringo Windmill

Looking west from Hotel Cortijo el Sotillo in San Jose, Spain you can see a low set of hills. If you follow the road you will come to a pass and the paved road turns to dirt. On the left, just through the pass is an old windmill. This is the windmill seen in “A Pistol for Ringo”. To the right and a quarter mile further west you can see the villa used as the home of Major Clyde and his daughter Ruby.

Remembering Strother Martin

Strother Martin Jr. was born on March 26, 1919 in Kokomo, Indiana. As a child he was an excellent swimmer and diver. At 17 he won the National Junior Springboard Championship. He served as a swimming instructor during World War II and was a member of the diving team at the University of Michigan. He finished third in the 1948 National Springboard Diving Championships which cost him a spot on the Olympic Team. Moving to Los Angeles after the war he became a swimming instructor and extra in films. He quickly became a fixture in TV and films during the 1950s. His distinctive voice and menacing demeanor made him perfect for villainous roles. By the end of the 60s he was as well known as any leading man in Hollywood. His most famous roles were as the prison warden in “Cool Hand Luke” (1967) and his classic line, “What we have here, is failure to communicate.” and “The Wild Bunch” (1969). Martin appeared in only one Euro-western “Hannie Caulder” (1971). Martin died of a heart attack on August 1, 1980. We will always remember Strother Martin but today especially on what would have been his 90th birthday.

America in Rome

L’America a Roma – Italian title
L’Amerique a Rome – French title
L’histoire du western spaghetti – French title
America in Rome – English title

A 1998 Italian production [RAI-Intelfilm/Raiuno (Rome)]
Producer: Mario Mazzarotto
Director: Gianfranco Pannone
Story: Gianfranco Pannone
Teleplay: Gianfranco Pannone
Photography: Tarek Ben Abdallah [Pellicola Koday color]
Music: Alessandro Molinari
Running time: 88 minutes

Cast:
William Bogart - Guglielmo Spoletini
Ray O’Connor - Remo Capitani (Renato Capitani)
Jim Martin - Luigi Marturano
Paul Carter - Paolo Magalotti
Victor Man - Mauro Mammatrizio
Ken Wood - Giovanni Cianfriglia
Frank Daddi - Franco Daddi
with; Mauro Bolognini, Carlo Lizzani, Luigi Mannini, Peter Berling, Manolo Bolognini, Mary Spoletini


This Italian documentary explores ‘60s Italy: the fashion for Spaghetti Westerns is at its height. Before the gradual decline that took place during the ‘70s, the genre hit its peak in 1967-1968, with 150 films being made over these two years. Together with ex-western actor and stuntman Guglielmo Spoletini alias William Bogart, the director sets off in search of the actors and stuntmen who were featured in these masterpieces. Working as parking-lot attendants, drivers, or simply enjoying a quiet retirement, they look back at the Roman youths they were, usually from quite modest backgrounds, and how one day they turned into the heroes of a fascinating, fictitious world, that of an imaginary America, invented at Cinecitta Studios. The aged actors, the deserted film studios and the canyons around Rome are all filmed in the same golden and red desert colors that characterized those films. “America in Rome” is not only a sentimental, yet cheerful journey through the golden age of the unofficial side of the Italian cinema, but also a history of ‘60s Italy, when, to afford an Alfa Romeo 2000, ordinary Romans became Mexican bandits and heroic cowboys in a cardboard cut-out America.

Remembering Pierre Cressoy

Pierre Jules Lazare Cressoy was born on March 25, 1924 in Vendome, Loir-et-Cher, France. He studied to be a doctor at the college of Henry IV as a favor to his father but left after a year to pursue his dream of becoming an actor. He made his theater debut in 1944 in the play “Andromaque” in Racine. His first film appearance was in the 1948 film “La dernière chevauchée”. He also appeared in Cecil B. De Mille’s 1952 Hollywood production of “The Greatest Show on Earth.” He acted under the pseudonyms Peter Cabot and Peter Cross in most of his European westerns. His most famous appearance for the Spaghetti Western fan was as the evil Doctor Chester Lynne in “Navajo Joe”. He also appeared in “Lost Treasure of the Aztecs” (1964), “Adios Gringo,” “Blood for a Silver Dollar’” and “7 Guns for the MacGregors” (1965), “Fort Yuma Gold” (1966). Pierre retired from film in 1973. He died of cancer on October 31, 1980 in Gorbio, Alpes-Maritimes, France. Today we celebrate what would have been his 85th birthdays.

Cineman

Cineman – International title

A 2008 French production [Pathe International, SAJ, Scope Pictures (Paris)]
Producer: Abel Nahmias, Genivieve Lemal
Director: Yann Moix
Story: Yann Moix, Olivier Dazat
Screenplay: Yann Moix, Olivier Dazat
Cinematography: Rémy Chevrin, Jérôme Alméras
Music:
Running time:

Cast:
Régis Deloux/Tarzan/Barry/Robin/Diego/Le Bon/Harald - Frank Dubosc
Douglas Craps - Pierre-Francois Martin-Laval
Viviane Cook - Lucy Gordon
Monsieur Coq - Jean-Christophe Bouvet
with; Marisa Berenson, Pierre Richard


Pricking his finger on a broach hidden in a box of old books, math teacher Regis Deloux, begins to live an extraordinary life, finding himself at different times living in black and white, rewind, fast-forward and even speaking Japanese with subtitles! Propelled inside a Spaghetti Western, he meets the beautiful star of B-movies, Viviane Cook, who is being held against her will by the swashbuckling villain Douglas Craps. Through epic adventures which take him from ancient Rome to Sherwood Forest, from Harold Lloyd to Tarzan, Regis has become a sort of super hero as he and Craps struggle for the hand of the beautiful Viviane. Regis has become Cineman! Like all super heroes, Cineman will be victorious, but Viviane is unsure of the prospects of a life in the suburbs. She would never have the proper lighting!

This new film with a Spaghetti Western touch will be released in France on April 29th.

Trailer link http://www.azmovies.net/cineman.html

AMEN

La sfida dei MacKenna – Italian title
Un dollaro e una tomba – Italian title
Le defi des MacKenna – French title
Un dólar y una tumba – Spanish title
Vendetta al’Ouest – Spanish title
Ein Dollar ein grab und zwei Ave Maria – German title
Mannen utan förflutet – Swedish title
A Dollar and a Grave – English title
Challenge of the MacKennas – English title
Challenge of McKenna – English title
Badlands Drifter – USA title
Amen – USA title

A 1969 Italian, Spanish co-production [Filmar Compagnia Cinematografica (Rome), Atlántida Film (Madrid)]
Producer: José Frade
Director: León Klimovsky
Story: Antonio Viader
Screenplay: Antonio Viader, Edoardo Mulargia, Pedro Gil Paradela, León Klimovsky
Cinematography: Francisco Sánchez Munoz [Eastmancolor, Techniscope]
Music: Francesco De Masi
Song: “Amen” sung by Carmen
Running time: 101 minutes

Cast:
Jones/Jonas MacKenna/McKenna - John Ireland
Chris - Robert Woods
Barbara - Daniela Giordana
Don Diego - Roberto Camardiel (Roberto Escudero)
Maggie - Pam Stevenson (Annabelle Incontrera)
Ed - Mariano Vidal Molina
Doctor - Sergio Mendizábal (Hermengildo Mendizábal)
with: Ken Wood (Giovanni Cianfriglia), José Antonio López, Nando Poggi (Ferdinando Poggi), Attilio Dottesio, Angelo Dessy (Angelo Desideri), Sergio Colasanti

Jonas MacKenna, a former priest, becomes embroiled in the drama raging between a Mexican rancher, his unhappy daughter and psychotic son while dealing with his own issues of guilt and a loss of faith. A new relationship with the local brothel keeper seems to offer a fresh start but the rancher and his son are set on making him pay for his interference and his own inner demons are never far away.

The Essential European Western Library

Das neue Lexikon rund um Karl May: Leben, Bücher, Filme, Fans
Von der Wüste zum Silbersee: Der große deutsche Abenteuer-Mythos

Authors: Michael Petzel, Jürgen Wehnert
520 pages, illustrated
Lexikon Imprint Verlag 2002

This is the most complete and comprehensive Encyclopedia on the Karl May films I have seen. It includes the actors, directors and other essential crew members along with titles for different countries, filmographies and many other interesting things that deal with the life of Karl May.

Almeria

Almeria – International title

A 2003 Spanish Television production [Jaleo Films (Madrid)]
Producer: Antonio Lob, Natalia de Ancos, Avaro Alonso
Director: Antonio Lobo, Paco R. Banos
Teleplay: Alberto Llamas
Photography: Jordi Abusada [color]
Music: Josema Garcia Pelayo
Running time:

Cast:
Sergio Leone, Sergio Corbucci, Damiano Damiani, Tonino Valerii


A multi-episode television documentary on the Spaghetti westerns filmed in Almeria, Spain featuring actors and other participants of the genre.

Spaghetti Western Locations

MINI HOLLYWOOD

Approaching Tabernas via the freeway, a couple of kilometers beyond the gentle spine and impressive profile of El Faro, just before the exit to Sorbas/Murcia, you'll see a substantial western town on your right.

Take the Sorbas/Murcia exit and you'll find yourself at the gates of Mini-Hollywood: a movie location so famous that it appears in atlases and on road maps. It was built in 1965 by Sergio Leone's brilliant designer, Carlo Simi, for the Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef film “For A Few Dollars More”. The plot centers on the robbery of a massive bank in El Paso. If you've seen the film, you'll get a kick of recognition when you turn a corner of the wooden boardwalk, and encounter the bank. You can have a drink in the saloon where Lee Van Cleef struck a match on Klaus Kinski’s hump. They also conduct an impressive stunt show. Mini-Hollywood also appeared in The Good, The Bad and the Ugly and countless other Euro-Westerns. It's still a fine set, though over-dressed these days, and saddled with an adjacent zoo.

Although now strictly a theme park it is well preserved and will bring back a flood of memories. Too bad the Spaniards are not content to promote their own film history. They want the ignorant visitor to believe John Wayne and other American actors made many of their films here. You won’t believe your ears when you hear the theme to Bonanza and the Magnificent Seven playing over the loud speaker system instead of Morricone, De Masi and Nicolai. To the Spaghetti Western aficionado you’ll have to block out these annoyances and the fact that many of the buildings are full of T-shirt and souvenir shops. A highlight is the Bank of El Paso building contains a museum filled with Spaghetti Western posters. Then you’re jolted back to reality when you return to the front porch and see a dozen vending machines containing sodas and snacks. All Spain needs is some PR people and it could be a Spaghetti Western fans dream come true. Oh well it’s still a fine set and well worth the visit.


For a more detailed view of this site and other Spaghetti Western locations please visit my friend Yoshi “Garringo” Yasuda’s excellent website: http://garringo.cool.ne.jp/

RIP Laurence Payne

Actor Laurence Payne, who won fame on television as the 1920s detective Sexton Blake, has died at the age of 89. Payne died February 23rd in England.

Sexton Blake, made by ITV, ran from 1967-1971 and was one of the most popular children's serials of its day. It also featured actors Roger Foss and Ernest Clark.

Payne had a distinguished stage career before working in television and in the 1940s was a leading player with the Old Vic Theatre. He also starred at Stratford-upon-Avon and appeared as Romeo in Peter Brook's 1947 production. He played the title role in Hamlet at the Embassy Theatre in London. Payne was born in London on June 5, 1919 and was married to actresses Sheila Burrell and Pamela Alan.

Other TV credits included Z Cars, Tales of the Unexpected and he also starred in three Doctor Who serials: The Gunfighters, The Leisure Hive and The Two Doctors.

Laurence Payne appeared as Pedro in "The Singer Not the Song" (1961) and as Johnny Ringo on the TV series "Doctor Who" The Gunfighters episode (1966).

Happy Birthday Giulio Questi

Giulio Questi is an Italian director, screenwriter and occasional actor who is best known for the Spaghetti Western "Django, Kill". Questi began his career writing short stories and then branched off into film doing documentaries. His film debut as a director occurred in 1961 when he directed one part of a three part film “Le italiane e l’amore” In 1967 he directed his first and only Spaghetti Western “Se sei vivo spara” (Django Kill). This film was filled with extremely violent scenes and an unconventional story. In 1968 he continued his violent and unconventional filming with “La morte ha fatto l’uovo” (Death Laid an Egg). Questi says these were a reflection on the violence and carnage he witnessed during the Italian Resistance during World War II. After 1972 Questi retired from feature film making and turned his attention to television and short films. Today we celebrate his 85th birthday.

ALLELUIA AND SARTANA, SONS OF GOD

Alleluia e Sartana, figli di… Dio! – Italian title
100 Fäuste und ein Vaterunser – German title
Hundert Fauste und ein Halleluja – German title
Halleluja ja Sartana - pirun pikkuveljet – Finnish title
Paholaisen pyssymiehet – Finnish title
Alleuia et Sartana, fils de… - French title
Allilouia enantion trinita – Greek title
Aleluya y Sartana les llamaban – Spanish title
Les llamaban Aleluya y Sartana – Spanish title
Hallelujah och Sartana - två mot alla – Swedish title
A Hundred Fists and a Prayer – U.K. title
Masquerade of Thieves – English title
Hallelujah and Sartana Strike Again! – U.S.A. title
Alleluia and Sartana, Sons of God – English title

A 1972 Italian, German co-production [Metheus Film (Rome), Lisa Filmkunst (Munich]
Producer: Otto Retzer
Director: Mario Siciliano
Story: Mario Siciliano, Adriano Bolzoni, Kurt Nachmann
Screenplay: Adriano Bolzoni
Cinematography: Gino Santini [Technicolor, Techniscope]
Music: Elvio Monti, Franco Zauli
Song: “Main Title” sung by Elvio Monti
Running time: 103 minutes

Cast:
Sartana - Robert Widmark (Alberto Dell’Acqua)
Alleulia /Hallelujah - Ron Ely (Ronald Pierce)
Mrs. Gibbons - Uschi Glas (Helge Glas)
Le Loup/‘The Wolf’ - Alan Abbott (Ezio Marano)
Gertrude - Wanda Vismara
Therese - Angelica Ott
Reverend O’Connor - Stelio Candelli
‘The General’ - Dan May (Dante Maggio)
Clyde - Lars Bloch
Sterling - Renzo Peverello
Bullock - Rinaldo Zamperla
‘The Wolf’s’ henchman - Giovanni Pazzafini, Domenico Maggio, Sergio Testori
woman on stagecoach - Carla Mancini
bandit - Werner van Husen (Daniel van Husen)
with: Enzo Andronico, Giulio Massimini, Fury Man (Furio Meniconi), Giovanni Sabbatini, Osiride Peverello, Bruno Ukmar, Franco Ukmar, Giovanni Ukmar, Ezio Marano, Artemio Antonini, Pietro Torisi, Roberto Dell’Acqua


Alleluia and Sartana, two saddle bums, halt their travels to swindle the congregation of Reverend O’Connor including the wealthy widow Gibons by posing as missionary priests. They discover the plans of ‘The Wolf’ who is a land baron who is terrorizing the villagers by leading a gang of thugs dressed as ghosts. Alleluia and Sartana take pleasure in ruining his plans to take over the territory.


You Tube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcE0vVrsukc

Tombstone or Bust!

I’ll be heading out the door at 4:30 a.m. Friday morning and headed for Pasadena, CA to pick up John Crummette and then we’re on our way to Tombstone, Arizona. Here’ we’ll meet up with a dozen other friends and spend the weekend retracing history at such venues as the OK Corral, Boot Hill Cemetery and the Crystal Palace Saloon. Then we’ll head over to Willcox, Arizona to visit the Rex Allen Museum and grave of Warren Earp. Later we’ll head up to Bonita, Arizona to visit the location where Billy the Kid shot and killed Frank ‘Windy’ Cahill before he hit the trail to Lincoln, New Mexico.

We’ll also be having a Wild West Film Festival at Nellie Cashman’s Restaurant in Tombstone where we’ll be showing wide screen versions of “Yankee” and “Navajo Joe”. I’ll see ya’ll next Tuesday. In the meantime you can stare at the gorgeous Nieves Navarro for the next four days.

AL OESTE DE RIO GRANDE

Al oeste de Río Grande – Spanish title

A 1983 Spanish production [Uranzu Films (Madrid)]
Producer:
Director: José María Zabalza
Story: José María Zabalza
Screenplay: José María Zabalza
Cinematography: José de la Rica [Eastmancolor, widescreen]
Music: Ana Satrova
Running time: 89 minutes

Cast:
Alfredo Sanchez - Aldo Sambrell (Alfredo Brell)
Mrs. Sanchez - Candice Kay (Cándida Cando)
Apache - Dan Barry (Joaquín Sainz)
Apcahe squaw - Paula Farrell (Remedios Hernandez)
with: Michael Rivers (Miguel de la Riva), Roberto Samsó, Victor Iregua, Daniel Galán, Modesto Blanch, Paco Catalá (Francisco Catalá), J. M. Garcia (José María Garcia), Sidney Ling, Julie La Rousse, John Molland, Manuel Perez (José Martin)

In the American West after the Civil War the disputes between Northern and Southern sympathizers continues to erupt into violence. A woman faces a desperate struggle when she searches for help for her husband whose been trapped under some timbers at the edge of the sea.

New Euro-Western!

Thanks to Mike Ferguson for the following information.

“Schiwago (Film) managed a major coup by lassoing cult thesps Pierre Brice and Gojko Mitic for Carsten Fiebeler’s upcoming western “Der letzte Ritt” (The Last Ride). The Gallic Brice and Yugoslav-born Mitic remain hugely popular in Germany. While Brice enjoyed a massive following in West Germany in the 1960s for his “Winnetou” movie series, Mitic attracted adulation in East Germany during the same period portraying gallant Native Americans in that country’s politically correct Westerns, among them 1967’s “Chingachgook, die grosse Schlange,” based on James Fenimore Cooper’s “The Deerslayer.” In the bittersweet “Last Ride,” Brice and Mitic play aging Native Americans and former tribal adversaries who together undertake their final journey.” – Variety

Other’s on board for the film are actors Rinaldo Talamonti, Tim Wilde, Charles Rettinghaus, Horst Wüst
Story and Screenplay by Carsten Fiebeler
Music composer Charles Weller

ALIENS IN THE WILD WILD WEST

Aliens in the Wild, Wild West – English title

A 1999 Canadian, Romanian co-production [Canarom Productions, Chesler/Perlmutter
Productions (Toronto), Castel Film (Bucharest)]
Producer: Chris Andrei, Gabi Antal, Michael J. Mahoney
Director: George Erschbamer
Story: Alon Kaplan
Screenplay: Alon Kaplan
Cinematography: Calin Ghibu [color]
Music: Orest Hrynewich, Jack Lenz, Stephen Skratt
Running time: 90 minutes

Cast:
Tom Johnson - Taylor Locke
Sara Johnson - Carly Pope
Johnny Coyle - Barna Moricz
Sheriff Cane - Markus Parilo
Bloody Bob - Gerry Quigley
Elizabeth - Gloria Slade
Jiffyvawa ‘Jiffy’ Zudo - George Ilie
Jiffy’s mom - Ovidiu Bucurenciu
Pook - Marcello Cobzariu (Marcello Cobzarju)
Ben Small - Marius Florea (Marius Vizante)
hotel clerk - Gabriel Spahiu
Melinda - Marioara Sterian
Roger - Mircea Constantinescu
Mac - Mihai Sandu Gruia (Sandu Gruia)
Eustace - Liviu Timus
Old Doc - Cornel Vulpe
photographer - Marius Galea
cops - Radu Banzaru, Felix Totoloci (Felix Totolici)
citizen - Razvan Popa
Clemmy - Constantin Barbulescu
bartender - Serban Celea
prophet - Ion Haiduc
woman Silvia Nastase


Aliens in the Wild, Wild West is a children’s movie and takes place in an 1880s western town which has been traveled to by two modern day siblings who find a portal that transports them back in time, while on vacation in a ghost town. The younger sibling, Tom Johnson (Locke), is an annoyance to his older sister Sara (Pope). They fight all the time, which is what got them into the the town in the first place. While back in time, Tom finds an alien spaceship in the forest. He soon finds out that oxygen is poisonous to the cute and fuzzy aliens because they only breathe sulfur. The cute and fuzzy aliens resemble a cross between E.T. and a hairy Yoda. The voice of the youngest alien highly resembles Sesame Street’s Elmo. When the townsmen find the aliens, they try to sell them to a representative of P.T. Barnum. Tom and Sara see this as immoral and try to save the aliens by getting them back to their spaceship. The moral shift appears to be out of character for Sara since we were first introduced to her after she was caught joy riding in a stolen car with her punk-rocker-convict-boyfriend. After the two siblings are successful in their moral crusade, they are transported back to the modern day ghost town from whence they came. Tom and Sara's sour relationship heals as they drive back to their suburban home with their family.

Remembering Erno Crisa

Actor Erno Crisa was born on March 10, 1924 in Biserta, Tunisia. He first appeared on film in an uncredited role in the 1944 French film “Coup de tête”. He continued appearing in French films until 1949 when he was third-billed in the Italian film “Cuori senza frontiere” (The White Line) with Gina Lollobrigida and Raf Vallone. Crisa then began making appearances in Peplum films during the 1950s. He was a star of the Sadistik photo novels during the 1960s and also acted in Spaghetti Westerns and spy films, sometimes using the alias James Parker. His most memorable appearance in the Spaghetti Western genre was probably as ‘El Supremo’ in 1967 film “Pecos Cleans Up”. He died on April 5, 1968 of a cerebral hemorrhage at the height of his popularity.

Happy Birthday Maria Pia Conte

Maria Pia Conte was born Maria Pia Vaccarezza on March 10, 1944 in Genoa, Liguria, Italy. She began her film career in 1954 at the age of 10. Later in the 1960s she was usually cast as an ingénue. She appeared in several of the B level Spaghetti westerns such as “$5.00 for Ringo”, “Dynamite Jim”, “The Buzzards and Crows will Dig Your Grave”. She married actor Giuseppe Rinaldi during this time and she has a daughter Francesca who is also and actress. She apparently retired from acting in the late 1970s. Today we wish her a happy 65th birthday.

The Essential Spaghetti Western Library

Western All'Italiana Volume 1-3

Volume I
1998
Glittering Images
144 pages (Illustrated)
Authors Antonio Bruschini, Antonio Tentori

The history of the Italian Western in a collection of three full color illustrated books.

Volume I “The Specialists” is devoted to the masters of the genera: Sergio Leone, Sergio Corbucci, Sergio Sollima, Duccio Tessari, Tonino Valerii, Giulio Petroni, Enzo G. Castellari, Giuseppe Colizzi, Franco Giraldi. Forward by Franco Nero. Text by Antonio Bruschini, Antonio Tentori.

Volume II
2001
Glittering Images
176 pages (Illustrated)
Authors Antonio Bruschini, Federico de Zigno

Volume II “The Wild, the Sadist and the Outsiders” features the most incredible, sadistic, delirious and unusual Italian western movies: Sentenza di morte, Tempo di massacro, Texas addio, Yankee, The bounty killer, Django il bastardo, Quien sabe?, Requiescant, Se sei vivo spara, Il tempo degli avvoltoi, The Belle Star story, E Dio disse a Caino, Matalo!, Blindman, L'odio è il mio Dio, I quattro dell'Apocalisse...

Volume III
2006
Glittering Images
128 pages (Illustrated)
Authors Antonio Bruschini, Federico de Zigno

Volume III deals with 100 more interesting movies, some of which are worthy of rediscovery: I tre spietati, Le pistole non discutono, Un dollaro bucato, Adios Gringo, Arizona Colt, Per pochi dollari ancora, 10.000 dollari per un massacre, Una lunga fila di croci, Lo chiamavano Trinita, Red Sun, California… as well as featuring the complete European filmography of the entire genre.

AL ESTE DEL OESTE

Al este del Oeste – Spanish title

A 1983 Spanish production [Ízaro Films (Madrid)]
Producers: José María Reyzabal, Salvador Ginés
Director: Mariano Ozores, Jr.
Story: Mariano Ozores, Jr.
Screenplay: Mariano Ozores, Jr.
Cinematography: Domingo Solano [Eastmancolor, widescreen]
Music: Segura Garcia (Gregorio Garcia Segura)
Song: “Al este del Oeste” sung by Fernando Esteso
Running time: 90 minutes

Cast:
Blackandecker - Juanito Navarro
Bill Golden Pistol - Fernando Esteso
Medicine Man - Antonio Ozores (Antonio Puchol)
Bad Milk - José Manuel Martin (Jose Perez)
Chapulin - Fernando Sancho (Fernando Ambillet)
Alcalde - Conrado San Martin (Conrado Prieto)
Margaret Rose - Adriana Vega
Stella - África Pratt
Mr. First - Luis Barbero (Luis Barboo)
barber - Francisco Camoiras
Martha - Pilar Bardem (Pilar Muñoz)
Tumbas - Victor Israel (Victor Vilanova)
Sheriff Cobarde - Emilio Fornet
with: Tito Garcia, Adrián Ortega, Maite Sancho (Maite Pardo)


A well made comedy western about the inhabitants of La Paz, a small town located “Al este del Oeste” (East of the West), near the Mexican border. The townspeople are being intimidated by two gangs of outlaws who are terrorizing their town and the neighboring countryside. The town fathers hire a gunman, Bill Golden Pistol, to protect them and hopefully to eradicate the outlaw gangs. When two strangers arrive in town there is some confusion as to who is the real Bill Golden Pistol. You can guess what happens as the towns mistakes the wrong man for the famous gunman, but all things turn out for the best in the end. Several familiar faces show up from the Golden Days of the Spaghetti Western.

You Tube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iCLcbMXreM

Spaghetti Western Locations

Hotel Cortijo el Sotillo (Marisol’s house).

“Located at the entrance of San Jose, Cabo de Gata, Almeria. You can't miss it, travelling into San Jose on the only main road into the town, it’s on the left hand side at the entrance to San Jose. This building is the main reception area of the hotel and contains several lounges, bar, and restaurant. On one of the lounge walls are some photo collages that Donald Bruce put together from ‘Fistful of Dollars’ with modern day comparative pictures.” – El Cortijo el Sotillo Hotel

I can’t relate to you how amazing it felt the first time I entered this building and saw the almost identical interior that was Marisol’s house in “Fistful of Dollars”. The fireplace and mantel were still there, the same doorway entrance, etc. The hotel is located on one side and a real estate office is located on the other side of the driveway (the location where Julian and Jesus lived). Don Bruce and Marla Johnson had their condo in the village of San Jose which you can see in the background on the hillside. We initially parked where this picture was taken which would have been the location of the well that Clint stops at for a drink of water and observes young Jesus sneaking into the house to visit his mother.



Hotel Cortijo el Sotillo link: http://www.husa.es/en/fichaHotel.php?id=257

For a more detailed view of this site and other Spaghetti Western locations please visit my friend Yoshi “Garringo” Yasuda’s excellent website: http://garringo.cool.ne.jp/

The Essential Spaghetti Western Library

Dizionario del Western All’Italiana

Marco Giusti
2007
Mondadori Printing Italy
695 pages

This excellent book was created using information from the files of RAI by Marco Giusti, in conjunction with the 2008 Venus Film Festival’s salute to the Spaghetti Western. This book is one of the best available on the Spaghetti Western genre. Having no photos does not distract from its strictly scholarly effort covering the westerns and listing alternate titles, crew, stars and characters played. It has a brief discussion of all the films included and as a bonus it covers all of the Turkish westerns of the period. I reference this book constantly and although written in Italian it is easy to understand and should be on every Spaghetti fans bookshelf.

RIP Sydney Chaplin

Actor Sydney Earle Chaplin died on March 3rd at his home in Rancho Mirage, California from complications of a stroke.
Born March 31, 1926 in Los Angeles, California, he was the second son of legendary actor Charlie Chaplin and actress Lita Grey. Chaplin was named after his half-uncle Sydney Chaplin. Sydney won a 1957 Tony Award as Best Actor in a Musical for his performance in “Bells are Ringing”, opposite Judy Holliday, and he received a Tony nomination for his performance opposite Barbara Streisand in 1964’s “Funny Girl”.
Married three times he carried on romances with Joan Collins and Barbara Streisand over the years. Chaplin appeared in a number of European films including three Spaghetti Westerns: "One by One", "Sartana" and "Tierra Brava" all in 1968. Besides acting he was also the longtime owner and manager of the Palm Springs restaurant Chaplins.

Al dente

Al dente – Finnish title

A 2006 Finnish production [Windy Hill Productions (Helsinki)]
Producer: Jukka Sillanpää
Directors: Jukka Sillanpää, Kaisa Vasamaa
Story: Jukka Sillanpaa, Kaisa Vasamaa
Screenplay: Jukka Sillanpaa, Kaisa Vasamaa
Cinematography: Jukka Sillanpaa [color]
Music: Jukka Sillanpaa
Running time: 17 minutes

Cast:
Luigi Al Dente - Jukka Sillanpaa
Franco Farfalle - Janne Lahti
Marco Macaroni - Jarmo Koivisto
undertaker - Valtteri Makela
woman - Kaisa Vasamaa
girl - Saga Sillanpaa
boy - Sisu Sillanpää
man in desert - Timo Sillanpää
dog - Hertta
cats - Goliat, Kaapo
narrator - Giuseppe Tozza


A Finnish comedy short, where the Italian spaghetti western meets the Italian art movie and pasta making culture. Influences from old Spaghetti westerns like the Sergio Leone's movies, Italian neorealist movies and pasta making TV-series which mixes the whole movie into a crazy comedy.

Remembering José Antonio de la Loma

Director, screenwriter José Antonio de la Loma Hernández was born on March 2, 1924 in Barcelona, Spain. He was the son of a military father and while attending college became interested in writing for the cinema. In the meantime to earn a living he dedicated his life to teaching and was a school teacher in Barcelona during the 1940s. His cinema debut was in 1953 with his screen adaptation of “La hija del mar” directed by Àngel Guimerà
He later became one of the most recognized screenwriters of Spaghetti Western genre in the 1960s with over a dozen screenplays. José then entered into writing screenplays with social criticism in the 1970s for movies called quinquies films. These films concerned themselves with the life and death of juveniles living in the slums of the larger cities in Spain brought about by emigration in the 1960s and 1970s. He was also an author and wrote several novels during his lifetime. De la Loma died in Barcelona, Spain on April 7, 2004. We remember José Antonio de la Loma today on what would have been his 85th birthday.

RIP Horst Giese

Horst Giese was born in Neuruppin, Brandenburg Germany and became a stage actor in 1945. Later he appeared in television and since 1954 dedicated himself almost extensively to DEFA films. Giese appeared in nearly 50 films and many more television appearances often in small character roles. His greatest success was his portrayal of Joseph Goebbels in several films such as “Befreiung” and “Soldaten der Freiheit. Between 1972 and 1979 Giese he wrote the radio play, the music and portrayed all 26 roles in the radio play ” "Die sehr merkwürdigen Jazzabenteuer des Herrn Lehman”. In later life Giese lived in a senior citizen home in Werder before his death in a hospital in Potsdam where he died December 29, 2008. Horst Giese appeared in one East German western 1969 Weiße Wölfe (White Wolves).

RIP Åke Lindman

Åke Leonard Lindman (born Åke Leonard Järvinen; January 11, 1928 - March 3, 2009) was a Finnish director and actor.

In his youth Lindman was a professional football player, playing in the defence for the Finnish national football team during the Olympics in Helsinki 1952. He represented the football club HIFK in the Finnish league. In the 1960s, the British Premier League club Swindon Town F.C. wanted to sign him, but he said no and turned to his acting career.

Åke Lindman's breakthrough as an actor came with the role of the stubborn soldier Lehto in Edvin Laine's movie The Unknown Soldier from 1955. Later he would also regain fame as captain Torsten Jansson in the Swedish soap opera Rederiet. Lindman has also been successful as a director, e.g. with the TV-series Stormskärs Maja and the movie Framom främsta linjen, a movie about the Finland-Swedish infantry regiment 61 during the defence of the Karelian Isthmus in 1944. His latest movie is war movie Tali-Ihantala 1944.

Ake Lindman appeared in two 1963 Finnish westerns Gold of the Wild North and The Secret Valley of the Wild North.

Spaghetti Collectables

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly T-shirt is made of 100% cotton. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly is a 1966 Italian epic Spaghetti Western starring Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef and Eli Wallach. This film is regarded as a classic and one of the greatest of its genre. A shirt very similar to this was seen in a Mario Marsili western worn by a James Coburn look-alike. The T-shirt can be ordered for $16.99 from the link provided below.


Link to GBU shirt http://www.thisishollywood.com/the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-tshirt-p-1601.html

RIP Marcella DeMarchis

Italian Costume Designer Marcella DeMarchis died in Sartean, Siena, Italy on February 25th. Aka Marcella DeMarchis Rossellini she was the first wife of director Roberto Rossellini and the mother of Renzo. Marcella was born in Rome on January 17, 1916, and married Roberto Rossellini in 1936, when he was twenty years-old. Then in 1942 they separated but never stopped their relationship of affection and professional collaboration: Marcella was a set and costume designer on many films of her husband, and other famous directors. She was the Costume Mistress on Johnny Oro (Ringo and His Golden Pistol), Costume Designer on Django and Joe l'implacable (Navajo Joe) all 1966. Costume Designer on L'ultimo killer (Django the Last Killer) 1967 and Odia il prossimo tuo (Hate Thy Neighbor) in 1968. Her autobiography is called "Una piccola donna fra due millenni (1916-200?)."

Remembering Dante Maggio

Dante Maggio was born in Naples, Italy on March 2, 1909. He was born into a family of stage and film actors including brothers Enzo, Beniamino, Pupella and Rosalia, and nephew Vincenzo Maggio. He started his acting career in the theater with his siblings interpreting Neapolitan comedies. He began his film career in 1947 and often worked with Italian comedian and actor Toto. Later in his film career he appeared in a number of Spaghetti Westerns sometimes using the alias Dan May. He often appeared as comic relief playing bartenders and sidekicks. He played the carpenter who was the cellmate of Gian Maria Volonte’s ‘El Indio’ in FOR A FEW DOLLARS MORE. Dante died on March 3, 1992 at the age of 83. We remember Dante Maggio today on what would have been his 100th birthday.

New DVD Releases

Koch Media will release two new Spaghetti Western DVDS on March 27, 2009.
#13 ‘Ringo kommt zuruck’ (The Return of Ringo), #14 ‘Silbersattel’ (Silver Saddle) and and a re-release of #15 ‘Lauf um dein Leben’ (Run Man Run). The first two films star Spaghetti Western legend Giuliana Gemma with ‘Ringo’ directed by Duccio Tessari and ‘Silver Saddle’ by Lucio Fulci, while the third stars Tomas Milian and is directed by Sergio Sollima. All are 2.35:1 aspect ratio and in PAL. The Gemma films have German, Italian and English audio while the Milian film has only German and Italian audio.

All three can be pre-ordered from Amazon.de.