New Book Release update

I received an update on the new book “Any Gun Can Play” by author Kevin Grant. Kevin e-mailed me yesterday and stated that the original publication date of May has been pushed back to September. You can get more information at the Fab Press site - http://www.fabpress.com/vsearch.php?CO=FAB105

New DVD Release!

Doc West

DVD (2009)

Now Accepting Advance Orders! - Available on September 7, 2010

After a group of outlawed farmers steals Doc West's (Terence Hill) poker winnings, the town sheriff (Paul Sorvino) throws him in jail to keep the peace. Although his own flawed past makes him reluctant to be the local hero, West agrees to help clean up the town. As this comical, spaghetti western spoof becomes a battle of outlaws versus law-abiding citizens, the bad doc is forced to finally decide on which side he stands. 97 min. Widescreen; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital 5.1; Subtitles: English, Spanish; behind-the-scenes footage; interviews; photo gallery.

Category: Westerns
Director: Giulio Base, Terence Hill
Cast: Micah Alberti, Maria Bethke, Clare Carey, Terence Hill, Linus Huffman, Ornella Muti, Kisha Sierra, Paul Sorvino, Boots Southerland, Adam Taylor
Format: DVD (Widescreen) - Color
Languages: English, Spanish, English subtitles
Sound: 5.1 Dolby Digital
Extras: Behind the scenes interviews
Rated: PG
Catalog #: D12148, 21296

Was $26.99 now $24.99

Movies Unlimited link: http://www.moviesunlimited.com/musite/product.asp?loc=decade&sku=D12148

Thanks to Biltmore for the information!

DEAD MAN'S BOUNTY

Letnia miłość –Polish title
Summer Love – English title
Dead Man’s Bounty – U.S.A. title

A 2006 U.S.A., Polish production [MS Films (Hollywood), Polski Western (Warsaw)]
Producer: Hamish Skeggs, Piotr Uklanski, Staffan Ahrenberg
Director: Piotr Uklanski
Screenplay: Piotr Uklanski
Cinematography: Jacek Petrycki [Kodakcolor]
Music: Karel Holas, India Czajkowska
Song: “I’m a Gun” sung by Lorne Green (Lyon Green)
Song: “Summer Love” by John Davidson
Running time: 94 minutes

Cast:
The Sheriff - Boguslaw Linda
The Stranger - Karel Roden
The Woman - Katarzyna Figura
The Wanted Man - Val Kilmer
Dying young woman - Anna Baniowska
station master - Romuald Andrzej Klos
shop assistant - Rafal Mohr
shopkeeper - Jerzy Rogalski
The Boxer - Miroslaw Zbrojewicz
The Blonde Man - Bartosz Zukowski
State Marshal - Marek Barbasiewicz
fat man - Krzysztof Zaleski
“Rat” - Grzegorz Emanuel
stable boy - Jan Urbanski
townsmen - Jerzy Cnota, Andrzej Szenajch
Squint - Lech Dyblik
Mexican - Andrzej Rog
running man - Michael Jurewicz
naked ass girl - Alison Gingeras
posse member - Slawomir Doniecki
telegram boy - Luke Carpenter




“Dead Man's Bounty” literally begins with a bang. Before the film begins a shot rings out. A man, dressed in black, then appears on screen, bleeding, dying. It is the Stranger, a harbinger of death, a nameless catalyst foreshadowing the events to come.

As the film unfolds the characters are introduced not by name, but what they represent. The Woman is a fading beauty who can't quite conceal the scars of her past. The Sheriff is an alcoholic, lovelorn shell of a man who is literally mutilating himself over losing the Woman. The Big Man is a fat, jealous cohort of the Sheriff who lusts after the Woman.

One day, the Stranger comes to town on horseback with the Wanted Man who he retrieved at the site of a massacre in the films opening scenes. The Stranger has come to collect the bounty money. He winds up getting roped into playing the Sheriff's sadistic gambling game and loses the Wanted Man to the gloating Sheriff. Fed up with this self-destructive ploy, the Woman storms out of the saloon. Later that night, the Woman in a state of depression seduces the Stranger. All hell breaks loose after their night of passion. A posse is formed under the Sheriff's inept leadership and an epic manhunt ensues.

Remembering Mario Carotenuto

Mario Carotenuto was born in Rome, Italy on June 29, 1915. He was the son of silent screen actor Nello Carotenuto and the younger brother of actor Memmo Carotenuto [1908-1980]. Mario was a lived a rebelious childhood and actually spent three years in a reformatory in Cairo Montenotte. Mario moved to Rome and performed on stage with Costanzi Theater. During the 1940s he worked in radio. After the war he became president of a theater magazine. It was during this decade after World War II that he entered films, mostly comedies, and appeared in more than 100 during his career. He won Italy's Silver Ribbon award as Best Actor in 1973's “Lo scopone scientifico”. During his film career Mario appeared in four Euro-westerns: “The Terror of Oklahoma” (1959), “A Dollar of Fear” (1960), “The Magnificent Brutes of the West” (1964) and “The Grandsons of Zorro” (1975). Mario died after a lengthy battle with cancer on April 14, 1995 in Rome. Today we remember Mario Carotenuto on what would have been his 95th birthday.

Whatever happened to Fred Robsahm

Once Fred Robsahm (64) was a movie star

Today he lives on disability in Lilliesand

By John-Arne E. Gundersen
10/8/2007


When you love someone, you cannot just forget it. You take it with you. Otherwise, there has been no love,” says Fred Robsahm

He acted with Jane Fonda and shot his way through Spaghetti Westerns. He had found love, an Italian film diva and lived in a palazzo with it's own beach. Now he lives on disability in a one bedroom apartment.

“At one time he was blond, tall, macho action Italian film actor,” said his friend Benestad who made a documentary film “Natural Born Star” in 2002 on Fred's life. Now he and Fred stand outsde a small white house in Lillesand. On the entrance door a sign reads: “This is not here.” The sun shines through strips of blinds where it lights up a small living room that looks like a small cabin. Guy lines from the ceiling hold a tie he never uses, necklaces, sunglasses and a clock stopped at 4:22 p.m.

Fred sports black shoes, a black leather jacket and a black cap. His legs are thin as a boat-hook and a gray dangling ponytail dangles down his back. His face is framed by sunken cheeks and a gray beard while a chasm of a mouth holds only one tooth. Hard to believe the cowboy actor's onetime handsome face resembled Clint Eastwood.

64 year-old Fred laughs as he says, “I just stuff 32 years in each leg of my pants.”

He starts to tell his modest and slightly blurred life story. “S” drags out of his mouth, because his teeth were knocked out in the '90s and the new milk tooth, as he calls it is a bit loose.

Fred grew up in Lillesand and says her learned to row before he could walk. My real father, I was not very familiar with, but my stepfather told me, “Everything is possible, but you have to do it.”

Fred got his first berth in the steamer “Pelle” when he was thirteen. Later he passed the equator and dreamed of his own sailboat and drifting peacefully around the world.

Being at sea is the closest a human being can have to the illusion of freedom.

On holday with his mother in Rome in 1967, Fred met a producer in the yacht harbor and was offered a chance to appear in a Pepsi commercial. Tall, handsome and with blond hair he was given a role with Jane Fonda in “Barbarella”. Fred figuered he could purchase his dreamed of sailboat a little faster if he continued as an actor. So he shot his way through a career in Spaghetti Westerns and by the end a total of 15 films.

It must have been a good life?

“I do not know. I do know there was much hustle and glitter.

He was familiar with Leonard Cohen and The Eagles. He was offered the lead role in “Flashback” which came to Cannes in 1969. He sat through the pressure in the audience and waited for everyone to leave but the audience stayed and clapped.

Then came the winter of 1972. Fred recorded commercials in Milan. A friend gave him a mink coat for a debt owed. Fred wearing a mink coat won the heart of actress Agostina Belli. They were soon married and moved into a beachfront villa, a large swimming pool with palm trees, horses and 240 olive trees. “It was alright”, Fred said.

Fred and Agostina made a film together. They were in all the Italian tabloids. Photographers came bye in boats taking pictures from telephoto lenses.


But Fred was still dreaming of owning his own boat.

Fred and Agostina made a packed to earn money for sailing around the world on their own boat Seeing the world and meeting other people. Fred went to Norway and bought the cutter “Eye Seraeye” meaning “I am who I am”.

In the mid-80s Fred sailed it across the Atlantic alone.


Agostina would not leave her career. I wish I had someone with me as it was too good not to share it with someone. Fortunately I had my cat.

Two years passed and Fred flew home to try and repair his relationship with Agostina. Rubbing his eyes he said, “He never flown home.”

In 1986 Fred had not seen his mother in many years and visited her in Spain. A friend told him he should sail a boat back to Rome from the city where his mother lived.

Fred sailed back and moored the boat in Rome. He took a taxi home. Later 17 Italians were arrested as they unloaded fish boxes that were filled with hashish. Later that night Fred also was arrested. Fred was unaware what the boat contained he had just caught a ride home to Rome as a passenger. Fred was jailed and put in a wet damp cell with only a mattress and a hole in the floor. At night guards beat the bottoms of his feet. When they pulled him out of there they thought he was dead. He remained in jail for one year. During this time he saw pictures of Agostina in a magazine, by her side was another man named Rudi. Had he not been arrested that night he and Agostina may have been together yet. When the trial came up Fred was acquitted. Out of prison he carried with him more than what he went in with.

Fred and Agostina was finito. His boat had sunk in the Caribbean while he was in prison. In 1991 he caught the flu and it lasted too long and he went to see a doctor. It was not the flu but HIV. He obtained it in prison from a needle used to sedate the prisoners and only washed in a basin of water.


He bought a new sailboat and docked in Mallorca in 1992. He began to drink anything he could get his hands on. He developed liver failure and fell into unconsciousness. He was dragged off the boat in a hepatic coma.

Now living with HIV for twenty years he lives his life in voluntary custody. That's what he calls his apartment.

Side effects from the different drugs he takes affects the nerves in his legs. It burns and sometimes feels like a dog is biting him. He sometimes lies in bed for days trying to ease the pain. Instead of limping around town during the day I go out at night. He drives a scooter Benestad has given him.

He thinks everything looks brighter now. Thanks to the documentary, I see away out of this voluntary custody.

In his living room the clock from his boat is clicking. It and a piece of wood from the railing is all he has left from the “Eye Seraeye”. A picture of the boat hangs over the sofa. It shows good wind in the sails and young Fred standing with his hands on the helm, looking straight ahead at the horizon. On a yellow plastic plate across the table is written, “Remember to forget.” With only nightmares of the past pulling at him he looks ahead. That is where we live and that is where we will live the rest of our time.

RIP Aldo Giuffrè

Italian actor Aldo Giuffrè has died.

Giuffrè died yesterday evening, June 26th during an operation for peritonitis in San Filippo Neri Hospital in Rome. Giuffrè turned 86 years old on April 10. A native of Naples, Italy he was a radio announcer before he was 20 years-old and announced the end of the war in 1945. He started acting on stage in 1942 with the Eduardo De Filippo company. He worked on stage with Luchino Visconti and Giorgio Strehler. In 1972-1973 he played alongside his brother Carlo in the comedy “Un coperto di più”. His film debut was in 1947 in the drama “Assunta Spina” directed by Mario Mattoli. He also appeared in “I eri, oggi, domani” directed by Vittorio De Sica but is best remembered for his role as Captain Clinton in Sergio Leone's “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” (1966). His last film appearance was in 2001's “La republica di San Gennaro” directed by Massimo Costa. In the 1960s he devoted most of his acting skills to television. Giuffrè also appeared in the Euro-western “Two Mafiamen in the Far West” (1964) as a defense attorney with Franco and Ciccio.

DEAD MAN

Dead Man – German title
Halott ember – Hungarian title
Dead Man – Italian title
Dead Man – French title
O Nekros – Greek title
Homem Morto - Portuguese title
Мертвец – Russian title
Dead Man – Spanish title
Truposz – Polish title
Mrtav covjek – Yugoslavian title
Jim Jarmusch’s Dead Man – U.S.A. title
Dead Man – U.S.A. title

A 1994 U.S.A., German, Japanese co-production [12 Gauge Productions, Miramax
Films, Newmarket Capital Group LLC (Hollywood), Pandora Filmproduktion (Munich), JVC Entertainment (Tokyo)]
Producer: Demetra J. MacBride, Karen Koch
Director: Jim Jarmusch (James Jarmusch)
Story: Jim Jarmusch (James Jarmusch)
Screenplay: Jim Jarmusch (James Jarmusch)
Cinematography: Robby Muller (Robby Müller) [black & white]
Music: Neil Young
Running time: 121 minutes

Cast:
William “Bill” Blake - Johnny Depp (John Depp III)
Nobody - Gary Farmer
Cole Wilson - Lance Henriksen
Conway Twill - Michael Wincott
Thel Russell - Mili Avital
Salvatore ‘Sally’ Jenko - Iggy Pop (James Osterberg)
train fireman - Crispin Glover
Johnny ‘The Kid’ Pickett - Eugene Byrd
Nobody’s girlfriend - Michelle Thrush
Marshal Marvin - Jimmie Ray Weeks (James Weeks)
Marshal Lee - Mark Bringelson (Mark Bringleson)
Charles Ludlow ‘Charlie’ Dickinson - Gabriel Byrne
John Schofield - John Hurt
trading post missionary - Alfred Molina
John Dickinson - Robert Mitchum
man with gun in alley - Gibby Haines (Gibson Haynes)
man at end of street - George Duckworth
man with wrench - Richard Boes
Mr. Olafsen - John North
drunk - Peter Schrum (Peter Schroom)
first young Nobody - Thomas Bettles
second young Nobody - Daniel Chas Stacy
Big George Drakoulious - Billy Bob Thornton
Benmont Tench - Jared Harris
old man with wanted posters - Mike Dawson
first man at trading post - John Pattison
second man at trading post - Todd Pfeiffer
Makah villagers - Leonard Bowechop, Cecil Cheeka, Michael McCarty
bartenders - Steve Buscemi, Mickey McGee
with; Dusty Lane (Robert Laning)


William Blake, an accountant from Cleveland, Ohio, becomes mortally wounded and embarks on a bloody journey through a sordid depiction of the American Old West.
William Blake rides by train to the frontier company town of Machine to assume a promised job as a bookkeeper in the town's namesake metal works. During the trip, a Fireman warns Blake against the enterprise while passengers shoot buffalo from the train windows. Arriving in town, Blake discovers that his position has already been filled, and is driven from the workplace at gunpoint by John Dickinson, the ferocious owner of the company. Jobless and without money or

prospects, Blake meets Thel Russell, a former prostitute who sells paper flowers. He lets her take him home. Thel's ex-boyfriend Charlie surprises them in bed and shoots Blake, accidentally killing Thel when she tries to shield Blake with her body. A wounded Blake shoots and kills Charlie with Thel's gun before climbing dazedly out the window and fleeing Machine on a stolen pinto. Company-owner Dickinson, the father of Charlie, hires three legendary frontier killers to hunt down Blake as the murderer of his son and Thel, although he seems to care most about recovering the stolen horse.

Blake awakens to find a large Indian attempting to dislodge the bullet from his chest. The Indian, calling himself Nobody, reveals that the bullet is too close to Blake's heart to remove, and Blake is effectively walking dead. When he learns Blake's full name, Nobody decides Blake is a reincarnation of William Blake, a poet whom he idolizes but of whom accountant Blake himself is ignorant. Nobody resolves to escort Blake to the Pacific Ocean to return him to his proper place in the spirit-world. After discovering that Blake is being hunted, Nobody also determines to assist Blake in expanding his legend by killing as many more white men as may become necessary. Meanwhile, the most ferocious member of the bounty hunter posse, Cole Wilson, kills and eats his comrades and continues the hunt alone.

Blake and Nobody travel west, leaving a trail of dead and encountering wanted posters announcing higher and higher bounties for Blake's death or capture. Nobody sends Blake into a camp of psychotic fur trappers, whom he and Blake dispatch. Blake learns of Nobody's past, marked both by Native American and White racism, which includes Nobody's abduction to Europe as a model savage and subsequent return to America. Nobody leaves Blake alone in the wild when he decides Blake must undergo a vision quest. On his quest, Blake kills two U.S. Marshals, experiences visions of nature spirits, and grieves over the remains of a dead fawn that was killed accidentally by his pursuers. He paints his face with the fawn's blood and rejoins Nobody on their journey.

At a trading post, a bigoted missionary identifies Blake and attempts to kill him, resulting in a shootout. Blake is shot again and his condition rapidly deteriorates. Nobody takes him by river to a Makah village and convinces the tribe to give him a canoe for Blake's ship burial. Blake deliriously trudges through the village before collapsing from his injuries. He awakens in a canoe on a beach, wearing Native American funeral dress. Nobody bids Blake farewell and pushes him out to sea. As he floats away, Blake watches Cole sneak up behind Nobody, but he is too weak to cry out and can only watch as the two shoot and kill each other. As Blake gazes up at the clouds for the last time, he dies and his canoe drifts out to sea.

Remembering Volker Vogeler

Volker Albert Leopold Vogeler was born on June 27, 1930 in Bad Polzin, Germany. After his schooling he arrived in Dresden in 1951 and worked at various jobs including a farm laborer. He would later study at Humbolt University in Berlin and the the University of Göttingen studying German history and philosophy. From 1956 until 1958 he studied at the University of Film and Television in Munich before again working in different occupaitons such as mining and logging. Volker then became a screenwriter and director of industrial films, documentaries and then began working in television. He made his TV debut in 1967 with “Das Bild”. He followed this up with more films and wrote 200 scripts for the series “Der Alte”. He directed 13 films between 1967 and 2000. Among his films were two Euro-westerns: “Yankee Dudler” (1973) and “Valley of the Dancing Widows” (1974). Volker died on April 16, 2005 in Hamburg, Germany. We remember Volker Vogeler today on what would have been his 80th birthday.

2010 Karl May Festival

The Karl May Festival at Bad Segeberg's open air theater opens today June 26 and runs until September 5. This year Karl May's “Halbblut” will be performed. Directed by Donald Kraemer, Erol Sander continues his role as Winnetou with Joshy Peters as Old Shatterhand with Eva Habermann and Ingo Naujoks in co-starring roles.

Happy 75th Birthday Maria Monti

Maria Monticelli was born on June 26 1935 in Milan, Italy. As Maria Monti she started her show business career in the 1950s appearing in cabaret shows singing her own songs. She made her first film appearance in 1955's “Uno scandalo per Lilly” with Ugo Tognazzi and Lauretta Masiero. She also made her first TV appearance that same year in “Primo applauso”. In 1961 she appears at the San Remo Fesitval and sings “Benzina e cerini” written by Enzo Jannacci. Maria's appeared in over 35 films and TV appearances and recorded over a dozen LPs and singles. Still acting today, Maria appeared in one Euro-western, Sergio Leone's “Duck You Sucker” as Adolita the woman Rod Steiger rapes in the coach station. Today we celebrate Maria Monti's 75th birthday.

Guess Who I Am

I was born in Fritzlar, Germany and appeared in one Euro-western and dubbed a lead actor's voice in another. Guess who I am.

Fatman guessed correctly. This week's photo is of Reiner Schöne.

DEAD FOR A DOLLAR

T’ammazzo…raccomandati a Dio – Italian title
Fidarsi è bene, sparare è meglio – Italian title
Pour un dollar je tire – French title
Muerto por un dolar – Spanish title
Django – wo steht Dein Sarg? – German title
I’ll Kill You, and Recommend You to God – U.K. title
Trusting is Good…Shooting is Better – English title
Dead for a Dollar – U.S.A. title

A 1968 Italian production [Denwer Film (Rome)]
Producer: Osvaldo Civirani
Director: Osvaldo Civiriani
Story: Tito Carpi, Osvaldo Civirani, Luciano Gregoretti
Screenplay: Tito Carpi, Osvaldo Civirani, Luciano Gregoretti
Cinematography: Osvaldo Civirani [Eastmancolor, Cromoscope]
Music: Angelo Francesco Lavagnino
Running time: 106 minutes

Cast:
Glenn Reno - George Hilton (Jorge Acosta y Lara)
‘The Colonel' - John Ireland
Liz - Sandra Milo (Elena Greco)
‘The Portuguese’ - Piero Vida (Pietro Vida)
Roy Fulton - Gordon Mitchell (Charles Pendleton)
Hartmann - Franco Ressel (Domencio Orobona)
Nick - Dick Palmer (Domenico Palmara)
Higgins - Andrew Scott (Andrea Scotti)
Ralph - Roberto Messina
Bill - Sergio Testori
Ralph's girl - Monica Pardo
doctor - Renato Chiantoni
saloon patron - Franco Gulà (Francesco Gulà), Enzo Andronico (Vincenzo Andronico)
brawler - Artemio Antonini
Sheriff Dawson - Ivan G. Scratuglia (Ivan Giovanni Scratuglia)
Betty - Carla Brait
with; Rosella Bergamonti, Mario de Vico, Rocco Lerro


The Colonel is looking for his two cohorts in crime who have made off with $200,000 from a recent bank robbery the trio performed. He comes across one of them, Roy Fulton who was shot during the robbery, died and is now being buried. This leaves only one, 'The Portuguese', to find. When he locates 'The Portuguese' he finds the funeral of Fulton was a hoax and he knows where he's hiding with the cash. The priest in charge of the funeral was actually Glenn Reno who is now Fulton's partner. The coffin contained the stolen bank money. When Reno returns after the funeral with a doctor for Fulton he finds the outlaw gone and thinks he's been double-crossed. He goes to the graveyard digs up the coffin and finds Fulton's body and the $200,000 missing. The crooked banker arrives in town looking for his split of the stolen funds. A series of double and triple-crosses ensue and in the end a fourth party, Liz ends up with the money and Reno, 'The Colonel' and the 'The Portuguese' in hot pursuit.

New CD Release

La spina dorsale del daivolo (The Deserter)
Composer: Piero Piccioni
Label: Legend CD 32 DLX
Country: Italy
Tracks: 26
Extras: 12 unreleased tracks of 25 minutes of extra music, 16 page booklet
Limited edition: 1500 copies
Available July 6, 2010
Duration: 74:34

No track listing currently available

Spaghetti Western Locations

In “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” the Stevens farmhouse is where Lee Van Cleef as Sentenza aka Angel Eyes makes his first appearance in the film. This is an actual house and was unoccupied when I was there in 2003 and 2005. Today it has been renovated and is currently occupied. The name for this location is Caserio Del Campillo de Dona Francisca and is located on a dirt side road on the road to Los Albaricoques. On this road are also a “Duck You Sucker” location where Sean rescues Juan from a firing squad and right next to the Stevens farmhouse is the cantina from “El Condor” where Jim Brown first locates and meets Lee Van Cleef.




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/

Dead Bones

Dead Bones - International title

A 2008 Spanish, Swiss co-production [Peliculas Bravas, Teleclub AG (Neuchâtel)]
Producer: Olivier Beguin, Annick Mahnert, Adán Martín
Director: Olivier Beguin
Story: Olivier Beguin
Screenplay: Olivier Beguin
Cinematography: Florian N. Gintenreiter [color]
Music: Didier De Giorgi
Running time: 15 minutes

Cast:
bounty hunter - Arie Verveen
outlaw - Frédéric Landenberg
bartender - Ken Foree
butcher cook - Ruggero Deodato
exploding cannibal - Yannick Merlin
partner on table - Yannick Rosset
long-haired gunfighter - Fathi Beddiar


A bounty hunter is tracking down a wanted outlaw. When he catches up with him in a small abandoned village he soon discovers that the few remaning locals have several unusual customs. The hunter and prey are forced to join together in order to survive.

Remembering Gerry Wolff

Gerald “Gerry” Wolff was born on June 23, 1920 in Bremen, Germany. He was the son of actor Martin Wolff but at the age of 11 became an orphan and was raised by his
grandmother.

Due to his Jewish heritage he emigrated to England in 1935 and lived on the Isle of
White during World War II in an Enemy Aliens camp. It was here he first took to the
stage. Later when he was released from the camp and worked in London at a publishing
house and lecturer. He joined the FDJ (Free German Youth) in London, worked in the
drama group and sang in the choir. Gerry returned to Germany in 1947 and worked in
the Theater at Schiffbauerdamm in 1949 and the Peoples Stage in 1956 before joining
DEFA.

Gerry appeared in many DEFA films and on DDR Television. Several of the DEFA films
he appeared in were the Indian films starring Gojko Mitic. Among them were “White
Wolves” and “Fatal Error” in 1969, “Osceola” (1970), “Apaches” and “Tecumseh” in
1972 and “Kit & Co.” (1974). With reunification Gerry appeared on TV in such series as “Crime Scene”, “Police 110” and “Havel the Emperor”. Wolff suffered a stroke in 2001 and withdrew from public life. He became a voice actor and was the German voice of Yoda in “Star Wars: The Phantom Menace”. His son Thomas Wolff was born in 1951
and followed in his father's footsteps as an actor and voice dubber. Gerry Wolff died of a heart ailment on February 16, 2005 in Oranienburg, Germany. Today we remember Gerry Wolff on what would have been his 90th birthday.

Who Are Those Gals? - Adriana Asti

Adriana Asti was born Adelaide Asti on April 30, 1933 in Milan, Italy. She has acted on stage, radio, TV and films. Her professional career began with her stage appearance in the 1952 play “Elisabetta d'Inghilterra” directed by Ferdinand Buckner. She then appeared in the 1956 RAI radio play “L'allodola”. Also that year she made her first film appearance in “Citta di notte” directed by Leopoldo Trieste. Asti's appeared in more than 60 films and is still active today. She's won a David di Donatello award for her 1974 performance in “David”, three Nastro d'Argento awards and a Ciak d'Oro and Golden Globe award in 2004 for Best Supporting Actress in “The Best of Youth”. She has also been a voice dubber since the 1960s and starred in the TV talk show “Sotto il divano”. Asti was married to director Bernardo Bertolucci [1940- ] for a time in the 1960s and is currently married director Giorgio Ferrara [1947- ] since 1980. Adriana Asti's only Euro-western appearance was as Countess Aunt Carmen in 1974's “Zorro” starring Alain Delon.


ASTI, Adriana (Adelaide Aste) [4/30/1933, Milan, Lombardy, Italy - ] – stage, TV, voice actress, married to director Bernardo Bertolucci [1940- ] (19??-19??), director Giorgio Ferrara [1947- ] (1980- ).
Zorro – 1974 (Countess Aunt Carmen)

First Day of Summer 2010

DAYS OF VIOLENCE

I giorni della violenza – Italian title
O Dia da Violência - Brazilian title
Furie au Missouri – French title
Le jours de la violence – French title
Sein Weschselgeld ist Blei – German title
I avgi tis ekdikiseos – Greek title
Os dias da ira – Portuguese title
Dias de violencia – Spanish title
Tva Desperata Man – Swedish title
Skjut för att överleva – Swedish title
Dirty Pistolero – U.K. title
Days of Violence – English title
Days of Vengeance – English title

A 1967 Italian production [Concord Film (Rome)]
Producer: Bruno Turchetto
Director: Al Bradley (Alfonso Brescia)
Story: Gian Luigi Buzzi
Screenplay: Mario Amendola, Antonio Boccacci, G.L. Buzzi (Gian Luigi Buzzi), Paolo Lombardo
Photography: Fausto Rossi [Technicolor, Techniscope]
Music: Bruno Nicolai
Running time: 105 minutes

Cast:
Josh/Joe/John Lee - Peter Lee Lawrence (Karl Hirenbach)
Christine - Beba Loncar (Desanka Loncar)
Captain Dan Clifford - Luigi Vannucchi
Mr. Evans - Andrea Bosic (Ignazio Bozic)
Hank - Lucio Rosato
Butch - Nello Pazzafini (Giovanni Pazzafini)
Lizzy - Rosalba Neri
Nathan - Harold Bradley
Clem/ClelL - Romano Puppo
with; Bruna Beani, Adalberto Rossetti, Gloria Selva, Gianni Solaro (Gianni Lorenzon), Claudio Trionfi


In 1863 the American Civil War still rages. In Missouri, a Southern sympathizing state occupied by Union soldiers, the local residents have formed armed gangs to defend themselves from the frequent criminal acts of the Union Soldiers. The leader of one of these gangs, Butch of the town of Springfield saves two young ranch hands, Clell and Josh when they are attacked by Union troops stealing their horses. Although offered the chance to join his gang, Clell and Josh return to the ranch but later, Union troops lead by Captain Dan Clifford attack the ranch. Clell protests and is killed along with his wife Lizzy, when Josh discovers there murders he joins up with Butch and his gang, to track down the killers and in doing so becomes an outlaw. Two years later, at the end of the war Clifford travels to the ranch aiming to marry the owner's daughter and take it for himself, but when Josh returns and kidnaps her, Clifford and his soldiers set out in pursuit across the Southern states.

You Tube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DP09EwJnP4M

Happy 65th Birthday Philippe Sarde

Philippe Sarde was born on June 21, 1945 in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France. He is one of France's most respected composers and has composed the scores for more than 200 films and television shows. The first film he composed a score for was “The Things of Life” (1970). He's still active today with three films scored in 2010. His only Euro-western score was the surreal “Don't Touch the White Woman” (1973) starring Marcello Mastroianni and Catherine Deneuve. Today we celebrate Phlippe Sarde's 65th birthday.

Fathers Day 2010

Remembering Franco Castellano

Franco Castellano was born on June 20, 1925 in Rome, Italy. Franco became one half of the immensely popular Castellano/Pipolo filmmaking partnership that took Italy by storm in the 1980s. Their collaboration began with their 1963 debut film “I marziani hanno dodici mani”. Castellano and Pipolo (who was born Giuseppe Moccia [1933-2006]) would go on to alternate writing and directing duties for the rest of their careers. While frequently receiving bad reviews from the Italian critics, Castellano and Pipolo were nevertheless very popular with the vast majority of the Italian moviegoing public and as a result had five of the top 100 grossing films in Italian history, with two of those films in the Top Ten. Castellano and Pipolo wrote three Euro-westerns: “Bullets Don't Argue” (1964), “They Call Me Providence” (1972) and “Another Try, Eh Providence” (1973) Franco died on December 28, 1999 in Rome from lung cancer, at the age of 74. Castellano sometimes used the alias Frank Forester. Today we remember Franco Castellano on what would have been his 85th birthday.

Remembering Terence Young

Stewart Terence Herbert Young was born on June 20, 1915 in Shanghai, China. He went to public school and read oriental history at St. Catharine's College at Cambrige University. Young served as a tank commander during World War II and was part of the Market Garden Operation in Arnhem, The Netherlands.

Young began his film career as a screenwriter with 1941's “Dangerous Moonlight”. He co-directed with Brian Desmond Hurst “Theirs is the Glory” (1946) about the fighting for the Arnhem bridge. His first solo credit was “Corridor of Mirrors” (1948). In 1953 he directed “The Red Beret” (aka Paratrooper) with Alan Ladd. Young then became involved with the James Bond films. Young fit the profile of James Bond perfectly and passed on the impressions to a young Sean Connery. He direrected ”Dr. No”, “From Russia with Love” and “Thunderball”. Terence Young's other notable films were “The Amorous Adventures of Moll Flanders”, “Wait Until Dark”, “Mayerling”, “Cold Sweat”, and the “The Valachi Papers”. Young was married to author Dorothea Bennett and later Sabine Sun. During his long career he directed one Euro-western “Red Sun” (1971) with Charles Bronson, Toshiro Mifune and Alain Delon. Young died on September 7, 1994 in Cannes, France. Today we remember Terence Young on what would have been his 95th birthday.

Happy 60th Birthday Ray Lovelock

Raymond Lovelock was born on June 19, 1950 in Rome, Italy. His mother was Italian and his father British who met during the Allied occupation of Italy during World War II. During college he supplemented his income by working as an extra in commercials and films. He also performed in a band with Tomás Milián where he was discovered by a talent agent. Through his friendship with Milián his first film appearance was as Evan Templer in “Django Kill” (1966). Since then he's made a career as a reliable character actor in fims among which are “Fiddler on the Roof”, “Oasis of Fear” (1971), “Almost Human” (1974), “The Cassandra Crossing” (1976), “The Greatest Battle” (1978) and “The Last House on the Beach” (1978). He also appeared in another Euro-western as Edmond Greene in “The Return of the Coyote” (1997). Ray is the father of assistant director Francesca Ramona Lovelock. Today we celebrate Ray Lovelock's 60th birthday.

Remembering Johnny Douglas

John Henry Douglas was born on June 19, 1920 in Hackney, London, England. He composed scores for 37 feature films, among them “The Railway Children” (1971). He was a master at arranging string instruments. He started his own record label 'Dulcima Records' in 1983, which is still in business today re-mastering and recording his more than 80 albums onto CD. Douglas was a musical director for DECCA and recorded over 500 tracks of music. Johnny composed the scores for two Euro-westerns: “Gunfighters of Casa Grande” (1963) and “Kid Rodelo” (1965). Johnny died on 4/20/2003, Bognor Regis, West Sussex, England, U.K.. Today we remember Johnny Douglas on what would have been his 90th birthday.

Guess Who I Am

I was born in Tokyo and appeared in only one Euro-western. Guess who I am.

Breccio correctly identified this weeks photo as Tatsuya Nakadai.

New Book Re-issue

From Beat to Beat (2nd Ed.) Così insegnai a Charles Bronson ad impugnare l'armonica [Book + CD] **PRE-ORDER**
PRE-ORDER: DUE MID-JUNE

19 Track CD + 236 page book in Italian and English with more than 400 pictures and anecdotes of 40 years of music and cinema history

By: Franco De Gemini
Label: Beat Records
Year: Various

This is the book and CD from Beat Records that was originally published with the name 'From Beat to Beat: Memoirs of the Man of the Harmonica' but has been republished in a 2nd edition run with extra material with the new title 'Così insegnai a Charles Bronson ad impugnare l'armonica' (How I taught Charles Bronson to "hold" the Harmonica).

This is another fantastic book and CD combo, 'Così insegnai a Charles Bronson ad impugnare l'armonica' is a bilingual book (in both English and Italian language) by legendary musician and Beat Records founder Franco De Gemini.

The 250 page book, narrated by the author, is crammed full of stories about De Gemini's 40 years of music and cinema and is full of his memories of Italian cinema's most prolific period during the 60s, 70s and 80s. There's tales about everybody that he worked with in the industry, from Maestros, directors, actors, musicians, producers and publishers and includes loads of behind the scenes anecdotes and bizarre events as experienced personally by the composer known as "The Man with the Harmonica".

As well as being a composer and concert performer in his own right, Franco De Gemini is Italy's most famous harmonica player, who contributed to countless soundtracks including many Westerns. In part of the book he recollects the role he played in the making of Ennio Morricone's “Once Upon a Time in the West” soundtrack, in which Charles Bronson plays the character known as "Harmonica".

Also included in the book is a large section about the Beat Records discography with lots of great cover art images. The book also comes with a CD with more than 70 minutes of music that features a collection of tracks from the huge Beat Records archive.

'Così insegnai a Charles Bronson ad impugnare l'armonica' is a real treat for fans of cult Italian cinema and Italian soundtracks. Also known as From Beat to Beat.

Packaging and Liner Notes
19 Track CD + 250 page book (15cm x 21cm) in Italian and English.
Track List
1. Tema di Londra (from Colpo Maestro Al Servizio Di Sua Maestà Britannica)
Francesco De Masi/Alessandro Alessandroni
2. Trinity: Titoli (from Lo Chiamavano Trinità)
Franco Micalizzi
3. Sesso Matto (from Sesso Matto)
Armando Trovaioli
4. Tomas Theme (from Le Conseillor)
Riz Ortolani
5. Adagietto
Gustav Mahler
6. La Caccia
Ennio Morricone
7. The Life of a Policeman
(from La Polizia Incrimina La Legge Assolve)
Guido & Maurizio De Angelis
8. Grigio Perla
(from La Gatta in Calore)
Gianfranco Plenizio
9. Claudia
(from Il Medico... La Studentessa)
Robert Pregadio
10. Fay (from The New York Ripper)
Francesco De Masi
11. Freedom
Walter Rizzati
12. Il Mare di Alassio
Franco De Gemini
13. Wonderful Together
Gian Stellari/Giacomo Gerosa
14. Autumn in Central Park
Walter Rizzati/Franco De Gemini
15. Diabolic
David Maulus/Lionel Maulus
16. Spagna
Franco Piana/Enrico Valdambrini
17. Susy's Bossa
Susanna Bertuccioli
18. Non Arrossir
Nadyr Vietti
19. Il Decalogo di Tiburzi
Sergio Montori

DAY OF ANGER

I giorni dell’ira – Italian title
Der Tod ritt dienstags – German title
Hvem Trækker Først – Danish title
Sormi Liipasimella – Finnish title
Le dernier jour de la colere – French title
On m’appelle saligo – French title
Dni gniewu – Polish title
Gigantes em duello – Portuguese title
El dia de la ira – Spanish title
Días de Ira – Spanish title
En framling kom for att hamnas – Swedish title
Oskenli gunler – Turkish title
Blood and Grit – U.K. title
Gunlaw – U.K. title
Days of Wrath – English title
Day of Anger – U.S.A. title

A 1967 Italian, German co-production [Sancrosiap (Rome), Corona Film (Berlin), KG Divina Film (Munich)]
Producer: Enrico Chrosciscki, Alfonso Sansone
Director: Tonino Valerii (Antonio Valerii)
Story: “Der Tod ritt diemstags” by Ron Baker
Screenplay: Ernesto Gastaldi, Renzo Genta, Tonino Valerii (Antonio Valerii)
Cinematography: Enzo Serafin (Vincenzo Serafin) [Technicolor, Techniscope]
Music: Riz Ortolani (Riziero Ortolani)
Song: ‘It’s Time to Go” sung by ?
Running time: 117 minutes

Cast:
Frank Talby - Lee Van Cleef (Clarence Van Cleef, Jr.)
Scott Mary - Giuliano Gemma
Murph Allan Short - Walter Rilla
Gwen/Betty - Christa Linder (Crista Linder)
Vivien Skill/Steel - Yvonne Sanson
Judge Cutcher/Cutchell - Lukas Ammann
Abel Murray - Andrea Bosic (Ignazio Bosic)
Wild Jack - Al Mulock (Alfred Rogers)
killer - Giorgio Gargiullo
Blind Bill - José Calvo (José Salgado)
Turner - Ennio Balbo
Sam Corbitt - Hans-Otto Alberty
Ellie/Eileen Cutcher - Anna Orso
Owen White - Benito Stefanelli
Marshal/Sheriff Nigel - Nino Nini
Slim - Franco Balducci
Bowie Cantina owner - Ricardo Palacios (Ricardo Diez)
Deputy Cross - Paolo Magalotti
Mr. Barton - Virgillio Gazzolo
Old Man Perkins - Vladimir Medar
Mackenzie Perkins - Mauro Mannatrizio
Hart Perkins - Romano Puppo
Wild Jack’s henchmen - Nazzareno Natale (Natel Nazzarino), Sergio Mendizabal (Hermengildo Mendizabel), Alvaro De Luna (Alvaro Blanco)
Turner’s assistant - Fulvio Mingozzi
Mrs. Barton - Eleonora Morana
with; Christian Consola, Ferrucico Viotti, Gianni Di Segni, Omero Capanna


Scott Mary is a young man working as a street sweeper in a small town called Clifton, Arizona. Scott is looked down upon by the town people, and he has never known his father and only knows his mother's first name was Mary. When Frank Talby rides into town and kills one of Scott's bullies, Scott realizes the opportunity to change his life, and decides to prove his worth as a gunfighter to him. Talby soon leaves town to go after Wild Jack, his former associate who owes him $50,000. Scott follows him and Talby reluctantly lets him tag along and agrees to teach him a few rules about gunfighting.

Talby and Scott find Wild Jack, but the man tells the pair that he does not have the money anymore, as he was double-crossed by the seemingly respectable citizens of Clifton. A gunfight ensues and Scott manages to convince Talby of his skills with a revolver. After taking care of Wild Jack's gang, the pair return to Clifton. With the help of Scott "Mary", as he was named by Talby, Talby quickly takes over the town, but Scott's fast draw has now become a threat to him. After he kills Scott's former mentor Murph Short,, the two decide to settle things in a shoot-out. Scott kills all the members of Talby's gang, and then defeats Talby in a duel by taking advantage of the rules Talby once taught him.


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

Spaghetti Western Locations

In the opening shots of “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” Al Mullock's face is shown as he waits for two more gunfighters Frank Brana and Saturnino Cerra. They walk towards each other prepared to draw. Just as you think a showdown will climax they run into a café and shooting comences. A man jumps through the cafe's window cluthcing a six-gun and a turkey leg. It's Eli Wallach with the caption “The Bad”. This small town was constructed by Carlo Simi on a plateau above Texas Hollywood. Called Camino de la Rellana by locals

From the N-340 road to Tabernas, you follow the dirt road going to Texas Hollywood for 200 meters (a bend going counterclockwise). But instead of going under the bridge, take the opposite direction on the right. Be careful ! The trail is in very poor condition; it is best to have a 4x4 or a mountain bike. Follow the rambla bed for nearly a mile. On the right there is a trail with a 40 or 60 meters steep slope. You will see a house on your right as you climb the slope. Now the trail bends clockwise. Leave the left trail closed by a chain. From that point, there is no problem, follow the 4x4 wheel tracks driving you to the sight. About a half mile once you reach the top of the plateau and you are there. On the right you will pass the ruins of the hacienda used in “Valdez is Coming”. At Camino de la Rellana set there is nothing left as you can see by the photo above. You will find bits of wood, and holes and posts where the corral was located. Plenty of rusty cans used by the crew litter the area. If you go too far you will follow the trail down the opposite side of the plateau which ends in an olive orchard.



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 Bekim Fehmiu

World-renowned actor, Bekim Fehmiu, committed suicide at his residence in Zvezdara, on the outskirts of Belgrade today June 15, 2010. His motives are unknown at this time.

Interior Minister Ivica Dacic, has said he believed that Fehmiu committed suicide because the bullet came from a gun registered in his name.

Bekim Fehmiu was 74-year-old and is recognized as one of the most popular actors in the former Yugoslavia. He was born on June 1, 1936 in Sarajevo and attended the Faculty of Dramatic Works from 1956 until 1960.

Among his most famous films was 1969's “The Adventurers” starring Charles Aznavour and Candice Bergen, “The Executioner” (1975), “Salon Kitty” (1976) and his only Euro-western “The Deserter” (1971) directed by Burt Kennedy and also starring John Huston and Richard Crenna. He worked extensively in Italy with Dino De Laurentis.

He was married to actress Branka Petric and had two sons Hedon and Uliks, who is also an actor.

Fehmiu published his autobiography in 2001 which he had written in 1985 entitled 'Blistavo i strašno' ("Brilliant and Terrifying")

The Daughter of the Red Skin

Die Tochter der Rothaut – German title
La fille du peau rouge - French title
The Daughter of the Red Skin – English title

A 1913 German production [Bison 101 Films (Berlin)]
Producer: ?
Director: ?
Story: Karl Hans Strobl
Screenplay: ?
Cinematography: ? [black & white]
Running time: ?

Story: ?

Cast: ?

Flag Day 2010

Who Are Those Guys? - Leon Askin

Born Leon Aschkenasy on September 18, 1907 in Vienna, Austria. He wanted to become an actor as far back as childhood. He worked in cabarets in the 1930s and became the director of the ABC Theater in Vienna. Askin became a versatile actor and was known as “The Man of a Thousand Faces”. Because of his family's Jewish roots they were persecuted during the early days of World War II. Leon escaped to France and then the United States arriving in 1940. He joined the U.S. Army and while serving learned his parents had been killed at Treblinka concentration camp. After the war he went to Hollywood playing foreign characters with thick accents. He became famous with his portrayal of General Albert Burkhalter on TV's “Hogan's Heroes” in the late 1960s. Leon returned to Vienna and the stage and was awarded Vienna's Gold Medal of Honor. Askin died on June 3, 2005 at 97 years of age. During his film years he made one Euro-western as the Vicar General in 1967's “Guns for San Sebastian”.


ASKIN, Leon, (Leon Aschkenasy) [9/18/1907, Vienna, Austria – 6/3/2005, Vienna, Austria (old age)] – TV actor.
Guns for San Sebastian – 1967 (Vicar General)

THE DALTONS

La vraie vie des Dalton – French title
Les Dalton – French title
Die Daltons vs Lucky Luke – German title
Los Dalton – Spanish title
Los Dalton contra Lucky Luke – Spanish title
Lucky Luke y los hermanos Dalton – Spanish title
Lucky Luke enantion Dalton – Greek title
Lucky Luke – Polish title
Bröderna Dalton – Swedish title
Daltonlar – Turkish title
The Daltons – English tile

A 2004 French, German, Spanish co-production [TF1 Film Productions, UGC Images (Paris), Integral Film GmbH (Munich), Castelao Produccions S.A. (Madrid)]
Producer: Saïd Ben Saïd, Yves Marmion, Alfred Hürmer
Director: Philippe Haïm
Story: “Tortilla para los Dalton” Goscinny
Screenplay: Michel Hazanavicius, Eric Judor, Ramzy Bedia
Cinematography: David Carretero [color]
Music: Alexandre Azaria
Running time: 96 minutes

Cast:
Lucky Luke - Til Schweiger (Tilman Schweiger)
Joe Dalton - Eric Judor
Averell Dalton - Ramzy Bedia (Ramzy Habib El Haq)
William Dalton - Romain Berger
Jack Dalton - Saïd Serrari
Ma Dalton - Marthe Villalonga
Ma Cassidy - Marie-Pierre Casey
Ma James - Ginette Garcin
Ma Billy - Sylvie Joly
MacDermott - Paul Nguyen
Doxey - Elie Semoun
El Tarlo - Javivi (Javier Valle)
the gross bandit - Constantine Attia
Mexican village chief - Jean Benguigui (Serge Benguigui)
bank director - Franck Dubosc
Mexican - Kad Merad (Kaddour Merad)
bandit chief - Arsène Mosca
bank cashier - Michel Muller
cowboys - Michael Youn (Michel Benayoun), Jean Dujardin
Amish - Norbert Moran
old timer - Darry Cowl (Andre Darricau)
saloon patron - Ismael Fritschi
with; Francois Hadji-Lazaro


The French comedy team of Eric & Ramzy starred in a 2004 movie titled simply “The Daltons”, in which Joe, Jack, William and Averell find out about a magic sombrero which makes people invincible, and try to steal it in order to rob a bank. Lucky Luke was only an episodic character in the movie. Ma Dalton was in the movie as well, and she had three friends, all mothers of famous Western criminals (Jesse James, Butch Cassidy , Billy the Kid). The movie got poor reviews with many fans complaining that it lacked the humour and the spirit of the original comic books.

You Tube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39C0-swXY8Y

Happy 70th Birthday Gojko Mitic

Gojko Mitić was born on June 13, 1940 in Leskovac, Yugoslavia. After his childhood years he moved to Belgrade where he attended their Sports School and became a physical education teacher. Foreign film companies started using Yugoslavian locations in the early 1960s. Gojko appeared in a number of these foreign films in character roles. He appeared as an Indian in two Karl May westerns. He then auditioned for the role of Tokei-Ito for an East German film production of “The Sons of Great Bear”. He was selected for the part leading to a long career starring in the DEFA Indian films. He became the most famous Indian in Eastern Europe. His career has continued since in other roles including the popular TV series “Archiv des Todes”. He still makes and occassional film and appears in theater plays. He recently finished the western “The Last Ride” with Pierre Birce uniting the East and West German Indian actors. Today we celebrate Gojko Mitic's 70th birthday.

Happy 65th Birthday Sasha D'Arc

Born Ante Marich Darko on June 12, 1945 in Zagreb, Yugoslavia he first appeared on screen in “Najduzi put di” in 1976. A character actor his stage name is Sasha D'Arc and he's still active in Italian and International films. Among his list of some 50 films is one Euro-western 1994's “Troublemakers” with Terence Hill and Bud Spencer. Today we celebrate Sasha D'Arc's 65th birthday.

Remembering Stole Aranđjelović

Stojan Aranđjelović was born on June 12, 1930 in Belgrade, Yugoslavia. He became one of the greatest character actors in Yugoslavian film history. Stojan first appeared on film in 1950 and his career would continue until 1993. He often appeared under his nickname Stole Aranđjelović and made more than 120 film and TV appearances in his more than 40 year career. When the Karl May Films began using Yugoslavia for their settings his talents were called upon and he appeared as a villain in three of the Winnetou movies: “Frontier Hellcat” and “Last of the Renegades” both in 1964 and “Rampage at Apache Wells” (1965). In 1983 he received a lifetime achievement award from the Yugoslavian Film Commission. Stojan died in Belgrade on April 8, 1993. Today we remember Stojan Aranđjelović on what would have been his 80th birthday.