Memorial Day 2010

Happy 80th Birthday Clint Eastwood

Clinton Eastwood Jr. was bonr in Piedmont, California on May 31, 1930. His father worked at several jobs during the depression and his mother was a factory worker. They moved several time during Clint's school years before settling in Oregon where he attended high school. He graduated in 1948 and moved to Seattle where he worked as a lifeguard before being drafted into the Army during the Korean War. On leave as a G.I., his plane crashed into the Pacific Ocean and steely-eyed Clint swam three miles to shore. After the war he moved to Los Angeles where he attended L.A. City College and dug swimming pools. Landing a contract with Universal Studios in 1954. He appeared in bit parts in such films as “Revenge of the Creature” and “Tarantula” both in 1955. His contract was not renewed. In 1959 he was visiting a friend at CBS Studios one day he was spotted by an executive and cast as Rowdy Yates in the long-running western TV series “Rawhide”. That led him to be cast by Sergio Leone in “Fistful of Dollars” (1964) where he became an International star. Panned by the critics for his acting but loved by the audience Clint became one of Hollywood's biggest stars. By the late 1980's his acting career was declining and he turned to directing full-time which he had always been interested in. He has become and award winning director and looked upon as one of the best of all-time. Like most superstars, Clint Eastwood's success can be attributed to equal parts good fortune, tenacity, and talent. Clint has seven children from five different women and is currently married to TV reporter, actress Dina Ruiz. Today we celebrate the 80th birthday of one of the men who started the whole Spaghetti western craze Cint Eastwood.

Remembering Rainer Werner Fassbinder

Rainer Werner Fassbinder was born on May 31, 1945 in the Bavarian town of Bad Wörishofen. His father was a doctor and his mother, Liselotte, a translator. She starred in a number of Fassbinder's films, using her maiden name Pempeit.

Fassbinder attended the Rudolf Steiner Schools in Augsburg and Munich. He didn't finish school, but worked in various jobs. After studying drama at the Fridl-Leonhard Studio in Munich, he joined the 'Action Theater' in 1967.

His first play, Katzelmacher, premiered in April 1968. In 1969, Fassbinder made his first feature-length film, Love is Colder than Death. It was booed at the Berlin Film Festival. Fassbinder's breakthrough came with his next film, Katzelmacher (1969). It played at the Mannheim Film Festival, where it won the Film Critics' Prize, the Prize of the German Academy for Outstanding Artistic Achievement, and eventually, five prizes in all. His commercial breakthrough was The Merchant of Four Seasons (1971), his international breakthrough Ali-Fear Eats the Soul (1974) (International Critics Prize at Cannes). In 1971, he was a founding member of the "Filmverlag der Autoren". His biggest success, which brought him the popular acceptance he sought, came with The Marriage of Maria Braun (1978), part 1 of his FRG-Trilogy. The TV-series Berlin Alexanderplatz (1980) and Effie Briest (1974) are two of his best-known adaptations. His last film, Querelle, was shot in 1982. Fassbinder made one Eurro-western “Whity” in 1971.

Fassbinder made 41 movies in 14 years, and also worked as an actor, producer, theatre manager, composer, designer, editor, and cameraman. He died in 1982 of an overdose. His death is often considered the end of New German Cinema.

Today we remember Rainer Werner Fassbinder on what would have been his 65th birthday.

Black Bill's Hideout

Úkryt cerného Billa – Czechoslovakian title
Hideout of Black Bill – English title
Black Bill's Hideout – English title

A 1964 Czechoslovakian production [Krátký Film Praha (Prague)]
Producer: Zdenek Bumba
Director: Josef Kluge
Story: “The Hiding of Black Bill” by O'Henry (William Porter)
Screenplay: Pavel Hobl
Cinematography: Vladimír Malík [color]
Music: Angelo Michajlov
Running time: 13 minutes

Story: ?

Cast:
Narrator - Jan Triska

RIP Dennis Hopper

Actor Dennis Hopper has succumbed to his battle with prostate cancer at the age 74. According to TV station KTLA in Los Angeles, the actor died at his Venice, California home early Saturday morning, May 29. He was surrounded by family and friends.

Born Dennis Lee Hopper on May 17, 1936 in Dodge City, Kansas, Hopper is best known for writing, directing and starring in "Easy Rider" and for his roles in "Blue Velvet" and "Hoosiers." He received Oscar nominations for Best Screenplay for "Easy Rider" and Best Supporting Actor for "Hoosiers." He was most recently starring in the TV series "Crash" for Starz. Hopper's last public appearance was when he received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame back in March 2010.

Hopper made twenty-three westerns over his 40 year career and among them were two Euro-westerns “Straight to Hell” in 1986 and “Blood Red” in 1988.

New CD Release

Title: A Pistol for Ringo/The Return of Ringo
Composer: Ennio Morricone
Label: GDM Music #4134
Limited edition: 750 copies
Country: Italy
Tracks: 21
Release date: May 18, 2010

Track listing:
Tracks 1-11 A Psitol for Ringo
1)Angel Face 2:18 (vocal by Maurizio Graf)
2)Honky Tonk 0:41
3)Grotesque Suspense 1:40
4)Hesitating Rag 1:21
5)Heroic Mexico 1:32
6)Bamba Bambina 1:31
7)The Wait 2:35
8)The Clash 1:23
9)The Slaughter 1:58
10) A Pistol for Ringo 2:17
11) Una pistola per Ringo 1:03
Tracks 12-21 The Return of Ringo
12) The Return of Ringo 1:03
13) The Disguise 2:24
14) Sheriff Carson 1:19
15) The Fuentes 1:08
16) The Funeral 2:03
17) Barnaba's Bamba 2:34
18) The Wedding and the Revenge 1:27
19) Peace Comes Back to Mimbres 2:21
20) Il Ritorno di Ringo (Side A) 17:47
a) Introduzione
b) Il ritorno
c) Il travestimento
d) Lo sceriffo Carson
e) Dai Fuentes
f) Miosotys
g) L'incontro con la figlia
21) Il Ritorno di Ringo (Side B) 18:58
a) Il funerale
b) La festa
c) Il matrimonio
d) La vendetta
e) La pace torna a Mimbres
Total duration 1:10:35

Zorro the Conqueror/Top Crack
Composer: Gianni Marchetti
Label: GDM Music #4132
Limited edition: 500 copies
Country: Italy
Tracks: 13/14
Release date: May 18, 2010

Track listing:
1)Zorro la maschera della vendetta 2:03
2)Ricordi malinconici 1:04
3)Festa al villaggio 1:25
4)Zorro in azione 1:25
5)Momento romantico 2:13
6)Zorro la maschera della vendetta (Ripresa) 2:03
7)Avventure 1:33
8)Verso sera 1:17
9)Zorro contro tutti 0:36
10) Momento romantico (Ripresa) 1:25
11)Contro ogni ingiustizia 1:03
12)Nuove avventure 2:17
13)Zorro la maschera della vendetta (Ripresa 2) 1:06
Total duration 19:30

Guess Who I Am

I am an American actor who appeared in 11 Euro-westerns. Guess who I am.

Bill Connolly guessed correctly Jack Betts aka Hunt Powers.

CUT-THROATS NINE

Condenados a vivir – Spanish title
Todesmarsch der Bestian – German title
Katadikoi me hryses alysides – Greek title
Bronson’s Revenge – U.S.A. title
Cut-Throats Nine – U.S.A. title






A 1970 Spanish production [Triunfo Films S.A. (Madrid)]
Producer: Joaquín Romero Marchent
Director: Joaquín Luis Romero Marchent
Story: Joaquín Luis Romero Marchent, Santiago Moncada
Screenplay: Joaquín Romero Hernández (Joaquín Romero Marchent), Santiago Moncada
Cinematography: Luis Cuadrado (Luis Encinar) [Eastmancolor, widescreen]
Music: Carmelo A. Bernaola (Carmelo Alonso Bernaola)
Running time: 90 minutes

Cast:
Sergeant Brown - Robert Hundar (Claudio Undari)
Mrs. Brown - Mabel Karr (Mabel Jaime)
Katy/Cathy Brown - Emma Cohen (Emmanuela Rahola)
Dandy - Alberto Dalbés (Francisco Martinez)
Rata/John “Weasel” McFarland - José Manuel Martín (José Perez)
Ray Brewster - Antonio Iranzo (Antonio Escorihuela)
Dean Marlowe - Manuel Tejada
Comanchero - Ricardo Díaz
Slim - Carlos Romero Marchent
Buddy - Tomas Ares (Tomas Pena)
Dick Patterson/Robertson - Rafael Hernández (Esteban Herrero)
Joe Ferrell - Simón Arriaga
soldier - Lorenzo Robledo
guard - Dan van Husen (Daniel van Husen)
sergeant - Eduardo Calvo (Eduardo Muñoz)
with; Francisco Nieto, Antonio Padilla, Juan Antonio Elices, Emilio Rodríguez


1892: A wagon load of convicts is on its way to the prison at Ft. Green inches its way through the northern mountains, escorted by a cavalry troop. They are suddenly and viciously attacked by a gang of bandits searching for rumored gold somewhere within the convoy. Only Sergeant Brown, his beautiful young daughter Kathy and a chain gang of seven of the most sadistic, murderous men alive survive the assault. Left without horses or a wagon, the sergeant forges ahead to get his prisoners to their destination, all the while protecting his daughter, watching out for the still pursuing bandits and trying to determine which one of the prisoners was the man who murdered his wife. To make matters worse, the criminals discover that the chains binding them together is made of the gold. Their desperate journey plunges our survivors into the furthest extremes of human savagery... choked, stabbed, shot, burned. And eaten.

A remake of this film by director Rodrigo Gudiño is planned for 2011.


Trailer link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7jLM4uHcJM

New DVD Release!

Minnesota Clay
Label: VCI Entertainment
Region: 1
Running time: 90 minutes
Language: English (mono), NTSC, widescreen
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1, 16x9 enhanced
Extras: Italian ending, trailer
Available: May 25, 2010

Spaghetti Western Locations

The Azucareza at San Torcuato in Guadix was a sugar beet plant which these pits were used for the mass execution scene in “Duck You Sucker”. The above photo was taken in 2005, before the recent housing development was begun and now covers the plant and pits. Another Spaghetti western location lost to the ages.



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

RIP Jean Constantin

One of the greatest actors of the golden era of Romanian films. Comic master Jean Constantin was born on August 21, 1928 in Constanta county Techirghiol, Romania. After a long career as a master comedian on stage, in movies in many films and TV, he died today at his Constana home of a heart ailment. Jean was a character in both life and in movies. He was married three times. Jean died of a heart attack today May 26, 2010 in Constanta, Romania.

Jean Constantin appeared in one Euro-western “The Oil, the Baby and the Transylvanians” (1981).

New DVD Release!

Anthony Ghidra Double Feature
Label: Wild East
Titles: “Tequila Joe”, “A Hole Between the Eyes!”
Ratio: 2:35 16x9 Anamorphic
Region: Region 1
Language: English
Extras: Trailers
Available: Summer 2010

CUSTER OF THE WEST

Custer, l’homme de l’Ouest – French title
La última aventura del General Custer – Spanish title
General Custers sidste kamp – Danish title
Custer l’eroe del West – Italian title
Kenraali Custer - Lännen suuri taistelija – Finnish title
Big Horn – ein tag zum Kampfen – German title
Slaget vid Little Big Horn – German title
Ein Tag zum Kämpfen – German title
I Istoria grafetai stin Dysi – Greek title
Slaget vid Little Big Horn – Swedish title
Kaster sa Zapada – Yugoslavian title
A Good Day for Fighting – English title
Custer – U.S.A. title
Custer of the West – U.S.A. title

A 1967 U.S.A., British, French, Spanish co-production [Cinerama Releasing Corp., Security Pictures, Inc. (Hollywood)]
Producer: Philip Yordan, Louis Dolivet
Director: Robert Siodmak
Screenplay: Bernard Gordon, Julian Halevy (Julian Zimet)
Cinematography: Cecilio Paniagua (Cecilio Rodriguez) [Technicolor, Super Technirama]
Music: Bernard Segall
Running time: 146 minutes

Cast:
General George Armstrong Custer - Robert Shaw
Elizabeth Custer - Mary Ure
Lieutenant Benteen - Jeffrey Hunter (Henry McKinnies, Jr.)
Major Marcus Reno - Ty Hardin (Orton Hungerford, Jr.)
Lieutenant Howells - Charles Stalnaker
Sergeant Buckley - Robert Hall
General Philip Sheridan - Lawrence Tierney
Chief Dull Knife - Kieron Moore (Kieron O’Hanrahan)
gold miner - Marc Lawrence (Max Goldstein)
Mulligan - Robert Ryan
man in flume - John Clarke
with; Bernabe Barta Barri, Clemence Bettany, Bill Christmas, Jack Cooper, John Dillon, Jack Gaskins, Dennis Kilbane, Fred Kohler, Jr., Ken Miller, Carl Rapp, Robert Reynolds, Luis Rivera, Bud Strait, Jack Taylor (George Randall), John Underhill, Joe Zboran


Filmed in Cinerama this is a historical fiction version of the life of General George Armstrong Custer's adventures after the American Civil War. With no better offers to be had, famous upstart officer George Armstrong Custer takes charge of the Western Cavalry maintaining the peace in the Dakotas. He soon learns that the U.S. treaties are a sham, that Indian lands are being stolen and every excuse for driving them off their hunting grounds is being encouraged. With his wife Elizabeth Custer, he goes in and out of favor in Washington, while failing to keep wildcatting miners like his own deserting Sergeant Mulligan from running off to prospect for gold in the Black Hills of the Indian country. After trying to humble the prideful Indian warrior Dull Knife, Custer leads the 7th Cavalry into one of the biggest blunders in American history.

Who Are Those Guys? - Florencio Amarilla

He was born Florencio Amarilla Lacasa on January 3, 1935 in Coronel Bogado, Paraguay. Amarilla became a striker for the Paraguayan National Soccer Team which played against Sweden in the 1958 World Cup. He scored two goals in that game which brought him to the attention of the Real Oviedo team of Spain where he signed a contract and played for them from 1958-1961. He then played for Elch CF from 1961-1962 before finishing his career with Almeria CD from 1967-1968. Here he lived and retired from soccer.
Living in Almeria brought him to the attention of film producers and he became a semi- regular during the Spaghetti western era usually playing Mexicans and Indians. He appeared as Aguila in “El Condor” (1970) and as Little Bear along with his son Luis in “Chato's Land” (1973). Florencio later returned to coach many of the top teams in the province of Almeria. He left coaching after a serious illness and suffered a stroke but after several months of rehabilitation he recovered but still has to use a cane to assist him in walking. On December 27, 2009 Florencio was honored at the Juan Rojas Stadium in Almeria by the Almeria Football Federation for his years of dedication to the sport of soccer both as a player and coach.

AMARILLA, Florencio (aka Amarilla) (Florencio Amarilla Lacasa) [1/3/1935, Coronel Bogado, Paraguay - ] – professional soccer player (striker) for Nacional [1958]. Real Oviedo [1958-1961], Elche CF [1961-1962] father of actor Luis Amarilla.
Blood and Guns - 1968
100 Rifles – 1968 (Indian)
El Condor – 1970 (Águila)
Catlow – 1971 (Tarahumara)
Chato’s Land – 1971
In the Dust of the Sun – 1971 [credited as Amarilla]
Red Sun – 1972 (Indian)
Chino – 1973 (Little Bear)
Yellow Hair and the Fortress of Gold – 1984 (stagecoach Apache)

The Curse of Protection

Der Fluch der Protektion – German title
The Curse of Protection – English title

A 1923 German production [Arnold & Richter (Munich)]
Producer: August Arnold, Robert Richter
Director: ?
Screenplay: ?
Cinematography: ? [black & white]
Running time: ?

Story: ?

Cast: ?

New DVD Release!

CANNON FOR CORDOBA
Label: KOCH
Languages: German, Italian and English Dolby Digital 2.0
Running time: 104 minutes
Video: 16/9 2.35:1, widescreen
Region: 2, PAL
Featurette: “Guns and Cannons” by film historian Antonio Tentori (12 minutes)
Extras: Extras: German and English trailers, booklet, picture gallery
Release date: May 7, 2010


TAKE A HARD RIDE
Label: KOCH
Languages: German and English (Dolby Digital 2.0), no subtitles
Video: 1,85:1 anamorphic, widescreen
Region: 2, PAL
Extras: Extras: Featurettes with Fred Williamson "The Hammer in the West" (20min), and Eduardo Margheriti (son of director Antonio Margheriti) "My Father's Hard Ride" (20min), Trailer, Booklet, galleries.
Release date: May 5, 2010

A CRY OF DEATH

Una cuerda al amanecer – Spanish title
Sei una carogna… e t’ammazzo! – Italian title
Les charognards meurent à l’aube – French title
You are Carrion and Y Will Kill You – Greek title
Furia em Oregon – Portuguese title
You are a Traitor and I Will Kill You – English title
A Cry of Death – English title

A 1971 Spanish, Italian co-production [Cire Film (Barcelona), Universalia Vision (Rome)]
Producer: Elio Pannaccio, Isidro Estaba
Director: Manuel Esteba (Manuel Gallego)
Story: Manuel Esteba (Manuel Gallego)
Screenplay: Manuel Esteba (Manuel Gallego)
Cinematography: Girolamo La Rosa [Eastmancolor, widescreen]
Music: V. Kojucharov (Vasili Kojucharov)
Running time: 79 minutes

Cast:
Campanita/Little Bell'/Barrett - Pierre Brice
Campanita/'Little Bell'/Barrett - David Rocha [flashback scene]
Ted Marshall - Steven Tedd (Giuseppe Cardillo)
Sebastian - Fernando Sancho (Fernando Les)
Lola/Lucy - Marta Flores (Marta de la Paz)
Roy Caulder - Molino Rojo (Antonio Molino Rojo)
Nancy/Maria/Catherine Marshall - Mónica Randall (Aurora Sarasa)
preacher - Raúl Aparici
Pedro/Jonathan - Gaspar González
townsman - Manuel Muñiz (Murriz Brandariz)
sheriff - Miguel Muniesa
blacksmith - Moisés Rocha
Pedro henchman - Sergio Aparici
with; José Nieto, Alberto Vila, Ferrucio Viotti, Jony Fairen (Juan Farre)


A bounty hunter, dressed in black, is after a rich landowner named Barrett, who is having his neighboring homesteaders murdered, by an unseen killer, for their land. After Barrett has Sebastian's faithful mule killed in payment for a case of whiskey he drank, Sebastian teams up with Marshal Ted Mulligan. The two, one seeking vengeance the other justice until a final showdown with the mysterious killer settles the issue.

Guess Who I Am

I'm a South American actor who appeared in 20 Euro-westerns. Guess who I am.

Happy 80th Birthday Giuseppe Ruzolini

Giuseppe Ruzzolini was born on May 21, 1930 in Rome, Italy. Starting as an apprentice cameraman, his first film as cinematographer was “Maigret à Pigalle” (1966) directed by Mario Landi. His technique would soon be considered one of the most popular and respected in Italian films. He filmed a string of Paolo Pasolini films from 1967-1974 including “Oedipus Rex” (1967), “Teorama” (1968), “Porcile” and “Amore e rabbia” both in 1969 and “Il fiore delle mille e una notte” (1974). He worked with some of the greatest directors in Italian cinema including the Taviani brothers, Pontecorvo, Leone and Lizzani. He was the cinematographer on three Euro-westerns: “Duck You Sucker” (1971), “My Name is Nobody” (1972) and “The Genius” (1975) all for Sergio Leone. He was the cinematographer on Tony Anthony's 3-D film “Treasure of the four Crowns” (1983). He retired after filming “Bodyguards – Guardie del corpo” directed by Neri Parenti in 2000 and a total of 75 films. Today we celebrate Giuseppe Ruzzolini's 80th birthday.

Remembering Anthony Steel

Born Anthony Maitland Steel on May 21, 1920 in Cumberland, London, England. The son of an Indian army officer he was educated at Cambridge. He served in the Grenadier Guards during World War II and entered British cinema after the war. He became one of England's most promising leading men during the 1950s. Steel left England for Hollywood and then married Swedish bombshell Anita Ekberg [1931- ] in 1956. The marriage didn't work and the two divorced in 1959. A second fiddle to Ekberg during their marriage he couldn't capture the promise of his early career and was actually blackballed by the Rank Organization. He drifted all over Europe making films among them two German Euro-westerns, “Last of the Renegades”, and “Massacre at Marble City” both in 1964. He made over 64 films during his career but died a pauper of heart failure on March 21, 2001 in Northolt, Middlesex, England. Today we remember Anthony Steel on what would have been his 90th birthday.

Morricone, Bjork Share Sweden's Polar Music Award

Italian composer Ennio Morricone and Icelandic singer Bjork have won the 2010 Polar Music Prize, the prize committee said Monday.

They will be invited to accept the award, which includes 1 million kronor ($130,000) each in prize money, at a ceremony in Stockholm later this year.

The Polar Music Prize is Sweden's biggest music award and is typically shared by a pop artist and a classical musician. It was founded by Stig Anderson, manager of Swedish pop group ABBA, in 1989.

Prize committee Chairman Alfons Karabuda said 44-year-old Bjork personifies the border-breaking attributes sought by the committee, "bravely and without compromises."

Bjork sang in various Icelandic bands in the 1980's and rose to international fame with her solo album "Debut" in 1993. She has since released five more solo albums as well as film soundtracks and compilations. She also won the Cannes Film Festival's 2000 award for best actress for her role in Lars von Trier's "Dancer in the Dark."

"With her deeply personal music and lyrics, her precise arrangements and her unique voice, Bjork has already made an indelible mark on pop music and modern culture at large, despite her relative youth," the prize committee said in its citation.

Morricone, 71, has composed more than 400 film scores, including the iconic theme from "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" and other spaghetti westerns directed by Sergio Leone.

The prize committee said his "congenial compositions and arrangements" help lift "existence to another plain, making the mundane feel like dramatic scenes in full Cinemascope."

"He built up a brand new kind of music that set the tone for half a century of film music, but also influenced and inspired a number of musicians in the spheres of pop, rock and classical music," the committee said in its quotation.

Last year's award was shared by British musician Peter Gabriel and Venezuelan composer Jose Antonio Abreu.

CRY OF THE BLACK WOLVES

Der Schrei der schwarzen Wölfe – German title
Ulvens son - Danish title
Mustan suden huuto – Finnish title
Le hurlement des loups – French title
Il cacciatore solitario – Italian title
Terror i villmarken – Norwegian title
El aullido de los lobos – Spanish title
Vargens son – Swedish title
Kurtlar – Turkish title
Avontuur in Alaska City - ? title
Cry of the Black Wolves – English title

A 1972 German production [Lisa-Film (Munich)]
Producer: Karl Spiehs
Director: Dr. Harald Reinl (Karl Reiner)
Story: “Son of the Wolf” by Jack London (John Chaney)
Screenplay: Kurt Nachmann
Cinematography: Franz X. Lederle (Franz Xaver Lederle) [Eastmancolor]
Music: Gerhard Heinz
Running time: 89 minutes

Cast:
Bill Robin/Robinson - Ron Ely (Ronald Pierce)
Jack Harper - Raimund Harmstorf
Frona Williams - Gila von Weitershausen
Jimmy - Jean-Claude Hoffman
Akaena - Catherine Conti (Catherina Conti)
Nicholas Morse - Carl Lange
Tornado Kid - Arthur Brauss (Artur Brauss)
Mike Williams - Toni Berger
Forester - Alexander Grill
Betty Taylor - Angelica Ott
Stumpy - Hans Terofal (Hans Seitz)
Joe - Dan van Husen (Daniel van Husen)
Roy Murdock - Kurt Bülau (Kurt Bulwatsch)
Tom Lafferty - Gunter Clemens
Polly - Undine Frohlich
Sara - Karin Lorson
Sam Jenkins - Heinrich Schweiger
with; Jan Groib, Sigfrit Steiner (Siegfried Steiner), Ernst H. Hilbich (Ernst Hilbich)


In Happy Camp, Alaska 1903. The paradoxical name of the mining town where fortune hunters set out in search of gold and riches in the untamed wilderness of the North Country. It's every man for himself in this Jack London thrilling western. Bill Robin/Robinson a rugged man of the wilderness must fight for survival against nature and a ruthless bounty hunter sent to bring him in dead-or-alive for a murder he did not commit. The film is based on London's novel “Son of the Wolf”.

Spaghetti Western Locations

In “For a Few Dollars More” after the El Paso bank robbery, the gang meets up and Indo decides to hide out in Agua Caliente where they will wait for things to calm down before splitting what is inside the safe. The location for Agua Caliente is a village called Los Albaricoques north of Almeria. The village looks much like it did during the time Sergio Leone and crew were here. As you can see the old road still leads up to the village. The ugly tarp of one of the the ever-present greenhouses is seen on the right. This village was also used for the opening of “Fistful of Dollars” when Clint rides into San Miguel. You can actually stay at a hostal-restaurant called The Alba and spend a few days walking the same streets, Sergio, Van Cleef, Eastwood and Volonte walked. Give the proprietor Manuel my best wishes and thank him for helping restore many of the attractions in the village.




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/

Happy 80th Birthday Alexander Allerson

Alexander Allerson was born on May 19, 1930 in Ostroda, Poland. His first appearance was on the TV series “Die Firma Hesselbach” (1961) followed by his first film “Barras heute” (1963) with Karl-Otto Alberty. He would go on to appear in over 80 film and TV appearances. His last being in the 1997 TV film “Sexy Lissy” wirh Liane Forestieri. Allerson appeared in two Euro-westerns “Vengeance” with Richard Harrison in 1967 and “My Name is Nobody” in 1972 with Terence Hill and Henry Fonda. He would also appear in the 1977 TV film “The Lost Gold of the Incas” as Ben Collins. Allerson was also a stage actor and with his deep smokey voice he was perfect as a voice dubber. He's retierd and living in Munich, Germany Today we celebrate Alexander Allerson's 80th birthday.

THE CRAZY BUNCH

Di Tressette ce n’è uno, tutti gli altri son nessuno – Italian title
Continuavano a chiamarlo tressette… bussava solo a batoni – Italian title
Dicky Luft Em Sacramento – Brazilian title
Vestes skore kugler – Danish title
Villi Joukko – Finnish title
Dick Lufte in Sacramento – German title
Der Dicke, das Schlitzohr und drei Halleluja – German title
Galningarna – Swedish title
The Crazy Bunch – English title

A 1974 Italian production [Dania Film (Rome)]
Producers: Luciano Martino, Mino Loy
Director: Anthony Ascott (Giuliano Carnimeo)
Story: Tito Carpi
Screenplay: Tito Carpi
Cinematography: Federico Zanni [Eastmancolor, Techniscope]
Music: Alessandro Alessandroni
Running time: 95 minutes

Cast:
Tresette/Tricky Dicky - George Hilton (Jorge Lara)
Bambi/ Paco - Cris Huerta (Crisanto Brieva)
Poison/Veleno/Twinkle Toes - Tony Norton (Antonio Monselesan)
Letto - Memmo Carotenuto
Stryker - Nello Pazzafini (Giovanni Pazzafini)
Frisco Joe/Tutti Frutti - Riccardo Garrone
bank director - Renato Baldini
Drakeman - Dante Maggio
Slim Proportions/Frank Faina/Frank the High-Handed Fairy - Enzo Maggio (Vincenzo Maggio)
asylum director - Umberto D’Orsi
with; Gino Pagnani (Luigi Fusconi), Ettore Arena, Dante Cleri, Pietro Ceccarelli, Pietro Torrsi, Aldo Cecconi, Freddy Unger (Goffredo Unger), Oscar Giustini, Ottorino Poletini, Sergio Smacchi, Fortunato Arena, Lino Coletta (Pasquale Coletta), Ennio Colaianni, Nicola Pistoia, Verano Ginesi (Voriano Ginesi)


Tressette is out to recover $100,000 in gold stolen from Frisco Joe on a wagon train to Yuma. The money has been taken by Frank Faina and the inept Poison. Faina puts the money in a bank safety deposit box and and hides himself and the key in an insane asylum. Tressette must get his hands on the key but he and his partner Bambi have a few tricks up there sleeve, such as a gun that fires when he whistles, a birthday cake stuffed with dynamite and best of all a huge club. With all this on their side you just know they will succeed in the end.



trailer link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aN5ZvwFZXNY&feature=related

Cinema Retro Special Dollars Trilogy

COMING SOON!

In footsteps of Cinema Retro's landmark Movie Classics special edition tribute to Where Eagles Dare, publishers Dave Worrall and Lee Pfeiffer present their most ambitious release yet: the most extensive tribute to the Clint Eastwood/Sergio Leone 'Dollar' film trilogy ever published. Years in the making, with contributions from prominent film historians from around the globe.

THIS ISSUE WILL SHIP IN JUNE TO THE UK AND EUROPE AND IN JULY TO NORTH AMERICA AND THE REST OF THE WORLD.

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PLEASE NOTE: CINEMA RETRO MOVIE CLASSICS SPECIAL EDITIONS ARE NOT PART OF OUR SUBSCRIPTION PLAN AND MUST BE ORDERED SEPARATELY.


Full coverage of 'A Fistful of Dollars', 'For a Few Dollars More' and 'the Good, the Bad and the Ugly' - and why these films remain timeless cinematic classics.
80 full pages (16 pages more than the standard Cinema Retro issue)
Packed with hundreds of rare production stills, collectibles and international movie poster art culled from archives from around the world.
Many photos never before published - including rare behind the scenes production stills from people who acted as extras in 'The Good, the Bad and the Ugly'
Special foreword by Leone biographer Sir Christopher Frayling
The legendary film locations - then and now
Coverage of the rare, deleted sequences
Cast and crew biographies

Who Are Those Guys? - Simon Arriaga

Simón Arriago is another commonly seen face during the Spaghetti western era. Other than that I can find no biographical information on this Spanish character actor. His first documented film appearance was as a bandit in “Torrejón City” (1962). According to the IMDb he made 46 film and TV appearances with his last performance in an episode of the TV series “Curro Jiménez” (1976). Specializing in playing Mexican bandits Arriaga appeared in such classic Euro-westerns as “The Shadow of Zorro” (1962), “Gunfighters of Casa Grande” (1963), “Bullets Don't Argue” and “Minnesota Clay” both 1964, “Django” (1965), “The Hellbenders” and “Navajo Joe” both 1966, “A Train for Durango” (1967), “Cemetery Without Crosses”, “A Long Ride from Hell” and “White Comanche” all in 1968, “Companeros!” and “Cut-Throats Nine”, “El Condor” in 1970 and “Sonny and Jed” (1972). In all I have him appearing in 27 Euro-westerns over a ten year period from 1962 until 1972. Simon Arriaga died in a motorcylce accident in May of 1976.


ARRIAGA, Simón (aka 'Garibaldi', Simón Arriago, Simón Arriago 'Garibaldi' [193?, Spain - 5/?/1976, Madrid, Madrid, Spain (motorcycle accident)] – TV actor.
Shadow of Zorro – 1962 (Dan's henchman)
Torrejon City – 1962 (bandit)
Billy the Kid – 1963
Gunfighters of Casa Grande – 1963 (Carvajal)
The Implacable Three – 1963
The Sign of the Coyote – 1963 (Lenny henchman)
Bullets Don’t Argue – 1964 (Santero henchman)
Minnesota Clay – 1964 (Ortiz henchman)
Django – 1965 (Miguel)
Rebels in Canada – 1965 (British trapper)
Hellbenders – 1966 (Mexican bandit)
Navajo Joe – 1966 (Monkey)
Savage Gringo – 1966 (Tedder)
A Few Bullets More – 1967 (Mexican)
A Man, a Colt – 1967 (Pedro’s henchman)
Rattler Kid – 1967 (Jim)
A Train for Durango – 1967 (Lobo henchman)
Cemetery Without Crosses - 1968
A Hole in the Forehead - 1968 (Monguja henchman)
A Long Ride from Hell – 1968
The Mercenary - 1968 (Simón)
White Comanche – 1968
Companeros! – 1970 (Mongo henchman)
Cut-Throats Nine – 1970 (Joe Ferrell)
El Condor – 1970 (Mexican soldier)
Sabata the Killer – 1970 (Garfield henchman)
Raise Your Hands, Dead Man, You're Under Arrest - 1971 (Grayson henchman)
What Am I Doing in the Middle of a Revolution? – 1971
Sonny & Jed – 1972 (Somillo)

THE CRAZY ADVENTURES OF LEN AND COBY

Carambola filotto…tutti in buca – Italian title
Su nombre es Fantasma Santo – Argentinean title
Vier vuisten op een schietend scheurijzer – Dutch title
Lännen voimakaksikko – Finnish title
Mon nom est Trinita – French title
Vier Fäuste und ein heißer Ofen – German title
Oloi tous itan iroes tou Trinita – Greek title
Los llamaban los hermanos de Trinidad – Spanish title
Slå'n på käften – Swedish title
Trinity and Carambola – English title
Carambola’s Philosophy… All in the Pocket – U.K. title
Carambola’s Philosophy: In the Right Pocket – English title
The Crazy Adventures of Len and Coby – U.S.A. title

A 1974 Italian production [BRC, Aetos (Rome)]
Producer: Armando Todaro
Director: Ferdinando Baldi
Story: Nico Ducci, Mino Roli
Screenplay: Ferdinando Baldi, Nico Ducci, Mino Roli (Emminio Pontiroli)
Cinematography: Aiace Parolin [Technicolor, Cinemascope]
Music: Bixio, Frizzi, Tempera (Franco Bixio, Fabio Frizzi, Vincenzo Tempera)
Songs: “Coby and Len”, “Sky’s Motor Bike” sung by Dream Bags (Franco Bixio, Fabio
Frizzi, Vincenzo Tempera)
Running time: 100 minutes

Cast:
Coby/Toby - Michael Coby (Antonio Cantafora)
Clem/Len Butch - Paul Smith (Anan Edel)
Jim Ballermann/El Supremo - Glauco Onorato
sheriff - Pino Ferrara (Giuseppe Ferrara)
colonel - Piero Lulli (Giusva Lulli)
Miss Peabody - Gabriela Andreini (Gabriella Baistrocchi)
Gonzales - Ray O’Connor (Renato Capitani)
Jones - Enzo Monteduro (Vincenzo Monteduro)
Ward - Emilio Messina
deputy sheriff - Benjamin Levy
saloon owner - Rod Licari (Rodolfo Licari)
Ward henchman - Gianlorenzo Bernini
pool player - Giovanni Pazzafini
photographer - Osiride Pevarello
man holding ladder - Marcello Verziera
racketeers - Bruno Arié, Lorenzo Fineschi, Roberto Messina
bandits - Franco Moruzzi, Augsto Funari, Renzo Pevarello Gilberto Galimberti, Vincenzo Maggio, Sergio Testori, Aldo Dell'Acqua, Sergio Mioni
soldier - Omero Capanna


During the last days of the Civil War motorcycles are introduced as fighting machines. Two drifters, Len and Coby, on the run and being pursued by a sheriff, steal an army motorcycle and a side car equipped with a machine gun. This contraption is also desired by criminals Ward and El Supremo. The Army recovers the motorcycle and imprisons Coby. Len disguises himself as an army officer and helps Coby escape and they steal the motorcycle once again. The duo is pursued by the army along with a sheriff, Ward, El Supremo and a crazy spinster named Miss Peabody. This 'Trinity' rip-off stars look-a-likes Michael Coby (Antonio Cantafora) and Paul Smith.

Remembering Henry Fonda

Henry Jaynes Fonda was born on May 16, 1905 in Grand Island, Nebraska. His father was a printer and Henry worked for him during his youth and dreamed of becoming a journalist. He attended the University of Minnesota's school of Journalism but did not graduate. He left school and took a job at the Retail Credit Co. At 20 he started acting at the Omaha Community Playhouse on the recommendation of his mother's friend Dodie Brando, Marlon's mother. He overcame his shyness and opened up through the characters he played on stage. He then traveled East and to Cape Cod and joined the University Players where he met his first wife Margaret Sullivan and lifelong friend James Stewart. Fonda divorced Sullivan and went to New York City and Broadway. He was later joined by Stewart. He was offered a film role in Hollywood's “The Farmer Take's a Wife” (1935). His career took-off after his appearance in “The Trail of the Lonesome Pine” (1936). This was followed by “Jezebel” (1938) with Bette Davis. He married Frances Ford Seymour in 1937 and a daughter Jane was born in 1937. 1940 brought “The Grapes of Wrath” and an Academy Award nomination for best actor. Son Peter was born also born that year. Henry served in the Navy during World War II. After the war he appeared in “My Darling Clementine” (1946) and “Fort Apache” (1948). He returned to Broadway appearing in “Mr. Roberts” along with a rookie actor named Lee Van Cleef. Fonda brought the play to film in 1955. His career continued to prosper and he turned down Sergio Leone's offer to play the lead in “Fistful of Dollars” and “For a Few Dollars More”. Sergio was finally able to acquire his talents when he appeared against type as the villain Frank in “Once Upon a Time in the West” (1968) and again as an aging gunman in “My Name is Nobody” (1972). He reached the pinnacle of his career by winning an Academy Award for best actor in 1981's “On Golden Pond” with Katharine Hepburn and his daughter Jane He died shortly afterward on August 12, 1982 from heart failure. Today we celebrate what would have been Henry Fonda's 105th birthday.

Happy 85th Birthday Eugenio Martin

Eugenio Martin Márquez was born on May 15, 1925 in Granada, Spain. He studied law at the University of Granada and management at QFII and made several short films. He then worked as an assistant director for such directors as Nathan Juran, Nicholas Ray and Guy Hamilton. During the Spaghetti western era he directed four of the genre films: “The Ugly Ones” with Tomas Milian , also the screenplay (1966), “Duel in the Eclipse” with Lang Jeffries (1967), “Pancho Villa” with Telly Savalas (1971) and “Bad Man's River”, also the screenplay with Lee Van Cleef (1972). He then founded Vega Films in 1972. Eugenio was sometimes credited as Gene Martin. Eugenio's last film was 1996's “La sal de la vida”. His biography “Eugenio Martin un autor para todos los generos” by Carlos Aguilar and Anita Haas was released in 2008. Today we celebrate Eugenio Martin's 85th bithday.

Remembering Joseph Cotten

Joseph Cheshire Cotten was born on May 15, 1905 in Petersburg, Virginia where his father was an assistant postmaster. Joseph worked as an advertising agent before Hickman School of Speech and Expression in Washington D.C. Where he studied acting. Cotten took a job as a theater critic which inspired him to become involved in theater productions in Virginia and later New York City where he made his Broadway debut in 1930. He became a friend of Orson Welles and joined the Mercury Theater Co. His first film appearance was in “Too Much Johnson” in 1938. He then appeared in Welles' “Citizen Kane” (1940). He also appeared in Welles' “The Magnificent Ambersons” (1941) and wrote the screenplay for Orson's “Journey Into Fear” (1943) and “The Third Man” (1949). After a successful string of films in the 1940s his career cooled in the 1950s. In 1960 her married British actress Patricia Medina after his first wife Lenore Kipp died of leukemia. His marriage to Medina opened up film making in Europe. He made three Euro-westerns in the middle of the 1960s: “The Tramplers” with Gordon Scott and “The Hellbenders” both 1966 and “White Apache” with William Shatner (1968). One of his last films was another western “Heaven's Gate” (1980). He then retired with Medina to their home in Westwood, California. An autobiography 'Vanity Will Get You Somewhere” was released in 1987. Joseph developed throat cancer and died of pneumonia on February 6, 1994 at his Westwood, California home. Today we remember Joseph Cotten on what would have been his 105th birthday.

Guess Who I Am

I'm an Italian actor born in Jesi, Italy on October 24, 1926 and I appeared in 4 Spaghetti westerns. Guess who I am.

I appeared in Spaghetti westerns with Terence Hill, Bud Spencer, Anthony Steffen, Richard Harrison and Al Cliver. Guess who I am.

I won a Silver Ribbon Award for my performance in “La cena” (1998). Guess who I am.

Bill Connolly guessed correctly that I am Corrado Olmi.

THE COYOTE

El Coyote – Spanish title
Il Coyote – Italian title
El Coyote - Musta naamio – Finnish title
Der Coyote – German title
O Zorro ekdikeitai – Greek title
The Coyote – English title

A 1954 Spanish, Mexican production [Palacio Films, Unión Films (Madrid), Oro Films (Mexico City)]
Producer: Ismael Palacio Bolufer, Salvador Elizondo, Fernando Soler, Gonzalo Elvira
Director: Joaquín Luis Romero Marchent, Fernando Soler (Fernando Pavia)
Novel: José Mallorqui
Story: Pedro Masó, Pedro Chamorro, Jesus Franco
Screenplay: Pedro Chamorro, Jesus Franco (Jesus Manera), Antonio Abad Ojuel, Joaquin Romero Marchent, Jose Mallorqui
Cinematography: Ricardo Torres (Ricardo Núñez) [black & white]
Music: Odón Alonso (Odón Ordas), J. Franco (Jesus Manera)
Running time: 84 minutes

Cast:
Cesar de Echague/”The Coyote” - Abel Salazar (Abel Garcia)
Leonor de Acevedo/Mara - Gloria Marin (Gloria Luna)
Edmund Greene - Manuel Monroy (Manuel Arregui)
Captain Pots - Santiago Rivero
Don Cesar de Echague, Sr. - Rafael Bardem (Rafael Solé)
Sullivan - José Calvo (José Selgado)
Josette - Lis Rogi
beggar - Xan das Bolas (Tomas Pena)
with; Julio Goróstegui, Ángel Álvarez, Joaquín Burgos, Rufino Ingles (Rufino Garcia), José María Prada (José Oterino), Victor Pronzet (Vittorio Pronzatto), Mary Sol Luna (Mari Luna), Luis Domínguez Luna, Alfredo Muñiz, Ángelita Tamayo, Pepita Bravo, Jerónimo Montoro, José G. Rey, Pepa Ruiz, Ignacio de Córdoba, Pedro Ignacio de Paúl, Antonio Fornis, Héctor Mayo, Miguel Pastor Mata


In 1848 a dandy named Ceasr de Echague returns to California from the East. Upon his return he finds his former Mexican land under the suppression of the United States Government. A local rebellion by the native Mexicans has been crushed and the Imperialist Yankees have imprisoned and cruelly treated the peasants. Cesar remains a gentleman by day but by night he becomes a masked gunman dressed in black who is out to avenge his fellow countrymen and overthrow the oppressive governor and his army.

Happy 30th Birthday Pablo Templeton

Born Pablo Templeton Gabaldon on May 14th 1980 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Pablo appeared in both Terence Hill's 1990 film and TV series “Lucky Luke” as Ponchito/Carlos. Pablo attended and graduated in 1998 from West Mesa High School in Albuquerque where he still lives and works as an 911 dispatcher. Today we celebrate Pablo Templeton's 30th birthday.

New CD Release

Big City
Composer: Erwann Kermorvant
Label: Moviescore Media #MSM10005
Country: Sweden
Tracks: 19
Release date April 13, 2010

Track listing:
1 Once Upon the Time... 1:49
2. This Means War! 1:34
3. The Good, The Oil and the Beauty 3:49
4. The Battle 1:31
5. The Plan 1:32
6. The Drunk Waltz 2:30
7. First Night Alone 1:49
8. Business As Usual 1:35
9. Cats Chasing 1:23
10. The Trial 1:43
11. Return of the Beauty 2:42
12. Ambush / KKK 1:48
13. The Whip 2:51
14. Monologue 1:31
15. Deadly Solution 1:32
16. Painfull Memories / Face O 1:50
17. The Last Stand / The Kiss 1:51
18. Farewell 1:10
19. Epilogue / End Credits 4:47
Total Duration: 39:17

RIP Antonio Ozores

Spanish comedian and actor Antonio Ozores dies Wednesday May 12th in Madrid at 81 years of age. Ozores had been fighting cancer for a long while. Ozores, who was born in the town of Burjassot Valencia, Spain on August 24, 1928. He participated in over 160 films, 200 plays, and several series on television and radio. Antonio was the son of actor Mariano Ozores and the brother of director Mariano Ozores, Jr. [1926- ], actor José Luis Ozores [1923-1968], uncle of actress Adriana Ozores [1959- ]. He was married to actress Elisa Montes [1936- ] from 1958 until 1969 when they divorced. Antonio is the father of actress Emma Ozores [1966- ].

Ozores made his screen debut in 1950's “El ultimo caballo” and remained active until shortly before his death because according to him, “They always need an older man in the movie.” His last film appearance was in “Pelotazo nacional” (1993) and his last stage work was with his daughter Emma in “El último que apague la luz”.

Antonio Ozores appeared in only one Euro-western 1983's “Al este del Oeste”.

RIP Massimo Sarchielli

Italian actor, director and screenwriter Massimo Sarchielli passed away on the evening of May 11, 2010 in Rome, Italy. Sarchielli was born in Florence on April 9, 1931 into a poor family. His father did odd jobs never having full-time employment. His mother was a seamstress and it was she who supported the family. Massimo learned metal working and sewing from his grandfather in order to obtain small jobs and earn money for the family. He earned a degree at the a technical institute in Florence. He obtained a short term job as an illustrator for the Military Geographical Institute in Basilicata before returning to Florence and entering the Academy of Fine Arts but soon left. He then began trading in leather works and handicrafts to local merchants to sell to tourists. This resulted in a full-time job and he opened a leather shop with a friend. He left this and ventured to New York City where he attended the Etienne de Croux and became a mime and later moving to Paris. Returning to Italy he toured doing shows all over the peninsula. He then attended the Milan Strehlet School of Theatre. This led to a series of collaboration with some of the biggest names in Italian cinema.

His film debut was in “Juliet of the Spirits” (1965) directed by Federico Fellini. In 1967 he made four appearances in Spaghetti westerns: “Bandidos”, “A Minute to Pray, a Second to Die”, “Requiescat” (aka Kill and Pray) and “$10,000 for a Massacre”. In 1970 he appeared with Marcello Mastroianni in “Correva l'anno di grazia” (1970). He worked with Terence Stamp in “Death in the Vatican” (1975). In the 1980's he worked in the United States with Michelle Pfeiffer in “Ladyhawke” and Richard Gere in “King David”. In 1987 he appeared in “The Sicilian” directed by Michael Cimino. He then made a series of films with Pupi Avati from 1987-1999. In 2007 he worked with Spike Lee in “Miracle at St. Anna” and in 2009 he was chosen to play Peter Pacciani in Antonello Grimaldi's “Mostro di Firenze”.

Massimo was married to an American woman named Giudy in 1962 and they had a son. They divorced in 2000 after being separated do to the illnes of Giudy's maother and their long distance relationship.