Franco Nero announces new Spaghetti Western!

Italian Actor Franco Nero Says He’s Making A Spaghetti Western With Quentin Tarantino.
Keith Carradine & Treat Williams Also Said To Be Involved.

Speaking recently at the Los Angeles Italian festival where his latest effort, Pasquale Squitieri‘s “Father” made its world premiere, actor Franco Nero revealed his next project is a spaghetti western boasting some intriguing names including the aforementioned helmer who is a huge fan of the genre.

“The film will be called ‘The Angel, The Bad And The Wise’ and is a tribute to Sergio Leone. It’s a movie that contains humor, lots of action, but also a great plot,” Nero said (via Movieplayer). “We have already been signed by a dozen people who will be part of project. Among the filmmakers involved include Quentin Tarantino , Keith Carradine, Treat Williams, fifteen people in all Americans who want to do this movie and so we are trying to produce it outside of Italy.”

Other than that, details on this potential project are scarce and it sounds like it’s still coming together. No word yet on who is directing the film, though the casting seems right out of the Tarantino playbook. And as fans of the director might recall, in 2009 during the press rounds for ‘Basterds,’ Tarantino expressed a desire to take on a Western though he said he didn’t even have a concept for a film in place and that it was too early to determine what his next film might be. So at this point, it remains to be seen if it’s just a project that Tarantino will pop his head in—like “Sukiyaki Western Django”—or if his involvement will be bigger than that.

As for why the film is being produced in the United States, Nero explains, “In the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s in Italy were the real producers, who produced the film that brought only if the author considered them interesting. Now all the films are produced by television and when you go to propose a project officer to Rai or Mediaset [they] say ‘this scene is too strong, can not go to 8.30 or 9.00 in the evening on TV.”

We presume more news will start trickling out but the prospect of a Tarantino-directed spaghetti Western is pretty exciting stuff but again, his involvement in the project is yet to be formally confirmed at this point.


[Don't get too excited by this news. This could be the long planned(?), talked about Enzo Castellari project that has continued for a decade or more. Every two years or so we get an update on this project, a producer is announced along with participants and then nothing ever happens. We'll keep our fingers crossed but seeing is believing. TB]

4 CAME TO KILL SARTANA

E vennero in quattro per uccidere Sartana! - Italian title
Sou Sartana... venham em quatro oara morrer - Brazilian title
Sartana’s Haevn - Danish title
Quatre pour Sartana - French title
Sie kamen zu viert, um zu töten... - German title
Sartana, o atromitos ekdikitis - Greek title
Sartana, el pistolero invincible - Spanish title
Y vinieron cuatro... para mater a Sartana - Spanish title
Sartana the Invincible Gunman - English title
They Came to Kill Sartana - English title
The Four Who Came to Kill Sartana - English title
4 Came to Kill Sartana - English title

A 1969 Italian film [Tarquinia Film (Rome)]
Producer: M.R. Valenza (Mila Rosa Valenza)
Director: Miles Deem (Demofilo Fidani)
Story: Miles Deem (Demofilo Fidani)
Screenplay: Demofilo Fidani, Luigi Glachin, Mila Vitelli (Mila Vilenza)
Cinematography: Luciano Tovoli [Eastmancolor, widescreen]
Music: Italo Fischetti
Running time: 95 minutes

Cast:
Link/Sartana - Jeff Cameron (Goffredo Scarciofolo)
Susy Prescott - Simone Blondell (Simonetta Vitelli)
Silky - Dennis Colt (Benito Pacifico)
Buffalo - Robert Dannish (Roberto Danesi)
Ramirez - Celso Faria
Sullivan - Peter Torres (Pietro Torrisi)
Frank Colonny/’The Mormon’ - Anthony G. Stanton (Franco Ricci)
Von Krassel - Umi Raho (Umberto Raho)
Fanny - Grazia Giuvi
Donovan - Frank Fargas (Paolo Figlia)
Benson - Paul Carter (Paolo Magalotti)
Tom - Gualtiero Rispoli
Von Krassel’s woman - Mariella Palmich
with: Giuseppe Alizeri, Mario Cappuccio, Luciano Conti, Custer Gail (Amerigo Leoni), Anna Liberati, Alessandro Mallegri, Giovanna Melani, Sergio Pardini, Luciano Tessieri

Seven masked bandits, lead by an outlaw called ‘the Mormon’ kidnaps young Susy Prescott, cousin of the Mayor of the City of Clayton, Frank Colonny. They demand $15,000 ransom, Frank decides to agree: once Susy is freed Sheriff Benson and his men immediately attack the outlaw gang and exterminate them. Four of the outlaws manage to escape. Benson calls in the aid of the dreaded Sartana, to whom ‘The Mormon’ tries to get rid of by using four assassins, Buffalo, a master in the use of the whip; Martinez, an expert knife thrower; Sullivan, a fighter with Herculean strength; Silky, a gunslinger of unsurpassed skill. Sartana easily defeats the first two would be assassins, no better fate comes to Sullivan. Reaching the hideout of ‘The Mormon’, who is preparing to flee, Sartana discovers that the outlaw chief is none other than Frank Colonny, mayor of Clayton City who he captures and turns over to the sheriff. Sartana then faces Silky in a final duel managing to kill him.

Spaghetti Western Locations

Continuing with locations from “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly”. After Blondie and Tuco’s battle with the cannons, Tuco is sent flying with Blondie’s last salvo. He ends up rolling and hitting his head on a large flat rock. He looks up and determines it’s a grave marker (that marker now flat with the surrounding ground is still there). Tuco get’s to his feet and he and the audience get their first glimpse of Sad Hill Cemetery. This cemetery, with thousands of graves, was built for Sergio Leone by the Spanish Army. Dirt was brought in and made into mounds. The mounds are smaller the further you are from the center of the cemetery. This gives the effect of an even more enormous cemetery. Since the dirt was brought in it contained seeds not indigenous to the area and now the graves are covered with a different ground cover then the surrounding cow pasture. If you drive past the entrance where a monument has been constructed and up the hill behind the location you can look down and see the entire cemetery much as it may have looked when the movie was filmed. No crosses or their remains are left. The stones at the cemetery’s center are now grown over with grass. Still when I was there in 2003 and 2005 we talked in whispers as if this were a real cemetery. Like the Mission San Antonio it is one of the most revered of all Leone locations.

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 Odón Alonso

Spanish composer, conductor Odón Alonso, who was currently the Director of Fall Musical Soriano along with José Manuel Aceña died February 21, 2010, in Madrid. He was 85.

During the closing of the Festival in 2008, the Mayor of Soria, Carlos Martinez, announced that one of the main squares of the city would receive the composer’s name.

Alonso was one of the most important Spanish conductors of the second half of the twentieth century. He conducted the National Orchestra of Spain, the Symphony Orchestra of Spanish Radio & Television (1968-1984), the Philharmonic Orchestra of Málaga (1995 -1999) and the Symphonic Orchestra of Madrid.

Alonso also composed the original scores for films like “Residencia para Espias "(1966) and “El Diablo que vino de Akasawa” (1971), both directed by Jesus Franco. Alonso composed scores for two Euro-westerns “The Coyote” (1955) and “The Justice of the Coyote” (1956). Odón was awarded the Order of Isabel by the Catholic Church and the Gold Medal by UNICEF, among others, and in 1977 was named the best Spanish director of the year by the magazine Record World.

1st Los Angeles Spaghetti Western Festival

Just a reminder for those interested in attending the 1^st Los Angeles Spaghetti Western Festival. The event takes place 3 weeks from today. Early bird discount tickets are on sale until February 28^th . Just click on the link at the right and it will take you to the main page and you can order tickets online.

Thanks to everyone for their support and especially to John Antoniou for his tireless efforts in making this a reality.

4 Rode Out

Cuatro cabalgaron - Spanish title
Oi 4 ektos nomou - Greek title
I quattro sul sentiero disparo - Italian title
Four Rode Out - U.S.A. title

A 1968 U.S.A., Spanish co-production [Ada Films (Madrid), Sagittarius Productions (Hollywood)]
Producers: Richard Landau, Pedro Vidal
Director: John Peyser
Story: Richard Miller
Screenplay: Don Balluck (Donald Balluck), Paul Harrison
Cinematography: Rafael Pacheco (Rafael de Usa) [Eastmancolor, widescreen]
Music: Janis Ian (Janis Fink)
Song: “The Last Time” sung by Janis Ian (Janis Fink)
Running time: 99 minutes

Cast:
Myra Polson - Sue Lyon
Fernando Nunez - Julián Mateos (Julián Pérez)
Marshal Ross - Pernell Roberts
Mr. Brown - Leslie Nielsen
Rosa/Rose - María Martín (María Vargas)
Mr. Polson - Charles Drace
priest - Neil Wright
hotel clerk - Leonard Bell (Leo Belotezki)
livery stable owner - John Clark

Marshal Ross is hunting for a wanted Mexican named Fernando Nunez. He teams ups with Mr. Brown a sleazy bounty hunter who is after the same man and Myra Polson the girlfriend of Nunez. The three disparate characters ride out to the desert where the wanted man is hiding. After his capture, the four must make their way back to town, all the while battling the elements and each other.


YouTube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6E9ud4OR4o

Guess Who I Am

I’m an Italian actor and stuntman. Guess who I am.

I appeared in 17 Euro-westerns between 1962-1985. Guess who I am.

I was sometimes billed under the alias of Nick Anderson. Guess who I am.

Biltmore correctly identified this weeks photo as that of Nazzareno Zamperla.

New DVD Release

It Can Be Done... Amigo!

Director: Maurizio Lucidi
Starring: Jack Palance, Bud Spencer
Label: Wild East Productions Vol. 33
Language: English
Aspect Ratio: 16x9, Anamorphic 2:35-1, widescreen, NTSC
Subtitles: None
Sound: Stereo
Running time: 109 minutes
Extras: U.S. and German trailers, picture gallery, alternate English credits
Release date: February 25, 2011

THE 4 GUNMEN OF THE HOLY TRINITY

I quattro pistoleri di Santa Trinità - Italian title
Cuatro pistoleros de Santa Trinidad - Spanish title
Les 4 pistoleros de Santa Trinità - French title
4 Pistols for Trinity - English title
The 4 Gunmen of the Holy Trinity - U.S.A. title

A 1970 Italian production [Buton Film (Rome)]
Producer: Umberto Russo
Director: Giorgio Cristallini
Story: Giorgio Cristallini
Screenplay: Giorgio Cristallini
Cinematography: Alessandro D’Eva [Eastmancolor, widescreen]
Music: Robert Pregadio
Song: “Julie” sung by Peter Boom
Song: “It Was a Joke” sung by Valeria Fabrizi
Running time: 107 minutes

Cast:
George Shelley/Lincoln - Peter Lee Lawrence (Karl Hirenbach)
Julia - Evelyn Stewart (Ida Galli)
Marshal Thomas - Phillipe Hersent (Bernard Koowots)
Thompson - Daniele Vargas (Daniele Pitani)
Quinn’Frenchie’ Parody/Paradne - Umberto Raho
Sarah Bowman/Baldwin - Daniela Giordano
Parody henchman - Ralph Baldwin (Raffalle Baldassare)
Adeline Martinez - Valeria Fabrizi
Papa Maritnez - Mimmo Maggio (Vincente Maggio)
Doctor Barrett - Raymond Bussieres
Ned - Salvator Furnari
Ana - Antonella Murgia
with: Paul Oxon, Tonino Pierfederici (Antonio Pierfederici), Filippo Antonelli, Antonio Buonomo, Katia Cardinali, Bernadette Frank, Giglio Gigli, Luigi Mannoia, Alessandro Perella, Aldo Sala, Marcello Tamborra

Escapeing the massacre of her family, by a gang of outlaws, who want to steal the property rights to their mine, the young Sarah Bowman is rescued by a journalist, George Shelley, and a federal marshal, Thomas, is travelling incognito trying to expose a gang of arms dealers, headed by a Frenchman. The three meet Father Martinez at an inn, on the borders of an Indian reservation, where a man name Quinn Parradine arrives. Parradine and his henchmen are wanted by the sheriff, for selling a cargo of arms to the Indians, and is the leader of the outlaw gang that wants Sara’s deed to the ownership of the Bowman mine. Quinn captures the inhabitants of the inn and wounds Thomas, but George manages to foil Quinn’s plans and eliminates him and the members of his gang.

Dan Van Husen Coming to Almeria

Veteran Euro-western actor DAN VAN HUSEN will visit Almeria between April 14 - 17, 2011.

Dan has appeared in twenty four western films in the years 1968-1975 among others he’s been directed by Sergio Corbucci, Sergio Martino, Enzo G. Castellari, Duccio Tessari, Giuliano Carnimeo , John Guillermin , Sam Wanamaker etc. and then he branched out to diverse roles and genres.

A two day program with visits to some filming locations will be organized by ALMERIA FILM TOURS from Germany in cooperation with local friends.

For further information: maderadura@hotmail.de

Breaking News: El Cortijo del Fraile designated a Cultural Site

El Cortijo del Fraile and is a Site of Cultural Interest


The Governing Council has agreed to enroll in the General Catalogue of the Andalusian Historical Heritage, with the title Historic Site, the place where Lorca was inspired to write 'Blood Wedding'

Today in response to the historical demand of the province of Almería: the protection of Cortijo del Fraile, in Níjar. The Governing Council of the Board agreed this morning to enroll it in the General Catalogue of the Andalusian Historical Heritage, as an Historic Site. This complex, dating from the eighteenth century, is closely linked to the play 'Blood Wedding' by poet and playwright Federico García Lorca, who was inspired by the passionate crime occurred at the site to write one of his best known works.

Located within the Natural Park of Cabo de Gata-Nijar, the enclave will be protected today as a Cultural Location (BIC) it is also a milestone for the unique landscape it provides a contrast of their groves, cisterns and wells in an arid environment and low vegetation. The decree declared a Historic Site delimits an area of 15,576 square meters, which includes farm buildings and infrastructures of water supply (wells and boreholes), three of which were paved with round or elliptical mortar. The rule also provides additional security for the environment of 212,416 meters square around the farm.

Besides its literary and artistic interest, which still evokes the memory of a traditional rural culture based on the values of the class and honor, the Cortijo del Fraile is also an outstanding example of rural architecture of the southeastern Almería agricultural and farming, typology Levantine.

Although 'Blood Wedding', released in 1933, added new characters and scenarios, the place is part of the symbolic itinerary of places dedicated to the memory of Lorca. Almeria journalist and writer Carmen de Burgos' Colombine ', based his book on the Níjar crime, which occurred at the farm, to write ‘Puñal de claveles’.

The Ministry of Culture started this process, through the Directorate General of Cultural Property in March 2010. Paulino Plata and the counselor left on his first visit to Almeria culminating late in the first quarter of 2011 or early in the second. "The delegations of Government and Culture negotiated with the owners a possible swap to pass the land into public hands and then undertake a reclamation project," he said.

In this respect, spoke just days ago the Delegate of Culture, Yolanda Alley. "The Andalusian government is negotiating with the landlord, but it is private property and it will have to be seen how far they want to go, everyone understands that the property has value," she stated.

According to the Spanish Historical Heritage Act, the statutory declaration called a Cultural is a protection that, in this case applies to a place or natural area, linked to events or memories of the past, folk traditions, cultural creations or nature, and man's works, which have historical, ethnological, palaeontological or antropolótico. Rio Tinto Mines, Huelva, are Historic Site.

Property Details

El Cortijo del Fraile was built by Dominican friars of Almeria in the eighteenth century as a center of a major farm with olive trees and vines. During the confiscation of Mendizábal in 1836, the estate was divided and passed into the hands of several owners who eventually sold it to a bourgeois family who built the shrine Almeria and used it as a family vault to 80.

The total constructed area has a large trapezoidal, with spaces that are organized around a large central courtyard patio and where the landlord's house and the chapel are clearly distinguishable from the houses of the tenants and the pastor, who stayed near the agroganaderas.

The cottage is built with masonry walls covered with plaster stucco and roofed with planks and mud mortar with tile or alfarjes curve. The chapel that stands is special for its size, rectangular in shape, with a barrel vault and a pitched roof, and a small bell tower.

The location was used in several Euro-westerns including; “For a Few Dollars More”, “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” and “A Bullet for the General” among others.

4 OF THE APOCALYPSE

I quattro dell’apocalise - Italian title
Os quatro do Apocalipse - Brazilian title
Chaco - Dutch title
Chaco - Teloittaja - Finnish title
Vainotut - Finnish title
Les quatre de l’apocalupse - French title
Verdammt zu leben - verdammt zu sterben! - German title
Dyo... alla yperohio - Greek title
Siste vogn fra Salt City - Norwegian title
Czterech jezdzców Apokalipsy - Polish title
Los cuatro del apocalipsis - Spanish title
Chaco - Banditen - Swedish title
Four Gunmen of the Apocalypse - English title
4 of the Apocalypse - English title

A 1974 Italian production [Coralta Cinematografica (Rome)]
Producer: Piero Donati
Director: Lucio Fulci
Story: Francis Brett Harte
Screenplay: Ennio De Concini, Luico Fulci
Cinematography: Sergio Salvati [Eastmancolor, widescreen]
Music: Bixio, Frizzi, Tempera (Franco Bixio, Fabio Fabrizi, Vincenzo Tempera)
Songs: “Movin’ On”, “Bunny (Let’s Stay Together)”, “Was it All in Vain”, “Let Us Pray”, Stubby (You’re Down and Out)”, sung by The Cook & Benjamin Franklin Group
Running time: 105 minutes

Cast:
Stubby Preston - Fabio Testi
Emanuela ‘Bunny’ O’Neill - Lynne Frederick
Chaco - Thomas Milian (Tomás Rodríguez)
Clem - Michael J. Pollard (Michael J. Pollack)
Butt/Buck/Bud Wilson - Harry Baird
Sheriff of Salt Flat - Donald O’Brien (Donal O’Brien)
Reverend Sullivan - Adolfo Lastretti
Lemmy - Bruno Corazzari
doctor - Giorgio Trestini
Montana - Charles Borromel (Carlo Borromeo)
Saul - Giorgio Trentini
recovering man - Salvatore Puntillo
Mormon girl - Lone Ferk
tortured sheriff - Lorenzo Robledo
gunman - Claudio Ruffini
gambler - Goffredo Unger
saloon patron - Massimo Ciprari
narrator - Edward Mannix
with: Alfonso Rojas (Alfonso González)

The film follows the adventures and travels of four petty criminals in 1873 Utah. They include a gambler and swindler named Stubby Preston. A pregnant prostitute named Bunny O'Neal. A drunkard named Clem, and a mentally disturbed man, named Bud, who's obsessed with the dead. The four travel aimlessly through the Utah badlands looking for food, water and people to swindle, all the while they are harassed by a villainous Mexican bandit, named Chaco, whom Stubby vows revenge after the bandit sexually assaults Bunny.


YouTube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCdIQx2ElYc

Presidents Day 2011

Happy 50th Birthday Christopher Atkins

Christopher Atkins Bomann was born on February 21, 1961 in Rye, New York. During high school he worked as a lifeguard and a sailing instructor, where he was discovered and offered the lead in the “Blue Lagoon” (1980) with Brooke Shields. He then made “The Pirate Movie” (1982) with Kristy MacNichol. In 1983 he appeared in “A Night in Heaven” with Lesley Ann Warren. He appeared on numerous magazine covers including September 1982 Playgirl. During the ‘90s he drifted into made for TV movies and direct to video films. During this time he appeared in two made for TV Euro-westerns filmed in South Africa “Guns of Honor” (1993) and “Trigger Fast” (1994) as Captain Dusty Fog. In 2007 he starred in the direct to DVD “100 Million BC” and in 2008 the Euro-western “I Am Somebody”. Chris married Lyn Barron in 1985 and the couple had two children, Grant and actress Brittney Bomann [1987- ], before they divorced. Today we celebrate Christopher Atkins 50th birthday.

Happy 70th Birthday Judith Dornys

Judith Dornys was born on February 21, 1941 in Budapest, Hungary. At an early age she took dance and ballet lessons. By 1959 she was the youngest prima ballerina at the Metropolitan Opera in Berlin and received the critics prize from the Association of German Critics Association. At this time she also began her film career. Most of her roles were as window dressing. She appeared in 1959 on TVs “The Gene Kelly Show” and her last appearance was in 1969's “The Viking Who Became a Bigamist”. In her ten year film career she appeared in 12 films among which was one Euro-western, 1964's “Legend of a Gunfighter” starring Thomas Fritsch and directed by Rolf Olsen. Today we celebrate Judith Dornys 70th birthday.

$4.00 OF REVENGE

Quattro dollari di vendetta - Italian title
4 dollari di vendetta - Italian title
Cuatro dólares de venganza - Spanish title
4 dólares de venganza - Spanish title
Quatre dollars de vengeance - French title
Ta tessera dollaria tis ekdikiseos - Greek title
4 dolares de vingança - Portuguese title
4 dollar för hämnden - Swedish title
$4.00 for Vengeance - English title
$4.00 of Revenge - English title

A 1965 Spanish, Italian co-production [P.C. Balcázar (Barcelona), Societa Ambrosiana Cinematografica (Rome)]
Producer: Alfonso Balcázar
Director: Jaime Jesus Balcázar (Jaime Granda)
Story: Bruno Corbucci, Aldo Grimaldi (Arnaldo Grimaldi)
Screenplay: Bruno Corbucci, Aldo Grimaldi (Arnaldo Grimaldi)
Cinematography: Victor Monreal (Victor Sarto), Clemente Santoni [Eastmancolor, Techniscope]
Music: Angelo Lavagnino, Benedetto Ghiglia
Song: “Let Him Go” sung by ?
Running time: 89 minutes

Cast:
Captain/Lieutenant Roy Dexter - Robert Wood (Robert Woods)
Mercedes Spencer - Ghia Arlen (Dana Ghia)
Barry Haller - Angelo Infanti
General/Colonel Jackson - Antonio Casas (Antonio Barros)
Manuel de Losa - José Manuel Martín (José Pérez)
Hamilton - Gérard Tichy (Gérard Wondzinski)
Dave Clifford - Antonio Molino Rojo
Pedro - Tomás Torres
Hamilton’s secretary - Osvaldo Genazzani
Banyon - Lucio Rosato
Mexican - Juan Torres
deputy - Ángel Lombarte
Thompson - Luis del Pueblo
Mr. Spencer - Carlos Ronda
shop owner - Francisco Nieto
tribunal president - Sergio Doré
defense attorney - Miguel de la Riva
with: Gardenia Polito, Giulio Maculani, Gian Luigi Crescenzi, Gustavo Re, Robert Hoot, Renato Baldini, E. Bianchi (Eleanora Bianchi)

Lieutenant Roy Dexter and Barry Haller, both in love with Mercedes Spencer, are part of a military garrison stationed in Hueco City in the years immediately following the Civil War. On returning from a mission, the two friends decided to ask the girl who she intends to marry between the two and the choice falls on Roy. Lieutenant Dexter is ordered to immediately leave and escort a cargo of gold. Barry promises to take good care of Mercedes in Dexter’s absence. During the trip, however, the patrol is attacked and the gold is stolen. Roy is injured. But quickly recovers and prepares to celebrate his wedding to Mercedes. He is arrested and sentenced to death on charges of having been in league with the bandits and the robbery of the gold shipment. The intervention of Barry gets the commutation of the sentence to life in prison. Roy escapes the guardhouse and returns to town under a false name. After a clever evasion, Roy manages to infiltrate the outlaw gang and discover who is responsible for all the criminal acts for which he has been accused. Backed by Colonel Jackson, commander of the fort, who is not convinced of Roy’s guilt, Lieutenant Dexter proves his innocence and it is Barry who is found to be a part of the gang and the guilty party.

Happy 90th Birthday Conrado San Martin

Conrado San Martin Prieto was born on February 20, 1921 in Higuero de las Dueñas, Ávila, Spain. He was an amateur boxer before beginning his acting career. His first film was “Oro vil” (1941). During the 1940s Conrado acted in films and on stage performing with the Society of Cayetano Luca de Tena. In 1950 he starred in “PO Box 1001" directed by Julio Salvador. The success of this film led to him starring in dozens of Spanish films during the rest of the decade. In the 1960s his career began to decline after the failure of his production company, Laurus Films. He appeared in Nicholas Ray’s “King of Kings” (1961) as General Pompey. When the Spaghetti western genre became big he helped produce several co-productions. He appeared in six Euro westerns: “In a Colt’s Shadow” (1965), “The Long Days of Vengeance”, “Turn... I’ll Kill You” both in 1967, “Once Upon a Time in the West” (1968), “Duck You Sucker” (1971) and “Al este de oeste” (1984). In the late 1970s he returned to acting combining appearances in films and television. He was awarded the Silver Frames award in 1997 and the Cinema Writers Circle award in 2003 for his lifetime achievement in the film industry. Today we celebrate Conrado San Martin’s 90th birthday.

RIP Johan du Plooy

Veteran South African actor Johan du Plooy has died at the age of 84. He passed away at the Florida Hospital in Roodepoort, Johannesburg, South Africa on the early hours of Thursday morning. Johan is best known for his parts in films such as “Dirkie”, “Oupa for Sale” and the western “They Call Me Lucky”.

Johan du Plooy’s grandson, also Johan, who shares his name, said his grandfather acted in about 80 films during his career. “He was a very upstanding person and loved by his family and also loved by the guys at the SABC,” said his grandson.

[Johan du Plooy and Jaime Uys pictured above]

Spaghetti Western Locations

Continuing with locations for “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly”. While Blondie is attending to a dying Confederate soldier they have located in a bombed out church. Tuco makes a break to separate himself and locate Sad Hill ahead of his companion. Running across a plane towards the cemetery Blondie slows his progress by shooting off a cannon at him which sends him sailing through the air. In a sequence not used in the final print, Tuco fires a cannon back at Blondie. Blondie’s second shot sends Tuco airborne and he comes to rest against a tombstone at the edge of the vast cemetery. This location in a cow pasture now marked with a sign stating “Cemeterio de Sad Hill”. Recently a monument has been erected and was dedicated by Aldo Sambrell and Frank Brana, participants in the film as members of Angel Eyes gang.

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 100th Birthday to Enzo Petito

Vincenzo Squatriti was born in Naples, Italy on February 19, 1911. He began his acting career in the theater with Eduardo De Filippo. Although never a major film actor he did appear in a number of small character roles in the 1960s as Enzo Petito. His most remembered role was as the gunshop owner in the “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” (1966). Apparently Enzo moved to Spain and became a naturalized citizen of Spain. I can find no report of his death so today we celebrate Enzo Petito’s 100th birthday.

Remembering Joe Schorn

Josef-Peter Schorn was born on February 19, 1911 in Aachen, Germany. His first film appearance was in 1953's “Das kleine und das große Glück” where he played a chauffeur. Joe as he became known as would go on to appear in over 35 films and television appearances until his retirement in 1976. Joe was also an accomplished singer and the father of actress Uta Schorn [1947- ]. Joe appeared in three East German westerns, “Tecumseh” (1972), “Ulzana” and “Kit & Co” both in 1974. Today we celebrate what would have been Joe Schorn’s 100th birthday.

Guess Who I Am

I’m an Italian actor born in 1926. Guess who I am.

Fatman correctly identified this week's photo as that of Riccardo Garrone.

4 CANDLES FOR MY COLT

Un colt por 4 cirios - Spanish title
La mia colt to cerca... 4 ceri ti attendono - Italian title
Verinen saalis - Finnish title
Armottomat - Finnish title
4 salopards pour Garringo - French title
Trinita, o gios tou Diavolou - Greek title
De hänsynslösa - Swedish title
Four Candles for Garringo - English title
My Colt not Yours - English title
4 Candles for My Colt - English title

A 1971 Spanish, Italian co-production [I.F.I.S.A. (Barcelona), Seven Star Kiber Cinematografica (Rome)]
Producers: Ignacio F. Iquino (Ignacio Farrés Iquino), Julio de la Fuente
Director: Steve McCoy (Ignacio Iquino)
Story: Lou Carrigan (Antonio Ramirez)
Screenplay: Jackie Kelly (Juliana de la Fuente), Steve McCoy (Ignacio Iquino)
Cinematography: Tony Sinclair (Antonio Lopez Balesteros, Jr.) [Eastmancolor, widescreen]
Music: Henry Soteh (Enrique Sotés)
Running time: 91 minutes

Cast:
Sherff Frank/Steve/Garringo - Robert Woods
Oswald - Cris Huerta (Crisanto Brieva)
Rogers - Vidal Molina (Mariano Molina)
Mulligan - Fernando Rubio
Farley - Antonio Molino Rojo
Velda/Berta Farley - Mary Martin/Susy Martino (María Vargas)
Elaine Farley - Olga Homar (Olga Omar)
Jim/Tim - Luis Ciges (Luis Martinez)
Deputy Gonzales - Indio Gonzales (Gaspar González)
deputy - Esteban Dalmases
saloon girls - Raquel Barleycorn/July Kaplan, Irene D’Astrea, Francoise Duchamp, Carmen Gallen (Carmen Guardion)
with: Johnny ‘El Corso’, Ricardo Moyán, Francisco Márquez, Isidro Novellas, César Ojinaga, Maika Orero, Fernando de Miragaya, Giorgio Stefanelli, Francois Duchamp, Fernando Rubio, Ángel Lombardte

A gang led by an unscrupulous banker named Oswald, assaults a gold shipment of tax money headed for the state capitol. After the robbery the boss portions off the booty among his men. However, one of them, Farley, decides to keep most of the money and during the celebration after the robbery he steals the gold but is found dead the following morning. Rogers and his girlfriend Berta , the ex-lover of the Sheriff, are suspected of masterminding the robbery in order to run off with it. Rogers seeks help from the sheriff and implores him to protect him and Berta. The sheriff believing Rogers is the leader of the gang decides to protect him while investigating the robbery and finding evidence to convict him. Hangings, gunfights and beatings follow in the mayhem to bring the crook to justice.

YouTube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuzpXLnVh7g

Happy 80th Birthday Rolf Losansky

Rolf Losansky was born on February 18, 1931 in Frankfurt, Germany. He is the son of painter and writer Alfred Losansky and his wife Louis who was a nurse. After Rolf attended school in Frankfurt and Krumbach he completed an apprenticeship in Frankfurt at the Workers and Peasants Faculty [1950-1953]. He could not decide on a profession and studied medicine for three semesters at Humbolt University in Berlin. As an assistant in Pioneer Park in Berlin he organized major events and festivals. He earned his degree in 1960 and became an assistant director under Frank Beyer and Günter Reisch before his film debut “Mystery of the 17" in 1963. He then contracted with DEFA Studio and turned out feature films. He became interested in making films for children with both animation and fairy tales. He directed an homage to the Gojko Mitic Indian films with his only Euro-western “The Long Ride from School” (1982). He now tours and gives lectures and seminars on film writing. Today Rolf lives in Potsdam and has two children. Today we celebrate Rolf Losansky’s 80th birthday.

RIP Jeannette Batti

French actress Jeannette Batti passed away on February 10, 2011 in Courbevoie, a suburb of Paris, France. She was 89. Born Henriette Eugénie Genot on September 6, 1921 in Marseille, France she began appearing in films in 1945 and made more then 35 films until her retirement in 1983. Two of her best known films were “Le Père Noël est une ordure” with Bourvil and Jean Gabin and the musical “Trois de la Canebière” both in 1956. Jeannette would go on to appear in four TV series and TV movies between 1968 and 1983. Batti also appeared on stage in operettas and plays. She met actor singer Henri Genes [1919-2005] in 1948 and they were soon married. They appeared together many times in film and theater. Jeanette appeared in one Euro-western as Mrs. Bridleford in “River Pirates of the Mississippi” (1963) credited as Jeannette Batty, with Brad Harris and Horst Frank.

Happy 75th Birthday Jim Brown

James Nathaniel Brown was born on February 17, 1936 on St. Simons Island, Georgia, U.S.A. Jim’s father was a boxer while his mother worked as a housekeeper. At the age of eight he moved to Manhasset, New York. Brown attended Manhasset Secondary School where he earned 13 letters in lacrosse, baseball, basketball, and track. Jim attended Syracuse University where he became an All-American football player. He also continued to play lacrosse, basketball and track. After college Jim played professional football for the Cleveland Browns where he set NFL records for most yards in a single season and in a career, before retiring at the age of 29. He then became an actor appearing in such action films as “Rio Conchos” (1964), “The Dirty Dozen” (1967) and “...tick...tick...tick” (1970). During his film career he appeared in four Euro-westerns, “100 Rifles”, “El Condor” both in 1969, “Take a Hard Ride” (1975) and “Kid Vengeance” (1977). Brown has continued to appear in films, now only occasionally, with his last appearance being in 2010's “Dream Street”. Jim was inducted into the Professional Football Hall of Fame in 1971 and The Sporting News named him the greatest football player of All-Time. He was inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1983. Jim spends most of his time working with gang intervention programs. Today we celebrate Jim Brown’s 75th birthday.

Happy 90th Birthday Herbert Köfer

Herbert Köfer was born on February 17, 1921 in Berlin, Germany. After studying at the acting school at the German Theater from 1940-1941 he made his first stage appearance. From 1945-1947 Herbert appeared at the New Berlin Art Theater. In 1950-1952 he worked at the Deutsches Theater. In 1952 Köfer became the first TV news broadcaster and would go on to become a comedian and TV actor. He often worked as a voice dubber on foreign films appearing in Germany and on German radio. Herbert is the father of actress Mirjam Köfer [1973- ]. Köfer appeared in one Euro-western as Mac in 1972's “Tecumseh”. He wrote his autobiography in 2008 entitled Nie war es so verrückt wie immer.... Today we celebrate Herbert Köfer’s 90th birthday.

Remembering Raf Vallone

Raffaele 'Raf' Vallone was born the son of a lawayer in Tropea, Italy on Febraury 17, 1916. Vallone attended Liceo classico Cavour in Turin and studied Law and Philosophy at the University of Turin. He then worked at his fathers law firm. He played professional soccer in Series A for Turin which won the Italian Cup during the 1935-1936 season. He then became the editorial head of cultural section of L’Unita the official newspaper of the Italian Communist Party while also a film a drama critic for La Stampa a Turin newspaper. During World War II he served with the Communist resistance.

Raf’s first film appearance was in “We The Living” (1942) as a sailor. He was then cast as a soldier in “Riso Amaro” (aka “Bitter Rice”) (1949). This launched him into an International career. Vallone was married to actress Elena Varzi [1920- ] from 1952 until his death. They had three children among which two Eleonora Vallone [1953- ] and Saverio are actors. Raf Vallone appeared in one Euro-western “Cannon for Cordoba” (1970). Raf died on October 31, 2002. Today we celebrate what would have his 95th birthday.

4 BULLETS FOR JOE

Cuatro balazos - Spanish title
Sonaron cuatro balazos - Spanish title
Il vendicatore di Kansas City - Italian title
Si udirono quattro colpi di fucile - Italian title
4 balles pour Joë - French title
Lännen kostaja - Finnish title
Der Rächer von Golden Hill - German title
Shots Ring Out - English title
4 Bullets for Joe - U.S.A. title

A 1963 Spanish, Italian, French co-production [C. Fénix Films (Madrid), Silver Bem (Rome), Eurocine (Paris)]
Producer: Santos Alcocer
Director: Agustin Navarro
Story: Fernando Galiana, Julio Porter
Screenplay: Fernando Galiana (Fernando Cavanillas), Julio Porter, Vittorio Vighi (Vittoriano Vighi), Mario Guerra, José Mallorquí (José Figuerola)
Cinematography: Ray Torres (Ricardo Núñez) [Eastmancolor, widescreen]
Music: Manuel Parada (Manuel de la Puente)
Song: “Sonaron cuatro balazos” sung by ‘Ferrusquilla’ (José Espinosa)
Running time: 80 minutes

Cast:
Sheriff Paul - Fred Canow (Fernando López)
Frank Dalton - Paul Piaget
Margaret - Barbara Nelly (Barbara Nelli)
Albert - Fernando Montes
Katy Dalton - Liz Poiter (Angela Poitel)
John - Frank Morán (Francisco Ruiz)
Helen - Ángela Cavo
Henry - John Marco (José Rosselo)
Dr. Albert - Fernando Montes
Richard - José Riesgo (José Cortina)
Nick - Luigi Del Pizzo
barman - Juan Cazalilla
Herrero - Tito García (Tito Gonzalez)
Jim - Miguel del Castillo
banker - Tullio Altamura
deputy shriff - Juan Cortés (Esteban Herrero),
jurymen - Bruno Scipioni, Rafael Bardem (Rafael Solé)
drunk - ‘Ferrusquilla’ (José Espinosa)

Katy Dalton is sentenced to be hanged for killing the man with whom she was leaving the country. After the verdict is given she makes a desperate attempt to escape the courtroom and ends up under the wheels of a wagon and dies declaring her innocence. Her brother Frank, a famous gunman, arrives to avenge her. Coincidentally with his arrival, a series of mysterious murders begins, the victims of which are the jurors who voted for the condemnation of Katy. The sheriff investigates, not entirely convinced that the culprit is Frank. He discovers clues leading him to suspect his best friend John, who eventually confesses that he has been the killer, out of jealousy over Katy, and that he wished to avenge her death by killing the jurors who had convicted her of the murder. The sheriff realizes that John is insane and tries to arrest him. John escapes and is mortally wounded by Frank. Before dying he asks forgiveness from everyone.

YouTube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7A_V_kyohLg&feature=related

Once Upon a Time In Italy - Professor Sir Christopher Frayling

Once Upon a Time in Italy – The Westerns of Sergio Leone: Sir Christopher Frayling

Fri 18 Mar 2011 @ 7:30 p.m.

In this talk, based on his subsequent book Sergio Leone – Once Upon A Time in Italy (2005), and illustrated with many clips, Christopher Frayling will discuss Leone’s groundbreaking Westerns. Enthralled by the myths of the American West, Leone set out to make films that were ‘fairy tales for grown ups’, packed with quotes from moments of his favorite films.

A Fistful of Dollars (1964) kick-started the remarkable Spaghetti Western phenomenon, smashing all box office records in Italy and becoming a huge international success. Leone’s style and vision evolved through the ‘Dollars Trilogy’ – A Fistful of Dollars, For a Few Dollars More (1965) and The Good, The Bad and the Ugly (1966) – culminating with the extraordinary Once Upon A Time in the West (1968), which now regularly appears in critics’ and film makers’ ‘best of’ lists. Leone’s last Western, A Fistful of Dynamite aka Duck, You Sucker (1971), was a ‘late reaction against idealistic Italian “political” Westerns set in the Mexican Revolution’.

Sergio Leone became one of the most popular and influential directors of the Post-War era. Quentin Tarantino has cited Leone as not only his favorite Italian film maker, but also ‘the greatest combination of film stylist – [and] storyteller’. His films were scored unforgettably by Ennio Morricone, and his casting of the character that became known as ‘the Man with No Name’ turned an initially reluctant Clint Eastwood into one of the biggest icons of cinema history.

Link for tickets and pricing http://www.cinemamuseum.org.uk/2010/westerns-sergio-leone-christopher-frayling/#more-1265

Remembering Franco Fabrizi

Franco Fabrizi was born on February 15, 1916 in Cortemaggiore, Picenza, Italy. He was the son of a barber and a cinema cashier. He started out appearing in photo novels when he was 20 years-old. His first major film appearance was in Michelangelo Antonini’s first film “Cronaca di un amore” (1950). He then appeared as Faustus in Federico Fellini’s “I vitelloni” (1953). Critics compared his screen presence to that of Cary Grant but he was never given lead roles. Instead he was only given co-starring or second lead roles whose characters were cowards or blowhards such as in “Gino ne La romano” (1954) directed by Luigi Zampa, “Camilla”, Fellini’s “Il bidone” and “Le amiche” by Antonini all in 1955. His career continued into the 1960s with such films as “Una vita difficile” (1961), “Lo la conoscevo bene” (1965) and “Signore & signon” (1966). His career seemed to stall in the 1970s as he appeared in several genres including two Euro-westerns, “Panhandle .38 (1972) and “Don’t Touch the White Woman” (1974). In the 1980s he found new fame in “Ginger and Fred” (1986). His last film appearance was in “Ricky e Barabba” in 1992. Fabrizi died of cancer on October 18, 1995. Today we celebrate what would have been Franco Fabrizi’s 95th birthday.

RIP David F. Friedman

B-movie producer David F. Friedman has died in Anniston, Alabama at the age of 87.

Friedman's niece, Bridgett Everett, said he died of heart failure Monday morning at a nursing home.

Friedman was an independent movie producer who was credited with helping create "gore" or splatter movies. He produced "Blood Feast" in 1963 for $24,500. His niece says the cult classic ended up netting $6.5 million for him and the other investors. Friedman spent much of his career in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles. He moved to Anniston in 1988 to be near family.

David Friedman was involved in two Euro-westerns, "Nude Django" (1968) as a producer, screenwriter and actor. This film was a revision of his "Brand of Shame" with additional footage added and re-released as "Nude Django" and "The Erotic Adventures of Zorro" (1972) as producer, screenwriter and actor.

Valentine's Day 2011

FORT YUMA GOLD

Per qualche dollari ancora - Italian title
Trois cavaliers pour Fort Yuma - French title
El hombre del sur - Spanish title
Drie ruiters voor Fort Yuma - Belgium title
Kultaa Fort Yumaan - Finnish title
Muutama taala lisää - Finnish title
Tampeko - German title
Tampeko, der Dollar hat zwei Seiten - German title
Blutiger Dollar - German title
Ringo el temerario - Mexican title
Gringo Não Perdoa - Portuguese title
Tre Man Red Vasterut - Swedish title
The Rebel Lieutenant - U.K. title
Još za nekoliko dollara - Yugoslavian title
For a Few Extra Dollars - U.S.A. title
Die Now Pay Later - U.S.A. title
Fort Yuma Gold - U.S.A. title

A 1966 Italian, French, Spanish co-production [Fida Cinematografica (Rome), Les Productions Jacques Roitfeld (Paris), Época Films S.A. (Madrid)]
Producer: Edmondo Amati
Director: Calvin Jackson Padget (Giorgio Ferroni)
Story: Massimiliano Capriccioli, Sandro Continenza (Alessandro Continenza), Remigo Del Grosso, Guilles Morris Dumoulin, Augusto Finocchi, Leonardo Martin (Leonardo Mendez)
Screenplay: Massimiliano Capriccioli, Sandro Continenza (Alessandro Continenza), Remigo Del Grosso, Guilles Morris Dumoulin, Augusto Finocchi, Ettore Giannini, Leonardo Martín (Leonardo Méndez)
Cinematography: Rafael Pachecho (Rafael de Usa) [Technicolor, Techniscope]
Music: Gianni Ferrio (Giovanni Ferrio), Ennio Morricone
Song: “Don’t Cry Cowboy” sung by ?
Running time: 105 minutes

Cast:
Lieutenant Gary Hammond/Diamond Tampeko - Montgomery Wood (Giuliana Gemma)
Nelson Riggs - Dan Vadis (Constantine Vafiadis)
Connie Brestful - Sophie Daumier (Elisabeth Hugon)
Gordon/Golden 44 - José Calvo (José Selgado)
Captain Lefevre - Ángel del Pozo (Ángel Merino)
Major Saunders - Jacques Sernas
Davis camp colonel - Andrea Bosic (Ignazio Bosic)
Davis camp corporal - Fulvio Mingozi
Sergeant Brian Pitt - Red Carter (Giovanni Pazzafini)
Calvin/Johnny Newman - Men Fury (Furio Meniconi)
Captain Taylor - Lorenzo Robledo
Juko - Benny Reeves (Benito Stefanelli)
Elijah Murdock - Jacques Stany
Corporal Wilson - Rick Piper (Riccardo Pizzuti)
Brian - Antonio Molino Rojo
Sam - José Martin (José Antonio Martin)
Riggs’ henchman - William Spoletini (Guglielmo Spoletini) John Mathews (Gianni Marturano) traitor - Jacques Herlin
Confederate soldier - Paolo Magaloti
saloon patron - Mimmo Poli (Domenico Poli)
Major at Fort Yuma - Alfonso Rojas (Alfonso Gonzalez)
with: Robert Alexander (Roberto Alessandri), Peter Cabot (Pierre Cressoy), Alberto Cevenini, Leonardo Martin (Leonardo Mendez), Juan Cazalilla, Claude Hill, Serge Marquand, Ángel Menendez, Agustin Bescos

Right after the end of the American Civil war. Gary Hammond, a young Confederate lieutenant and POW, is asked by the Colonel in charge of a Union POW camp to accompany two of his men, Captain Lefevre and Sergeant Pitt on a special mission. They must reach and warn the commander of Fort Yuma of an impending attack against it which is being prepared by an ex-Confederate group of the 5th regiment which is Diamond's ex-unit, commanded by major Sanders. The task is very complicated and tricky, because at the same time major Sanders has a different plan - to sneak into Fort Yuma through a mine tunnel from the Red Mines, together with the gang of Nelson Riggs, an infamous villain, and steal a great sum of money. Of course Sanders's men of 5th regiment are doomed. Fort Yuma is very well defended and their purpose is only to divert the attention of the Federal soldiers. Diamond, Lefevre and Pitt begin their dangerous mission and some new elements of the puzzle are added including a beautiful girl aptly named Connie Breastfull.

YouTube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0-4cdbebS0

Remembering Tina Aumont

Maria Christina ‘Tina’ Aumont was born on February 14, 1946 in Beverly Hills, California. Aumont was an actress of French, and Dominican descent. She was the daughter of actors Jean-Pierre Aumont and Maria Montez. At the age of 17, she married actor and film director Christian Marquand in 1963. Tina was an active actress in the 1960s and 1970s who appeared mainly in international films. After making her big screen debut in the movie "Modesty Blaise" in 1966, she had notable performances in the films "Texas Across the River", (1966) with Dean Martin, "A Matter of Time", (1976) with Ingrid Bergman and "Holocaust II", (1980). Aumont appeared in two Euro-westerns “A Man, a Pride, a Vengeance” (1967) and “The Brothers Blue (1973). Tina died from a pulmonary embolism on October 28, 2006 in Port-Vendres, France. Today we remember Tina Aumont on what would have been her 65th birthday.

Spaghetti Western Locations

Continuing our locations for “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly”. As Tuco and Blondie near Sad Hill Cemetery they come across a bombed out church. Inside lies a dying Confederate soldier that Blondie gives him a few puffs on his cigar before he passes. Covering him with his duster Blondie picks up the now familiar poncho and pursues Tuco who has runoff ahead. This location is on the same dirt road you have been following and is now the location of many beehives. You can still find remnants of the building scattered among the grass and pines located inside the cow pasture.

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/