Remembering Ricardo Blasco

Ricardo Blasco Laguna was born on April 30, 1921 in Valencia, Spain. Blasco was a writer and poet and made his debut as a script reader for Cifesa. After working for a time as an assistant to Luis Lucia in film dubbing during the early 1950s he started writing film scripts for the Spanish Film Union. His first job as an assistant director was on 1949's "The Duchess of Benameji" under Lucia. He co-directed his first film in 1954 with "Noches andaluzas" a Spanish, French co-production with Maurice Cloche. Blasco first solo attempt at directing was for "Amor bajo cero" (1960). He would go on to direct over a dozen films and be the assistant director on more two dozen films while writing screenplays for nine films. He was active in the film industry from 1949 until the late 1960s. During this time he directed three Euro-westerns: "Gunfight at Red Sands" (1963) starring Richard Harrison, for which he also wrote the script. "The 3 Swords of Zorro" (1963) starring Guy Stockwell and "Behind the Mask of Zorro" (1966) starring Tony Russel. Blasco retired in Madrid where he passed away in 1994. Today we remember Ricardo Blasco on what would have been his 90^th birthday.

Remembering Phil Brown

Phil Brown was born on April 30, 1916 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. His father was a doctor and the family moved around the country quite a bit during Phil’s youth. Brown attended Stanford University, majoring in Dramatics. After graduation Phil joined the New York Theatre Group and appeared in several plays beginning as a dancer in "Everywhere I Roam". When the group disbanded he, along with several other members headed for Hollywood. Here Brown worked in films and was a founding member of the Actors’ Laboratory. His association with Lab lead to him being blacklisted in 1952 during the McCarthy hearings. Brown was forced to relocate in London where he co-starred with Helen Hayes in a production of the "Glass Menagerie". During his time in England he worked on stage, TV and films where he also became a director. Brown is probably best remembered for his small role as Luke Skywalker’s Uncle Owen in the "Star Wars". During his stay in Great Britain he appeared in two Euro-westerns, "Land Raiders" (1969) and "Valdez is Coming" (1971). Phil returned to the United States in the 1990s and became a regular at Science Fiction Conventions. Brown passed away from pneumonia at the Actors Home in Woodland Hills, California on February 9, 2006. Today we remember Phil Brown on what would have been his 95^th birthday.



Guess Who I Am

I’m an Italian actor and director born April 23 in Rome in 1938. Guess who I am.

My brother Sergio was also a director and actor. Guess who I am.

I appeared in two Euro-westerns in 1967 with Mark Damon and 1968 with Chuck Connors. Guess who I am.

An anonymous poster guessed correctly that this week's photo is that of Franco Citti.

RIP William Campbell

Actor William Campbell died on April 29, 2011 at the Motion Picture Home in Woodland Hills, California. He was 84. Campbell was born October 30, 1926 in Newark, New Jersey. He attended Fagin’s School for Drama and debuted in the 1950 film "The Breaking Point". He would go on to appear in over 80 films and TV appearances and several genre roles, including the roles of Koloth in the ‘Star Trek’ and ‘Star Trek: Deep Space Nine’ episodes TheTrouble withTribbles and Blood Oath. He also appeared in the original series as Treane in The Squire of Gothos". Campbell also appeared in such films as "The High and the Mighty" (1954), "Battle Cry" and "Man Without a Star" both 1955. He sang with Elvis Presley in "Love Me Tender" (1956). On TV he appeared in the movie The Return of the Six-Million-Dollar Man and the Bionic Woman and in an episode of the television series Shazam! and The Wild, Wild West. Campbell appeared in one Euro-western "The Sheriff of Fractured Jaw" as Keeno in 1958.

GOD'S GUN

Diamante Lobo - Italian title

Pistola a Dio - Italian title
Ekdach Haelohim - Israeli title
A Arma divina - Brazilian title
A pistola de Deus - Brazilian title
Villi joukko - Finnish title
Les impitoyables - French title
Der Colt Gottes - German title
To pistoli einai o theos mou - Greek title
Seis balas... una venganza... una oración - Spanish title
El dia de la venganza - Spanish title
Det blodiga gänget - Swedish title
Allahin Silahi - Turkish title
A Bulet from God - English title
God’s Gun - U.S.A. title

A 1976 Isreali, Italian production [Rovi, Golan Globus (Tel-Aviv), Dunamis Cinematografica (Rome)]
Producers: Irwin Yablans, Menahem Golan
Director: Frank Kramer (Gianfranco Parolini)
Story: John Fonseca based on a novel by Sergio Colasanti
Screenplay: Frank Kramer (Gianfranco Parolini)
Cinematography: Sandro Mancori (Alessandro Mancori) [Telecolor]
Music: Sante Maria Romitelli
Running time: 97 minutes

Cast:
Father John - Lee Van Cleef (Clarence Van Cleef, Jr.)
Lewis/’Diamante Lobo’ - Lee Van Cleef (Clarence Van Cleef, Jr.)
Sam Clayton - Jack Palance (Volodymyr Palahnyuk, Jr.)
sheriff - Richard Boone
Johnny O’Hara - Leif Garrett
Jenny O’Hara - Sybil Danning (Sybille Danninger)
Mortimer - Rafi Ben Ami (Rafael Ben-Ami)
Judge Barrett - Heinz Bernard (Heinz Messinger)
Willy - Chin Chin
Angel George - Ricardo David (Ricardo Davo)
Rip - Didi Lukov
Juanita Lewis - Zila Carni
Chesty - Pnina Golan (Pnina Rosenbloom)
Jess Clayton - Robert Lipton
Zeke Clayton - Cody Palance
Red Clayton - Ian Sander
woman on horse - Carolyn Stellar (Carolyn Underwood)

After a bank robbery in Crane City, where several people are killed and the town briefly taken over, Sam Clayton and his gang arrive in the small town Juno City where Father John is the priest of the town church. After having a little bit of fun, the gang leave town only to be caught by father John. Vowing to have revenge, the gang gun him down on the steps of his church and then set about taking control of the town while waiting for the stagecoach.

However, little Johnny manages to escape with a couple of their horses and rides off to Mexico in the hope of finding the priest's brother Lewis ‘Diamante Lobo’, a noted gunman . They soon meet and set off back across the border to clean up the town. Meanwhile Clayton discovers that he is Johnny's father. It seems that some fifteen years ago during the Civil War, Jenny O'Hara had been one of Clayton's rape victims and now Clayton takes to the idea of being a father.

YouTube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSer6VULBzs

Who are Those Guys? - Lee Banner

Lee Banner is an alias used by Italian actor Giulio Baraghini. He appeared in over 25 films from 1970-1994 mainly in crime films and westerns, as mafia thugs, henchmen and other incidental characters. Among his films were seven Euro-westerns. Giulio also produced two films "È mezzanotte, butta giù il cadavere" (1966) and "Tutto sul rosso" (1967). Another of the many character actors little has been written about but whose presence contributed to the Italian western films of the Spaghetti western era.

BANNER, Lee (aka Giulio Barachini) (Giulio Baraghini) [Italian] - producer.
A Man Called Apocalypse Joe - 1970 (Sheriff Floyd)
Holy Water Joe - 1971 (Jim)
Paid in Blood - 1971
The Return of Sabata - 1971 (spectator at duel)
God is My Colt .45 - 1972
Joe Dakota - 1972
Eh Who’s Afraid of Zorro - 1975

GOD ONLY KNOWS!

Dio solo sa - Italian title
Ma il buon Dio e proprio in gamba? - Venezuela title
Solo dios lo sabe - Spanish title
God Only Knows - English title

A 1997 Italian, Venezuelan co-production [Antea (Rome), EDA Cinematografica (Caracas)]
Producer: Enzo D’Ambrosio (Vincenzo D’Ambrosio)
Director: Enzo D’Ambrosio (Vincenzo D’Ambrosio)
Story: Enzio D’Ambrosio (Vincenzo D’Ambrosio)
Screenplay: Enzo D’Ambrosio (Vincenzo D’Ambrosio)
Cinematography: Roberto Gitometti [color]
Music: Giovanni Luisi
Running time: 100 minutes

Cast:
Gary Clemons - Ethan Wayne (John Ethan Wayne)
Bess - Jo Champa (Josephine Chiampa)
Jeremy - Andrey Khalimon (Andrej Khalimon)
Margaret - Valentina Carmona
Lang - Loreto Ricci
Tudor - Hamish Cranfield
Pat - Carlos Delgado
José Luis - Luis Gerardo Núñez
Jewel - Mercedes Moncada
Pedro - Santos Ascanio
Dolores - Carmen González de Lovera
Maria - Carolina Leandro
Naomi - Alexandra de Din
Miguel - Enrique Dorante
Martha - Maria Antonieta De Ardila
Judith - Mira Kugelmann

An outlaw fleeing to Mexico to escape the law finds two orphans of a wagon train massacre and the trio has a number of adventures before the story is resolved.

Remembering Jan Rychlik

Jan Rychlik was born on April 27, 1916 in Prague, Austria-Hungary. An exceptionally educated artist, his interests were many and there were few subjects in which he did not possess an above-average understanding.
Rychlik became a composer through the fault of or thanks to the Second World War. When the Nazis closed the Czech universities and colleges and he was unable to complete his studies at the commercial college, he turned to the conservatory. There he learned the craft of music under the important Czech composer, Professor Jaroslav Ridky. As a professional musician, Rychlik played percussion in the dance orchestra of Karel Vlach, and soon began to compose his own dance songs, utilizing a modern jazz idiom. Rychlik was an accomplished jazz pianist, and also established himself as a skillful writer of criticism, advertisement and scientific writings, as well as public speaking. Ultimately, he scored more than 55 films and 8 plays, in addition to many concert works that included overtures, chamber music, and choral and cantata music.

Rychlik died on January 20, 1964 in Prague, Czechoslovakia at the age of 47. Although his career was cut short at this early age, his name ranks high among Czech composers, and his contribution to film music is equally prominent among Czech cinema. "These are, of course, sparkling, masterly polished jewels of chamber literature," Karel Srom wrote of Rychlik’s classical music. "And like the majority of Rychlik’s works, they too are full of sunshine and joyfully touch on the positive sides of human life." Jan composed the music for only one Euro-western "Lemonade Joe" (1964). Today we remember Jan Rychlik on what would have been his 95^th birthday.

RIP María Isbert

Spanish actress María Isbert has died

The Spanish actress María Isbert has died. She celebrated her 94th birthday this Thursday. She appeared in over 250 films.

Well known in the Spanish speaking world, she shot more than 250 films in which, more often than not, she was secondary star, and even took part in the classic ‘EL Cochecito’. María passed away on Monday, April 25, 2011 in Albacete, Spain after being admitted to the Villarrobledo Hospital in Albacete as her health deteriorated, and her body is lying in rest today, Tuesday in the Teatro Circo in the town. Isbert was the daughter of actor José Isbert [1886-1966] and the mother of seven, including actor Tony Isbert [1950- ] she has received a host of awards along her career including the Silver Bellas Artes Medal in 1987 and being declared Honorary Academic of the Spanish Academy of Cinematographic Arts in 2008. María appeared in two Euro-westerns: "A Few Bullets More" (1968) as Cotilla and is best remembered for her role as Eli Wallach’s wife Clementine Gideon in "The White, the Yellow and the Black" (1975).

Any Gun Can Play Book Signing Party

Thursday, 26 May to Saturday, 28 May
CINE-EXCESS
The Odeon Covent Garden, London

FAB Press have teamed up with the Cine-Excess Film Festival, who will be hosting FRANCO NERO (Django, Keoma) and RUGGERO DEODATO (Cannibal Holocaust, House on the Edge of the Park) as headline guests.

Franco Nero will be in town to help promote the release of Any Gun Can Play: The Essential Guide to Euro-westerns. 450 pages, hardback, stunningly illustrated and with a foreword by Django himself, Franco Nero, this book exposes the full, vibrant history of the Euro-western.

Cine-Excess V features an exciting selection of exclusive UK theatrical premieres, several stunning retrospective screenings, and over 30 separate talks on cult controversies including the realist footage in Cannibal Holocaust, 1970s sexploitation, Franco Nero's cult roles, Enzo G. Castellari's crime films, Rob Zombie's cinema, the cult of controversy around A Serbian Film, and audience reactions to Deodato's House on the Edge of the Park, along with a panel debate featuring a BBFC representative and Deodato himself.

Both Franco Nero and Ruggero Deodato will discuss their prolific careers in on-stage interviews. Cine-Excess V will also feature screenings of Franco Nero films including the splatter-western epic Django, and, for the first time ever in a London West End theatre, Deodato's controversial classic Cannibal Holocaust, which is due for release on Blu-ray by Shameless Screen Entertainment later this year.

Cine-Excess V is open to all Cult Film Fans aged 18 and over. Visit the Cine-Excess website during the next few weeks for updates including a full schedule for the event, along with ticket booking details.

Cine-Excess link: http://www.cine-excess.co.uk/

Happy 90th Birthday Horst Schulze

Horst Schulze was born on April 26, 1921 in Dresden, Germany. Horst attended Petrenz Opera School in Dresden where he took acting and singing classes. He appeared in his first opera performance "Weapon" at the Dresden Opera. He was a soldier during World War II and after the war was over he returned and again worked at the Dresden Opera house as a singer. Here he met his future wife Anne Pillatzke. He became a favorite performer at the State Theater. In 1958 he began his film career with DEFA and also appeared in TV films. During this time he continued to appear in operas and stage plays in such venues as the Berliner Ensemble and Metropol Theatre. From 1972 on he worked as a lecturer in Berlin and Dresden. Schulze appeared in two Euro-westerns: "White Wolves" (1969) as Collins P. Harrington and "Osceola" (1971) as William Raynes. Schulze has two children Andre Schulz and Ralf-Peter Shulze. Today we celelbrate Horst Schulze’s 90^th birthday.

GOD MAY FORGIVE YOU, NOT ME

Chiedi perdono a Dio... non a me - Italian

Wraak Zonder Genade - Dutch title
Chamango el vengador - Spanish title
Demande pardon a Dieu, pas a moi - French title
Django - den Colt an der Kehle - German title
Django - er kam, um zu töten - German title
Blutiger Zorn - German title
Brennender Hass - German title
Oi xegrammenoi - Greek title
Pede perdão a Deus - Portuguese title
May God Forbive You, but I Won’t - English title
God May Forgive You, Not Me - English title

A 1968 Italian production [C.I.O. Film Intercontinental Production (Rome)]
Producer: Vincenzo Musolino
Director: Glenn Vincent Davis (Vincenzo Musolino)
Story: Glenn Vincent Davis (Vincenzo Musolino)
Screenplay: Glenn Vincent Davis (Vincenzo Musolino)
Cinematography: Mario Mancini [Technicolor, Techniscope]
Music: Felix de Stephen (Felice Di Stefano)
Running time: 97 minutes

Cast:
Cjamango McDonald - George Ardisson (Giorgio Ardisson)
Dick Smart - Anthony Ghidra (Dragomir Bojanic)
Virginia Smart - Cristina Iosani
Barrica - Pedro Sanchez (Ignazio Spalla)
Jack Smart - Peter Martell (Pietro Martellanza)
Manuel - George Steveneson (Antonio DiMitri)
bartender - Dante Maggio
Stuart - Luigi Pavese
Dick Smart’s girl - Lilli Lembo
undertaker - Franco Pesce (Francesco Pesce)
bandit - Tano Cimarosa (Gaetano Ciseo)
poker game - Celso Faria
gunman with eyepatch - Dino Strano
with: Jean Louis, Ivan Scratuglia (Giovanni Scratuglia), Franco Lantini, (Franco Latini), Armando Guarineri, Omero Gargano, Fortunato Arena, Asaynoa Runachagua, Esmeralda Barros (Esmerlinda Barros)

In a cemetery on the Mexican border we meet Manuel, a young man driven by revenge, and an elderly American gentleman named Cjamango. Cjamango tries, to divert Manuel from his vengeful fantasies, he tells him the unpleasant memories of his tragic life. Some years earlier, while he was in town to pay the money needed to pay the mortgage of his family farm owned by his beloved Virginia Stuart father, bandits kill his father, brother and sister. From a Mexican named Barrica, Cjamango learns that the killers of his family are the Smart brothers and their gang which were paid for the job by the old Stuart, in revenge for old grudges. Stuart was killed in turn by Dik Smart because he refused to compensate him adequately for his brother's death, that Cjamango starting his revenge, had killed. After numerous battles in and out unscathed from deadly traps, Cjamango eliminates one by one the members of the band, including the leader, Dik Smart. At the end of his revenge, carried out with cold determination, Cjamango meets Virginia.

YouTube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_g8gPv5zMKU

Easter 2011

Remembering Jill Ireland

Jill Dorothy Ireland was born on April 24, 1936 in London, England. She began her acting career in the 1950s with small bit parts in such films as "Simon and Laura" (1955) and "Three Men in a Boat (1956). In 1957 she married actor David McCallum [1933- ] whom she appeared with in several episodes of the TV series "The Man from U.N.C.L.E." McCallum and Ireland met Charles Bronson [1921-2003] during the filming of "The Great Escape". She divorced McCallum in 1967 and married Bronson in 1968. With Bronson she would appear in several of his films including her two Euro-westerns, "Villa Rides" (1968) and "Chino" (1973). Ireland became a producer, screenwriter and TV actress and is also the mother of five children among them actor Val McCallum. Jill was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1984 and during her struggle with the disease she wrote 2 books and became a spokes person for the American Cancer Society. She died from the disease at her Malibu, California home on May 18, 1990 and was cremated. Her ashes were placed in a cane that Charles Bronson carried with him the rest of his life and is buried with him. Today we remember Jill Ireland on what would have been her 75^th birthday.



Remembering Harald Philpp

Harald Philipp was born on April 24, 1921 in Hamburg, Germany. He attend acting classes with Helmuth Gmelin before being called up for military service in 1941. When World War II ended he returned to acting and made his stage debut in 1946. He continued to appear on stage in Osnabrueck, Hannover and Cologne. He then became interested in films and took a job as an assistant cameraman and worked as a dubbing director at Berlin radio station RIAS. In 1956 he directed his first feature film "Das alte Försterhaus" which was followed by several musical comedies and war films. Philipp also wrote or co-wrote the screenplays for most of the films he directed. In the 1960s he directed his only two Euro-westerns, Karl May’s "Rampage at Apache Wells" (1965) and "The Half-Breed" (1966), and also two Jerry Cotton films. In later years Harald turned to television and is known for his direction of the "Sergeant Berry" TV series. Philipp died on July 7, 1999 in Berlin. Today we remember Harald Philipp on what would have been his 90^th birthday.



GOD MADE THEM, I KILL THEM

Dio il crea... io li ammazzo! - Italian title
Deus os Cria Euos Mato - Brazilian title
Sua Vida Me Pertence - Brazilian title
L’angelo, le colt, il daivolo - French title
Dieu les crée, moi je les tue - French title
Bleigericht - German title
Bleichgesicht - German title
O theos plathei... ego skotono - Greek title
Den laglösa staden - Swedish title
God Forgive... His Life is Mine - English title
God Made Them, I Kill Them - English title

A 1968 Italian production [Cineriz, International Film (Rome)]
Producer: Gabriel Crisanti
Director: Paolo Bianchi (Paolo Bianchini)
Story: Fernando di Leo
Screenplay: Fernando di Leo
Cinematography: Sergio D’Offizi [Technicolor, Cromoscope]
Music: Marcello Gigante
Song: "God Creates Them, I Kill Them" sung by Dead Reed
Running time: 92 minutes

Cast:
Slim Corbett/Compton - Dean Reed
Don Luis de la Vega/Rod Douglas - Peter Martell (Pietro Martellanza)
Sheriff Lancaster - Piero Lulli (Giusva Lulla)
Doris - Agnès Spaak
Dolly - Rosella Bergamonti
Suzanne - Linda Veras (Sieglinde Veras)
Judge Kincaid - Ivan Staccioli (Ivano Staccioli)
Job - Fidel Gonzáles (Fidel González)
Mayor Toland - Piero Mazzinghi
Dark - Bruno Arié
de la Vega/Douglas henchman - Ivan Giovanni Scratuglia
with: Giuseppe Alizeri, Appio Cartei, Robert Norek

After the Wells City bank is robbed the elders of the city decide to take action. At the suggestion of Judge Kincaid a famous gunslinger, Slim Corbett, is called upon and he accepts the city’s request to find the robbers for considerable compensation. He begins the investigation aided by a poor Mexican named Job. Later, when a stagecoach carrying gold to the bank is attacked by bandits, Slim, after escaping an ambush, discovers that one of the leaders is the sheriff and that he has hidden the stolen goods. But the leader of the band, Douglas, a wealthy landowner, kills the sheriff and attempts to blame Corbett. Job has meanwhile recovered the gold and informed the court of the innocence of Slim, who is released. In the meantime, Job has been captured and tortured by Douglas’ henchmen. Corbett to the rescue becomes involved in a bloody clash and ends up exterminating the whole gang.

YouTube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lr9izlrFUhE

Guess Who I Am

I’m an Italian actor born in Rome in 1927. Guess who I am.

I appeared in 24 Euro-westerns. Guess who I am.

I usually played the role of Mexican bandits. Guess who I am.

Adrian correctly guessed this weeks photo as that of Remo Capitani.

Remembering Harald Leipnitz

Harald Leipnitz was born on April 22, 1926 in Wuppertal, Germany. He was a prisoner of war during World War II and after his release began performing in amateur theater groups. He then took acting classes with Hans Canninenberg in 1948 and made his professional debut with the Wuppertal Opera. He continued to appear with the group until 1960 in such cities as Berlin, Dusseldorf and Stuttgart. During this time he made occasional appearances on TV and films. He gained much popularity with his appearances in Karl May and Edgar Wallace films. Leipnitz also became a film dubber and was the German voice of such actors as Alain Delon, Cary Grant, Albert Finney, Charles Aznavour and Richard Harris. He lent his voice to radio productions and recorded narrations. Leipnitz appeared in five Euo-westerns among which were "Rampage at Apache Wells" (1965), "Thunder at the Border" (1966) and "The Hellhound of Alaska" (1973). Harald died from lung cancer on November 21, 2000 in Munich, Germany. Today we remember Harald Leipnitz on what would have been his 85^th birthday.

GOD IS MY COLT .45

La colt era il suo Dio - Italian title

Nur Gott war sein Colt - German title
Der Colt des Rächers - German title
Nur der Colt war sein Gott - German title
O Colt era o seu Deus - Brazilian title
Le colt était son dieu - French title
Les ames damnes de Rio Chico - Spanish title
Pistol of God - English title
God is My Colt .45 - English title

A 1972 Italian, German co-production [Virginia Films (Rome), Regina Film (Munich)]
Producer: Theo Maria Werner
Director: Dean Jones (Luigi Batzella
Story: Arpad De Riso
Screenplay: Arpad De Riso, Ivan Katansky (Luigi Batzella)
Cinematography: Giorgio Montagnani [Eastmancolor, widescreen]
Music: Vasili Kojucharov
Running time: 101 minutes

Cast:
Captain Mike Jackson - Jeff Cameron (Goffredo Scarciofolo)
Mary - Christa Nell (Doris Kristanel)
Collins - Donald O’Brien (Donal O’Brien)
James Clinger - John Turner (Gino Turini)
Manuel - Mark Davis (Gianfranco Clerici)
Sheriff Bill Harris - Attilio Dottesio
with: Esmeralda Barros (Esmerlinda Barros), Sophia Kammara (Sophia Roda), Giulio Baraghini, William Mayor (William Major), Mauro Mannatrizio, Alfredo Rizzo, Laila Shed, Aniello Palladino,
Alessandro Perella, Irio Fantini, Nello Palladino (Aniello Palladino),Mauro Mannatrizio

In Langford City, a gang led by Manuel, who works for the dishonest Federal Inspector Klinger, terrorizes the farmers of the region. Army Captain Jackson, a native of Langford, is given five days to defeat the outlaws as an undercover agent. Klinger takes possession of a map of silver mine by killing Burton Prior, and kidnaps Mary, the daughter of Prior and former girlfriend of Jackson. Jackson, ambushes andwipes out most of the gang and then goes looking for Klinger, who has fled to Mexico, where, after dealing with the arrogant and cowardly Manuel, captures the inspector. Jackson manages to escape and in a final duel eliminates Klinger.

Lee Broughton's DVD Reviews

Anthony Ghidra Double Feature. Wild East, USA. Format NTSC Region 0.

Anthony Ghidra only made a handful of Spaghetti Westerns but he's now fairly well known amongst genre fans thanks to Wild East's earlier DVD releases of Pistoleros and Django the Last Killer. Both films were low budget but entertaining genre entries in which Ghidra managed to make something of an impression. It's great to report that Ghidra makes an even bigger impression in the two surprisingly good films featured on this new double bill disc, Tequila Joe and A Hole Between the Eyes. Indeed, the overall quality of the two films presented here make this one of Wild East's most significant releases yet.

Tequila Joe Directed by Vincent Eagle. 1968. Widescreen (1.85: 1 anamorphic). 91 minutes.

A sharp-shooting young stranger, Burt (Jean Sobieski), arrives in a troubled town and tells the drunken sheriff, Tequila Joe (Anthony Ghidra), that he's his new deputy. Joe is a broken man who has lost his nerve and his inclination to uphold the law: he's quite happy to simply get drunk and live a quiet life while the vicious gangs that are controlled by two rival bad guys, Trianas (Furio Meniconi) and Mulligan (Dick Palmer), cause murderous mayhem around town. Burt sets about forcing Joe to clean up his act and when Joe witnesses the bloody aftermath of one of Trianas and Mulligan's violent shootouts he starts making an effort to pull himself together. However, Trianas and Mulligan both refuse to curb their unlawful activities and pressure from Burt ensures that local tensions escalate to a point where Joe is finally forced to take action.

This is a middle to lower tier genre entry but it's a great little film that largely manages to transcend the limitations of its budget. It features a fairly standard mix of generic elements (the town held under siege by rival gangs, the stranger guided by mysterious motivations, the broken lawman, etc) but it mixes them up in a pleasing and thoroughly entertaining way. This is an action-packed show and, towards its end, the film features some pretty wild and unexpected narrative twists that lead into an exciting finale. There are some quite stylishly staged scenes present here and director Vincent Eagle's (AKA Enzo Dell'Aquila) consistently sure-handed approach works just fine. The show features a number of familiar faces and the quality of the acting on display is pretty good for the most part. Anthony Ghidra provides one of the best performances seen in a Spaghetti Western, period. He is completely convincing as the self-pitying and hopelessly drunk lawman and his quite brilliant performance brings a lot of depth to the character of Joe. When the details of the tragedy that prompted Joe to hit the bottle are revealed, Eagle forgoes a flashback and simply lets Joe relate his dramatic backstory to Burt verbally. It's a testament to the quality of Ghidra's acting in this show that this scene works so well. Francesco De Masi's soundtrack score isn't his best work but it gets the job done well enough. Picture quality here is just about excellent: there's next to nothing in the way of scratches or print damage. The presentation's sound quality is pretty good too.

Extras: image gallery, English trailer and Italian trailer.

A Hole Between the Eyes Directed by Joseph Warren. 1968. Widescreen (2.35: 1 anamorphic). 85 minutes.

Bounty killer Bill Blood (Anthony Ghidra) is tracking down three Mexican bandits who each hold a very special playing card. When the three playing cards are brought together, the cryptic writing scrawled on each one of them will reveal the whereabouts of the $100,000 in gold that the three Mexicans stole from General de Santa Anna's army. Having secured one of the cards, Blood next sets about getting the card that belongs to a fearsome and ruthless bandit leader, General Munguya (Robert Hundar). However, things get complicated when the holder of the third card, Garrincha (Luigi Marturano), teams up with an unscrupulous businessman, Tedder (Giorgio Gargiullo), and the pair devise a plan that has the potential to cause both Blood and Munguya a whole lot of trouble.

The big news here is that this hitherto little-seen film actually looks and plays like an expensive A grade Spaghetti Western for much of its runtime. It's a little unusual in as much as it is set in unfamiliar locations and features few familiar faces. The lack of big name acting talent suggests that the film perhaps had a medium-sized budget at best. However, the show's production values are really top notch and it remains a great-looking film that compares well visually to the genre's best entries. Stylish cinematography and impressive set designs and costumes that feature lots of finely observed details help this show to punch well above its own weight. The quality of the film's acting is very good and the show features an abundance of interesting characters who deliver some fantastic dialogue. Roberto Pregadio's beautiful soundtrack score -- which sounds a bit like Procol Harum playing excerpts from Ennio Morricone's score for The Grand Silence in places -- is also quite unusual but excellent. The show's writer Adriano Bolzoni helped to script some great Spaghetti Westerns and he continues his good work here by adding an original and refreshing spin to the genre's now familiar "hunt for a hidden treasure" narrative variant. The film is quite short at 85 minutes but it is perfectly paced. There are so many moments of intrigue and so many well executed set pieces present here that the film has the feel of a longer, more epic-like production. If you're a Spaghetti Western fan and you haven't seen this show yet, you're in for a real treat as the film surely rates as one of the best genre entries of the late 1960s. For an obscure film the picture quality here is pretty good for the most part. There are odd outbreaks of scratches and the like present from time to time but these don't pose a major problem. The presentation's sound quality is a little flat in places but, again, this isn't a major problem.

Extras: image gallery and German trailer.

© 2011 Copyright Lee Broughton.

New CD Release

Franco & Ciccio sul sentiero de guerra
Franco & Ciccio on the Warpath

Label: Digitmovies
Country: Italy
Starring: Franco Franchi, Ciccio Ingrassia
Composer: Roberto Pregadio
#CDDM185
Tracks: 25
Total time: 47:54
Available: May 2, 2011

TRACK LIST
the original album
1. FANTASIA WESTERN 3:442. FRANCO E' IN AGGUATO 1:35
 3. CANYON 1:29
 4. MARCIA INDIANA 1:47
 5. PREGA DIO 1:46
 6. CICCIO NEL WEST 1:17
 7. COLONEL ZAISS 1:08
 8. FANTASIA INDIANA 2:30
 9. GLI ALLEGRI INDIANI 1:56
 10. TAMBURI DI PACE 1:13
 11. SUL SENTIERO 1:12
 12. DI GUERRA 1:12
 13. NELL'ACCAMPAMENTO 1:12
 14. NOSTALGICO WEST 0:46
 15. PERICOLO 1:02
 16. ALLEGRI COMPARI 1:29
 bonus tracks (*)
17. PREGA DIO (due siciliani nel West) 1:49
 18. FANTASIA WESTERN (nuove avventure) 3:30
 19. NOSTALGICO WESTERN ( attimi romantici) 2:25
 20. ALLEGRI COMPARI (guai in vista) 1:56
 21. PERICOLO (attesa e fuga) 2:08
 22. FANTASIA WESTERN (danza di pace) 2:23
 23. GLI ALLEGRI INDIANI ( due buffi tipi) 2:16
 24. PERICOLO (venti di battaglia) 2:28
 25. ALLEGRI COMPARI (gran finale) 2:36

GOD IN HEAVEN, ARIZONA ON EARTH

Dio in cielo... Arizona in terra - Italian titl
Una bala marcada - Spanish title
Arizona on Earth - Dutch title
Je signe avec du plomb... Garringo - French title
Pilrose me ti zoi sou katharma - Greek title
Me firmo con plomo me llamo Arizona - Mexican title
Deus no céu... Arizona na terra - Portuguese title
God Above, Arizona Below - English title
God in Heaven, Arizona on Earth - English title

A 1972 Italian, Spanish co-production [Lea Film (Rome), CC Astro Film (Madrid)]
Producers: Ricardo Sanz, Vittorio Galiano
Director: John Wood (Juan Bosch Palau)
Story: Juan Bosch (Juan Palau), F. Danile Ortosoli
Screenplay: Juan Bosch (Juan Palau), Fabio Piccioni
Cinematography: Giancarlo Ferrando [Eastmancolor, Technocrome]
Music: Bruno Nicolai
Running time: 92 minutes

Cast:
Arizona/Garringo - Peter Lee Lawrence (Karl Hirenbach)
Austin Styles - Frank Braña (Francisco Pérez)
Jack/Ciuk - Juan Torres
Duffy - Roberto Camardiel (Roberto Escudero)
sheriff - Luis Induni (Luigi Radici)
Kathleen/Catherine - Maria Pia (Maria Vaccarezza)
Bravaccio - Indio Gonzales (Gaspar González)
Towers - Carlo Gaddi
Nora - Dada Gallotti (Alba Gallotti)
Warren - José Castillo (José Escalona)
dentist - Gustavo Re
tailor - Franco Pesce
old man in abandoned house -  José Palomo (José Jiménez)
with: Sergio Aparici, Manuel Brochard (Manuel Bronchud), Johnny Fairen (Juan Farré), Carmen Gallen (Carmen Guardon), Ángel Lombarte, Cristina Soler, Alberto Vila, Víctor Vilanova, Jarque Zurbano (Francisco Zurbano), Miguel Bordoy (Miguel Gil)

A young bounty hunter named Arizona returns to his hometown to find it controlled by a wealthy and ruthless landowner named Styles. He finds his father has committed suicide after Styles takes the family ranch. Arizona decides to work with the weak framers and ranchers and oppose Styles and his henchmen. A twist develops when Arizona must confront an old friend who has been hired by Styles. Arizona triumphs in the end and the community returns to the peaceful town he remembers as a child.

YouTube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QS7cDUBdXCg

Remembering Renato Chiatoni

Renato Chiantoni was born on April 19, 1906 in Brescia, Lombardy, Italy. The son of actor Amadeo Chiantoni [1871-1965] and nephew of actress Giannina Chiantoni [1881-192], he made his screen debut in 1937's "Gatta ci cova" directed by Gennaro Righelli. Sometimes credited as Gay Gallwey and Renato Chantori during his career as a character actor he appeared in over 100 films, mostly light drama and comedy. Chiantoni appeared in nine Euro-westerns from "A Stranger in Sacramento" (1965) to "I Want Him Dead" (1968). Among them were "The Man from Nowhere" (1966), "Bang Bang Kid" (1967) and "30 Winchesters for El Diablo". He also became a production manager and made several appearances on Italian TV. Renato died on December 12, 1979 in Rome. Today we remember Renato Chiantoni on what would have been his 105^th birthday.

RIP Michael Sarrazin

Canadian actor Michael Sarrazin, best known for starring opposite Jane Fonda in 1969's "They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?" died in Montreal after a brief battle with cancer on Sunday April 17, 2011 in Montreal, Canada. He was 70. Among Sarrazin's other memorable roles were Irvin Kershner's 1967 con-artist movie "The Flim-Flam Man", in which he played the reluctant apprentice to grifter George C. Scott, and the Paul Newman-directed 1970 film "Sometimes a Great Notion", playing Newman's misunderstood half-brother. "Michael was one of the most talented, generous and committed actors I have ever worked with," George Mihalka, who directed Sarrazin in 1993's La Florida, told the Montreal Gazette. "He never stopped surprising me with his wit, charm and, above all, his humility and simple decency." Added his brother, Pierre Sarrazin, who produced "La Florida:". He wasn’t a particularly good student. But he was a great actor. His first high school role was in "The Bishop’s Candlestick", and he was very upset when he came offstage and everyone in the crowd was laughing. He thought they were laughing at him. They were laughing with him."

Sarrazin was born Jacques Michel André Sarrazin in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada on May 22, 1940 and later moved with his family to Montreal. In 1965, Sarrazin signed with Universal, becoming one of the last actors to come up through the old studio system. After a series of small roles in TV, his film career took off with the 1967 Western "Gunfight in Abilene", starring Bobby Darin and Leslie Nielsen. He went on to land a slew of roles, including playing a Confederate soldier 1968's "Journey to Shiloh", opposite Harrison Ford, and earned a Golden Globe nom for his role as a slacker surfer in 1968's "The Sweet Ride". That movie also starred Jacqueline Bisset, with whom Sarrazin began a 14-year relationship. Other credits included 1972's "The Life and Times of George Roy Bean" and 1976's Gumball Rally. In recent years, he primarily took on guest-starring roles in TV series. His last onscreen role was in Hallmark Channel's 2008 telefilm "The Christmas Choir". Sarazzin appeared in a guest appearance role in one Euro-western TV mini-series "The Adventures of Smoke Bellew" (1995).

He moved to Montreal from the West Coast a decade ago to be closer to his daughters, Catherine and Michelle.

New Bud Spencer Autobiography

The number of cult films Bud Spencer is famous for as the hero to many fans of their childhood and a father figure they idolize him today. In My Life, My Movies - The Autobiography Pedersoli reveals Carlo alias Bud Spencer is filled with humor about how he sees himself: as a grumpy total artist, the word "retirement is a stranger," and as a loyal family man, is not quickly shaken.

Carlo Pedersoli is as impressive and embodied by his characters, but he is much more: a smart lawyer, a former high-performance swimmer who has twice participated in the Olympics, and a cosmopolitan who has traveled extensively and has seen even more. His autobiography will inspire more then just the fans of Bud Spencer.

My Life, My Films - The Autobiography of Bud Spencer's thrilling look back at his life. On his 80th Birthday the actor after recalls the indoor pool of his youth, when a handsome, tortuous fuming and slightly arrogant swimmer at the age of 20. He wrote the narrative for Bud Spencer, the stations of his life, of his younger self, with wit: Carlo as a child in Naples, the formative years in Rome, his time in South America, his swimming success, his studies, family, the birth of "Bud Spencer", and the collaboration with Terence Hill, his solo career and the many companies with which he always has been challenged with.

It is written with humorous anecdotes peppered with many autobiography sketches where Bud Spencer shows his personal side. The author Carlo Pedersoli is as impressive and warm as the heroes of his films.

My life, my films - The autobiography with Lorenzo De Luca and David De Filippi
Translated from the Italian by Leo Schmidt
240 pages + 2 x 16 pages part of the picture
Hardcover with dust jacket | 13.5 x 21 cm
ISBN 978-3-86265-041-5
19,95 EUR (D)

Dan Van Husen recalls his films in Almeria on a private visit

At 66 years of age, actor Dan Van Husen has returned to Almeria, where he was a regular feature in half a dozen films, mostly westerns. He does not remember what his first film was but he worked with Klaus Kinsky. In 1968, he came under the direction of Duccio Tesari, then came "El Condor" with Lee Van Cleef, films with Enzo Castellari, Sergio Corbucci, along with Faye Dunaway, Franco Nero and Yul Bryner, among others. "We ate pancakes in Yul's trailer and then when I went to Munich for the premiere of "Catlow" he helped introduce me to the press. He gave me his address and phone number", remembering the bald actor.

From his first contact with this land he's retained its image. "I was impressed by the desert. Three weeks ago I was in Arizona and I sincerely believe that this is much better." Part of the Almeria landscape has been revived today by Jesus Contreras, Almeria  nature specialist of the company Oz Nature.

Memories

van Husen on Almeria states that, "The people were very decent and the faces of the Gypsies were delightful. The horsemen and Spanish stunt experts were the best. Rafael Albaicín, Luis Barboo, José Canalejas ... there were many. " He remember that the Gypsy stutnmen charged for each fall and every pirouette, so "The first time was not very good, then the second was better and the third better yet."

"I did not speak Spanish and we were so busy. We were just so tired because we were working all day since early morning. We spent the evenings at the Grand Hotel bar without changing our film clothes. We showered and at ten we went to bed", he recalls.

van Husen witnessed the density of film shooting in our land. "The day that we ended "Catlow " we started on "The Ron Boulevard. " They were trying to kill Lino Ventura and clearly in the end it is why he died. With his hard face worthy of Sam Pekimpah, Dan was almost always a villain and, therefore, was seldom alive at the end of a film. This happened in "Catlow", whose last scene was shot without him in today's House of Cinema. Dan's visit with his friend Alex remembering old friends. "It's a good start but Almería needs a major film festival like Berlin. Everyone knows Almería and its movie history. I was recently at the First Los Angeles Spaghetti Western Festival in the United States where three films were screened which were shot in Almeria. The history of cinema in Almeria has to be more present in the world". Dan has tried in vain to donate to Almeria, documents of his career but found no official response.

GOD FORGIVES... I DON'T!

Dio perdona... io no! - Italian title
Tú perdonas... yo no - Spanish title
Dios perdona... yo no - Spanish title
Manden de kaldte englefjaes - Danish title
De duivel kent geen genade - Dutch title
He Never Forgives - Filipino title
Luoja armahtaa minä en - Finnish title
Jumala armahtaa, minä en - Finnish title
Dieu pardonne... pas moi! - French title
Trinita ne pardonne pas! - French title
Gott vergibt - wir beide nie! - German title
Gott vergibt - Django nie! - German title
Oi dyo samatatzides - Greek title
Ego... kai to vouvalopaido - Greek title
Oi kaloi syghoroun, ego ekdikoumai - Greek title
O theos syghoroun... ego ohi - Greek title
Isten megbocsát, én nem! - Hungarian title
Rid aldri alene - Norwegian title
Bóg wybacza – ja nigdy - Polish title
Deus Perdoa, Eu Não! - Portuguese title
Samo bog ensam - Slovenia title
Rid aldrig ensam - Swedish title
Gud förlåter — men inte jag! - Swedish title
Rid aldrig ensam - Swedish title
Django Forgives, I Don't - English title
Kill or Be Killed - English title
Blood River - English title
God Forgives... I Don’t! - U.S.A. title

A 1966 Italian, Spanish co-production [Crono Cinematografica (Rome), PEFSA (Madrid)]
Producer: Enzo D’Ambrosio
Director: Giuseppe Colizzi
Story: Giuseppe Colizzi, Gumersindo Mollo
Screenplay: Giuseppe Colizzi, Gumersindo Mollo
Cinematography: Alfio Contini [Technicolor, Techniscope]
Music: Oliver Angel Pina (Carlo Rustichelli)
Running time: 115 minutes

Cast:
Doc Will/Wild Doc/Cat Stevens/Pretty Face/Django - Terence Hill (Mario Girotti)
Earp Hargitay/Hutch Bessy/Dan - Bud Spencer (Carlo Pedersoli)
Bill San Antonio - Frank Wolff
Rosa/Rose - Gina Rovere (Lugina Rovere)
Bud - Manuel Martin (Jose Martin)
‘Flatface’ - José Terrón (Juan Penaranda)
bartender - Remo Capitani (Renato Capitani)
Tam Tam - Tito García (Pablo Gonzalez)
Lou - Frank Braña (Francisco Pérez)
Dargo - Juan Olaguivel
Frederico - José Canalejas
Miguel/José - Rufino Inglés (Rufino García)
grandpa - Franco Gulà (Francisco Gulà)
San Antonio henchman - Luis Barboo
poker players - Roberto Alessandri, Bruno Arié, Giancarlo Bastianoni
barfly - Paco Sanz (Francisco Sanz)
with: Giovanna Lenzi, Arturo Furente, Joaquín Blanco, Antonietta Fiorito, Antonio Decembrino

Bill San Antonio pulls off a train robbery, taking $300,000 in gold and killing all of the passengers on the train. One of these, however, before dying reveals the name of the bloodthirsty bandit. The railroad assigns Earp, an insurance agent, who joins forces with his one time pal Cat, a gunman who believes he has killed San Antonio in a previous duel. The killing of a sheriff gives Cat a clue to track down the outlaws: in fact, following a group of bandits, he arrives at their lair, but is captured. Earp, who was also on the right track, is unable to leave Cat and recover the precious booty, because of a disagreement between the two. While fighting, they are again captured by the bandits, and enduring all manners of torture because they have hidden the stolen money. Cat meanwhile, with the help of Bud, Bill's right hand, is released with the promise of gold and takes the opportunity to kill the bandit, then Earp manages to free himself and arrives in time to prevent a duel, forcing Bill to surrender. The latter, through a ruse, manages to hurt him but is inevitably killed by Cat The two finally share the reward money.

YouTube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XhoxF16DvU

Remembering Manuel Esteba

Manuel Esteba Gallego was born on April 17 1941 in Barcelona, Spain. Estaba became an established producer, director and screenwriter in Spanish cinema from 1966 until 1999. During this time he was involved in two Euro-westerns both in 1972 using the name Ted Mulligan, “A Cry of Death” which he wrote and directed starring Pierre Brice and Steven Tedd and “Saranda” (aka “20 Paces to Death”) which he directed and edited starring Dean Reed and Patty Shepard.. Esteba then went into Crime films during the 80s and eventually ended up as a TV director. Manuel died in Barcelona on February 4, 2010. Today we remember Manuel Esteba on what would have been his 70th birthday.

Happy 90th Birthday Sergio Sollima

Sergio Sollima was born on April 17, 1921 in Rome, Italy. After graduating from the Experimental Centre of Cinematography in Rome he became a film critic. During the ‘50s he was a playwright and an assistant to Domenico Paolella. Sergio started his directorial career in Sword and Sandal films and after they passed he continued on in the Spaghetti western genre although he insists they aren’t westerns but political stories set in the west. Sollima sometimes used the alias Simon Sterling and often wrote the stories and screenplays for his films. He’s often called the third Sergio and ranks behind Leone and Corbucci in importance and success of his western films. Among his westerns are some of the most well liked "The Big Gundown" (1966) with Lee Van Cleef and Tomás Milian, "Face to Face" (1967) with Milian and Gian Maria Volonte and "Run, Man, Run" again with Milian and Donal O’Brien. In the 1970s he again switched genres and became involved in crime films and had great success with the TV series "Sandokan". He finished his career as writer and director for the 1998 TV series "Son of Sandokan". Sergio now lives in retirement in Rome. Today we celebrate Sergio Sollima’s 90^th birthday.

Spaghetti Western Locations

Continuing with our locations for “Once Upon a Time in the West”. After Harmonica is met at the Cattle Corner Station and disposes of the three gunmen sent to greet him he falls wounded. After his recovery from his wound, which has been cut from the released version of the film, he makes his way to the town of Flagstone where he finds Wobbles who he contacted to set up the meeting with Frank. Little is left of Wobble’s laundry but the wooden smoke stack which

Wobble’s laundry can be seen to the left of the picture with smoke coming from the wooden chimney shown in the above photo.

To reach the location exit Autovia A-92 at the GR-61103 road and it is around 3 ½ miles.

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

Guess Who I Am

I’m an American actress born in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Guess who I am.

Chris Casey correctly identified Carroll Baker as this week's photo.

GO WITH GOD GRINGO

Vayas con dios, gringo! - Italian title
Vete con Dios, gringo - Spanish title
Käytä nyrkkejäsi, gringo - Finnish title
Dieu est avec toi, gringo - French title
Dyo aghones gia ton Gringo - Greek title
Good Luck Gringo, They’ll Pay in Blood - South African title
Good Luck Gringo - English title
Go With God, Gringo - English title

A 1966 Italian production [CIO Intercontinental, SAP Film Productions (Rome)]
Producer: Vincenzo Musolino
Director: Edward G. Muller (Edoardo Mulargia)
Story: GlennVincent Davis (Vincenzo Musolino), Edward G. Muller (Edoardo Mulargia)
Screenplay: GlennVincent Davis (Vincenzo Musolino), Edward G. Muller (Edoardo Mulargia)
Cinematography: Ugo Brunelli [Technicolor, Techniscope]
Music: Felice Di Stafano
Running time: 92 minutes

Cast:
Gringo - Glenn Saxson (Roel Bos)
Carmen - Lucretia Love (Lucrezia Love)
Bill - Aldo Berti
Don Pedro - Livio Lorenzon
Mexico - Pedro Sanchez (Ignazio Spalla)
Smith - Mark Stevens (Pasquale Simeoli)
Jack - Spartaco Battisti
Foster - Dino Strano
sheriff - Armando Guarineri
with: Bill Jackson (Vincenzo Musolino), Tom Felleghy (Tamás Fellegi), Livio Lorenzon, Nino Musco, Alfredo Rizzo, Ivan Scratuglia, Dino Strano

An outlaw named Mexico and five other men escape from prison. Among them is a man called Gringo who was in jail accused of the murder of his brother which he did not commit. Once free they flee together and reach the town a town where a carnival is taking place. When they are recognized the take a dancer named Carmen hostage. Gringo tries to protect her but he is left in the desert all alone. The bandits rob a mail-coach and kill the guards but Gringo continues to pursue them. He eventually is able to find the real murderer and prove his innocence. At the same time he captures the five men he escaped with and turns them in and collects the rewards on their heads.

Who Are Those Gals? - Jill Banner

Jill Banner was born Mary Kathryn Molumby on November 8, 1946 in Bremerton, Washington. Her father died in 1949 and she and her mother moved to South Dakota and later Iowa to live with relatives before finally moving to the Los Angeles suburb of Glendale, California.

She attended the Hollywood Professional School which was a school which offered jobs in the performing arts. Audition Calls were held instead of assemblies where students showcased their talents aspiring to be actors, dancers and singers. Some of Banner’s classmates included Peggy Lipton (‘Mod Squad’), Carl Wilson of the Beach Boys and Cubby O’Brien of the Mouseketeers. Jill graduated in 1964.

Jill made her screen debut in 1964's “Spider Baby” but because of litigation the film was not released until 1968. During this time she went on to appear in “Deadlier Than the Male” (1966) with Nigel Green, “The President’s Analyst (1967) with James Coburn and “Hunters Are For Killing” (1970) with Burt Reynolds. She also appeared in several episodes of TV’s “Dragnet”, “Adam 12", “Cade’s County” and “The Bold Ones”.

Jill appeared in only one Euro-western as Caroline, the daughter of postal employee Good Jim played by Daniele Vargas and starring Tony Anthony in “The Stranger Returns” (1967).

In 1976 Jill abandoned her film career and moved to New Mexico to work in real estate. In 1980 she returned to Los Angeles to work with Yul Brynner, whom she had met in 1980 through Christian Marquand, while filming “Candy” with Ringo Starr. On August 7, 1982 her truck was struck by a drunk driver on the Ventura Freeway in North Hollywood, California. Not wearing a seatbelt, she was thrown from the truck and died from her injuries. She was only 35 years-old..

BANNER, Jill (Mary Kathryn Molumby) [11/8/1946, Bremerton, Washington, U.S.A. - 8/7/1982, North Hollywood, California, U.S.A. (car accident)] - screenwriter, TV actress.
The Stranger Returns - 1967 (Caroline)

Go West: A Lucky Luke Adventure

Tous à l'Ouest: Une aventure de Lucky Luke - French title
Lucky Luke - Mod vest - Dutch title
Lucky Luke - lähde länteen! - Finnish title
Auf in den Westen, Lucky Luke! - German title
Lucky Luke - Auf in den Wilden Westen - German title
Lucky Luke: Treles peripeteies stin Agria Dysi - Greek title
Lucky Luke - Irány a vadnyugat - Hungarian title
Lucky Luke na Dzikim Zachodzie - Polish title
Red kit - Batiya hücum - Turkish title
Go West: A Lucky Luke Adventure - English title

A 2007 French production [Xilam, Darguard Marina, Lucky Comics (Paris)]
Producer: Marc Du Pontavice
Director: Olivier Jean-Marie
Story: Morris (Maurice de Bevere), Rene Goscinny
Screenplay: Jean-François Henry
Animation: Jean-Christophe Dessaint [color]
Music: Hervé Lavandier
Running time: 85 minutes

Cast:
Lucky Luke, Joe Dalton, Rantanplan, Jack Dalton, William Dalton, Averell Dalton, Crook, Bartleby, Monsieur Pierre, Spike Goodfellow, Piotr & Tang, Molly, Jolly Jumper, Louise de Paname, Miss Littletown, Ugly Barrow

The Daltons have escaped to New York, where their accumulated loot is hidden in the carts of Monsieur Pierre's group of honest, naive European immigrants, who naively bought land in California from Crook, who inserted a clause they must claim it within 80 days. Joe emotionally blackmails Luke to guide them there, hoping to escape on the way. The usual route must shortened from 6 to 2 months, so no danger can be avoided. Given Lucky's reputation, Crook decides to shadow them to add sabotage, just to be sure- or is it?

YouTube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9uGTtnCtgs&feature=related

Remembering Peter Dyneley

Peter Dyneley was born on April 13, 1921 in Hastings, East Sussex, England. Peter spent his early years in Canada and attended Radley College. During World War II he served with the Royal Canadian Navy. After the war he returned to England and attended Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. He learned to speak fluent French, German and Spanish. Peter appeared in many stage appearances often with his wife Jane Hylton [1927-1979]. Dyneley was best remembered as the voice of Jeff Tracy in the “Thunderbirds” TV series and films. Peter also did the famous countdown over the opening credits. Dyneley also appeared in many television series as a guest star. Peter appeared in one Euro-western 1972's “Chato’s Land” as Ezra Meade. He died after a long battle with cancer on August 19, 1977. Today we remember Peter Dyneley on what would have been his 90th birthday.

New Film Short Release

Cowboys vs Indians in the filming of a new short film

Paul Vega has completed his new film “Bastards” in the desert scenery of Tabernas. Nuria González, Daniel Ferrer and Jesus Laguna star in the story line

When a genre has the force and the natural setting of the Tabernas desert it becomes the perfect setting, film makers are inspired by the western and decide to tell a story. The director Paul Vega, with his team and his group of actors, filmed yesterday and star in his next short film that was able to attend “Bastardos”.

Around Rancho Leone, in a ravine of the Tabernas Desert, the crew and actors shot close-ups and general shots following a nearly chronological order of history unfolding in this space.

The main actors are the bastards: Nuria González, Jesús Laguna and Daniel Ferrer. Sergio Robles is in charge of sound and plays one of the characters, Emilio Fenoy is the illuminator and Mark Rock, camera. Also participating were three riders in the sequence that came afterwards: Enrique Durio, David Rojo and Diego Garcia.

Drawing on resources and a small budget, the images are the main ingredient to get a moving message to the viewer in a short space of time. The director's ideas are clear and his orders are directed toward the concentration of images giving the most meaning to each of the gestures that appear later on screen.

The plot goes through a band of bastards who wander in the desert. Its leader, being killed, the man’s son takes over leadership of the gang. Young people make fun of him for his poor gunmanship and he wants to demonstrate his value by starting a war with the Indians"said Paul Vega.

Dressed in western dusters and costumes, armed and prepared to face any grief that comes before them, the performers were characterized from head to toe as if they were represented such films as a “Fistful of Dollars” or other similar feature films.

The story shows how living in the desert, disoriented, and barren the atmosphere was good between the team yesterday filming “Bastards”. With so many characters playing, and the humorous dialogue the crew broke into laughter. Typical of any filing out-takes, which create greater complicity between all actors and other team members.

Different characters, locations and actors star in different places in the film that will be first shown at the, Tell it in 90 Seconds Festival, at the School of Image and Sound in Almeria.

The cameraman Marcos Rock is close to the director of the film and had to master the different levels of “Bastards”, while Paul Vega told him how he wanted to be conveyed into final film.

In a low-budget short film, the various functions of the members are varied. The head of sound donned a cowboy suit and played a mute character indicating that the danger was near. It is one of the funniest scenes of the film and will provoke the smiles of future viewers.

After noon, a sequence was filmed out at the Oasis theme park on the boulevard of Tabernas.

There are seven short films that Paul Vega has been in his career: “Dreams”, ”Blanco y Negro”, “El escenario de la vida”, and “Bastardos”. The director has also participated in twelve movies, including “800 Bullets”, “Blueberry”, “El Camino Real .... "besides being a singer and has been a participant in many advertisements."


Bastardos - Spanish title
Bastards - Spanish title

A 2011 Spanish production
Producer: ?
Director: Paul Vega
Story: ?
Screenplay: ?
Cinematography: Mark Rock [color]
Music: ?
Running time: ?

Story: After the death of his father a young man takes over leading a group of outlaws and wants to start a war with the Indians to showoff his skills with a gun and as a leader of men.

Cast:
Nuria González, Daniel Ferrer and Jesus Laguna, Sergio Robles, Enrique Durio, David Red and Diego Garcia.

Happy 70th Birthday Manuel de Blas

Manuel de Blas Muñoz was born on April 12, 1941 in Extremadura, Cáceres Badajoz, Spain. He lived in Córdoba for two years before moving to Madrid where he studied political science. While attending the university he enrolled in the EOC acting school and debuted in a minor role in the film “Rose of Lima” (1961). At first he played mainly villains and other character roles but from the 1980s on he began to appear in more prominent roles and larger and controversial films. Today he has ascended to the top rung of Spanish actors. de Blas appeared in nine Euro-westerns such as, “A Bullet for Sandoval” (1969), “Tha Man Called Noon” (1973), “The Stranger and the Gunfighter” (1974), and “The White, the Yellow and the Black” (1975). Married to actress Patty Shepard [1945- ] since 1967 his latest film is “Day of the Flowers” (2011). Today we celebrate Manuel de Blas’ 70th birthday.