Spaghetti Western Locations

Hoyo de Manzanares is the location of the main town site for FISTFUL OF DOLLARS.
This town is off the main road M618 and not easy to find. There is nothing left of this site but a piles of rubble that once lined the main street of the town. You can still find some fence post footings where the Baxter house was located and some wood on the other end of the street where the Rojo house was located. The building in the distance to the right of the Baxter house which you can spot in the film and is still there and is called El Palacio Del Canto Del Pico. If you wander around the area you’ll find where the cemetery was located. It’s still an awesome feeling to walk down the street and pretend to tell Piripero to get three coffins ready as you approach the Baxter house.

BALLAD OF A GUNMAN

Ballata per un pistolero – Italian title
Pistola nella polvere – Italian title
Balada de un pistolero – Spanish title
Ballade pour un pistolero - French title
Rocco - der Einzelgänger von Alamo – German title
Ofthalmon anti ofthalmou – Greek title
Balada para um pistoleiro - Portuguese title
Tva mot alla – Swedish title
Ringo, Pray to Your God and Die – English title
Pistoleros – English title
The Loner of the Alamo – English title
Ballad of a Gunman – English title

A 1967 Italian, German co-production [Giano Film, Prodi Cinematografica (Rome),
TEFI, Filmproduktion (Munich)]
Producer: Alfredo Nicolai, Ernest R. von Theumer (Ernest Ritter von Theumer)
Director: Alfio Caltabiano
Story: Alfio Caltabiano
Screenplay: Alfio Caltabiano, Ernest R. von Theumer (Ernest Ritter von Theumer)
Cinematography: Guglielmo Mancori [Eastmancolor, Totalcope]
Music: Marcello Giombini
Song: “Ballata per un pistolero” sung by Peppino Gagliardi
Running time: 98 minutes

Cast:
Rocco/Blackie/Kud - Anthony Ghidra (Dragomir Bojanic)
Hud/Nigros - Angelo Infanti
El Bedoja - Al Northon (Alfio Caltabiano)
Explosion/Knallfrosch - Dan May (Dante Maggio)
Chiuchi/Chinchi - Antony Freeman (Mario Novello)
Martinez - Ivan Scratuglia
Toro - Peter Jacob (Pietro Ceccarelli)
Maruja - Monica Teuber (Monique Taber)
Maruja’s mother - Ellen Schwiers
sheriff - Lanfranco Ceccarelli
banker - Hermann Nelson (Hermann Nehlsen)
gambler - Giovanni Cianfriglia
with; Nicola Balini


Two bounty hunters are after the outlaw El Bedoja, one Hud is after the reward on the man’s head while the other Blackie is after revenge to settle a personal score. It seems Blackie has been in prison for 15 years for a crime which El Bedoja committed and pinned on him. Much like “For a Few Dollars More” and “Death Rides a Horse” the two bounty hunters form an uneasy alliance. The younger gunman wants to form a partnership, but the older gunman wants nothing of it. Hud continues to follow Blackie, the older more experienced hunter, saving him from death. Rocco finally accepts a partnership and together they hunt down their prey and his brother. After the deed is done Rocco implores Hud to give up the profession.

Happy 65th Birthday Gary Busey

Born William Gareth Jacob Busey on June 29, 1944 in Goose Creek, Texas, he won a football scholarship to Pittsburg State University in Kansas and became interested in acting. He transferred to Oklahoma State University. He dropped out of college one class short of graduation. He entered show business as a drummer in the group “The Rubber Duck Band” and “Carp”. He began appearing on local TV and then small roles in film. He was the last person killed on the TV series “Gunsmoke”. His biggest notoriety came when he played the role of Buddy Holly in 1978 film “The Buddy Holly Story”. He was nominated for an Academy Award as Best Actor. Buey appeared in a number of films in the late 1970s and 80s but after being in a near fatal motorcycle accident his career went down hill. He still suffers from the after effects to this day. He has been seen less and less as of late. Gary Busey appeared in the 2000 South African Euro-western “Hooded Angels”. We wish him a happy 65th birthday today.

Remembering Lo Lieh

Lo Lieh was born Wang Lap Tat on June 29, 1939 in Pematang, Siantar, Indonesia of Chinese parents. He was sent back to China to attend school and entered acting school in Hong Kong when his studies were finished. In 1962 the Shaw Brothers gave him a contract and he began appearing in action films. He would become one the most famous actors in Hong Kong action films during the 1960s and 1970s. Later he became a producer, director, and screenwriter. He founded his own production company Lo Films in 1973 and for a time was married to actress Tong Ka-Lai. He would appear in 200+ films during his career. His only Spaghetti Western was 1974’s “The Stranger and the Gunfighter” with Lee Van Cleef. He died on November 2, 2002 in Shenzen, China, of a heart attack. Today we remember Lo Lieh on what would have been his 70th birthday.

Remembering Slim Pickens

Born Louis Burton Lindley, Jr. on June 29, 1919 in Kingsburg, California. He was an excellent horse rider since the age of 4 and dropped out of school at 12 to join the rodeo circuit. He was told that riding in rodeos would provide him with “slim pickings” which he took as his name Slim Pickens and became a well known rodeo clown. After twenty years of rodeo he became and actor appearing in “Rocky Mountain” starring Errol Flynn in 1950. He appeared in many westerns after this and was for a time sidekick to Rex Allen. He probably has two of the most memorable deaths in film history. One in “Dr. Strangelove” and the other in Sam Peckinpah’s “Billy the Kid”. Slim was inducted into both the Western Performers Hall of Fame and National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. Slim's only Euro-western was "The Deserter" (1971). He died in Modesto, California on December 8, 1983 after an operation to remover a brain tumor. Today we remember Slim Pickens on what would have been his 90th birthday.

THE BALLAD OF DJANGO

Giù le mani … carogna! – Italian title
Django Story – Italian title
Blutspur des schwarzen rachers – Dutch title
The Ballad of Django – Dutch title
Haut les mains, salauds! – French title
Halleluja pfeift das Lied vom Sterben – German title
Halleluja, der todliche Schatten – German title
Kefalia gia poulima – Greek title
Django - menneskejegeren - Norwegian title
La balada de Django – Spanish title
Haevneren Django – Swedish title
Reach You Bastard – English title
Down With Your Hands…You Scum! – English title
The Django Story – English title
Western Story – English title
The Ballad of Django – English title

A 1971 Italian production [Tarquina Internazionale (Rome)]
Producer: Demofilo Fidani, Maria Rosa Valenza
Director: Lucky Dickinson (Demofilo Fidani)
Story: Lucky Dickinson (Demofilo Fidani)
Screenplay: Lucky Dickinson (Demofilo Fidani)
Cinematography: Franco Villa [Eastmancolor, widescreen]
Music: Lallo Gori (Coriolano Gori)
Song: “I Know My Love” sung by Mark Wolf (Marco Wolf)
Running time: 88 minutes

Cast:
Django/Halleluia - Hunt Powers (Jack Betts)
Wild Bill Hickock - Jerry Ross (Gerardo Rossi)
Paco Martinez - Dennis Colt (Benito Pacifico)
Manuel Martinez - Dennis Colt (Benito Pacifico)
Dean/Bobby 'The Fox' O’Neil/El Zorro - Dean Stratford (Dino Strano)
gambler - Pietro Torisi
Buck/Butch Bradley - Gordon Mitchell (Charles Pendleton)
Paco Sanchez - Lucky MacMurray (Luciano Conti)
Pedro Hernandez - Celso Faria
with; Paul Crain (Enzo Pulcrano), Philip Garner (Giancarlo Prete), Simone Blondell (Simonetta Vitelli)


“This audaciously dishonest spaghetti western from prolific director Demofilo Fidani (using the pseudonym "Lucky Dickinson") was created piecemeal using lengthy sequences from Fidani's previous films. The premise has legendary gunslinger Django (Hunt Powers) recounting some of his greatest adventures to an enraptured Wild Bill Hickock (Jerry Ross) in a saloon. The stories which Django tells are entire scenes from such Fidani films as Arrivano Django e Sartana...E la Fine! (1970), Inginocchiati Straniero...i Cadaveri non Fanno Ombra (1971), and Quel Maledetto Giorno d'Inverno Django e Sartana...all'Ultimo Sangue (1971). Fidani regulars Gordon Mitchell, Dean Stratford, Celso Faria, Dennis Colt, and Lucky McMurray also appear.” ~ Robert Firsching

New CD release

...E POI LO CHIAMARONO IL MAGNIFICO (aka MAN OF THE EAST) by Guido and Maurizio De Angelis

DIGITMOVIES #CDDM136
Limited Edition 500 copies
Available early July 2009

Track listing:
the original Album
1. DON'T LOSE CONTROL (vocal) 3:26
2. SFIDA IN PAESE 2:27
3. IL GIORNO DEI CAVALLI BIANCHI 1:24
4. TEMA DI CANDIDA 3:30
5. DON'T LOSE CONTROL 3:26
6. ARRIVO IN TRENO 1:20
7. TOM E CANDIDA AL FIUME 1:01
8. JESUS COME (to my heart) 3:21
9. DON'T LOSE CONTROL (vocal reprise) 2:48
10. ARRIVO IN PAESE 2:33
11. I QUATTRO AMICI 1:11
12. DON'T LOSE CONTROL (vocal reprise 2) 2:09
13. THE KILLERS 1:04
14. TOM IN PAESE 1:18
15. TEMA DI CANDIDA (#2) 3:29
16. IL GIORNO DEI CAVALLI BIANCHI (# 2) 1:24
17. TEMA DI CANDIDA (#3) 1:01
18. DON'T LOSE CONTROL (Titoli) 3:25

bonus tracks - previously unreleased
19. THE KILLERS (#2) 2:03
20. DON'T LOSE CONTROL (guitar) 1:27
21. I QUATTRO AMICI (#2) 1:31
22. JESUS COME (to my heart) (#2) 0:38
23. ARRIVO IN PAESE (#2) 1:18
24. ...E POI LO CHIAMARONO IL MAGNIFICO 4:11
25. SFIDA IN PAESE (#2) 1:01
26. I QUATTRO AMICI (#3) 2:22

New DVD Release

On July 1, German company Koch Media will release the following 3 Spaghetti westerns:

Anda muchacho, spara! (Aldo Florio, 1971)
(Knie nieder und Friss Staub) (aka Dead Men Ride)
Digitally restored, uncut
Audio: German, Italian
Subtitles: German, English (tbc)
Video: 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen, PAL
Extras: Featurette, trailer, gallery

Cjamango (Edoardo Mulargia, 1967)
(Django – Kreuze im blutigen Sand)
Digitally restored
Audio: German, Italian
Subtitles: German, English (tbc)
Video: 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen, PAL
Extras: Featurette, trailer, gallery


Odia il prossimo tuo (Ferdinando Baldi, 1968)
(Hasse deinen Nachsten) (aka Hate Thy Neighbor)
digitally restored
Audio: German (tbc)
Video: 1.37:1 (tbc) PAL
Subtitles: German (tbc)
Extras: Featurette, trailer, gallery

THE BALLAD OF DEATH VALLEY

Sartana nella valle degli avvoltoi – Italian title
Sartana dans la vallée des vautours – French title
Der gefürchtete – German title
Sartana no vale dos abutres - Portuguese title
Sartana en el valle de oro – Spanish title
Balladen om den döda dalen – Swedish title
Sartana in the Valley of the Vultures – English title
Sartana in the Valley of Death – English title
Ballad of Death Valley – English title

A 1970 Italian production [Victor Produzione (Rome)]
Producer: Enzo Boetani
Director: Robert Mauri (Roberto Mauri)
Story: Roberto Mauri
Screenplay: Roberto Mauri
Cinematography: Sandro Mancori (Alessandro Mancori) [Technicolor, Techniscope]
Music: Peter Martell (Augusto Martelli)
Song: “A King for a Day” sung by Augusto Martelli
Running time: 95 minutes

Cast:
Lee Calloway/Sartana - William Berger (Wilhelm Berger)
Jason Craig/Anthony Douglas - Wayde Preston (William Strange)
Juanita - Jolanda Modio
Paco - Allan Collins (Luciano Pigozzi)
Pete Craig/George Douglas - Aldo Berti
Slim Craig/Slim Douglas - Rick Boyd (Federico Boido)
Peter Craig/Peter Douglas - Franco De Rosa
Norton - Franco Ressel (Domenico Orobano)
Clementine/Esther - Pamela Tudor (Pamela Eddy)
Carmencita - Josiane Marie Tanzilli
saloon singer - Betsy Bell
with; Carlo Giordana, Claudio Aponte, Gaetano Imbró, Bruno Arié, Bruno Ukmar


Gunfighter Lee Calloway (William Berger), agrees to help three outlaws break out of jail in exchange for half of their stolen gold. Calloway carries through with his end of the bargain, but the outlaws betray him and leave him in the desert to die. After wandering for days, Calloway is rescued by Esther (Jolanda Modio), who nurses him back to health only to trick him as well in order to collect the reward on his head.

Youtube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FosT-A1Tec

Happy 80th Birthday Luigi Bazzoni

Aka Marc Meyer, Luigi Bazzoni was born on June 25, 1929 in Salsomaggiore, Parma, Italy and is the older brother of cinematographer Camillo Bazzoni born in 1934. He is a director and screenwriter of only a half-dozen film. Although he only has few films to his credit one of the most important is the classic “A Man, His Pride, a Vengenace” (1967) which although technically takes place in Europe has always been labeled as a Spaghetti Westerns. The other is the rarely seen “Brothers Blue” (1971) starring Jack Palance. Today we celebrat Luigi Bazzoni’s 80th birthday.

Who Are Those Guys?

MARANO, Ezio (aka Alan Abbott) [8/6/1927, Brescia, Lombardy, Italy – 4/26/1991, Rome, Lazio, Italy] – TV actor.
They Call Me Trinity – 1970 (Weasel)
Alleluia and Sartana, Sons of God – 1972 (Le Loup/’The Wolf’) [as Alan Abbott]
Trinity & Sartana, Those Sons of Bitches – 1972 (‘El Tigre’) [as Alan Abbott]
Challenge to White Fang – 1974 (card player)

Ezio Marano was an Italian character actor who appeared in films from 1968-1986. He hit the height of his career in the 1970s and early 1980s. He appeared in all kinds of films including a number of crime, western, horror and comedy. His last appearance was in Federico Fellini’s “Ginger and Fred” (1986). He also appeared on several television programs during the same time frame.

New DVD Release

Catlow
Label: Warner Home Video
Region: Code 1
Widescreen, Color
Running time: 103 minutes
Language: English
Extras: Trailer

Available: 6/23/2009

BALLAD OF A BOUNTY HUNTER

Django… cacciatore di taglie – Italian title
Dos mil dolares por Coyote – Spanish title
Las bruites de la frontera – Spanish title
Django, a Bullet for You – English title
$2,000 for Coyote – U.K. title
Ballad of a Bounty Hunter – U.S.A. title

A 1965 Spanish, U.S.A. co-production [Alesanco P.C. (Madrid), Lacy International
Films (New York)]
Producer: Salvadore Romero, Sidney W. Pink
Director: León Klimovsky (Leon Dulfano), José Elorietta (José de Lacy)
Story: M. Sebastian (Manuel Sebares), Federico de Urrutia
Screenplay: Joseph L. Conrad (Manuel Sebares & Federico de Urrutia)
Cinematography: Paul Ripoli (Pablo Ripoll), Bert Fuchs (Leopoldo Villaseñor) [Technicolor, Supervision]
Music: Warren Jellico (Francisco Morcillo)
Running time: 87 minutes

Cast:
Sam Foster/Django - James Philbrook
Mary Patterson - Nuria Torray (Nuria Resplandi)
Jimmy Patterson - Sam Alston (Simón Trobat)
Sonora - Tom Griffith (Mariano Molina)
Rita - Pearl Cristal (Perla Lijtik)
Ricardo - Joe De Luch (José Lluch)
Lester - De Garibaldi
sheriff - Arthur Gonzalez (Arturo Rodriguez)
Charley Foster - Phil Pink (Phillip Pink)
White Feather - Ralph Calvo (Rafael Muñoz)
with: José Sancho, Victor Shelley, Julio P. Tabernero (Julio Perez Tabernero), Alfonso Rojas (Alfonso Gonzalez), Rafael Vaquero, Jonathan Daly (Jonathon Daly), Antonio Molino (Antonio Rojo), José Miguel Ariza, Guillermo Mendez, Antonio Moreno, Lola Lemos, Rafael F. Rosas


Often confused with another Philbrook film “Fedra West”, although the plots are similar they are two entirely different films. Here a bounty hunter is faced with the task of having to track down the brother of the woman he loves. The Django reference is only bait to lure in the suckers. Philbrook plays a character modeled after his American western films and was a poor man’s Rod Cameron and not much of an actor. He had some screen presence but he didn’t change his style to fit the Spaghetti Western genre and his career soon went into hibernation.

Youtube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ik3qZfQjJ7k

Happy 85th Birthday Olivier Mathot

Born Claude Plaud in Paris on June 22, 1924. Using such aliases as Alphonse Gautier, Oliver Mathew(s), Oliver Matho, Oliver Mathot, Oliver Matthau, Oliver Matthew and Claude Plaut he has appeared in over 120 films and has become somewhat of a cult figure for his forays into erotic and horror films Along with those films he has appeared in several Euro-westerns including “Le maledette pistole di Dallas” (aka “The Return fo Clay Stone) “Tre dollari di piombo” (aka Three Dollars of Lead), (1964) and “Convoy of Women” (1974). Besides his acting career he is also a producer, director and assistant director. Today we celebrate his 85th birthday.

Fathers Day 2009

THE BALLAD OF BEN AND CHARLIE

Amico, stammi lontano almeno un palmo – Italian title
Ben e Charlie – Italian title
Ben og Charlie - Vestens Skræk - Danish title
Pas På Vi Slår Hårdt (Ben og Charlie) - Danish tile
Ben & Charlie - Lännen villeimät kaverukset – Finnish title
Hitaat kuolevat nuorena – Finnish title
Méfie-toi Ben, Charlie veut ta peau - French title
Ben et Charlie – French title
Fais attention Ben, Charlie arrive – French title
Ben und Charlie – German title
Zwei linke Hände in der rechten Tasche - German title
Ben und Charlie – zwei Himmelhunde in wilden Westen – German title
2 Himmelhundle im wilde Westen – German title
Ben und Charlie – German title
Ben kai Charly – Greek title
Ben e Charlie - Portuguese title
Les llamaban y les llamaban dos sinvergüenzas - Spanish title
Ben och Charlie – Swedish title
Amigo Stay Away – U.K. title
The Humpty Dumpty Gang – U.K. title
Ben and Charlie – U.S.A. title
The Ballad of Ben and Charlie – U.S.A. title

A 1971 Italian production [Jupiter General Cinematografica (Rome)]
Producer: Franco Committeri
Director: Michele Lupo
Story: Luigi Montefiore
Screenplay: Sergio Donati, Luigi Montefiori
Dialogue: Gene Luotto
Cinematography: Aristide Massaccesi [Technicolor, Techniscope]
Music: Gianni Ferrio
Song: “Let it Rain, Let it Pour” sung by Stefan Grossman
Song: “Starting Over” sung by ?
Running time: 118 minutes

Cast:
Ben Bellow - Giuliano Gemma
Charlie Logan - George Eastman (Luigi Montefiori)
Sarah - Marisa Mell (Marlies Moitzi)
Allan “3%” Smith - Vittorio Congia
Kurt van Niessen - Luciano Lorcas (Luciano Catenacci)
Pinkerton Detective Hawkins - Giacomo Rossi Stuart
Jose “Charro” Gonzales - Remo Capitani
George “Butch” Quarry - Giovanni Pazzafini
Sheriff of Winfrey - Luis Induni (Luigi Radici)
Sheriff Robbins - Franco Fantasia
Sheriff Walker - Aldo Sambrell (Alfredo Brell)
Sheriff of Silvertown - Roberto Camardiel (Roberto Escudero)
Samuel J. Cobb - Paco Sanz (Franciso Sanz)
preacher - George Rigaud (Pedro Delissetche)
San Diego bank manager - Cris Huerta (Crisanto Brieva)
farmer - José Manuel Martin (José Perez)
gamblers - Tom Felleghi (Tamas Fellegi), Giovanni Cianfriglia, Antonio Casas (Antonio Barros), Francisco Sanz, Vittorio Fanfoni
fire eater – Osiride Pevarello
prizefighter - Claudio Ruffini
telegrapher - Jesús Guzmán (Jesús Areta)
with: Fabián Conde, Gioia Desideri, Carla Mancini, Roberto dell’Acqua


Ben and Charlie are a pair of small-time hustlers. The film opens with Charlie Logan waiting outside a Mexican prison for his partner Ben Bellow to be released. Once Ben is free they travel off and then Charlie gives him a whooping for losing their money from a botched cattle scam. The two separate but they are brought back together by fate. They accidentally become bank robbers and are joined by the bank’s cashier, 3% Smith. The bank hires a Pinkerton agent to find the trio. Just when the trio has decided to hang up their guns they encounter three outlaws determined to join the gang. They then force the group to continue making hold-ups and it is only now a matter of time before the Pinkerton man catches up to them for a final showdown.

Youtube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzDxtUEm04Q

First Day of Summer

Youtube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sePcM7QbraQ&feature=related

Spaghetti Western Essential Library

Willkommen in der Hölle – Der Italo Western im àœberblick
Author: Christian Kessler
Publisher: Terroverlag (2002) paperback
328 pages
Kessler covers 420 films in detail plus another 150 films in the appendix. 300 rare photos and posters nicely accentuate the book. There’s also an interview with Gianni Garko and an actors index with filmography. A 16 page center section with color photos completes this encyclopedia. Only drawback is it’s in German only, but it’s easy enough to derive basic information on films so don’t let that hold you back.

BAD MAN'S RIVER

E continuavano a fregarsi il milione di dollari – Italian title
Et ils continuaient a se voler l’un l’autre le million de dollars – French title
Les quatre mercenaires d’El Paso – French title
…Y seguian robandose el millon de dolares – Spanish title
El hombre de rio Malo – Spanish title
Los hombres malos del río – Spanish title
Tappotuulella – Finnish title
Matalo – German title
King, o tromeros – Greek title
Rzeka zloczynców – Polish title
Vamos ter sarilho - Portuguese title
Hunt the Man Down – English title
And They Go on Losing the Million Dollars – English title
Bad Man’s River – U.S.A. title

A 1972 Italian, Spanish, French co-production [International Apollo Films (Rome),
Zurbano Films (Madrid), Les Productions Jacques Roitfeld (Paris)]
Producer: Bernard Gordon, Irving Lerner
Director: Eugenio Martin
Story: Gene Martin (Eugenio Marquez), Philip Yordan
Screenplay: Eugenio Martin (Eugenio Marquez), Philip Yordan
Cinematography: Alejandro Ulloa [Technicolor, Franscope]
Music: Waldo de los Rios (Osvaldo Guttierez)
Song: “Bad Man’s River” sung by Jade Warrior
Running time: 100 minutes

Cast:
Roy “Bomba” King - Lee Van Cleef (Clarence Van Cleef, Jr.)
Francisco “Paco” Montero - James Mason
Alicia/Alice - Gina Lollobrigida (Luigina Lollobrigida)
Angel Santos - Simón Andreu (Simón Trobat)
Dolores - Diana Lorys (Anna Vega)
Ed “Pupo” Pace - Gianni Garko (Giovanni Garcovich)
Canales - Aldo Sambrell (Alfredo Brell)
Tom Odie - Jess Hahn (Jesse Hahn)
false Montero - Daniel Martín (José Martinez)
Orozco - Luis Rivera
Conchita - Lone Ferk (Lone Ferck)
General Duarte - Eduardo Fajardo
Colonel Enrique Fierro - Sergio Fantoni
reverend - Per Barclay (Erik Atberg)
Mexican soldier - Ricardo Palacios (Ricardo Diez)
Lopez - José M. Martín (José Manuel Martín)
sheriff - Allen Russell
with: Barta Barry (Bernabe Barri), Francsico Nieto, José Riesgo (Jose Cortina), Tito García (Pablo Gonzalez), Vic Albert, Carmen Guardón (Carmen Gallen), Gene Collins, Tom Power, Carl Rapp, Robert Lombard, Dan van Husen (Daniel van Husen), Bruno Sismondi, Rupert Crabb, David Thompson, Jean Martin (Luigi Marturano), Francisco Braña (Francisco Pérez), Clovis Dave, Claudia Gravy (Marsa-Claude Perin)


Considered by many to be one of the worst Spaghetti Westerns of all-time, a band of tough Texas outlaws called the King gang race up and down the border robbing one bank after another. Their only worthy adversary is the devilishly sensuous Alicia who constantly outwits them. Finally they join forces when a Mexican revolutionary offers the outlaws a million dollars to destroy an arsenal owned by the Mexican army. The arsenal gets blasted, but the million dollars doesn't get delivered in this "outsmart the outsmarters" and "double-cross the double-crossers".

Happy 70th Birthday Rosalba Neri

Rosalba Neri was born on June 19, 1939 in Forli, Italy. She sometimes used the pseudonym Sara Bay. She won a beauty contest in 1956 and turned down a chance to attend the Actors Studio in New York. She began her film career a year prior to that, at the tender age of 15 with a role in the film “I Pinguini ci guardano” (The Penguins Watch Us) in which the animals at the zoo watched the humans around them and cultivated some very interesting thoughts. Many sources, however, list her first film as “Mogli pericolose”. She is uncredited in this comedy which was directored by Luigi Comencini. She appeared in several historical films, spy and erotic films. She had roles in several Spaghetti Westerns over the years. In 1965’s, “Dynamite Jim”, she played Margaret; and, in ’67 she was Rosita in Emimmo Salvi’s “Wanted: Johnny Texas”. That year she also made her most memorable Spaghetti Western appearance in “Johnny Yuma”, with Mark Damon which was directed by Romolo Guerrieri. One of the greatest of Spaghetti western actresses, now living in retirement we celebrate her 70th birthday today.

RIP Danica Acimac

Serbian actress Danica Acimac died of natural causes on June 11, 2009 in Belgrade. Born in Belgrade on December 29, 1928 as Danica Pomorišac she became a TV actress starting in 1959 and appeared in a number of television series until 1976 when she retired from show business. Danica appeared in one European western 1967’s “Zlatna pracka” (The Golden Sling).

Spaghetti Western Locations

While Mini Hollywood is basically a theme park for tourists, Texas Hollywood is still a working set that allows visitors to roam the streets. Located only a stone’s throw away from each other Texas Hollywood is located on a dirt road a mile or so off the main highway. While only the saloon is open for business, Texas Hollywood gives you the feeling of what it must have been like at the peak of the Spaghetti Western era. Dusty streets, faded buildings and the smell of horse manure. There are Mexican and American towns constructed next to each other. Some of the buildings are only fronts while others are complete. If you see the film or DVD of “800 Bullets” you’ll get a feel for what the town is like today. Stunt shows are performed and you can rent a horse and ride around the area. Another must see for any Spaghetti Western fan.

RIP Fernando Delgado

Stage, TV and film actor Fernando Delgado died of lung disease on June 15, 2009 in Madrid, Spain. He was born Fernando Martinez Delgado on June 28, 1930 in Porucna, Jaén, Spain during the tour of his parents, actors Luis Martinez Tovar and Julia Delgado Caro. He began to make stage appearances with his mother in the mid-forties. His extraordinary voice allowed him to star in some of the major films of the second half of the last century. Among them were “Papillon” (1967). He was seen regularly both in front of and behind Spanish TV since 1956. His son Albert followed his father and became a theater actor. Fernando Delgado appeared in “El Coyote” in 1955 and in “Zorro the Avenger” 1962.

RIP Freddy Unger

From the Cinema Italiano website it has been learned that actor, stunt coordinator, stuntman Goffredo “Freddy” Unger passed away in mid May of this year. Word was passed down by his son. Born Goffredo Unger in Oslo, Norway on June 6, 1933 and acted under several pseudonyms such as Freddy Hagar, Fred Hunger, Freddy Hunger, Frederico Hunger and John Silver but is known by most of us as Freddy Unger. Besides his being an actor Unger was also an assistant director, stunt coordinator, stuntman and special effects expert. He appeared in many Spaghetti Westerns as an actor and stuntman but also the stunt coordinator on several. He was one of the best stuntmen who appeared in the genre.

Freddy Unger’s Euro-westerns:
The Hills Run Red – 1966 (Union Colonel) [as Goffredo Unger]
Face to Face – 1967 (Deputy of Purgatory City) [as Freddy Unger]
Run, Man Run! – 1967 (sheriff) [as Freddy Unger]
7 Pistols for a Massacre – 1967 [as Freddy Unger]
Vengeance – 1967 (Yuma) [as Freddy Unger]
Black Jack – 1968 (Billy) [as Freddy Unger]
Gatling Gun – 1968 (Tarpas henchman) [as Freddy Unger]
One After the Other – 1968 (Burt) [as Freddy Unger]
Full House for the Devil – 1968 (Ward henchman) [as Freddy Unger]
Run Man Run – 1968 – Master of Arms
The Magnificent Bandits – 1969 (Dutch geologist) [as Goffredo Unger] also Asst. Dir.
Chapaqua’s Gold – 1970 (Chapaqua henchman) [as Freddy Unger]
Django Defies Sartana – 1970 [as Freddy Unger]
Have a Good Funeral… Sartana will Pay – 1970 (Lee Tse Tung bouncer) [as Goffredo Unger]
Shoot the Living and Pray for the Dead – 1970 (Frank Skelton) [as Freddy Unger] also Stunt Coordinator
Blazing Guns – 1971 (Captain Ortega) [as Freddy Unger]
Bullet for a Stranger – 1971 (saloon patron) [as Freddy Unger]
The Buzzards and Crows Will Dig Your Grave – 1971 (Kovac henchman) [as Freddy Unger]
Dead Men Ride – 1971 (Chris) [as Goffredo Unger]
Guns for Dollars – 1971 (Slim) [as Freddy Unger]
His Name was King – 1971 (Ben Benson) [as John Silver]
Two Sons of Trinity – 1971 (friar) [as Freddy Hunger]
Deaf Smith & Johnny Ears – 1972 [as Freddy Unger]
Jesse and Lester, Two Brothers in a Place Called Trinity – 1972 [as Goffredo Unger]
The Return of Halleluia – 1972 (Sheriff of Laredo) [as Goffredo Unger] also Master of Arms
Sting of the West – 1972 (Grant henchman) [as Freddy Unger]
Trinity and Sartana those Dirty SOBs – 1972 StuntCoordinator
Another Try, Eh Providence – 1973 (soldier) [as Goffredo Unger]
Karate, Fists and Beans – 1973 (Freddy) [as Freddy Unger]
The Man Called Invincible – 1973 (Pokey) [as Goffredo Unger]
On the Third Day Arrived the Crow – 1973 Master of Arms
Challenge to White Fang – 1974 (brawler in saloon) [as Goffredo Unger] also Stunt Coordinator
The Crazy Bunch – 1974 [as Freddy Unger]
Four of the Apocalypse – 1974 (gambler) [as Goffredo Unger] also Stunt Coordinator
Apache Woman – 1976 Stunt Coordinator
Comin' at Ya! - 1981 Special Effects
Thunder Warrior – 1983 (Thomas’ friend) [as Goffredo Unger] also Asst. Dir.

Happy 70th Birthday Sergio Salvati

Sergio Salvati was born on June 16, 1934 in Rome, Italy. He is a cinematographer who is famous for his collaborations with Italian horror film director Lucio Fulci. Such films include “Seven Notes in Black” (1977), “Zombi 2” (1979) and “The Beyond” (1981). He has also worked with film producer Charles Band on several movies, for example, “Crawlspace” (1986), “Ghoulies II” (1987), “Puppet Master” (1989) and “Spellcaster” (1992). Salvati was also involved in the European western genre and was the cinematographer on “Four of the Apocalypse” (1974, “Silver Saddle” (1977) and the modern day western “Thunder Warrior” (1983). Today we wish him a happy 75th birthday.

RIP Allan King

Filmmaker Allan King Dies At 79

One of Canada's greatest filmmakers brilliantly told the stories of others. But now the story of his own life has ended, with the death of director Allan King at the age of 79. He was the man behind a long series of classic films, including the recent documentary "Memory for Max, Claire, Ida and Company" which was made at Toronto's Baycrest Geriatric Centre, TV shows like the award winning "Road To Avonlea," and "Kung Fu: The Legend Continues," a continuation of the classic 70s cult TV show, and 1981's "Silence of the North." King was born in Vancouver in 1930, and never forgot his Canadian roots. His first major documentary, "Warrendale" in 1967, showed viewers the inside of an institution for emotionally disturbed children, while "A Married Couple," traced the end of a marriage. But King was proficient in every kind of cinema, except as his website notes "animation," and had a career that spanned four decades and inspired numerous retrospectives around the world. His 'cinema verite' style was an inspiration for others. But it was the flick "Who Has Seen The Wind," based on W.O. Mitchell's classic novel, that brought King some of his greatest fame. The 1976 film won the Grand Prix at the prestigious Paris International Film Festival and wound up being the highest grossing Canadian movie of that year. He won the Ontario Film Institute Award for Excellence in Canadian Cinema in 1998 and was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2006. King leaves behind a wife, four children and five grandchildren, and it was his family who confirmed his passing on Monday. They have yet to reveal the exact cause of his death but King was diagnosed with a brain tumour in April. Alan King directed an episode of the television series "Bordertown" in 1989 and also the TV film "By the Way of the Stars" (1992), both European co-productions.

RIP Ivan Della Mea

Ivan Della Mea died Saturday night, June 14 at San Paolo in Milan the singer, poet and writer he was 69 years. The memorial service and last farewell is scheduled for 11 am Tuesday morning at the Circolo Arci Corvetto, where he was president. Born in Lucca on 16 October 1940, he soon moved to Milan where, along with Gianni Bosio, was among the founders of the New Italian songbook. Since 1990 he was director of Ernesto De Martino di Sesto Fiorentino.

Together with people like Joan Marini, Paolo Pietrangeli, Michele Straniero, Della Mea and Dischi del Sole, was a key member of Italian culture, he documented a time in which the accompanying music, where the youthful rebellions of the 1960s, and witnessed the close link between leftist politics and the struggles of our country. His real name was Louis and his activities took place almost entirely in Milan, where he had moved when he was very young and where he started to write songs, for Milly. His most famous song is ‘Cara Maglia’ (aka Dear Wife). His career as an author and activist was very crucial with the meeting of Gianni Bosio. Della Mea was a co-screenwriter with Franco Solinas of the Spaghett Western “Tepepa” (aka Blood and Guns) starring Tomas Milian and Orson Welles.

The Bad Man

Lopez, le bandit – French title
The Bad Man – U.S.A. title

A 1930 U.S.A., French co-production [Warner First National (Hollywood)]
Producer:
Director: John Daumery (Jean Daumery)
Story: based on the play “The Bad Man” by Porter Emerson Browne
Screenplay: Porter Emerson Browne, Howard Estabrook (Howard Bolles)
Dialogue: Jacques Deval
Cinematography: Frank Kesson [black & white]
Music:
Running time: 71 minutes

Cast:
Lopez – Geymond Vital
Lilliane - Jeanne Helbling
Angela - Suzy Vernon (Amelie Paris)
Robert - Gaston Glass
Morris – Rolla Norman (Edouard Norman)
Uncle - Daniel Mendaille
with; Raoul Paoli, André Chéron (André Duval), Rolla Norman

===================================================

El hombre malo – Spanish title
The Bad Man – U.S.A. title

A 1930 U.S.A., Spanish co-production [Warner First National (Hollywood)]
Producer: Henry Blanke
Director: Roberto E. Guzmán, William C. McGann
Story: based on the play “The Bad Man” by Porter Emerson Browne
Screenplay: Howard Estabrook (Howard Bolles), Baltasar Fernandez
Dialogue: Baltasar Fernández Cué
Cinematography: Frank Kesson [black & white]
Music:
Running time:

Cast:
Pancho Lopez - Antonio Moreno
Jake Taylor - Andrés de Segurola
cook - Delia Magaña (Gudelia Magaña)
Guillermo – Manuel Conesa
Luciano - Jose Dominguez
Bradley - Martin Garralaga (Norman Garralaga)
Morris - Roberto E. Guzmán
Alberto - Juan Torena
Angela - Conchita Ballesteros
Maria - Rosita Ballesteros
Pedro - Carlos Ramos
Dobbs - Carlos Villarias (Carlos Llano)
with; Daniel F. Rea


This 1930 American film also was filmed for French and Spanish release using French and Spanish actors and crew. Filming was done at the same time as the American film using some of the same footage and adding scenes with the Spanish and French leading actors. The story is about a Mexican bandit who helps a rancher, in danger of losing his land.

New DVD Release

Karl May – Die Spur führt zum Silbersee (1989)
Released by Icestorm (Berlin)
Format: PAL
Running time 81 minutes
Languages: German
Release date: June 15, 2009

Flag Day 2009

Stranger

Stranger
(Bootleg Theater, 90 seats, $25 top)
By TERRY MORGAN "Variety"

A Bootleg Theater presentation of a play in two acts by Eva Anderson and Keythe Farley. Directed by Farley.

The Padre - Joe Hernandez-Kolski
Miranda - Ann Closs-Farley
Lucinda - Molly O'Neill
Lagarto - Michael Dunn
The Stranger - Cameron Dye

Stranger," a Spaghetti Western with songs, has the visceral kick and grungy, lived-in feel of a Sergio Leone classic. It would be easy to parody the genre, but co-writers Eva Anderson and Keythe Farley play it straight and manage to pull it off with a story that's genuinely surprising and compelling. The world premiere production at the Bootleg Theater rocks, from Farley's inspired direction to Anthony Bollas' appropriately thunderous music to skilled actors who tear into their roles with violent gusto.

In 1847 in the small Nevada town of San Lorenzo, the evil Lagarto (Michael Dunn) and his men have killed the sheriff and kidnapped his daughter Lucinda (Molly O'Neill), and they're gradually grinding the town into the dust. Local saloon owner Miranda (Ann Closs-Farley) and the Padre (Joe Hernandez-Kolski) try to persuade the townspeople to fight back, but it's futile. One day, however, the Stranger (Cameron Dye), a quiet man with lethal gun-slinging skills, wanders into town. When Lagarto attacks the town to find Lucinda's hidden inheritance, the haunted Stranger decides to rejoin the living and defend the people of San Lorenzo.

Dunn plays the over-the-top Lagarto with enthusiastic vigor; he's an amiable villain highly amused with his deeds. Dunn also cracks a whip pretty well. Closs-Farley seems to be channeling some cross between Barbara Stanwyck and Mae West as the hard-bitten Miranda, and she's wryly effective in the role. O'Neill brings a feral intensity to Lucinda that ups the dramatic stakes of the play, and her final moments in the show are satisfyingly iconic. Hernandez-Kolski is tough, convincingly intelligent and memorably charismatic in the complicated role of the Padre. Dye plays the Stranger, a man who deals death but wants only to die himself, with a shell-shocked weariness; the actor's low-key recounting of the Stranger's tragic past is a dramatic highlight. Finally, the members of the five-person ensemble who round out the cast are excellent in multiple roles.

Farley's direction excels in the bloody business of the genre, from a nifty hat being shot off a villain's head bit to any number of sanguinary knifings, but he also succeeds in the quiet moments. Anderson and Farley's writing is funny ("All God's children are welcome -- why are you here?") and ultimately moving, and their plot is as twisty and vicious as an angry rattlesnake.

Bollas' music is appropriately evocative of Ennio Morricone's film scores, both in bravado and in subtlety, and the band is superb. They were, however, also so loud that few of the lyrics could be made out in the opening song. Closs-Farley's costumes are richly detailed, and Victor Warren's fight choreography is exciting and brutally efficient. Francois-Pierre Couture's painted wooden slat backdrop set of a town in permanent shadow combines wonderfully with Dan Weingarten's dramatic lighting and Rebecca Kessin's dense sound design to vividly create the dry and dusty setting.

Sets, Francois-Pierre Couture; costumes, Ann Closs-Farley; lighting, Dan Weingarten; sound, Rebecca Kessin; original music, Anthony Bollas; production stage manager, Rachel Kahn. Opened, reviewed June 6, 2009; runs through July 4. Running time: 1 HOUR, 50 MIN. Ensemble: Richard Azurdia, Wallis Herst, Travis Michael Holder, Dylan Kenin, David Natale.

Happy 70th Birthday Marta May

Born Maria Jesús Mayor Ávila on June 14, 1939 in Santander, Cantabria, Spain, she studied classical dance and Spanish guitar and then became a stage actress in 1956 before making her film debut in 1957. She would then go to alternate between films and television. Marta married producer, director José María Forn. Marta was active in the film industry until the early 1990s. Marta made five Euro-westerns, sometimes using the aliases Martha Hyier, Martha May and Mary May. Her most memorable role was as Elena, Audie Murphy’s girl, in “The Texican” (1966). Today we celebrate Marta May’s 70th birthday.

BAD KIDS OF THE WEST

Kid il monello del West – Italian title
Kid el travieso del oeste - Argentinian title
Vestens Skræk - Danish title
Kid het tereur von het Westen – Dutch title
Kid Westerns Skrack – Finnish title
Kid-Lannen Kauhu – Finnish title
Little Kid und seine kesse Bande – German title
Mikroi diavoloi... o tromos tou West – German title
Los pequeños coyotes de Kid O'Hara – Spanish title
Western Kid – Swedish title
Westerns skräck – Swedish title
Kid, Terror of the West – English title
Bad Kids of the West – English title

A 1973 Italian production [Ramofilm (Rome)]
Producer: Roberto Amoroso
Director: Tony Good/Serrando Gonzales (Tonino Ricci)
Story: Roberto Amoroso
Screenplay: Mario Amendola, Bruno Corbucci, Roberto Amoroso
Cinematography: Silvio Fraschetti [Technicolor, Panoramico]
Music: Enrico Simonetti
Song: “La banda del west” sung by Renata Cortiglioni
Running time: 90 minutes

Cast:
Kid Terror - Andrea Balestri
Sciantosa - Cristiana
Wilson - Franco Ressel (Domenico Orobana)
McKenzie - Attilio Dottesio
sheriff - Fortunato Arena
midget - Salvatore Furnari
boy - Flavio Colombaioni
Wilson henchman - Nestore Cavaricci
townsman - Sicto Brunetti
with: Walter Battistelli, Carlo Carloni, Mirko Ellis (Mirko Korcinsky), Maurizio Fiori, Barbara Fiorini, Clara Park, Gaetano Scala, R. Gallozzi (Roberto Gallozzi), Ray O’Connor (Remo Capitani), Rinaldo Ballanti, Claudio Cinquepalmi, Giancarlo Jabes (Jean-Claude Jabes), Giuseppe Monte, Alberto Allegrezza, Carla Mancini, F. Migliosi (Fabio Migliosi), Pippo Tuminelli (Giuseppe Tuminelli), Mario Donatone, I. Pizzoferrato (Isabella Pizzoferrato), Bruno Corbucci, Fabio Muscara, Rosa Toros (Rosita Torosh)


This is a Spaghetti Western rip-off of Bugsy Malone. A kid with a wild imagination overhears the plan of a gang of bandits who intend to hold up a bank. He decides to beat them to it and with a gang of other kids robs the bank. When the outlaws try to get the money he sets a trap for the outlaws with the local sheriff.

Happy 80th Birthday Victor Israel

Born José María Soler Vilanova in Barcelona, Barcelona Catalonia, Spain on June 13, 1929, he is one of the most prolific of all Spanish character actors yet often overlooked and underrated in Spanish films. He began acting in the early 1960s and his short, dumpy, pudgy face with thinning hair, crooked teeth and eyes like Jack Elam made for unforgettable characters. He was one of those actors you recognized immediately but didn’t know his name. He usually played timid cowards, padres, working class types and meek victims. His most famous part was never seen by most Americans until the restored version of “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” was released here in the mid-2000s. He was the sergeant Lee Van Cleef encountered at the Confederate hospital while trying to find the whereabouts of Bill Carson. Perfect for Horror films Victor has made quite a few including “The House that Screamed” (1969), “Graveyard of Horror” (1971) and “Horror Express” (1972). Victor now appears only occasionally in films and TV shows. Today we celebrate his 80th birthday.

Happy 80th Birthday Alberto De Martino

Born Alberto Martino De Martino in Rome, Italy on June 12, 1929, his father was Romolo De Martino a makeup artist in the Italian cinema of the 1930s and 40s. Alberto entered film as a child actor. After college he continued his film career as a film editor before landing his first directorial debut with 1961’s “The Invincible Gladiator”. He continued to make Horror films, crime thrillers, sword and sandal films and Spaghetti Westerns. As a film director and screenwriter he directed over 28 films. He also wrote screenplays for over two dozen films. Sometimes he used pseudonyms as Martin Herbert, Herbert Martin, Albert Martin Probably his best westerns were “$100,000 for Ringo” (1965) starring Richard Harrison and “Django Shoots First” (1966) starring Glenn Saxson. Alberto retired from the film industry in the mid-1980s. Today we celebrate his 80th birthday.

Bad Bulls

Os touros bravos – Norwegian title
Bad Bulls – English title

A 2000 Norwegian production [ICE Film (Oslo)]
Producer: Anders Graham
Director: Ove Heiborg, Fredrik Kiøsterud
Story: Ove Hieborg, Fredrik Kiøsterud
Screenplay: Paal Ritter Schjerven
Cinematography: Gaute Gunnari, Patrik Säfström, Fredrik Kiøsterud [color]
Music: Tommy Bere, Geir Bremer (Geir Ovrebo), Cato Kristiansen, Amand Evans
Running time: 15 minutes

Story: Set in the Wild West, Lucky Bullit and his trusty companion Hot Dog find themselves facing the Bad Bulls of Cow Town.

Cast:
Animated characters


“The Bad Bulls had all the cinematographic expressions of a real life western, right down to the wide angles of dusty streets, baked by the merciless hot sun to the stretched shadows of the approaching outlaws. Its 15 minutes is crammed with action packed, gun-pulling, and bar brawling western puppet animation.”

Spaghetti Western Locations

Built in the early 1900s, the train station in Almeria was used in “Giu la testa” (aka Duck You Sucker). When Juan (Rod Steiger) and his family arrive in Mesa Verde you can see the station behind them. It is located about 1 km from the center of Almeria, where Ctra de Ronda and Autovia del Aeropuerto meet in a roundabout. Built in the early 1900s it is still used today by RENFE, the Spanish railway company to connect Almeria to Granada, Barcelona, Madrid, Seville and Cadiz.

BACKLASH - OBLIVION 2

Oblivion 2: Backlash – English title
Oblivion: Badlands – German title
Galaxy Hunter – German title
Il West del futuro – Italian title
Backlash: Oblivion 2 – USA title

A 1994 USA, Romanian co-production [Full Moon Entertainment (Hollywood)]
Producers: Vlad Paunesco, Dana Paunesco, Albert Band, Peter David, Debra Dion
Director: Sam Irvin
Story: Charles Band, Mark Goldstein, John Rheaume, Greg Suddeth
Screenplay: Peter David
Cinematography: Adolfo Bartoli [Fotochem color]
Music: Pino Donaggio (Giuseppe Donaggio)
Running time: 83 minutes

Cast:
Lash - Musetta Vander (Musette van der Merewe)
Jaggar - Andrew Divoff
Sweeney - Maxwell Caulfield
Zack Stone - Richard Joseph Paul
Mattie Chase - Jackie Swanson
Stella Barr - Meg Foster (Megan Foster)
Buster - Isaac Hayes
Bork - Irwin Keyes
Miss Kitty - Julie Newmar (Julie Newmeyer)
Buteo - Jimmie F. Skaags (Jimmie Neumier)
Mr. Gaunt - Carel Struycken
Doc Valentine - George Takei
Crowley - Jeff Weston (Jeff Celentano)
Long John - Brent Huff
sidekick - Michael C. Mahon
Josephine - Nadine Emilie Voindrouh
petrified cowboy - Gunter David
Stogie Joe - Sam Irvin


This futuristic western sequel to “Oblivion” starts with a long title sequence and a seven-minute flashback to the original film. It still is full of action and tongue in cheek humor. The evil Lash (Musetta Vander) hooks up with the even-more-evil twin of her dead reptilian lover (Andrew Divoff). The movie piles on the in-jokes and finds interesting uses for Julie Newmar, George Takei and Isaac Hayes. Not bad for a small budget Sci-Fi Western.


You Tube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLtmjib5FJU

Robert Woods Interview!

Robert Woods was interviewed on Los Angeles radio station KPFK on June 4, 2009.

Here are the links to the YouTube parts 1 & 2.

Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Q1eLl23J8A

Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5CzRlvltxk&NR=1

Don't laugh at the introduction because it's pure hype. The interview itself is very interesting.

Happy 80th Birthday Gastone Moschin

Born Gastone Moschine on June 8, 1929 in San Giovanni a Lupatoto, Verona, Italy, he began his career in theater in Genoa and then Milan. At the same time he began to make appearances in feature films such as “La rivale” (1955) and “L’audace colpo dei soliti ignoti” (1959). In 1965 he was featured in “Signori e signore” and starred in “Seven Times Seven” in 1968. His most famous role was that of Rambaldo Melandri in the “Amici miei” (1975-1985). He would later appear in Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Godfather Part II” as Don Fanucci. He was once married to actress Marzia Ubaldi and then went on to appear on both Italian and French television. He appeared in two Euro-westerns “Face to Face” (1967) and as Sheriff Gordon in Johnny Hallyday’s “Il Specialisti” (aka “Drop Them or I’ll Shoot) (1968). Today we celebrate his 80th birthday.

Back to Hell

Back to Hell – English title

A 2000 British production [Exterminating Angel Productions (London)]
Producer: Tod Davies
Director: Alex Cox
Cinematography: Todd Darling, Tom Richmond [color]
Music: Pray for Rain
Running time: 20 minutes

Cast:
Jennifer Balgobin, Xander Berkely, Luis Contreras, Alex Cox, Eric Fellner, Dennis Hopper, Sue Kiel, Shaun Madigan, Ed Pansullo, Sy Richardson, Tom Richmond, Dick Rude, Miguel Sandoval, Olivia Sandoval Zander Schloss, Joe Strummer (John Mellor), Dan Wool (Daniel Wool), Biff Yager, Del Zamora


Documentary about the people who as actors and crew worked on the film Straight to Hell.

Remembering Julian Ugarte

Julián Ugarte Landa was born on June 6, 1929 in Sestao, Vizcaya, País Vasco, Spain. He would settle in Madrid where he studied painting, sculpture, pottery and ballet. He made his film debut in 1953 under the direction of Fernando Fernan-Gomez in the film “The Message”. His tall thin, pale appearance made for the perfect villain, vampire etc. which he did with relish in several horror and Euro-westerns. Most of us remember him for his role as Yancy Hobbitt the travelling pastor pursuing Lee Van Cleef and Lo Leigh in 1974’s “The Stranger and the Gunfighter”. He also appeared in “A Man Called Noon” (1973) and “Revenge of the Black Wolf” (1981). Ugarte was married for a time to actress Didi Sherman and died in Bilbao, Vizcaya, País Vasco, Spain on December 27, 1987. We remember Julián Ugarte today on what would have been his 80th birthday.

B.B.K. (Baby Bounty Killer)

B.B.K. (Baby Bounty Killer) – International title

A 1996 Italian production [Film Trust Italia (Rome)]
Producer: Bernadette Carranza
Director: Alessandro Valori
Story: Alessandro Valori, Marco De Candia
Screenplay: Alessandro Valori, Marco De Candia
Cinematography: Dante Della Torre (Dante Dalla Torre) [color]
Music: Vito Abbonato, Andrea Ridolfi
Running time: 9 minutes

Cast:
Mexican - Mario De Candia
with; Marco Stefanelli, Stefano Abbati, Maner Capone, Pierfrancesco Favino, Valeria Benedetti Michelangeli


A gang of Mexican bandits attack a train and then find themselves in the middle of a modern intercity and captured by a child.

Remembering Rafael Albaicin

Born Ignacio-Rafael Garcia Escudero in Madrid, Spain on June 5, 1919, he had a thorough education and enjoyed playing the piano and the violin. Speaking both French and English, he travelled a good deal through Holland, France and Belgium in his youth. Rafael wrote music and was an accomplished artist who designed costumes for the bullring. He became a torero and appeared in many of Spain’s greatest bullrings from 1942 until 1948. After his bullfighting career and because of his name recognition in Spain he became a character actor and appeared in over 30 Euro-westerns during his career some of his most recognizable titles are “Savage Guns” (1961), “Django”, “Navajo Joe” (1966), “A Long Ride from Hell” (1968), “Catlow” (1971), “Sonny and Jed” (1972), his last appearance was in 1978’s “China 9, Liberty 37”. Albaicin died in Madrid on September 3, 1981. We remember Rafael Albaicin today on what would have been his 90th birthday.

RIP David Carradine

Actor David Carradine, star of the 1970s TV series "Kung Fu" who also had a wide-ranging career in the movies, was found dead in a Bangkok hotel room. A news report said he was found hanged in his hotel room closet and was believed to have committed suicide.

A spokesman for the U.S. Embassy, Michael Turner, confirmed the death of the 72-year-old actor. He said the embassy was informed by Thai authorities that Carradine died either late Wednesday or early Thursday, but he could not provide further details out of consideration for his family. Carradine was in Bangkok to shoot a movie “Stretch”, and had been staying at the hotel since Tuesday.

Carradine was a leading member of a venerable Hollywood acting family that included his father, character actor John Carradine, and brothers Keith and Robert. In all, he appeared in more than 100 feature films with such directors as Martin Scorsese, Ingmar Bergman and Hal Ashby. One of his prominent early film roles was as singer Woody Guthrie in Ashby's 1976 biopic "Bound for Glory." But he was probably best known for his role as Kwai Chang Caine, a Shaolin priest traveling the 1800s American frontier West in the TV series "Kung Fu," which aired in 1972-75. He reprised the role in a mid-1980s TV movie and played Caine's grandson in the 1990s syndicated series "Kung Fu: The Legend Continues." He returned to the top in recent years as the title character in Quentin Tarantino's two-part saga "Kill Bill." The character, the worldly father figure of a pack of crack assassins, was a shadowy presence in 2003's "Kill Bill — Vol. 1." In that film, one of Bill's former assassins (Uma Thurman) begins a vengeful rampage against her old associates. In "Kill Bill — Vol. 2," released in 2004, Thurman's character comes face to face again with Bill himself. The role brought Carradine a Golden Globe nomination as best supporting actor.

After "Kung Fu," Carradine starred in the 1975 cult flick "Death Race 2000." He starred with Liv Ullmann in Bergman's "The Serpent's Egg" in 1977 and with his brothers in the 1980 Western "The Long Riders." One thing remained a constant after "Kung Fu": Carradine's interest in Oriental herbs, exercise and philosophy. He wrote a personal memoir called "Spirit of Shaolin" and continued to make instructional videos on tai chi and other martial arts.

David Carradine appeared in three Euro-westerns:
On the Line – 1983 (Bryant)
Arrivano i vostri (TV) – 1984 [himself]
Queen of Swords (TV) – 2001 (“The Serpent”) [episodes 1:10 “The Serpent”, 1:21 “End of Days” (guest appearance)]