Monday, November 30, 2009

RIP Bruno Pupparo

The Experimental Center of Cinematography remembers with affection and emotion Bruno Pupparo, a former student and teacher at the National School of Cinema who died prematurely on November 30, 2009. Born in Rome on July 28, 1959, Bruno Pupparo graduated with honors at the CSC as a sound engineer. Since 1988 he was professor of "filming technique of sound" and, since 1999, teacher mentor Section "Sound", in collaboration with Federico Savina, at the National School of Cinema. In 1986 he began his work in film, television and advertising. In addition to numerous commercials, he worked on the construction of over one hundred feature films, working with numerous directors including: Pupi Avati, Marco Bellocchio, Roberto Benigni, Sergio Citti, Cristina Comencini, Roberto Faenza, Carlo Lizzani, Gabriele Muccino, Giuseppe Piccioni, Michele Placido, Paolo and Vittorio Taviani, Paolo Virzi and Carlo Verdone. In 2007 he won the David di Donatello award for Best Sound for the film "My Brother is an Only Child" by Daniele Luchetti. Bruno Pupparo was the recording director and sound mixer on the 1998 Eurowestern "Il Mio West" ("My West" aka "Gunsliner's Revenge").

RIP Tony Kendall

Tony Kendall, whose real name was Luciano Stella, died November 28 in Rome in a hospital in Trigoria, after a serious illness. He was born August 22, 1936, and had to his credit over 50 popular films from the sixties until the eighties after starting his career as a model and in fotoromanzi.  He changed his name to Tony Kendall at the suggestion of Vittorio De Sica.

He made his debut in 1959, acting under his own name in “Femminie Tre Volte”, but then had to wait some years for a major role, in “Brennus Enemy of Rome”,1963, where he first used the Tony Kendall name. He was also known as a part of a double act with Brad Harris in several action movies, starting with “The Pirates of the Mississippi”. After the success of the Bond films and the German Jerry Cotton series, Kendall became a star in the seven films in which he played a private eye Joe Walker, aka Commissioner X, while Harris played his foil, police captain Tom Rowland.

Then, following the successful television series of “Batman”, Harris and Kendall were together again in “The Three Fantastic Superman”, 1967. Kendall’s work ranged across numerous genres, from horror to giallo, with his last appearances being in “On the Dark Continent” in 1993 and “Alex l’ariete” in 2000.

Tony Kendall's Eurowestern filmography:
River Pirates of the Mississippi – 1963 (Black Eagle)
Black Eagle of Santa Fe – 1965 (Chief Black Eagle)
Hate is My God – 1969 (Il Nero/Carl)
Brother Outlaw – 1970 (Dakota Thompson)
Django Defies Sartana – 1970 (Django)
The Twilight Avengers – 1970 (Tony/John Garrison)
Gunman of 100 Crosses – 1971 (Santana/Django/Sartana)
White Fang and the Kid – 1977 (Franky James)

Spaghetti Western Locations


The scene where the Rojo gang is riding back to the hacienda from the small house after Clint massacres some of the gang holding Marisol captive is located at the parking structure for Mini-Hollywood.



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

New DVD Release!


"Dead Men Don't Make Shadows", "Django Meets Sartana"
Label: Wild East
Volume 28
Available on DVD for the first time in the U.S.A.
Discs: 1
Region 1, widescreen anamorphic (color)
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Language: English
Extras: Trailers, Picture galleries Jack Betts (Hunt Powers) interview
Special limited edition available now!

Remembering Charles Hawtrey

He was born George Frederick Joffe Hartree on November 30, 1914 in Hounslow, Middlesex, England. He first appeared on stage in 1925 in children's plays. The thin twittery actor became famous for his participation in the 'Carry On' series of films. His camp behavior and pursuit of the opposite sex. In films since the early 1930s he appeared in several Will Hay comedies including “Good Morning, Boys! (1937) and made close to 30 films before finding his 'Carry On' niche. He left the series over a squabble over billing. Hawtrey died on October 27, 1988 in Deal, Kent, England. Charles appeared in one Eurowestern “Carry on Cowboy” as Chief Big Heap (1965). Today we remember Charles Hawtrey on what would have been his 95th birthday.

Sunday, November 29, 2009

A BULLET FOR SANDOVAL

Quei disperati che puzzano di sudore e di morte – Italian title
Los desesperdados – Spanish title
A vingança é minha – Brazilian title
Desperado il man omatuntoa – Finnish title
Kosto veressä – Finnish title
Les quatre deperdados – French title
Um sie war der Hauch des Todes – German title
Oi desperados – Greek title
Oi Ektelestai tis Avgis – Greek title
Homens em Fúria - Portuguese title
Revansch – Swedish title
6 desperados – Swedish title
Those Desperate Men Who Smell of Dirt and Death – English title
Blood for Blood – English title
A Bloody Job – English title
Vengeance is Mine – U.K. title
The Desperate Men – U.K. title
A Bullet for Sandoval – USA title

A 1969 Italian, Spanish co-production [Leone Film, Daiano Film (Rome), Atlántida Film
(Madrid)]
Producers: Elio Scardamaglia, Ugo Guerra
Director: Julio Buchs (Julio Garcia)
Story: Julio Buchs Garcia, Federico De Urrutia, José Luis Martínez Mollá
Screenplay: Julio Buchs Garcia, Federico De Urrutia, Ugo Guerra, José Luis Martínez
Mollá
Cinematography: Francisco Sempere [Eastmancolor, Cromoscope]
Music: Gianni Ferrio (Giovanni Ferrio)
Running time: 108 minutes

Cast:
Corporal John Warner - George Hilton (Jorge Lara)
Don Pedro Sandoval - Ernest Borgnine (Ermes Borgnino)
Lucky Boy - Alberto de Mendoza
Friar/ Father Converso - Leo Anchóriz (Leopardo Fustel)
Sam PauL - Antonio Pica (Antonio Serrano)
Francisco Gonzales Sandoval - Manuel Miranda
Guadalupano - Gustavo Rojo (Gustavo Pinto)
Morton - Andrea Aureli
José Gonzales Sandoval - Manuel de Blas (Manuel Munoz)
Carol Day - Annabella Incontrera
Guerico/Will/”The Only One Eye”/Johnny One Eye - José Manuel Martin (José Perez)
General Jackson - George Rigaud (Pedro Delissetche)
Texibal - Mary Paz Pondal
Captain Parker - Vidal Molina (Mariano Molina)
Confederate General - Andrés Mejuto (Severino Mejuto)
Captain Parker - Antonio Molina
Confederate Corporal - Lorenzo Robledo
stage station patron - Alfonso Rojas (Alfonso Gonzalez)
stage station patron’s wife - Tota Alba (Dolores Alba)
Sandoval henchman - Alfonso de la Vega
Mexican rancher - Tito Garcia (Pablo Gonzalez)
Mexican foreman - Luis Barboo
Mestizo - Dan van Husen (Daniel van Husen)
Pablo Gonzales Sandoval - Jesús Aristu
Mexican Governor - José Guardiola
Mexican Colonel - Fernando Sanchez Polack
Senator - Alfredo San Tacruz (Alfredo Santa Cruz)
soldiers - Claudio Trionfi, Adalberto Rossetti
with; Charly Bravo (Ramon Bravo), José Riesgo (José Cortina), Rafael Hernandez (Esteban Herrero)



During the final months of the American Civil War, a Confederate soldier, John Warner, deserts his post when he recieves word his girlfriend Rosa, is about to deliver their son. When he and two fellow deserters arrive at their home village they find it is suffering from a Cholera epidemic. Warner makes it to Don Pedro Sandoval's hacienda but is thrown out with his newborn son after finding out Rosa has died of Cholera. Travelling on he picks up a band of followers but they are turned away everywhere they go because of the Cholera until his son dies of starvation. Warner now raises a gang of outlaws and seeks revenge on Sandoval and all who refused his son food. Sandoval and Warner finally meet at a bullring where they have a knife duel but Sandoval is gored to death by a bull. Warner and the gang are trapped in the middle of the bullring by a garrison of Mexican soldiers and executed in a scene reminiscent of the end of “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid”. Too bad Hilton didn't pursuse more dramatic westerns instead of turning to comic ones as he's an excellent anti-hero.


You Tube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUYnYkhAu6A

Saturday, November 28, 2009

RIP Gilles Carle

Celebrated Canadian filmmaker Gilles Carle dies at 80 in Quebec

Gilles Carle, one of Quebec's most celebrated filmmakers, has died. He was 80. His common-law wife says Carle died early Saturday November 28th in a hospital in Granby, Quebec. Carle had been battling Parkinson's disease for the past few years and was recently hospitalized following a heart attack and complications from pneumonia.

The filmmaker was born in Maniwaki, Quebec on July 31, 1929 and grew up in Abitibi before moving to Montreal in 1940. He made some 30 films in over his decades long career and won dozens of awards including the Palme d'Or for the short film 50 ans (50 Years), in 1990. He was awarded the Order of Canada in 1999.

Gilles Carle scripted and directed two Euro-westerns for TV "Blood of the Hunter" starring Michael Biehn and "The Other Side of the Law" starring Jurgen Prochnow both in 1994

Cut Throats Nine re-make

Harvey Keitel joins international cast
of Rue Morgue Cinema's flagship feature

Toronto, CANADA - Rue Morgue Cinema in association with Someone At The Door Productions, is proud to announce its flagship feature film CUT THROATS NINE, a high action remake of the Spanish/Italian western Condenados a vivir, has attached veteran Hollywood actor HARVEY KEITEL (Pulp Fiction, Bad Lieutenant). Keitel joins a growing international cast comprised of Danish superstar MADS MIKKELSEN (Casino Royale, Valhalla Rising) and Canadian luminary ROY DUPUIS (The Rocket, La Femme Nikita).

CUT THROATS NINE will be helmed by award-winning director Rodrigo Gudiño (The Facts In the Case of Mister Hollow) from a script by Gudiño and Joseph O'Brien (RoboCop: Prime Directives) based on a story by Joaquin Romero Marchent and Santiago Moncada. Marco Pecota will produce the film for Rue Morgue Cinema/Someone At The Door Productions. Award winning cinematographer Derek Rogers C.S.C. (Cube, Resident Evil: Apocalypse) is slated to lens the picture, with Kyle Glencross (300, Dawn of the Dead) handling the film's special effects.

CUT THROATS NINE follows a wagonload of convicts as they travel the northern mountains to carry out their death sentences. Following a surprise attack from a gang of bandits, only the sergeant, his beautiful young daughter and seven of the most sadistic, murderous men alive survive the assault. CUT THROATS NINE in an original crowd pleasing experience that pushes the relatively subdued excesses of both the western and the horror movie into creative new territory.

CUT THROATS NINE is set to go into production in Toronto in early 2010.

Remembering Luciano Rossi

Luciano Rossi was born on November 28, 1934 in Rome, Italy. He appeared in over 70 films during his career as a character actor. Known for his bizarre portrayals from hunchbacks to lunatics his face was easily recognizable and remembered by Italian film goers. He was sometimes billed under the pseudonyms Lou Kamante, and Edward G. Ross, and appeared in over 25 Euro-westerns almost always as a villain or gang member. One of his best and sympathetic roles was as Ignacio in “The Forgotten Pistolero” (1969) but usually he played sadistic or crazed outlaws and was one of the unsung heroes of Italian film villains always delivering intense and powerful performances. Rossi died on May 29,2005 in Rome, Italy at the age of 70. Today we celebrate what would have been Luciano Rossi's 75th birthday.

For an excellent read on Luciano Rossi pick-up a copy of "A Violent Professional" by Kier-La Janisse, part of the Cinema Classics Collection available from FAB Press. This biography of Rossi is an enjoyable read, and in English, with a complete filmography with reviews of his appearances.

Friday, November 27, 2009

A BULLET FOR THE GENERAL

Quién sabe? – Italian title
Dios perdona…¡yono! – Argentinean title
Gringo – Brazilian title
Uma Bala Para o General – Brazilian title
Naurava paholainen – Finnish title
El Chuncho – French title
Töte Amigo– German title
Gringo – Polish title
Kula dla generala – Polish title
O Mercenário - Portuguese title
Yo soy la revolución – Spanish title
El Chuncho quien sabe? – Spanish title
För några smutsiga dollar – Swedish title
Zlatni metak – Yugoslavian title
Gringo Desperados – English title
Who Knows? – English title
Viva Bandito – English title
A Bullet for the General – USA title

A 1966 Italian production [M.C.M. (Rome)]
Producer: Bianco Manini
Director: Damiano Damiani
Story: Salvatore Laurani
Screenplay: Salvatore Laurani, Franco Solinas, Damiano Damiani
Cinematography: Tony Secchi (Antonio Secchi) [Technicolor, Techniscope]
Music: Luis Bacalov
Song: “Ya me voy” sung by Ramon Mereles
Running time: 135 minutes

Cast:
“El Chuncho” Munoz - Gian Maria Volontè
Bill Tate/Il Gringo/El Nino - Lou Castel (Ulv Quarzell)
El Santo - Klaus Kinski (Nikolaus Nakaszynski)
Adelita - Martine Beswick
General Elias - Jaime Fernández
Don Felipe/Feliciano - Andrea Checchi
Cirillo - Spartaco Conversi
Picaro - Joaquín Parra
Pedrito - Guy Heron (Guy Heroni)
Raimundo - José Manuel Martín (Jose Perez)
Guapo -Santiago Santos
Chico - Antonio Ruiz (Antonio Sambrano)
train engineer - Valentino Macchi
Rosaria - Carla Gravina
Lieutenant Alvaro Pereda - Aldo Sambrell (Alfredo Brell)
hotel clerk - Vicente Roca (Vincente Roca)
bandit - Sal Borgese (Salvatore Borgese)
narrator - Richard McNamara
journalist - Damiano Damiani
with; Bianca Manini



This 1966 film stars Lou Castel as the ugly American who's gone to Mexico to assassinate a charismatic general leading a revolt of the Mexican peseants. He befriends a Mexican bandit named El Chuncho and the two become friends. “El Chucho” who raids Federal trains to steal weapons for Senor Elias, Chucho makes the acquaintance of a young American whom he dubs “Nino” and who joins this gang of bandits. It is not long before “Nino’s” ideas permeate Chucho’s band and one bloody but successful raid after another nets a large cache of rifles, ammunition and even a machine gun for Senor Elias, all of which should bring a colossal reward. It is at the height of their achievement that members of Chucho’s bunch of hooligans begin to have different thoughts about their aims and their futures, even as it becomes obvious that “Nino” has his own unfathomable plans. Deception, murder and avarice combine to tear apart El Chucho’s mob even as the big payday approaches. El Chucho soon learns that social revolution is more important than mere money. In the end he turns the tables on his friend and returns to his life as a bandit.


YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2SqoU6CmqU

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Thanksgiving 2009

Who Are Those Guys - Dušan Antonijevic

Dušan Antonijevic was born on December 13, 1912 in Belgrade, Yugoslavia and was the son of actor Jovan Antonijević Djedo. He followed in his father's footsteps and became and actor both in film and television. His career started in the early 1950s and he was active until the mid 1980s. His wife was actress Dusanka-Duda Antonijevic. Dušan appeared in two Winnetou films as Indians White Buffalo and Manki-Moteh. After the death of Antonijevic's wife in 1984 he retired from the industry and died on July 10, 1986 in Belgrade.

ANTONIJEVIC, Dušan (aka D.Antonijević, Dusko Antonijević, Dušon Antonijevik) [12/13/1912, Belgrade, Serbia, Yugoslavia – 7/10/1986, Belgrade, Serbia, Yugoslavia] – TV actor, son of actor Jovan Antonijevic Djedo [1882-1952], married to actress Dusanka-Duda Antonijevic [1924-1984] (19??-1984).
Massacre at the Grand Canyon - 1963
The Desperado Trail – 1965 (White Buffalo)
Flaming Frontier – 1965 (Mahki-Moteh)
Thunder at the Border – 1966 (Leon Mercier)

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

RIP Bernard Bonnin

The local Filipino entertainment industry has lost yet another of its veteran actors in Bernard Bonnin who passed away Saturday, November 21. He was 70.

Bonnin, whose death came two days after Johnny Delgado’s demise on Nov. 19, died of multiple organ failure due to diabetes. A week prior, the actor was confined due to a stroke.
Born Herman Bonnin on September 8, 1939 in Himamaylan, Negros Occidental, Visayas, Philippines, he was the half-Spanish father of beauty queen Charlene Gonzales-Muhlach and actor Richard Bonnin. He catapulted to fame via the movie “Palos,” which was the Philippine version of “James Bond.” ABS-CBN remade “Palos” into a TV series in 2008 starring Jake Cuenca and with Bonnin in a support role.

Dubbed the “Pretty Boy of the 60s,” Bonnin starred in over 170 movies in a career that spanned four decades. Some of these films were “Gagamba,” “Ako ang Lalagot sa Hininga Mo,” “Code Name: Bomba,” “Target: Captain Karate,” and his first film, “Ay Pepita.”

Bonnin has a son with former love team Lourdes Medel, and two more with non-showbiz wife, Digna, whom he was living with at the time of his death.

Bonnin appeared in one Euro-western the "Arizona Kid" (1971) with Chiquito, Mamie Van Doren, Dan van Husen and Gordon Mitchell.

New CD Release

Revenge for Revenge
Composer Angelo F. Lavagnino
Label GDM
#GDM4128
Tracks: 14
8 page color booklet
Limited edition: 500 copies
Release date late November



Track list:
1. VENDETTA PER VENDETTA 2:16
2. ATTESA INFERNALE 3:30
3. RABBIA E AMORE 2:42
4. FIESTA! 2:30
5. DUELLO OSSESSIVO 3:36
6. VENDETTA PER VENDETTA (ripresa) 2:45
7. OMBRE NEL CANYON 5:32
8. FIESTA! (parte seconda) 2:22
9. IMBOSCATA SOTTO IL SOLE 6:13
10. FIESTA! (parte terza) 4:24
11. TRANQUILLITA' E ANSIA 2:46
12. FIESTA! (parte quarta) 2:47
13. L'ULTIMO DUELLO 5:29
14. VENDETTA PER VENDETTA (finale) 1:16

Bullchix

Bullchix – German title

A 1994 German production [Carofilm Carolin Otterbach (Munich)]
Producer: Alecsander Faroga
Director: Carolin Otterbach
Screenplay: Carolin Otterbach
Cinematography: Jo Heim [color, CinemaScope]
Music: Klaus Bangerter
Running time: 14 minutes

Cast:
Queen - Inka Calvi
Kuxa - Ruth Geiersberger
Sandro - Jürgen Tonkel
Wächter - Waggie Brömse
Glatze - Andrusch Jung
with; Berrit Arnold


A Feminist's view of the Western.

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Remembering Kurt Heintel

Born Kurt Heintel on 11/24/1924 in Vienna Austria. Before he chose acting as a career he attended the Art Academy and worked as a draftsman and an illustrator for various newspapers. After taking dramatic lessons in Berlin, Germany he debuted at the Salzburg, State Theater. He then became a ensemble player at the Theater in der Josefstadt for several decades. In 1985 he was awarded the title of professor. During his stage career he took roles in television and more than 20 films. He appeared in one Euro-western in 1965's “Duel at Sundown” as the sheriff. In 1997 he underwent heart surgery but died of heart failure on December 10, 2002 in Vienna, Austria. Today we remember Kurt Heintel today on what would have been his 85th birthday.

Monday, November 23, 2009

Bull Arizona, the Legacy of the Prairie

Bull Arizona – das Vermächtnis der Prärie – German title
Bull Arizona, the Legacy of the Prairie – English title

A 1919 German production [Charteau-Kunst-Film (Heidelberg)]
Producer: A. Basler
Director: Piel Jutzi (Philipp Jutzi), Horst Krahe
Screenplay: Hermann Basler
Cinematographer: Billy Salzmann [black & white]
Running time: 65 minutes

Cast:
Arizona Bull - Hermann Basler
Mary Davis - Esther Farlan
Yellow Snake - Leo Westphal
Silver Feather - Mi Ship (Mizzi Ship)
sheriff - Curt Schreck

Near the American-Mexican border the temperatures are hot. Not because of the beating sun but from all the lead in the air. Bull Arizona is a bank robber and shoots his six-shooter at the least provocation. Although looking tough on the outside he is a very shy and falls in love with Mary but she belongs to another man named Richardson. The couple are on their way with a wagon train to settle the west. The woman goes in search of water but ends up almost dying in the desert before being saved by Arizona. He then protects the couple from an Indian attack

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Spaghetti Western Eats

The Spaghetti Western Italian Cafe
1608 Shepard St., Houston, Texas 77007
"Where you don't need a fistful' a Dollars"
Phone: (713) 861-1313
Open Monday - Friday 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Friday & Saturday - 11 a.m. - 11 a.m.

Spaghetti Western:
Between 1960 and 1975, European Film Production Companies Made Nearly 600 Westerns. Critics Either Blasted Or Ignored These Films, And Because They Werer Financed By Italian Companies, They Called Them Spaghetti Westerns. Fans Of The Genre Embraced The Term Which Is Now Lovingly Used To Label Any WesternMade And Financed By Continental Filmakers.

Now That You Know Where We Got Our Name, It's Time You Come On In And Give Us A Try.



Saturday, November 21, 2009

Bull Arizona - The Desert Eagle

Bull Arizona – der Wüstenadler – German title
Bull Arizona – the Desert Eagle – English title

A 1919 German production [Chateau-Kunst-Film (Heidelberg)]
Producer: A. Basler
Director: Piel Jutzi (Philipp Jutzi), Horst Krahe
Screenplay: Hermann Basler
Cinematography: [black & white]
Running time: 52 minutes

Cast:
Bull Arizona - Hermann Basler
Mary - Sepha Bernay
Dolores - Sonya Bernini
Black Cat - Robert Moser
Mrs. Ferry - Mary Basler
Pastor Richardson - Horst Krahe

6 acts about the adventures of Bull Arizona.

Friday, November 20, 2009

Spaghetti Western Locations


Rambla Indalecio is the location for Clint Eastwood's ride back from the small house where he wiped out Ramon's men assigned to guard Marisol. This rambla was used in many westerns as were most of the ramblas in the Almeria area. It was also used in the Indiana Jones “The Last Crusade” film. The rambla is located East of the A-92 Expressway. There is room for parking and you can see the old bridge which crosses the rambla on the old road. You can exit AL-3412 and follow the service road north until you reach the rambla which will come in from the right.

Thursday, November 19, 2009


Buffalo Bill’s Wild West – International title

A 1906 Italian production [Albertini& Santoni (Rome)]
Producers: Filoteo Alberini, Dante Santoni
Director: Filoteo Alberini
Story:
Cinematography: Filoteo Alberini [black & white]
Running time:

Cast:
Buffalo Bill (William Cody)

Scenes of Wild Bill's Wild West Show during the 1906 appearance in Rome.


[Filoteo Albertini (1865-1937) invented the Kinetograph and requested a patent in 1894 but due to bureaucracy it was not granted until 1895 during the same month Lumiere projected his film “L”Arrivo di un treno allastazione di La Ciotat” (The Arrival of the Train at La Ciotat). Fascinated with the invention he and his friend Dante Santoni started recording events in the everyday life of Rome including the arrival of Buffalo Bill and his Wild West Show in 1906.]

Remembering Carlos López Moctezuma

He was born Carlos López Moctezuma Pineda on November 19, 1909 in Mexico City, Mexico. He is considered by many to be the best Mexican villain of all time because of his brilliant performances. Posessing a strong personality he became a mythical figure in Mexican filmaking. His father was a prominant official of the Mexican National Railroad. Because of this he was able to attend the best schools including theatrical training from Fernando Soler. He made his first film appearance in in 1935 and met his lifetime companion actress Josefina Escobedo whom he would marry and have two children with. As he became typecast as a villain in films his fame grew. His appearance in “La rebelión de los colgados,es una” (1954) cemented his status as one of Mexico's great villains. He would go on to make over 35 westerns and over 200 films total, receive several Ariel awards, make appearances in theater and on radio and television. He made one Euro-western “Viva Maria” as Don Rodriguez in 1965. He died in Aguascalientes, Mexico of an ulcer and emphysema on July 14, 1980. Today we remember Carlos López Moctezuma on what would have been his 100th birthday.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Who Are Those Guys - Ennio Antonelli


Born Ennio Antonelli on February 23, 1927 in Rome, Lazio, Italy. Ennio was a former boxer who became a character actor in Italian B films and TV, usually playing supporting roles as thugs, henchmen and townsmen. He started his film career making Sword and Sandal films which was followed by roles in westerns and crime films. His career was interrupted when he suffered a stroke in 1989. He was such a great favorite of the blue collar workers in Italy that a documentary homage to him was filmed in 2001 by director Marco Giusti entitled “Ennio Antonelli? Campa”. Ennio died in Rome on August 6, 2004.


ANTONELLI, Ennio (aka Tony Antonelli) [2/23/1927, Rome, Lazio, Italy – 8/6/2004, Rome, Lazio, Italy] – fomer boxer, TV actor.
A Fistful of Songs – 1966 (Joe)
Bang Bang Kid – 1967 (sheriff)
Kill and Pray – 1967 (brothel visitor)
The Stranger’s Gundown – 1969 (Roland henchman)
Blindman – 1971 (Mexican officer)

Remembering Emilio Cigoli

Born Emilio Cigoli on November 18, 1909,in Livorno, Italy, he was the son of actress Giovanna Cigoli. He began his career in the theater and then entered film as an actor but was relegated to small supporting roles. Because of his deep baritone voice he was recruited to become a voice dubber in 1936 and the first member and stockholder of CDC (Cooperative Film Dubbing). Along with his brother-in-law Giulio Panicali and Gualtiero De Angelis he became “the king of dubbing” from the 1940s to 1960s. It is estimated he dubbed over 7000 films over a 40 year period. In 1966 he left CDC and joined SAS which caused quite a bit of confusion to Italian theater goers who now heard a different voice come out of the mouths of such American actors as John Wayne, Gary Cooper, Gregory Peck, William Holden, Burt Lancaster and Charlton Heston. He was married to dubbing director and dubber Giovanna Garatti and worked continuously until his death on November 7, 1980 in Rome. Cigoli dubbed the Italian voice of Lee Van Cleef in “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” and “Beyond the Law”. He was the voice of Gordon Mitchell in “3 Graves for a Winchester”, Chuck Connors in “Kill Them all and Come Back Alone” and James Coburn in “Massacre at Fort Holman”. Today we remember him on what would have been his 100th birthday.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Buffalo Bill's Circus

La circus Buffalo Bill: peaux rouges – French title
Buffalo Bill’s Circus – English title

An 1897 French production [Los Societe Lumiere (Paris)]
Producer: ?
Director: ?
Screenplay: ?
Cinematography: ? [black & white]
Running time: 20’

Cast:
Buffalo Bill Cody - himself (William Cody)
Annie Oakley - herself (Phoebe Moses)
Frank Butler - himself (Francis Butler)


A French short highlighting scenes from Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show touring Europe in 1897. Includes scenes of Indians in costume, on horseback and dancing during the show.

Monday, November 16, 2009

RIP Edward Woodward

Edward Woodward, the star of films including "Breaker Morant" and "The Wicker Man," died Monday. He was 79. Woodward, who starred at "The Equalizer" on television, died in a hospital in Cornwall after an illness, said Janet Glass of the Eric Glass Ltd. agency in London. Born on June 1,1930 in Croydon,
Surrey, England, U.K. Woodward's career began in 1946 in a regional production of "A Kiss for Cinderella," Woodward played roles in productions ranging from the popular British soap opera "Eastenders" to productions of Shakespeare, and at least 40 films for theater or television. His last film appearances were in "Hot Fuzz" in 2007 and "Congregation of Ghosts," now in post-production. He also recorded several albums including "Love is the Key" in 1977 and "The Jewel that was Ours" in 1994. "I think I've probably more television than any actor living," Woodward said in a 1987 interview with The Associated Press. "I've done over 2,000, could be 3,000 now, television productions."

"I suppose there is also the feeling that it is the largest medium by far for information, education and above all, entertainment," he added. "And after all, that's what an actor's life is all about. Getting work and entertaining people."
At the time, Woodward was promoting a U.S. television film of "Uncle Tom's Cabin," in which played the wicked slave owner, Simon Legree. He found the role strangely refreshing.
"If you are a British actor, you do lots of Shakespeare and lots of classical work. There is always a great actor who has just played your character," he said.
"Lucky for me, Simon Legree has not been done very often," he added.

Edward Woodward appeared in one Euro-western as Holstrom in “Charley One-Eye” (1972).

Remembering Guy Stockwell

Guy Stockwell was born on November 16, 1934 in New York City. He was the son of actor Harry Stockwell and actress Nina Olivette and was the older brother of actor Dean Stockwell. A child actor he was well known to TV in the 1960's and '70s. He costarred on the TV series “Adventures in Paradise” and “Return to Peyton Place”. He often took film roles in such well know movies as “The Plainsman”, Beau Geste”, “Tobruk” and “Airport '75”. He's probably known to most of us for his appearances in cult horror films such as “The Monitors”, “Santa Sangre”, and “It's Alive”. He also took part in several stage plays during his career and founded the Los Angeles Art Theatre. He produed and directed several plays and taught acting classes at UCLA. Guy appeared in only one Eurowestern as Zorro in 1963's “Three Swords of Zorro”. Guy died of diabetes on February 7, 2002 in Prescott, Arizona. We remember him today on what would have been his 75th birthday.

Happy 85th Birthday Gianni Ferrio

Born Giovanni Achille Ferrio on November 16, 1924, in Vicenza, Italy. Gianni has been composing film scores since 1958's Toto film “Toto, Peppino e le fanatiche” and was one of the elite composers of Spaghetti Western scores during their heyday. He composed the soundtracks for most of the Giuliana Gemma westerns including “”Blood for a Silver Dollar” (1965), “Fort Yuma Gold” (1966), “Wanted” (1967), “Alive or Preferably Dead” (1969), “California” (1977) and “Tex and the Lord of the Deep” (1985). Some of his other most recognizable Spaghetti Western scores were “Death Sentence” (1967), “Find a Place to Die” (1968), “A Bullet for Sandoval” (1969), “The Ballad of Ben and Charlie” (1971), and “Long Live Your Death” (1971). He's composed over 100 film scores and is still active today scoring the 2008 film “Labyrinthus” with Luc Merenda. His music was also used in Quentin Tarantino's “Kill Bill” films and exposed to a younger audience. Today we celelbrate Gianni Ferrio's 85th birthday.

Remembering Helmut Schreiber

Born Helmut Schreiber on November 16, 1924 in Muhlausen, Germany. He completed his studies and received a degree in Philosophy, German and Art History, then began studying acting and directing at a theater school. His film debut took place after World War II. At the same time he was also acting on stage and in 1950s East German televsion productions and films. He became a regular member of the DEFA acting stable specializing in the Indian films usually playing villains. He became one of the busiest actors of the 1960s and appeared in 8 of the Gojko Mitic films, among them “The Sons of Great Bear” (1965), “The Falcon's Trail” (1967), “Tecumseh” (1972 and “Severino” (1978). In addition to his screen appearances he also hosted childrens programs and worked as a voice actor while writing several screen plays. Later in life he would devote his time to writing children's books and working in ballet. He was married to actress Zofia Slaboszowska before his death in Bad Reichenhall on February 10, 1995. Today we remember Helmut Schreiber on what would have been his 85th birthday.

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Bernard Farber photo



FARBER, Bernard (aka Farber Bernard, Benny Faber, Benny Farber) [12/21/1935, Paris, Ile-de-France, France - 1/?/1996]
Blood for a Silver Dollar – 1965
Vendetta at Dawn – 1971
Django Defies Sartana – 1970 (Philip Singer)
Joe Dakota – 1971
Man of the East – 1974

Buffalo Bill on the Train

Buffalo Bill on the Train – English title

A1911 British production [Kineto (Lndon)]
Producer: ?
Director: Theo Bouwmeester (Theodorus Frenkel)
Story: ?
Screenplay: ?
Cinematography: ? [Black & White]
Running time: 6 minutes

Cast: ?


Story: Unknown.

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Who Are Those Guys - Franco Angrisano


Franco Angrisano was born in Potenza, Italy on May 10, 1926 . His father was a railroad worker. He worked along side actor and director Eduardo de Filippo for fifteen years. He was wanted by Sergio Leone and Ettore Scola for character roles in their films. He spent the last years of his life working for small theater companies acting in plays and television helping develop new talent. Angrisano appeared in only one Euro-western but it was in a memorable role as the train engineer in “My Name is Nobody” and the bathroom scene with Terence Hill. Franco Angrisano died on September 20, 1996 in Salerno, Italy.

ANGRISANO, Franco (Francesco Angrisano) [5/10/1926, Potenza, Basilicata, Italy – 9/20/1996, Salerno, Campania, Italy] – stage, TV actor.
My Name is Nobody – 1972 (train engineer)

Friday, November 13, 2009

Buffalo Bill in Rome

Buffalo Bill a Roma – Italian title
Buffalo Bill in Rome – English title

A 1949 Italian production [S.I.L.A. Films (Rome)]
Producer: Giuseppe Accatino
Director: Giuseppe Accatino
Story: Giuseppe Accatino
Screenplay: Giuseppe Accatino, Gian Bistolfi, Redo Romagnoli
Cinematography: Laszlo Szemte (Ladislaus Szemte), Giovanni Vitrotti (Giuseppe Vitrotti) [black & white]
Music: Alfonso Salerno
Running time: 85 minutes

Cast:
Buffalo Bill - Enzo Fiermonte (Vincenzo Fiermonte)
Lolita - Diana D’Altena
Contessa Stefania - Rina De Liguoro (Elena De Liguoro)
Pietro - Aldo Vasco
Maria - Elli Star (Elly Star)
Maria’s father - Felice Minotti
Red - Ugo Sasso (Domenico Sasso)
with; Silvio Bagolini, Renzo Gaetani, Alfonso Di Stefano, Alex Jordan, Walter Lang, Maria Laudi, Antimo Reyneri, Attilio Torelli, Ugo Urbino, Victor Wythe, Olga Vittoria Gentilli, Franco Bill (Franco Solba)


When Buffalo Bill's circus arrives in Rome where Bill's sidekick Red falls in love with a local girl named Lolita. Bill is challenged to a race by Lolita's fiance, between the American cowboys and the local Italian ranch hands. Bill readily accepts the challenge but he and his men lose the race.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

RIP Paul Wendkos

Director Paul Wendkos died earlier today, Thursday November 12, 2009, at his Malibu, California, home. He was 87. Wendkos was a prolific director, with credits on more than 110 projects, including films, TV movies and miniseries. He directed such primetime TV network shows as “Playhouse 90”, “Route 66”, “Naked City”, “The Untouchables”, “Dr. Kildare”, “Ben Casey”, “The Big Valley”, “The FBI”, “I Spy” and “Hawaii 50”. Wendkos was nominated for an Emmy for his direction of 1988's “Tha Taking of Flight 847: The Uli Derickson Story”, starring Lindsay Wagner.

His feature films included 1961's “Angel Baby” with George Hamilton and Mercedes McCambridge, 1971's “The Mephisto Waltz” starring Alan Alda and Jacqueline Bisset along with two westerns filmed in Spain 1969's “The Guns of the Magnificent 7” starring George Kennedy and Michael Ansara and 1970's “Cannon for Cordoba” with George Peppard and Giovanna Ralli.

He is survived by his wife, producer Lin Bolen.

Happy 75th Birthday Gianfranco Reverberi

Gianfranco Reverberi was born on November 12, 1934 in Genoa, Italy, and is the brother of composer Gianpiero Reverberi. Gianfranco was one of the first Italian rock music artists. He composed the score for “Preparati la bara” (Viva Django) and worked with his brother on the track “Last Man Standing”. In 2006 another track from the “Viva Django” score was the base for the Gnarls Barkley song “Crazy” which reached the top of the charts in the U.K. For nine weeks and won a 2007 Grammy Award for Best Urban/Alternative Perfomrance and was nominted, but lost, as best recrod of the year. Today we celebrate Gianfranco Reverberi's 75th birthday.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

VETERANS DAY 2009



THANK YOU FOR SERVING!

BUFFALO BILL, HEROE OF THE FAR WEST

Buffalo Bill l’eroe del far west – Italian title
Das war Buffalo Bill – German title
Buffalo Bill, le héros du far west – French title
L’attaque de Fort Adams – French title
Voittamaton – Finnish title
Buffalo Bill, o iroas tou Far West – Greek title
Buffalo Bill, bohater dzikiego zachodu – Polish title
El héroe del oeste – Spanish title
El héroe del oeste – Buffalo Bill – Spanish title
Buffalo Bill – U.K. title
Buffalo Bill, Hero of the Far West – U.S.A. title

A 1964 Italian, West German, French co-production [Filmes Cinematografica (Rome), Gloria Film GmbH (Munich), Les Films Corona (Paris)]
Producer: Solly V. Bianco
Director: John W. Fordson (Mario Costa)
Story: Nino Stresa
Screenplay: Louis Agotay, Pierre Corty (Pierre Lévy-Corti), Luciano Martino, Nino Stresa, Sigfrido Tomba, Ernesto Gastaldi
Cinematography: Jack Dalmas (Massimo Dallamano) [Technicolor, Techniscope]
Music: Carlo Rustichelli
Running time: 100 minutes

Story: Buffalo Bill is sent to the west by President Grant to settle an Indian uprising started by Yellow Hand and supported by gun smugglers.

Cast:
Colonel William Cody/Buffalo Bill - Gordon Scott (Gordon Werschkul)
Big Sam Donaldson - Richard Stuyvesant (Mario Brega)
Monroe - Jan Hendriks (Heinz Hinz)
Mary Peterson - Ingeborg Schoener (Ingeborg Schöner)
Captain Hunter - Hans von Borsody
Yellow Hand - Mirko Ellis (Mirko Korcinsky)
Colonel Peterson - Rolando Lupi
Chief White Fox - Feodor Chaliapin (Feodor Chaliapin Jr.)
Rayon-de-Loon/Moonbeam - Catherine Ribeiro
George - Frank Farrel (Francisco Fantasia)
Snack - Hugo Arden (Domenico Sasso)
Red - Peter Lull (Giusva Lulli)
barman - Luigi Tosi
poker player - Scott Andrew (Andrea Scotti)
with; Jacques Herlin, Aldo Zamperla (Rinaldo Zamperla), Ronald Parish


Colonel William Cody, alias Buffalo Bill, intends to put an end to the dishonest relations between a gang of white swindlers and the Indian Yellow Hand. So he goes to the chief of Yellow Hand's tribe, Wise Fox, and tries to convince him to sign a peace treaty with the Federal troops. In order to avoid this, Yellow Hand abducts Wise Fox's daughter, pretending that the soldiers have done it. The plan succeeds and a conflict arises between the Indians and the soldiers. Peace is restored thanks to Buffalo Bill who defeats Yellow Hand in a savage one-to-one fight.

You Tube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdmvSreba2Q

Remembering Robert Ryan

Robert Ryan was born on November 11, 1909 in Chicago, Illinois. He attended Dartmouth College where he was the school's heavyweight boxing champion for four years. After graduation he found work as a stoker in the engine room on a ship, a WPA worker and as a ranch hand in Montana. Ryan then became interested in playwriting but began to take acting roles to support himself. He firrst appeared on stage and film in small roles in the 1940s. He was signed to a contract at RKO Studios and then joined the U.S. Marines in 1944 as a drill instructor. He became a star and was nominated for an Oscar in the 1947 film “Crossfire”. He became famous for his tough but sensitive characters in crime and action films such as “The Naked Spur”, “Bad Day at Black Rock”, “House of Bamboo”. He then was seen in a number of block buster films such as “The Longest Day”, “Battle of the Bulge” and the “Dirty Dozen”. In later films he drifted back to westerns such as “The Professionals” and “The Wild Bunch”. Ryan appeared in several Euro-westerns in the late '60s such as “Custer of the West”\ and “A Minute to Pray, a Second to Die”. Robert Ryan died in New York City of lung cancer on July 11, 1993. Today we celebrate what would have been his 100th birthday.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Remembering Eduardo M. Brochero

Born Eduardo Manzanos Brochero on November 10, 1924. He began his artistic career after the Spanish civil war by publishing collections of poems and plays particulary with Jose García Nieto and Antonio de Lara Gavilán. In 1947, he became a film producer in the world of cinema by producing “Dulcinea”, a film directed by Lusi Arroyo starring the director's sister, Anna Mariscal, in the main role. He then became a screenwriter for two films: “Brindis has Manolete” (1948) directed by Florián Rey with Pedro Ortega in the role of the renowned matador Manolete and “Gente sin importancia” (1949) directed by José González de Ubieta, starring Antonio Riquelme. In 1952 he directed his first film “Cabaret” with Feranando Rey and Nati Mistral. The following year he directed “Buenos noticias” with Jose Luis Ozorres. He founded a production company called Unión Films which produced the 1954 film “Comiques” with Juan Antonio Bardem and in 1956 “El malvado Carabel” directed by Fernando Fernán Gómez. He also continued to direct, turning out an original comedy “Suspenso en comunismo” with Antonio Vico, Alfredo Mayo and Juanjo Menéndez, as secret agents. During the mid-1950s he began making co-productions with Italian film companies and turned out such films as “Serment d'amour” (1956) with Leonardo Bercovici and Claudio Gora, “Oublié mon passé” by Primo Zeglio and in 1957 “El anden” with Jesús Tordesillas and worked with Italian Aldo Fabrizi on the film “Le destin d'un enfant” with Marco Paoletti and Eduardo Nevola.

In the 1960s Brochero founded Copercines Productions and built a western town near Madrid. He produced some of the first Spaghetti Westerns in Spain. He also turned out political films such as “Proceso de Gibraltar” in 1967. He became very active in the 1970s as a producer, director, screenwriter including television. Some of his more well known westerns were made at this time including “Apocalypse Joe” with Anthony Steffen and Eduardo Fajardo and “The Legend of Frenchie King” with Brigitte Bardot and Claudia Cardinale. Brochero continued working in the industry until he retired in 1982. He was married to actress María Luz Galicia and died in Madrid on October 16, 1987.

Today we remember one of the founding fathers of the Spaghetti Western Eduardo Manzanos Brocehro on what would have been his 85h birthday.

Jodorowsky Gets Funding for Dream Project 'Abel Cain'


Chilean filmmaker Alejandro Jodorowsky is a diverse artist with an eclectic background that includes being a scholar, playwright, composer, actor, comic book writer, historian and psychotherapist. The man is a chameleon. In May it was announced that Jodorowsky was going to work with acclaimed director David Lynch on King Shot which was described as a "metaphysical spaghetti western." Though he hasn't exactly been relevant in contemporary filmmaking over the past two decades, it looks like his work with Lynch has paid off as Quiet Earth reports that he now has the funding needed to make his dream project Abel Cain.

Jodorowsky calls the film "the sons of El Topo" (see above), a nod to his 1970 revisionist western El Topo. The story follows Abel and Cain who, upon the death of their mother, embark on a journey to bury her holy body next to their father's grave on a forbidden paradise island. But the island's treasures attract numerous kidnappers with different plans. While I'm not entirely familiar with his work, I do know that Jodorowsky is considered a groundbreaking filmmaker who, at his best, was worthy of being mentioned in the same breath as such visionary, abstract filmmakers as Pier Paolo Pasolini, Luis Bunuel and Federico Fellini. Impressive.

Producers Arcadiy Golubovich and Olga Mirimskaya, along with the help of Parallel Films are pushing the film along through pre-production, and I'm sure Jodorowsky couldn't be happier. We'll keep an eye on this one, if anything, out of sheer morbid curiosity, as well as Jodorowsky's other upcoming project King Shot.

Monday, November 9, 2009

Buffalo e Bill

Buffalo e Bill – Italian title

A 1920 Italian production [Latina Ars, (Turin)]
Producer: ?
Director: Emilio Graziani-Walter
Story: Carlo Zangarini
Screenplay: Carlo Zangarini
Cinematography: Arturo Barr [black & white]
Running time: 1354 ft.

Cast:
Mary Aloy, Emilio Graziani Walter, Adolfo Trouche, Lisetta Paltrinieri


The film includes three shorts on Buffalo Bill 1) L’Avventuriera, 2) Corsa all morte, 3) Rogo del malvagio.

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Remembering Umberto Spadaro

Umberto Spadaro was born on November 8, 1904 in Ancona, Italy. The younger brother of Peppino Spadaro apppeared in over 90 films and TV appearances, as a character and supporting actor. His first film appearance was in the 1940 “Senza cielo” directed by Alfredo Guarini and he was active until 1979 before retiring from the industry. Spadaro appeared in one Euro-western 1964's “ Lost Treasure of the Aztecs” as one of Jerry Darmon's henchman. Umberto died of cance in Rome on October 12, 1981. Today we remember Umberto Spadaro on what would have been his 105th birthday.

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Happy 40th Birthday Jess Hill

Born Jesse Hill on November 7, 1969 he is the son of producer, director, actor Terence Hill and screenwriter Lori Hill. Nicknamed Jess he's been active in films since he was a baby appearing as a Mormon baby in “They Call Me Trinity” (1970), Ebenezer in “Trinity is Still My Name” (1971), the child with the apple in “My Name is Nobody” (1972), telegrapher in “Troublemakers” (1994) and recently as Jesse Fortunato in the TV mini-series “Doc West” (2008). Jess also works behind the scenes and has been a screenwrtier and assistant director on several of his father's films and TV series. Today we celebrate Jess Hill's 40th birthday.

BUDDY GOES WEST

Occhio alla penna – Italian title
Eine Faust geht nacht Western – German title
Buddy gi'r en håndfuld øretæver – Danish title
Buddy villissä lännessä – Danish title
Bud Spencer hämäräpuuhissa – Finnish title
Lättäjalka hämäräpuuhissa – Finnish title
On m’appelle MALABAR – French title
Aranyeso Yuccában – Hungarian title
Vestens Hardeste Neve – Norwegian title
Dos granujas en el oeste – Spanish title
El amigo de Trinity vuelve al oeste – Spanish title
Bud Spencer Hammarapuchissa – Swedish title
Skumma Polare – Swedish title
A Feather in the Eye – English title
A Fist Goes West – English title
Buddy Goes West – USA title

A 1981 Italian, German co-production [Alex Cinematografica (Rome), Rialto Film (Berlin)]
Producer: Horst Wendlandt, Claudio Mancini
Director: Michele Lupo
Story: Sergio Donati
Screenplay: Sergio Donati,
Dialogue: Gene Luotto (Eugenio Luotto)
Cinematography: Franco di Giacomo (Francesco Di Giacomo) [Color, Technovision]
Music: Ennio Morricone
Song: “Vaohanana manitu” sung by Ferruccio Amendola
Running time: 100 minutes

Cast
Buddy/Doctor Malabar - Bud Spencer (Carlo Pedersoli)
Cocoa/Girolamo/Adler - Amidou (Amidou Messaoud)
Sheriff Bronson - Joe Bugner (József Bugner)
Colorado Slim - Riccardo Pizzuti
taylor - Carlo Reali
Widow Gordon - Sara Francshetti (Sara Franchetti-Girgenti)
Popsy Logan - Piero Trombetta
Romy Gordon - Andrea Heuer
Logan - Renato Scarpa
Trash - Osiride Pevarello
professor - Tom Felleghy (Tamás Fellegi)
waiter - Roberto dell’Acqua
Army captain - Salvatore Basile
Colorado Slim’s henchmen - Giovanni Cianfriglia, Ottaviano dell’Acqua, Sergio
Smacchi, Marcello Verziera, Roberto dell’Acqua, Angelo Ragusa
cowboy - Lionello Pio di Savoia
saloon owner - Amedeo Leurini
saloon patrón - Bruno Di Luia
outlaw - Romano Puppo
restaurant patron - Alessandra Vazzoler
guest at swimming pool - Angelo Boscariol
guest in restaurant - Anna Maria Perego
with; Marilda Donà, Pino Patti, Lorenzo Fineschi, Neno Zamperla (Nazzareno Zamperla)



Bud Spencer is without his comedy sidekick Terence Hill in this western comedy about a sharp-shooting, drifiting outlaw who is mistaken for a doctor by the inhabitants of Yucca City, a small western town, after his Indian companion Cocoa, steals a bag of surgical tools by accident. When the town comes under fire from a hoard of outlaws he shows what he really can do: bust some heads. It seems the town is located above a vast gold deposit and the outlaws want the town. Buddy goes into action to defend the town and make up for his past misdeeds. The film is full of the typical comedy bits including a hilarious eating contest between Buddy & the local Sheriff Bronson.


You Tube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hp5wHx0cz3g

Remembering Carlo Simi


Born Giancarlo Simi was on November 7, 1924 in Tuscany, Italy and was an architect by trade. He worked extensively with Sergio Leone and Sergio Corbucci as a production, set and costume designer. His talents can be seen on sets consturcted for the opening scene in “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly”, the El Paso set for “For a Few Dollars More” and the Flagstone set used in “Once Upon a Time in the West”. Bits of his original drawings and costumes were shown at the Sergio Leone exhibit at the Autry National Museum in 2005. Simi aqppeared as the manager of the bank of El Paso in “For a Few Dollars More”. Carlo Simi died on November 26, 2000 in Rome. The Leone films would not have been the same without Simi's dstinctive sets and costuming. Today we celebrate what would have been his 85th birthday.

Friday, November 6, 2009

New CD Release

A Town Called Hell / Savage Pampas
Composer: Waldo de los Rios
Label: Singular Soundtrack
#SINGSCE-0003
Country: Spain
2 Cds
Limited edition: 1000 copies
Release date 11/2/2009

No track listing available

Remembering Leonard Mountain Chief

Leonard Mountain Chief was born on November 6, 1939 on the Blackfoot Indian Reservation in Montana. He was a rancher and active in his community of Heart Butte, Montana. He served three terms as chairman of the Land Bureau and Tribal Gaming Committee. Since 1948 Leonard appeared in over 17 films including “War Party” (1989), “The Patriot” (1998) and several documentaries. He was a champion fiddler and played in both Nashville and Hollywood and once headlined a country jamboree at the College of Great Falls in 1987. He performed with such country singers as Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings. Leonard appeared in one Euro-western “Il Mio West” (aka Gunslinger's Revenge) (1998). Mr. Mountain Chief died in Heart Butte, Montana of a heart attack on March 29, 1999. We remember Leonard Mountain Chief today on what would have been his 70th birthday.