New CD Release

Oggi a me... domani a te!
(Today We Kill... Tomorrow We Die!)
Composer: Angelo Francesco Lavagnino
Released by Digitmovies
#CDDM 140
21 Mono tracks
Release date: 9/11/2009

Track Listing
1. OGGI A ME ...DOMANI A TE! 2:23
2. ALLEGRO SALOON 1:31
3. OGGI A ME ...DOMANI A TE! (ripresa) 1:34
4. INSEGUIMENTO A CAVALLO 1:53
5. VALZER SALOON 1:30
6. ATTACCO ALLA DILIGENZA 1:35
7. LA FURIA DI ELFEGO 1:46
8. OGGI A ME ...DOMANI A TE! (ripresa 2) 1:39
9. BANDIDOS 2:37
10. WALZER SALOON (versione 2) 3:30
11. MARCIA DI O'BANNION 2:13
12. RICORDO DI UN AMORE 2:15
13. ELFEGO COLPISCE ANCORA 1:48
14. CACCIA SPIETATA 2:22
15. SCOPERTA 1:44
16. TENSIONE MORTALE 2:21
17. ELFEGO CONTRO TUTTI 1:23
18. SULLE TRACCE DELL' ASSASSINO 2:24
19. COME UN SAMURAI 3:02
20. L' ULTIMO SCONTRO 2:39
21. OGGI A ME ...DOMANI A TE! (finale) 1:09
Total time: 43:18

Remembering Richard Basehart

Born John Richard Basehart on August 31, 1914 in Zanesville, Ohio, he will always be known for his role as Admiral Harriman Nelson on the TV series "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea". This followed a film career as a leading man in such films as "He Walked by Night" (1948), "Decision Before Dawn" (1951), "Moby Dick" (1956). He was married to Italian actress Valentina Cortesse. Basehart was known for his deep, distinctive voice and was often hired as a narrator for documentaries. Because of his marriage to Cortesse he was able to make contacts with the European film industry which led to several films among them two European westerns "Savage Guns" (1961) as Steve Fallon and "Chato's Land (1971 as Nye Buell. Basehart was the announcer at the opening game ceremonies of the 1984 Olympic Games held in Los Angeles. He died of a stroke a month later on September 17, 1984 in L.A. We remember Richard Basehart today on what would have been his 95th birthday.

BLAZING GUNS

Uomo avvisato mezzo ammazzato…parola di Spirito Santo – Italian title
Y le llamaban El Halcón – Spanish title
El Halcón de Sierra Madre – Spanish title
Gringo nimeltä ‘Pyhä Henki’ – Finnish title
On l’appelle Spirito Santo – French title
Ein Halluja für Spirito Santo – German title
Zwei wie Blitz und Donner – German title
Mannen utan namn – han kallades Holy Ghost – Swedish title
Forewarned, Half-Killed…the Word of the Holy Ghost – English title
Blazing Guns – US title

A 1971 Italian, Spanish co-production [Lea Film (Rome), C. C. Astro (Madrid)]
Producer: Luciano Martino
Director: Anthony Ascott (Giuliano Carnimeo)
Story: Tito Carpi
Screenplay: Tito Carpi, Federico De Urrutia, Giuliano Carnimeo
Cinematography: Miguel Fernández Mila [Eastmancolor, Cinemascope]
Music: Bruno Nicolai
Song: “Libertad” sung by Giulia De Mutis (Giulia Rei)
Running time: 94 minutes

Cast:
Harold/Holy Ghost/Spirito Santo - Gianni Garko (Giovanni Garkovich)
Preacher - Victor Israel (José Vilanova)
Carezza/Chuck/Chicken - Chris Huerta (Crisanto Brieva)
General Ubarte - Poldo Bendandi (Leopoldo Bendandi)
Don Firmino Mendoza - George Rigaud (Pedro Delissetche)
Juana Mendoza - Pilar Velázquez (María Lorente)
Samuel Crow/Crohn/Bull - Paul Stevens (Paolo Gozlino)
Matadodos/May - Fortunato Arena
Brother John - Aldo Barberito
Fiesta - Carlo Gaddi
colonel -Nello Pazzafini (Giovanni Pazzafini)
doctor - Franco Pesce
lieutenant - Tomás Rudy (Tomás Rudi)
barman - Mimmo Poli (Domenico Poli)
boxing coach - Pietro Ceccarelli
poker player - Claudio Ruffini
Mexican soldiers - César Ojinaga
Vern Crow/Crohn - Rick Boyd (Federico Boido)
Captain Ortega - Fredy Unger (Goffredo Unger)
dove - Eagle
Holy Ghost’s/Spirito Santo’s men - Salvatore Baccaro, Gildo DiMarco, Gianclaudio Jabes, Amerigo Santarelli
with; Dadda Gallotti (Alba Gallotti), Evy Farinelli (Evi Farnelli), Monica Altomonte, Maria D’Incoronato, Lina Ferri, Italo Guitto, Pasquale Coletta, Furio Meniconi, Maurizio Tocchi, Gianni Pulone (Giovanni Pulone), Carla Mancini, Roberto dell’Acqua, Massimo Serato (Giuseppe Serato), Riccardo Petrazzi

[Gianni Garko, Chris Huerta]

Gianni Garko stars as Harold/Holy Ghost/Spirito Santo. His character is a take-off on his Sartana persona; a supernatural gunfighter, dressed in white instead of black with a pet dove (which he puts to good use when he needs to extract information from people.) As the film opens a group of Mexican peasants are being rounded up with some being killed by the soldiers of General Ubarte/Ruiz. They are searching for a certain Don Firmino Mendoza who along with Ubarte claim to hold the presidency of Mexico. Ubarte/Ruiz arranges for Mendoza’s execution but The Holy Ghost arrives in the nick-of-time and massacres the soldiers with an odd looking machine-gun. Quickly honored as a Saint the Mexican peasants want Harold to help them fight the revolution. Harold is only interested in a treasure map he has won in a card game and he’s trying to find a person who knows about where the treasure is buried because part of the map is missing. The treasure is buried beneath the fort of General Ubarte/Ruiz. The Holy Ghost teams up again with his old pals Chicken and Preacher and together they go after the gold. After a series of funny adventures they eventually locate the buried gold.

The film series continued with Vassili Karis as Spirito Santo/The Holy Ghost in Roberto Mauri's “...E Lo Chiamavano Spirito Santo” (1972) and its 1973 sequel “Spirito Santo e le Cinque Magnifiche Canaglie”.


You Tube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TA91gF-2WsY

Remembering Eduardo Cianelli

Eduardo Cianelli was born in Ischia, Italy on August 30, 1889 and graduated from the University of Naples with a degree in medicine. He found his calling in Opera and made a name for himself throughout Italy. He came to the United States in the early 1920s and expanded his acting repertoire to include stage plays. Eduardo, now Edward, made his Broadway debut in “Rose Marie” (1925) and his American film debut in “Reunion in Vienna” 1933. He would make a name for himself in American films as a villain in many serials and films. He would appear in major films including “Gunga Din” (1939), “For Whom the Bell Tolls” (1943) “Dillinger” (1945) and “The Secret of Santa Vittoria” (1969). He returned to Italy in the 1960s and would appear in two Spaghetti Westerns “Massacre at Grand Canyon” (1963) and “Boot Hill” (1969). Eduardo is the father of actor Lewis E. Cianelli. Eduardo Cianelli died of cancer on October 18, 1969 in Rome. Today we celebrate what would have been his 120th birthday.

New European Western

Alien Western - Canada
High Plains Invaders – U.S.A.

A 2008 Canadian, Romanian co-production [Muse Entertainment Enterprises (Toronto)]
Producer: Ric Nish
Director: K.T. Donaldson (Kristoffer Tabori)
Story: Richard Beattie
Teleplay: Richard Beattie
Photography: Pierre Jodoin
Music: James Gelfand
Running time:

Cast:
Sam Danville - James Marsters
Rose Hilridge - Sanny Van Heteren
Sorina - Adriana Butoi
Gus MacGreevey - Antony Byrne
Jules Arning - Sebastian Knapp
Abigail Pixley - Cindy Sampson

In the small town of Amaranth, honorable fighter Sam (James Marsters, Buffy the Vampire Slayer) is being readied to be hanged. Yet the folks of Amaranth aren't prepared for what's about to stop it – the out-of-the-blue attack of a giant insect-like creatures with blades for legs, a uranium-spiked tail, and a will to destroy. Fleeing from the gallows, Sam retrieves a load of dynamite and blows the creature to hell. But the invasion is just beginning, as eccentric scientist and inventor Jules (Sebastian Knapp, 28 Days Later) tears into Amaranth in a blind panic. A wild bunch of the hungry creatures are in his shadow, nipping at his buggy, and laying waste to the town.Taking refuge in the church are small band of survivors, including Sam, Jules, Sam's ex-girlfriend, Abigail (Cindy Sampson, The Factory), and bounty hunter Rose (Sanny Van Heteren, The Last Word). Then comes the rumble of hovering craft, countless clusters of breeding pods fall from the sky, and a mass hatching covers the dusty landscape with feeding, yelping creatures. With only a few sticks of dynamite and six guns to defend themselves in quick-draw showdowns, Sam and Jules discover that their only hope for survival lies within the mysteries of uranium. But to see their plan work, they must first escape the church and navigate a living, breathing alien minefield.

[This film will be shown on the SyFy Netowrk Sunday August 30th]

www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeenlEM62cE

Who Are Those Gals? - Adriana Ambessi

Beautiful Adriana Ambesi was probably born in the early to mid 1940s and used the aliases Audrey Amber and Audrey Ambert. In 1963, her first film “Sansone contro I pirati” was released, in which she played the role of Sarah. In 1963, her second film “Katarsis” was released. She played small roles as ingénues and then graduated to a few lead roles such as Camillo Mastrocinque’s Christopher Lee film “Terror in the Crypt” and Ignacio Iquino’s obscure Spaghetti Western “Joe Dexter” (both 1964). She also performed as a dancer in the film “Die Diamantenholle am Mekong” in 1964. She then returned to smaller roles and had a tiny part in John Huston’s “The Bible” (1966). Her last credited role is in Armando De Ossorio’s 1969 film “Malenka”, with Anita Ekberg, after which she seems to have totally disappeared. Finding any biographical information is next to impossible.

AMBESI, Adriana (aka Audrey Amber, Audrey Ambert)

Joe Dexter – 1964 (Laura/Julie Brooks) [credited as Audrey Amber]

Ringo’s Big Night – 1965 (Annette)

Death Walks in Laredo – 1966 (woman)

The Tall Women – 1966 (Betty Grimaldi)

A Stranger in Paso Bravo – 1967 (Rosy/Roxey)

$10,000 Blood Money – 1967 (Dolores Mendoza)

RIP Antonio Virgilio Savona

Composer, arranger and singer Antonio Virgilio Savona passed away on August 27th in Milan, Italy. He was 89 years-old. Savona was born on January 1, 1920 in Palermo, Sicily. His artistic career had a very early start. In 1926, aged 6, he began studying music. Two years later he joined a choir and at the age of 10 he debuted in a radio broadcast playing a piece on a piano during a children's program. After high-school, Savona enrolled at the Saint Cecilia's Conservatory in Rome to study piano. In 1941 he replaced Iacopo Jacomelli in a vocal quartet called “Quartetto Egie”. The group changed name to “Quartetto Ritmo” at first, then to “Quartetto Cetra” one year later. On August 19, 1944. Virgilio Savona married the singer Lucia Mannucci, who later joined Quartetto Cetra to replace Enrico De Angelis who left the group in 1947. Besides singing, Savona was the group's composer and arranger. He wrote the music while Tata Giacobetti, also a member of the quartet, wrote the lyrics. They worked together for four decades and produced hundreds of songs which made up Quartetto Cetra's vast repertoire. Savona also composed music and wrote scripts for radio and TV programs, stage shows and movies. During 1970s he was quite active as pianist, orchestra conductor, arranger and producer. He also made extensive research on folk songs. In 1991 he wrote an autobiographical book about Quartetto Cetra, published by Sperling & Kupfer in the Supersound collection.
Savona and the Quartetto Cetra appeared on a Spaghetti Western oriented TV show called “Don’t Shoot Sing” (1965)

Rome Film Festival saluting Sergio Leone

Director Luigi Zampa receiving retrospective

By Eric J. Lyman
Aug 26, 2009

ROME -- The fourth edition of the Rome International Film Festival will host a special homage to iconic Spaghetti Western director Sergio Leone and a retrospective of director Luigi Zampa, organizers said Wednesday.

The homage, called "Sergio Leone, uno sguardo inedito" (Sergio Leone, an new look back), will feature an exhibition of never-seen-before photographs. It will celebrate the 80th anniversary of Leone's birth and the 20th anniversary of his death, both in the Italian capital.

The Zampa retrospective, meanwhile, will feature restored versions of "La Romana" (Woman of Rome), Zampa's 1954 classic starring Gina Lollobrigida, and four other films that highlight his collaborations with Alberto Sordi and Vitaliano Brancati.

The festival takes place Oct. 15-23.

THE BLACK WOLF

El Lobo Negro – Spanish title
The Black Wolf – English title

A 1980 Spanish, Mexican co-production [Lotus Films International (Madrid), Televicine S.A. (Mexico City)]
Producer: Luis Méndez
Director: Paul Marchent (Rafael Marchent)
Story: Rafael Romero Marchent, Joaquín Romero Hernández
Teleplay: Rafael Romero Marchent, Joaquin Romero Hernandez
Cinematography: Jorge Herrero [color]
Music: A. Agullo (Alfonso Agullo), E. Guerin, C. Villa (Carlos Villa)
Running time: 90 minutes

Cast:
Carlos Aceves/”El Lobo Negro”/The Black Wolf - Fernando Allende (Fernando Allende-Arenas)
Carmen - Esperanza Roy
Isabel Aceves - Lola Forner (María Forner)
colonel - Carlos Ballesteros
Corporal Donovan - Fernando Sancho (Fernando Les)
Don Diego - José María Caffarell (José Fabregas)
Private Spencer - “Dum-Dum” Pacheco (José Pacheco)
lieutenant - Alejandro de Encisco (José Lopez)
Teodoro - Frank Braña (Francisco Perez)
Ramirez - Julián Ugarte (Julián Landa)
Ernesto - Luis Gaspar
Rosa - Carmen Roldan
halfbreed - Paul Benson
Marques - Alfonso del Real
Marquesa - María Silva (María Rodriguez)
Geronimo - Barta Barry (Bernabe Barri)
Pedro - Tomás Zori
José - Francisco Camoiras (Francisco Camoira)
Juez - Roberto Camardiel (Roberto Escudero)
with; Francsico Jone, José Luis Lespe, Luis Lorenzo, Arturo Alegro, Ramon Gonzalez Reparaz, Fernando Sánchez Polack, José Yepes (José Cardo)


Carlos Aceves is in attending studies in 1846 Madrid, when he receives news that the Yanquis have taken over Monterrey. Disguised as an old man, he travels to California and Monterrey as quickly as possible. When he finally arrives home he hears that his father’s been arrested by the invasive American troops. In order to free his father and help the town’s people he uses the disguise of “El Lobo Negro” (The Black Wolf) and dedicates himself to free each and every one of his father’s friends who have been apprehended as conspirators against the invaders. His main antagonist is the American Colonel who is head of the military who has instigated this misery. This gives way to some exciting adventures and challenges in which the “Black Wolf” shows his athleticism and ingenuity. Tranquility when the colonel is transferred to a different post. It’s all been seen before in any Zorro film but the fun part with this film is to see and recognize the old familiar faces of the Spanish character actors appearing here, who were big names in the golden age of the Spaghetti Western.

Fernando Allende is a Mexican actor, singer, film producer and director born on November 10, 1952. During the 1960s he was a Latin super star appearing in several TV soap operas. In the 1980s he had moved to Hollywood and had a recurring road on the TV series “Flamingo Road” ha also appeared in several American films. He married and moved to Aspen, Colorado for 15 years. He now lives in Puerto Rico with his wife and two sons started El Dorado Studio a TV and film studio. In 2007 he was appearing on a local TV sitcom called “Que familia mas normal”.

Spaghetti Western Locations

Cortijo del Romeral is located between “The Pistol for Ringo” windmill and the beach house used in “Hannie Caulder”. It is owned by the owner of Cortijo el Sotillo Hotel covered earlier as the location of the “small house” used in “Fistful of Dollars”. I was told in 2005 that this hacienda was going to be converted into a hotel as it is closely patrolled by the Guardia Civil (the Spanish Police), the property owner and his staff. If you would like to visit the location I would suggest getting permission from the owner first as you must cross an often locked gate and drive back about a mile to the location which is clearly visible from the main dirt road. If not take your chances and drive back to the hacienda, get your pictures quick and get out. If stopped by the police tell them you are taking location pictures for a Hollywood film and cross your fingers they believe you. Otherwise you’ll get a lecture and asked to leave pronto. Some of the films which come to my mind that were filmed there are: “A Pistol for Ringo”, “The Big Gundown”, “Johnny Yuma”, “I Want Him Dead” just to name a few, but you’ll see this hacienda or parts of the grounds in many Euro-westerns.


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

BLACK TIGRESS

Lola Colt (Faccia a faccia con El Diablo) – Italian title
Lola Colt – Italian title
Lola Colt – French title
Lola Colt – sie spuckt dem Teufel ins Gesicht – German title
Frente a frente - Postuguese title
Lola Colt – Spanish title
Kara Seylan Lola – Turkish title
Lola Colt Face to Face with the Devil – English title
Lola Baby – English title
Frontier Tigress – English title
Black Tigress – English title

A 1967 Italian production [Cines Europa (Rome)]
Producer: Aldo Pace
Director: Siro Marcellini
Story: Luigi Angelo
Screenplay: Luigi Angelo, Lamberto Antonelli, Siro Marcellini
Cinematography: Giuseppe La Torre [Telecolor, VistaVision]
Music: Ubaldo Continello
Songs: “Why Did You Go?”, “You’re the One I Love”, “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot”
sung by Lola Falana (Loletha Falana)
Running time: 93 minutes

Cast:
Lola Gate - Lola Falana (Loletha Falana)
Larry Stern/El Diablo - Germán Cobos (Germán Hernandez-Cobos)
Rod Strater - Peter Martell (Pietro Martellanza)
Paco - Franco Dady (Franco Daddi)
priest - Evaristo Maran
Don Rogers/Rodriguez - Tom Felleghy (Tamás Fellegi)
Rose Rogers/Rodriguez - Erna Schürer (Emma Constantino)
Virginia Blake - Dada Gallotti (Alba Gallotti)
player in saloon - John Petty (Giovanni Petrucci)
saloon singer - Marlena Possenti
townsman - Elio Angelucci
Pablito - Enzo Santaniello
saloon band - “The Rolls 33”
Slim - Attilio Corsini
with: Alex Antonelli, Bernard Berat, Carlo Balini, Ena Inoka, Lea Monaco, Ivan Scratuglia, Andrea Scotti, Franco Balducci

A song and dance troupe arrives in the town of Santa Ana which is held in the grips of El Diablo and his gang of Mexican bandits. One of the girls in the show Virginia, has malaria and they must hold-up in town until she recovers. Although the town objects to the showgirls the local saloon owner takes pity on them and allows them to stay at his saloon. This gives Lola the opportunity to sing a few songs, strut her stuff and rally the town and challenge El Diablo. El Diablo is running a protection racket where he taxes the town and if they don’t pay hostages are taken to his secret ranch and are murdered if the town refuses his orders. Rod is a local former medical student who looks after the sick Virginia and eventually falls for Lola. The town fails to rally around Lola until El Diablo kills a small boy. The town has had enough, and follows Lola who forces El Diablo into a showdown where he is killed and the hostages are freed. Rod and ends up leaving town with Lola and the troupe at the end of the film.

You Tube link: www.youtube.com/watch?v=dU4y-uoE3J4

Lola Falana (real name Cleao Twine) was born of African American and Cuban parents, she left home as a teenager and played opposite Sammy Davis, Jr. in 1964’s “Golden Boy”. She then toured Italy, as a singing and dancing sensation. She became proficient in Italian and made a couple of films including “Black Tigress” while she was in Italy. Returning to America, she posed for Playboy, and became part of the 'Blaxploitation' fad, becoming the highest paid female entertainer in Las Vegas, and became the wife of Feliciano 'Butch' Tavares (of R and B/Funk band Tavares) from 1971-1975. Her dancing and singing was later curtailed when she contracted Multiple Sclerosis which left her partially paralyzed. She went into remission in 1987 but it later returned in 1996. She retired from show business and moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and lived with her parents. She returned to her roots and her faith in God and devoted herself to these ends. She has now recovered enough from the effects of MS to return to Las Vegas in 2006 where she now calls home.

RIP Toni Sailer

Austrian skiing great Anton Engelbert "Toni" Sailer, who in 1956 became the first athlete to win all three alpine ski events at a Winter Olympics, has died. He was 73. Sailer passed away in Innsbruck on Monday August 24 after a long battle with cancer of the larynx, his Kitzbuehel Ski Club said in a statement Tuesday. Sailer won gold in the downhill, slalom and giant slalom at the 1956 Cortina Olympics in Italy. At the world championships there, he took gold in the downhill, slalom, giant slalom and combined. He also won gold in the downhill, giant slalom and combined, as well as silver in the slalom, at the world championships in Bad Gastein, Austria two years later. Due to his speed, he became known as "The Blitz from Kitz." After retiring from competition in 1959, Sailer became a singer and an actor. He also produced skis in Canada and served as technical director of the Austrian Ski Federation between 1972 and 1976. He was awarded the Olympic Order by the International Olympic Committee in 1985. In 1999, the Kitzbuehel native - who reportedly stood on skis for the first time at the age of two - was honored as Austria's sportsman of the century. Toni Sailer appeared as Alan Fox in the 1964 Euro-western “Lost Treasure of the Aztecs”.

New DVD Release!

Sancho Dich küsst der Tod
(7 Magnificent Pistols (1966))
Director: Romolo Guerrieri
Starring: Sean Flynn, Fernando Sancho, Ida Galli
New DVD release from Sunfilm Entertaiment
Region 2
Time: 85 minutes
Aspect Ratio: 16:9 (2.35:1)
Sound: Dolby Digital 2.0
Language: German
Extras: Trailer
Cost: 9,99 - 19,90 Euros
Released: July 24, 2009

Remembering Sergio Bergonzelli

Sergio Giovanni Romolo Bergonzelli was born on August 25, 1924, in Alba, Cuneo, Piedmont, Italy. He acted under the name Carme Siro in some Italian productions in the early 1950s. He then became interested in direction and became an assistant director. He used the aliases Serge Bergon, Serge Bourgon and Peter Hudson. Known mainly for his later sleaze productions he was involved in half a dozen or so Spaghetti Westerns which he directed and wrote, such as “The Last Gun” (1964) with Cameron Mitchell, “A Stranger in Sacramento” (1965) with Mickey Hargitay, “El Cisco” (1966) with William Berger who he often worked with, the rare “A Colt in the Hand of the Devil” (1967) with unknown Bill Henry and “Raise Your Hands, Dead Man… Your Under Arrest” (1971) which is often credited to Leon Klimovsky but actually directed by Bergonzelli. Sergio Bergonzelli died on September 24, 2002 in Rome. We remember him today on what would have been his 85th birthday.

BLACK KILLER

Black Killer – Italian title
O Assassino Cruel – Brazilian title
Black Jack - Portuguese title
Black Killer – English title

A 1971 Italian production [Kamr Film (Naples), Virginia Cinematografica (Rome)]
Producer: Oscar Farradine (Oscar Santaniello)
Director: Lucky Moore (Carlo Croccolo)
Story: Charlie Foster (Carlo Veo), Luigi Angelo
Screenplay: Charlie Foster (Carlo Veo), Luigi Angelo
Cinematography: Franco Villa [Eastmancolor, Cinemascope]
Music: Daniele Patucchi
Running time: 95 minutes

Cast:
James/ThomasWebb - Klaus Kinski (Nikolaus Nakaszynski)
Bud/Burt Collins – Fred Robsham (Fredrik Robsahm)
Peter Collins - Jerry Ross (Gerardo Rossi)
Sarah Collins - Marina Mulligan (Marina Malfatti)
Consuela - Tizinia Dini
Judge Wilson - Dan May (Dante Maggio)
Ramon O’Hara - Antonio Cantafora
Miguel O’Hara - Paul Crain (Enzo Pulcrano)
Paco O’Hara - Ted Jones (Calogero Caruana)
Deputy Fred - Lucky Moore (Carlo Croccolo)
Slide O’Hara - Dick Foster (Vincenzo Maggio)
Ryan O’Hara - Robert Danish (Roberto Danesi)
with; Claudio Trionfi

Tombstone is dominated by the Mexican O’Hara Brothers and their vicious gang of henchmen. They run the town with an iron fist, manage the local tavern, and sexually harass the barmaid, Consuela, at every opportunity. Sheriffs last about a day, and the O'Hara’s dispatch the new sheriff in short order by blowing up his office, shooting him repeatedly, stringing him up in the center of town, and sticking the wanted poster of Pedro O'Hara to his chest with a variety of knives. A Federal agent sent to investigate doesn’t even make it as far as the town’s border. Life is difficult enough for the local judge, who has to keep finding replacements for the sheriff when a mysterious man in black arrives in town. Claiming to be a lawyer named James Webb he carries a large array of law books and takes up residence in the hotel. He seeks out the judge and carries out some strange conversations. He seems to be interested in some land that the O’Hara brothers, have stolen. Not long afterwards the O’Hara brothers kill the sheriff and Webb retaliates by killing a couple of their henchmen by using pistols hidden away in his law books which are activated by book marks tied to strings attached to the triggers of the guns. Then another stranger arrives in town named Burt Collins. It seems Collins has come to Tombstone to visit his brother Peter who lives on a small ranch on the outskirts of town with his Indian wife. Burt spends the night at Peter’s house which is attacked by the O’Hara brothers who kill Peter and rape his wife Sarah. Burt tries to help but is beaten mercilessly and left for dead. After recovering he and Sarah head for the O’Hara ranch for revenge. In the end it is revealed that Webb was sent as an undercover agent to help clean-up the O’Hara brothers and restore law and order to Tombstone.


You Tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUgWcj_vhR4



Marina Mulligan has been credited as an alias for Marina Malfatti in several publications. Recently this has been challenged on several boards and websites. Posters have stated Mulligan is really Marisa Rabissi who is/was Carlo Croccolo’s wife. Compare the photo of Marina Malfatti and the photo of Marina Mulligan and you will see they are the same actress with only the black wig being added to make her look like an Indian.

Spaghetti Western Eats

Spaghetti Western Espresso
Location: 230 N. Virginia St., Prescott, Arizona, 86301
Hours: M-F 6:00-7:00, Saturday 6:00-9:00, Sunday closed
Phone: (928) 708-0422
Established: 7/7/2007
Services: Pasta & Salads, Light Breakfast, Baked Goods, Paninis, Gelato, Coffe, Espresso, Italian Ices, Free Wireless Internet, Drive-In or Drive-Thru

RIP Semyon Farada

Popular Russian Actor Farada Dies In Moscow

Russian born actor Semyon Farada, who appeared in some 70 films and rose to fame during the Soviet era died in Moscow on August 20th, he was 76. He had been in ill health since suffering a stroke in 2000. Born Semyon L’vovich Ferdman on December 31, 1933 in Moscow he worked in Moscow's Taganka Theater for some 30 years. He acted in such popular plays as "Hamlet" and "Master and Margarita," based on the novel by Mikhail Bulgakov. His roles in "Magicians," "To Kill the Dragon," "The Formula of Love," "Garage," and other films made him a celebrity during the 1970s and 1980s.

Farada worked as a mechanical engineer until his early 30s, appearing only in amateur theater. He made his film debut in 1967, when he was 34, and went on to appear in some 70 films during his career.
He was married to actress Maria Politseimako. Their son, Mikhail Politseimako, is also an actor.

Farada appeared in one European western "The Man from Boulevard Des Capucines" (1987)as Pan Thompson.

Happy 90th Birthday Alma Beltran

Alma Leonor Beltran was born in Sonora, Mexico on August 22, 1919. She made her film debut in the 1945 movie “Pan-America” playing the role of Miss Guatemala. She would go on to play in over 80 films and television series playing Mexican senoritas and senoras in character roles. She appeared in one European western 1977’s “Another Man, Another Chance” as the Mexican widow. Today we celebrate Alma Beltran’s 90 the birthday.

BLACK JACK

Black Jack – Italian title
Un i dannati della violenza – Italian title
Un uomo per cinque vendette – Italian title
À genoux, Django – French title
Black Joe – French title
Django spielt das Lied vom Tod – German title
Auf die Knie, Django! – German title
Auf die Knie, Django, und leck mir die Stieffel! – German title
Oi Epta ekdikitai – Greek title
Un bandolero chamado Black Jack – Spanish title
Black Jack – English title

A 1968 Italian production [Cinematografica Mercedes, Ronbi International Film (Rome)]
Producer: Fernando Franchi, Alexander Hakohen, Pierfranco Malaspina
Director: Gianfranco Baldanello
Story: Luigi Ambrosini
Screenplay: Gianfranco Baldanello (Gianfranco Merano), Augusto Finocchi, Marios
Mattei (Mario Maffei), Luigi Ambrosini
Cinematography: Mario Fioretti [Eastmancolor, widescreen]
Music: Lallo Gori (Coriolano Gori)
Running time: 99 minutes

Cast:
Jack “Black Jack” Murphy/Django - Robert Woods
Skinner/Sanchez - Rik Battaglia (Riccardo Battaglia)
Susan Sorella - Lucienne Bridou
Gordon - Federico Chentrens
Julie Skinner - Dalia (Dali Bresciani)
Reb - Larry Dolgin (Maurice Dolgin)
Peter - Nino Fuscagni (Serafino Fuscagni)
Estelle - Sascia Krusciarska
Indian Joe - Mimmo Palmara (Domenico Palmara)
Rodrigo - Ivan Scratuglia (Giovanni Scratuglia)
Billy - Freddy Unger (Goffredo Unger)
Mack - Tom Felleghy (Tamás Fellegi)
Miguel - Luciano Bonanni
printer - Silvio Bagolini
with; Giovanni Bonadonna, Romano Magnino, Omero Capanna


[Check out the guy on the left holding the horse's tail]

Outlaw leader Jack “Black Jack” Murphy lives with his sister Estelle and her husband Peter in a ghost town. Black Jack and his gang rob the bank in Tusca City. Everything goes as planned but once the gang has the loot they try and double cross Jack. Murphy at first is able to outsmart them and makes of with all the cash. Indian Joe betrays Jack and leads the gang to the ghost town. When the gang catches up with him they take back the money, torture Jack and rape Estelle who is later scalped and killed. Jack is overcome with revenge and tracks down the gang one-by-one. Jack kidnaps Skinner’s daughter Julie and takes her to the ghost town. Peter overcome with grief accidentally stabs and kills Jack, thinking he is Indian Joe, but before dying Jack shoots and kills Sanchez. An alternative ending shows only Jack being shot.


You Tube link: www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-2li5XdysQ

Robert Woods is currently living in North Hollywood, California and is actively working on writing a crime novel set for release in 2010. He’s still interested in acting if the right part is offered and writes screen and teleplays.

Remembering Pinuccio Ardia

Born Rodolfo Ardia on August 21, 1914, in Naples, Italy. Using the name Pinuccio Ardia he made his debut into films in the mid-1960s but found success as the comic figure “The Baron” in Dino Risi’s 1966 film “Operazione San Genaro”. He was cast in numerous films both dramatic and comedic but never repeated his initial success. He was able to find steady work in the industry by taking small roles in films and television, sometimes using the name Joel Hardy. He made over a half-dozen appearances in European westerns such as “Little Rita of the West”, “Viva Django”, “Bullet for a Stranger”, $10,000 Blood Money” and “Drummer of Vengeance” to name a few. He continued to appear on screen until 1990 before he retired. He died on February 15, 1994 in Rome. Today we remember Pinuccio Ardia on what would have been his 95th birthday.

Black Jack (1919)

Der schwarze Jack – German title
Black Jack – English title

A 1919 German production [Sport-Film (Munich)]
Producer: A. Stranz
Director: Bruno Eichgrün
Screenplay: Karl Schneider
Cinematography: August Arnold
Running time:

Cast:
Black Jack - Fritz Greiner
Georg - Fred Stranz
Alice - Gussy Fritz
cowboy - Bob Bolander
with; Fritz Kampers (Friedrich Kampers)


The adventures of the masked western hero Black Jack.

Spaghetti Western Locations

Rojo Hacienda
I have often been asked about this location as it is almost impossible to find today if you do not know where to look as nothing is obvious about it. The location for the Rojo hacienda from “A Fistful of Dollars,” was actually a museum located in Casa de Campo in Madrid.

Sometime during the 1950s the Spanish government had “Pabellons” (Pavilions) built showing examples of the culture found in each region of Spain. An entire street filled with different buildings filled the area known as Casa de Campo (Country House). Many of these buildings were demolished in the1990s.

When I visited there in 2003 with Don Bruce and Marla Johnson the building used for the Rojo house was gone except for the wall which led to the wine cellar which was guarded in the film by big Mario Brega. We found the arches in place but the wooden doors had been removed and stacked around the corner. When we returned to the site in 2005 nothing remained. A restaurant covered the site and the remaining wall was now located inside. The restaurant is called La Pesquera which is located on Feria del Campo along with several other restaurants and shops.

BLACK EAGLE OF SANTA FE

Die schwarzen Adler von Santa Fe – German titleo
Cerni orlove ze Santa Fe – German title
I gringos non perdonna – Italian title
Les aigles noirs de Santa Fe – French title
Os Águias Negras de Santa Fé - Portuguese title
Las aguilas negras de Santa Fe – Spanish title
Comanche Aguila Negra – Spanish title
Gringos Do Not Forgive – English title
The Black Eagles of Santa Fe – English title
Black Eagle of Santa Fe – English title

A 1965 German, Italian, French co-production [Rapid Film/Constantin Film (Munich),
Metheus Film (Rome), Société Nouvelle de Cinématographie (Paris)]
Producer: Mario Siciliano, Gunther Raguse, Wolf C. Hartwig
Director: Albert Cardiff (Alberto Cardone), Ernest Goodman (Ernst Hofbauer)
Story: Jack Lewis, Valeria Bonamano
Screenplay: Jack Lewis, Valeria Bonamano
Cinematographer: Hans Jura [Eastmancolor, Ultrascope]
Music: Gert Wilden
Song: “Kenn ein Land” sung by Ronny (Wolfgang Roloff)
Running time: 95 minutes

Cast:
Cliff/Clint McPhearson - Brad Harris (Bradford Harris)
Captain Jackson - Joachim Hansen (Joachim Spieler)
Blade Carpenter – Horst Frank
Morton – Werner Peters
Gentleman – Pinkas Braun
Cora Morton – Edith Hancke
Buddy - Josef Egger
Lana Miller - Olly Schoberová (Olga Schoberová)
Tom Howard/Slim James - Thomas Moore (Enio Girolami)
Brad Howard/Chet ‘Blacky’ James - Serge Marquand
Chief Black Eagle - Tony Kendall (Luciano Stella)
Pasqual - Jackie Bézard (Jacques Bézard)
sergeant - Ángel Ortiz (Ricardo Ortiz)
madam – Annie Giss
courier - Lorenzo Robledo

A landowner named Morton wants to increase his land holdings because he has found out there is oil under the Indian reservation. Settlers are also coming into the territory now that a peace treaty is in place with the local Comanche tribe. He devises a plan where he has his henchmen dress as soldiers and attacks the Comanches. Chief Black Eagle retaliates by going on the warpath. After the bloody Indian raid is finished the surviving townspeople go to the nearby fort for protection from Captain Jackson and his men. Because of the peace treaty, the fort is undermanned and Jackson’s hands are tied. He must follow procedures which take time due to government red tape. Jackson enlists the help of frontiersman Clint McPhearson to find out why the Comanches have broken the treaty and are on the warpath. Clint finds out about Morton’s treacherous plan and informs Black Eagle. The chief and his braves ride to the fort in time to save the fleeing soldiers and the settlers from Morton and his henchmen’s attack.

You Tube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Kg1csUcMBA

Brad Harris: Very alive at 76 “Riding a life” is the best way to describe Brad Harris’ rise from a wide-eyed youth of 14 who was inspired by the immortal Steve Reeves to start weight training and traveled to Muscle Beach on a bus from his home in Burbank, California. He later followed Steve Reeves to Italy and, like Reeves, became an international movie star. His film career spans 48 years, and he’s appeared in more than 40 pictures plus a slew of TV shows as an adventure-movie hero and phenomenal stuntman. He was inducted into the Hollywood Stuntmen’s Hall of Fame on January 19, 2006, and was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the “Brad Harris Live” Film Festival on April 29, 2006, in Germany, where he signed autographs for three hours. There are active Brad Harris fan clubs even today. Brad’s exciting and adventurous career is documented in a 387-page biography by Reiner Boller, ‘Brad Harris – Ein amerikanischer Bayer (Brad Harris, the American Bavarian) (2005), which received glowing reviews. There are stories of incredible adventure, life-threatening danger, love, sorrow and grief, as well as some that are very funny indeed. Negotiations are currently under way to make Brad’s life story into a feature film.

RIP Henry Ramer

Henry Ramer passed away in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on August 9th, he was a native of Romania and very secretive of his birth date but by most accounts he was in his 80s. Ramer was sometimes referred to as "the Voice of Canadian broadcasting." He was one of the many Canadian character actors who turned up to fill the benches and backrooms of politics in the TV series, Quentin Durgens, MP, which starred Gordon Pinsent. Often heard on CBC radio, Ramer was the voice of "the mysterious Luther Kranst" who served as host of the excellent late night series, Nightfall, which featured science-fiction, mystery, fantasy, and human drama themes, in addition to the staple of supernatural and horror plays. Adaptations of stories such as The Monkey’s Paw and The Tell-Tale Heart”, as well as original plays like Welcome to Homerville and Wind Chill, kept many Canadian writers, actors and producers busy eventually producing 100 episodes between 1980 and 1983. In addition to voicing hundreds of commercials, Ramer starred with Orson Welles, Richard Dreyfus, Kate Reid, Leslie Nielson, Eli Wallach and Christopher Plummer as well as playing Elizabeth Taylor's lover in Between Friends. He appeared as Chumley in the 1977 British futuristic western “Welcome to Blood City” with Jack Palance.

Who Are Those Guys - Ángel Álvarez

Ángel Álvarez was born Ángel Álvarez Fernández on September 26, 1906 in Madrid, Spain. He was a prolific character actor in Spanish films making over 200 film appearances beginning in 1945 and ending in the early 1980s. I first became aware of him in 1966’s “Django”, where he played the saloon keeper Nathaniel. He’s also has a fairly large role in 1966’s “Navajo Joe” as Oliver Blackwood. He has many memorable appearances in the Spaghetti Western genre although most are small cameos or character roles as storekeepers, bank managers and townsman. Ángel Álvarez died on December 13, 1983 in Madrid at the age of 77.


ÁLVAREZ, Ángel (aka Álvarez, Albert Álvarez) (Ángel Álvarez Fernández) [9/26/1906, Madrid, Madrid, Spain – 12/13/1983, Madrid, Madrid, Spain] – screenwriter.
The Coyote – 1954
The Judgment of the Coyote – 1954
Zorro the Avenger – 1962 (aristocrat)
Weeping for a Bandit – 1963
The Return of Clay Stone – 1964 (Goodwin)
Three Dollars of Lead – 1964
Django – 1965 (Nathaniel)
The Fury of Johnny Kid – 1966 (Rodrigo Monter)
Navajo Joe – 1966 (Oliver Blackwood)
Cemetery Without Crosses – 1968 (barman)
Duel in the Eclipse -1968
The Mercenary – 1968 (notary)
Guns of the Revolution – 1969 (priest)
Adios, Sabata – 1970 (bounty hunter agency manager)
The Price of Power – 1971
Massacre at Fort Holman – 1972 (Scully)
The Scarlet Letter – 1972 (Reverend Wilson)
Sting of the West – 1972 (Billy)
Yankee Dudler – 1973

BILLY TWO HATS

La mia pistola per Billy – Italian title
Verinen pako – Finnish title
Un colt pour une corde – French title
Begrabt die Wölfe in der Schlucht– German title
Oi Paranomoi - Greek title
Billy dos sombreros – Spanish title
Halvblodet – Swedish title
Den halvblods & den loulose - ? title
The Lady and the Outlaw – U.S.A. title
Billy Two Hats – U.S.A. title

A 1973 Israeli production [Algonquin Film Productions (Tel Aviv)]
Producer: Norman Jewison, Patrick Palmer
Director: Ted Kotcheff (William Kotcheff)
Story: Alan Sharp
Screenplay: Alan Sharp
Cinematography: Brian West [Technicolor, Panavision]
Music: John Scott (Patrick Scott)
Running time: 99 minutes

Cast:
Arch Deans - Gregory Peck (Eldred Peck)
Billy Two Hats - Desi Arnaz, Jr. (Desiderio Arnaz de Acha IV)
Sheriff Henry Gifford - Jack Warden (Jack Lebzelter)
Copeland - David Huddleston
Esther Spencer - Sian Barbara Allen (Barbara Pokrass)
Spencer - John Pearce
Copeland’s squaw - Dawn Little Sky
Indians - Vincent Sr. Cyr (W. St. Cyr), Henry Medicine Hat, Ze’ev Berlinsky, Anthony Scott


Though Desi Arnaz, Jr. plays the title role of Billy, Gregory Peck is top billed in Billy Two Hats. Arnaz plays a thief who teams up with Scottish bank bandit Arch Deans (Peck). A botched robbery results in a tiny amount of cash and an accidental killing. Peck rescues the captured Billy, enduring a leg wound in the process. While resting in the home of an old rancher, Peck goes off in search of a doctor, while Billy enjoys the sexual favors of the rancher's young wife, Esther Spence (Sian Barbara Allen). This interruption in the bandits' escape enables Indian-hating sheriff Jack Warden, an Indian hating Sheriff, to catch up with Arnaz and Peck. A last-reel shoot-out ensues, involving sheriff's deputies, the rancher, and a band of Indian renegades. Billy Two Hats (reissued as The Lady and the Outlaw) was the first American western to be filmed in Israel.
– Hal Erickson

Desi Arnaz Jr. is the son of band leader Desi Arnaz and actress Lucille Ball. His birth was one of the most publicized in TV history. His parents were in the American television sitcom I Love Lucy and Lucille Ball's pregnancy was in the storyline, considered daring in those times. The same day Lucy gave birth to Desi Jr., the fictional Lucy Ricardo gave birth to "Little Ricky". The child was shown on the first cover of TV Guide. Little Ricky as a baby was played by two sets of twins Joseph and Michael Mayer (1953–1954) followed by Richard and Ronald Lee Simmons (1954–1955). A boy named Keith Thibodeaux (using the professional name Richard Keith) was later cast to play 6-year-old Little Ricky. However, a Time cover labeled Arnaz, Jr. as "Lucy's $50,000,000 baby." By 12, Arnaz was a drummer with Dino, Desi, & Billy. The others were Dean Paul Martin, (son of Dean Martin), and Billy Hinsche. The band scored two hit singles with "I'm a Fool" and "Not The Lovin Kind" in 1965. In 1968, he and his older sister, Lucie, played opposite their mother in Here's Lucy as her children. In 1970, Desi appeared on The Brady Bunch episode "The Possible Dream". Today Desi and his wife Amy live in Boulder City, Nevada, owners of the Boulder Theatre, a cinema converted into a theatre and home to the Boulder City Ballet Company

Happy 90th Birthday Andrea Bosic

Born Ignazio Božič on August 15, 1919 in Gomilsko, Yugoslavia but acted I over 50 films and a dozen European westerns, under the name Andrea Bosic from 1951 to 1985. He usually played stern military or law officers and usually had a scowl on his face. Memorable appearances include “Day of Anger” (1967) as Scott Mary’s nemesis Abel Murray, “I Want Him Dead” (1968) as the evil gunrunner Mallek and George Hilton’s “Guns for Dollars” as the evil town boss Johanes Krantz. Long retired he recently was seen by a friend of mine in Germany and still looks in great shape for a man celebrating his 90th birthday today.

RIP John Bentley

The British stage actor John Bentley died at his home in Petworth, Sussex, England on August 13th. He was 93. John Bentley was born in Birmingham, England on December 2, 1916 and entered London's film industry in 1946, where he was immediately put to work grinding out inexpensive detective melodramas. He was seen as radio hero Paul Temple in an entertaining Boy's-Own-Adventure film series, then starred as John Creasey's gentleman sleuth "The Toff" in a brace of second features. Occasionally, Bentley ventured into "A"-picture territory, notably the 1956 Errol Flynn vehicle “Istanbul” (1956). In 1957, John Bentley starred as Inspector John Derek in the Kenya-filmed TV detective series “African Patrol”. Bentley made one Euro-western 1961's "The Singer Not the Song" as the chief of police.

BILLY THE KID

Billy le Kid – French title
Fuera de la ley – Spanish title
Furia de la lay – Italian title
Alle frontiere del Texas – Italian title
L’uomo dell’O.K. corrall – Italian title
Billy the Kid – English title

A 1963 French, Spanish co-production [Eurocine, (Paris), Carthago Cooperativa
Cinematografica (Madrid)]
Producer: Marius LeSoeur, Esther Cruz
Director: León Klimovsky
Story: Ángel del Castillo, S. G. Monner, Bob Sirens
Screenplay: Ángel Del Castillo, S. G. Monner, Bob Sirens
Cinematography: John Pitcher (Manuel Sanjuán) [Technicolor, Super Panavision]
Music: Daniel J. White
Running time: 91 minutes

Cast:
Billy Carter - George Martin (Francisco Celeiro)
Black Jack - Jack Taylor (George Randall)
sheriff - Aldo Sambrell (Alfredo Brell)
Captain Harkell - Alberto Dalbés (Francisco Martinez)
John Price - Luis Induni (Luigi Radici)
Tom Carter - Tomás Blanco (Tomás García)
Mrs. Carter - Tota Alba (Dolores Alba)
Billy's sister - Esther Grant
Billy's bride - Juny Brunell
soldier - José Canalejas
with; Monica Randall (Aurora Sarasa), Juan Luis Gallardo (Juan Comes), Shirley McGuire, Simón Arriaga, Margot Cottens (Margo Costa), Claudio Denis, Indio González (Gaspar González), Henri Macedo, Enrique Núñez, Lorenzo Robledo, José Luis Zalde


This film is not about the legendary outlaw but about a young man named Billy Carter who lives with his father and mother on the family farm. A dispute over the land arises between Tom Carter, Billy’s father, and his rich neighbor John Price. Price decides to punish the Carters and sends his henchmen to teach them a lesson. Billy is sent to the nearby town of Littleton and when he returns he finds his father murdered and his mother injured and the house burned. The cowardly sheriff concludes the death to be an accident despite Billy’s insistence that it was murder. When the sheriff fails to act Billy decides to take the law into his own hands and sets off on his own to seek revenge.

You Tube link: www.youtube.com/watch?v=47kQ7AH1CdU

*Trivia – George Martin whose real name is Francisco Martinez Celeiro now lives in Miami, Florida and is the owner of a large property management company called Biscayne Management and is nicknamed “The Baron of Biscayne”. In 2003 he won a law suit brought against ex-Florida Marlins pitcher Livan Hernandez for assault when the two got into an altercation over the condition of a building Livan was renting from Martin which was used as an auto parts accessory store. Livan was fined $500.00 and sentenced to perform 50 hours of community service. Hernandez decided to get back at Martin and not pay his rent. He ignored three court orders to pay rent and finally the suit was settled with Hernandez paying $60,000 in back rent and $60,000 attorney fees. The civil suit continues with Martin seeking damages for assault and battery.

[Thanks to good friend Chris Casey for the information on George Martin]

Westerns...All'Italiana! issue #1 now available

The very first issue of Westerns…All’Italiana! has been loaded at “The Spaghetti Western Database”. This first issue was published by my good friend Editor and Founder Tim Ferrante back in 1983 and only 50 issues were made. Don’t laugh too much at some of the errors, such as crediting Gunther Stoll as ‘Black Man’ in the “Beyond the Law” review. Bob Hiott had no idea who Al Hoosman was and most credits we could get our hands on in those days were in Italian and no one knew how to translate the words into English unless you had a relative who spoke the language. What was important was getting the information recorded and in print so that fans of the films could have something to read about these films here in the U.S.A. Who knew that 25 years later people would still be interested in these films and that the entire genre would become a cult classic and influence many of today’s directors and change the face of movie making for decades afterwards. Here’s the link to the database section and you can read or download a copy for free.

http://www.spaghetti-western.net/index.php/Westerns..._All%27Italiana%21

Spaghetti Western Locations

Pozo de los Frailes

Pozo de los Frailes is located in a small town in the Spanish region of Cabo de Gata which you drive through on the way from Almeria to San Jose. If you drive through town slowly you will see an historical marker and a reconstruction of a water wheel. Stop your car and get out. If you look closely at the ancient Arab well and water wheel it should bring back memories of a scene in “A Pistol for Ringo” with Montgomery Wood (Giuliano Gemma) that is the same well and water wheel. The only difference is the fresh coat of white wash on the adobe walls and supports for the wooden beam.

RIP John Quade

John Quade, a veteran character actor who specialized in playing heavies and appeared in several Clint Eastwood movies, including "Every Which Way But Loose" and its sequel "Any Which Way You Can," has died. He was 71. Quade died in his sleep of natural causes Sunday at his home in Rosamond, near Lancaster, said his wife, Gwen Saunders. In a more than two-decade career in films and television that began in the late 1960s, Quade played character roles in numerous TV series and in films such as "Papillon," "The Sting" and Eastwood's "High Plains Drifter" and "The Outlaw Josey Wales." He also played Sheriff Biggs in the 1977 TV miniseries "Roots."

"Everybody remembers him for 'Every Which Way But Loose' and 'Any Which Way You Can,' " Quade's wife said Wednesday. "He played Chola, the leader of the motorcycle gang. It was more of a comic relief of the movie; they were a bumbling motorcycle gang." Although Quade's name might not be familiar to many moviegoers, his face was. In fact, he had a face made for playing heavies. "He was one of the nicest men you'd ever want to know, but he looked mean and nasty," his wife said. "He looked like he could do murder and mayhem at any moment, but he was a big teddy bear -- the kind that he just loved little kids, but they were always afraid of him. "His face definitely stands out in a crowd. He had to be careful he didn't overshadow scenes just by the way he looked. The first film he did with Clint Eastwood, Clint hired him for his face and told him afterward that he felt like he got a bonus because John could act."

Born John William Saunders III on April 1, 1938, in Kansas City, Kansas, Quade arrived in California in 1964. "He got involved in missile and aerospace for awhile," said his wife. "He built parts that are still on the moon."

One day, she said, "He was sitting in a restaurant with a bunch of guys and this man noticed him and said, 'Have you thought about acting?' "It had to be his face; it wasn't anything else." Quade was appearing in a play in Hollywood in 1968 when a casting director saw him and cast him in his first TV show, an episode of "Bonanza."

Quade appeared in Terence Hill’s 1990-1991 European TV series “Lucky Luke” and the film of the same name made in 1991.

The Big Trail

La piste des géants – French titleThe Big Trail – English title

A 1930 U.S.A. production [French version] [Fox Film Corporation (Hollywood)]
Producers: William Fox
Directors: Pierre Couderc
Story: Hal G. Evarts (Harry Evarts)
Screenplay: Hal G. Evarts (Harry Evarts)
Cinematography: Sidney Wagner [black & white]
Music: James F. Hanley (James Frederick Hanley)
Running time: 105 minutes

French cast:
Pierre Calmine - Gaston Glass
Denise Vernon - Jeanne Helbling
Flack - Raoul Paoli
Lopez - Louis Mercier
padre - Emile Chautard
Pepin - George Davis
Blancart - André Ferrier
Wellmore - Jacques Jou-Jerville
Lucien - Frank O’Neill
Yvette - Margot Rousseroy
Mayer - Jacques Vanaire
with; Jules Raucourt

Die Große Fahrt– German title
La Große Treck – German title
The Big Trail – English title

A 1930 U.S.A. production [German version] [Deuische Fox-Film Corporation
(Hollywood)]
Producers: William Fox, William Goetz
Directors: Raoul Walsh, Lewis Seiler
Story: Hal G. Evarts (Harry Evarts)
Screenplay: Jack Peabody, Florence Postal
Dialogue: Maire Boyle
Cinematography: Lucien N. Androit, Arthur Edeson [black & white]
Music: Arthur Kay
Running time: 79 minutes

German cast:
Bill Coleman - Theo Shall
Ruth Winter - Marion Lessing
Fichte - Peter Erkelenz
Thorpe - Ulrich Haupt
Peter - Arnold Korff
Lopez - Paul Panzer (Paul Panzerbeiter)
Bull Flack - Anders Van Haden

Il grande sentiero – Italian title
The Big Trail – English title

A 1930 U.S.A. production [Italian version] [Fox Film Corporation (Hollywood)]
Producers: William Fox, William Goetz
Director: Louis Loeffler
Story: Hal G. Evarts (Harry Evarts)
Screenplay: Francisco Moré de la Torre, Paul Perez
Cinematography: Sidney Wagner [black & white]
Music: James F. Hanley
Running time:

Italian cast:
Bill Coleman - Franco Corsaro
Ruth Winter - Luisa Caselotti (Louise Caselotti)
with; Guido Trento, Franco Puglia, Agostino Borgato, Lucino Garuffi, Violet Galeotti

Horizontes Nuevos – Spanish title
La gran jornado – Argentinian title
The Big Trail – English title

A 1930 U.S.A. production [Spanish version] [Fox Film Corporation (Hollywood)]
Producers: William Fox, William Goetz
Directors: David Howard (David Davis III), Samuel Schneider, Raoul Walsh
Story: Hal G. Evarts (Harry Evarts)
Screenplay: Francisco Moré de la Torre, Paul Perez
Cinematography: Sidney Wagner [black & white]
Music: James F. Hanley
Running time:

Spanish cast:
Raul Coleman - Jorge Lewis (George Lewis)
Isabel Prados - Carmen Guerrero
Tomas - Roberto Guzmán
Martin - Martin Garralaga (Norman Garralaag)
Flack - Al Ernest (Allan Garcia)
Daniel - Tito H. Davison
Orena - Carlos Villarías (Carlos Llano)
Lopez - Charles Stevens
Carson - Julio Villarreal
Sacerdote - Lucio Villegas
with; Adriana Delano, Aurelio Manrique, Renee Torres


As in the case of several other American made westerns, European versions of the same film were shot at the same time and released in France, Italy, and Germany with those country’s actors in important roles. In the American “The Big Trail”, starring John Wayne, it is the story of a young man who helps lead a wagon train across the western plains while also looking for the killers of his friend. He suspects Red Flack and his henchman Lopez. While on the trek he falls in love with Ruth Cameron and tries to avoid death at the hands of Flack while looking for evidence to prove his guilt in his friend’s murder.

Happy 70th Birthday George Hamilton

Born George Stevens Hamilton IV on August 12, 1939 in Memphis, Tennessee, the son of band leader George “Spike” Hamilton. His acting career began in high school and he was put under contract at M-G-M when he moved to California. His first film was in 1952. He was a semi-regular on the television series “Dynasty” in the 1980s. In 1966 Hamilton dated then President Lyndon Johnson’s daughter Lynda Bird Johnson. He was married to actress Alana Stewart and the couple had a son, actor Ashley Hamilton. George also has a son with his previous wife Kimberly Blackford. George Hamilton appeared in only one European western 1965’s “Viva Maria!” with Brigitte Bardot and Jeanne Moreau. Today we salute the tanned one George Hamilton on his 70th birthday.