New DVD release

The new Blu Ray release of "Once Upon a Time in the West" is presented in 1080p high definition with an aspect ratio of 2.35:1.

Audio is presented in a 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio track that expands the film’s mix subtly and effectively. Dialogue is perfectly clean, effects are credibly dynamic and Morricone’s score features great clarity. The original mono mix is also included.

The disc features both the theatrical cut and the minute-longer restored version, seamlessly branched here.

Special Features
All the extras from the special edition DVD are ported over here, and everything, save for the theatrical trailer, remains in standard def. An audio commentary with a long list of participants — historians Christopher Frayling and Sheldon Hall; directors and fans John Carpenter, John Milius and Alex Cox; Cardinale; and writer Bernard Bertolucci — is included, along with three lengthy featurettes about the making of the film. A short piece on the history of railroads in America, a look at the locations then and now, and a gallery of production photos round out the disc.

Available 5/31/2011

GUNFIGHT AT HIGH NOON

I tre spietati - Italian title

El sabor de la venganza - Spanish title
Les trois implacables - French title
Abrechnung in Veracruz - German title
Treis ahoristoi ehthroi - Greek title
Pitiless Three - South African title
3 blodshämnare - Swedish title
Smak Zemsty - Polish title
Sons of Vengeance - U.S.A. title
Born to Kill - U.S.A. title
The Three Ruthless Ones - U.S.A. title
Gunfight at High Noon - English title

A 1963 Spanish, Italian co-production [Centauro Films (Madrid), PEA (Rome)]
Producers: Manuel Castedo, Adriano Merkel
Director: J.R. Marchent (Joaquín Romero Marchent)
Story: J.R. Marchent (Joaquín Romero Marchent), Jesus L. Navarro (Jesus Luis Carrión), Rafael Romero Marchent
Screenplay: J.R. Marchent (Joaquín Romero Marchent), Jesus L. Navarro (Jesus Luis Carrión), Rafael Romero Marchent, Marcello Fondato
Cinematography: Rafael Pacheco (Rafael de Usa) [Eastmancolor, Totalscope]
Music: Riz Ortolani (Riziero Ortolani)
Song: "This Time of the Year" sung by ?
Running time: 97 minutes

Cast:
Jeff Walker - Richard Harrison
Brad Walker - Billy Hyden (Miguel Palenzuela)
Chet/Chris Walker - Robert Hundar (Claudio Undari)
Suzanne/Susan Westfall - Evelyn Merril (Gloria Osuna)
Pedro Ramirez - Fernando Sancho (Fernando Les)
Louis Walker - Gloria Milland (Maria Fie)
James Walker - José Riesgo
Richard - José Manuel Martin (José Perez)
Westfall - Andrew Scott (Luigi Radici)
Judge Glenn - Paco Sanz (Francsico Sanz)
Palmer/Parker - Aldo Sambrell (Alfredo Brell)
Grayson - Alfonso Rojas (Alfonso Gonzalez)
Merle - José Truchado (José Reyes)
Charlie - Carlos Romero Marchent
Maika - Dina Loy
Rock - Freddie Toehl
Palmer/Parker henchman - Gaspar González
Commissioner - Emilio Rodríguez
barman - Ricardo G. Lilló
townsman - Rufino Inglés (Rufino García)
farmer - Rafael Vaquero
farmer’s wife - Magda Maldonado
Brad as a child - Pablito Alonso
Jeff as a child - Luis Miguel Arranz
Chris as a child - Enrique Hernández
with: Raf Baldassrre (Rafaelle Baldassarre), Joaquín Burgos, Marcelo González, Miguel Merino, Ricardo Rodríguez

The year is 1875. Louise Walker lives with her husband James and their three children at a small ranch in a location near the Mexican border. One day when Louise is alone with the youngsters four outlaws, fugitives from justice, show up at the ranch. Try to steal some horses and try to molest Louise. During the fighting and struggle to defend her honor, comes her husband, who kills one of the intruders. After a shootout James dies and two of the outlaws flee leaving the other. Ever since that day Louise thinks only of revenge and to get even someday. To this end she in her children a hatred for the outlaws and hopes they will carry out her desire for hatred and revenge. Jeff Walker turns to the law and becomes a marshal while his brothers Chris and Brad decide to carry out their own brand of justice. In the end Louise will pay a terrible price for her agenda.

Remembering Sean Flynn

Sean Leslie Flynn was born on May 31, 1941 in Los Angeles, California. The son of Errol Flynn [1909-1959] and actress Lili Damita [1904-1994]. He was involved in a custody battle between his parents and was raised primarily by his mother in Palm Beach, Florida. He attended Palm Beach Private School and Lawrenceville prep school. He spent summers with his father in Jamaica or his father’s yacht. Sean attended Duke University but left school to become an actor like his famous parents. His first appearance was on his father’s television series "The Errol Flynn Theater" in 1957. He then appeared in "Where the Boys Are" (1960) then moved to Italy during the height of the Sword and Sandal genre craze. He appeared in "The Son of Captain Blood" (1962) and then made his first Euro-western "Duel at the Rio Grande" (1963). He made two more Euro-westerns "7 Magnificent Guns" and "A Woman for Ringo" both in 1966. He became bored with film making and moved to Kenya, Africa where he became a game warden and hunter. Sean then became a photo journalist for the French magazine Paris-Match and then Time-Life and finally for United Press International. He arrived in South Vietnam in January 1966 to cover the Vietnam war. In March he was wounded in his right knee and returned to Europe long enough to make his last film "Cinq gars pour Singapour" (1967). He then returned to photo journalism and covered the Arab-Israeli War in 1967. Returning to Vietnam in 1968 he became a freelance photographer and was working on a documentary of the war. He disappeared with colleague Dana Stone on April 6, 1970, presumed captured by Khmer Rouge guerillas. They may have been held in captivity for another year and executed in June 1971, but that is uncertain. What is known is they were executed by their captors. Remains were found in a mass grave in March, 2010 proved not to be the bodies of Flynn and Stone. Today we celebrate what would have been Sean Flynn’s 70^th birthday.

Remembering Massimo Serato

Giuseppe Segato was born on May 31, 1916 in Oderzo, Italy. He abandoned his university studies to follow an acting career. He attended the Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia and became a successful stage actor alongside his partner Anna Magnani with whom they had a son Luca. He made his film debut in 1940's "L'ispettore Vargas" ("Inspector Vargas") directed by Giaani Franciolini. He was tall, blonde with piercing eyes and mocking smile. He appeared as a Nazi officer in "The Sun Also Rises" (1946) and as a cynical and amoral bourgeoisie in the tragic "Bill of Divorcement" ( 1953 ). He’d go on to appear in over 140 films during his career including five Euro-westerns: "Gumen of the Rio Grande" (1964), "$100,000 for Ringo" (1965), "The Magnificent Texan" (1967), "Gunman in Town" (1970) and "Dead Men Ride" (1971). After appearing in all genre’s of film he turned to television and soap operas but a serious accident forced his retirement. Massimo died on December 12, 1989 in Rome. Today we remember Massimo Serato on what would have been his 95^th birthday.

RIP Antonio Bruschini

Italian film critic, writer and author and teacher Antonio Bruschini passed away from an incurable disease on the evening of May 30^th in Italy. Bruschini was co-author with Federico De Zigno of the three volume "Westerns... All’Italiana" set of books on Spaghetti Westerns. I had the pleasure of corresponding and helping him with research during the writing of these books back in 1997. Bruschini was born on March 28, 1956 and started his writing career back in 1985 as an advertising writer for "P 77" in Florence. From 1988-1992 he was the film critic for "La Gazzetta di Firenze-Town". He also taught Italian film history and gave seminars at Scuola per Stranieri di Fabbricotti di Firenze. He started writing books with "Horror all’Italiana 1957-1979" for Glittering Press in 1996 followed in 1997 with "Operation Fear. The Directors Guide of Italian Gothic" and "Violent City - Italian Crime Film and "Spaghetti Westerns - The Specialists" Vol. 1 followed in 2001 with "The Wild, the Sadist, and the Outsiders" Vol 2. and finally in 2006 "Spaghetti Westerns. 100 More Must See Movies". Other books of note were "Lucio Fulci. The Poet of Cruelty ‘Unknown World’. He was a professor of Film Screenplay Independent Film at the National School of Florence in 2000-2007.

RIP Peter Boom

Peter Boom has died.

He died in Viterbo, Italy, on May 26, 2011. Peter Boom was born on March 31, 1936, in Bloemendaal, Netherlands and was an actor, singer, voice actor, lyricist and writer, philosopher.Death was most likely caused by a heart attack and occurred at his home in Bagnaia, a suburb of Viterbo, where he lived for many years. The last artistic effort by Peter Boom was his participation in "Habemus Papam" by Nanni Moretti. During his career he starred in the theater with Mario Carotenuto, Giancarlo Sbragia, Nino Manfredi, Mario Missiroli. Boom worked with Sophia Loren, Nino Manfredi, Mel Ferrer, Burt Lancaster, Joseph Cotten, Erland Josephson and sang and wrote songs for Ennio Morricone, Bruno Nicolai, Marcello Giombini and others. Peter had been a resident in Italy since 1956. Boom also worked for RAI and the Rome Opera. In recent years, was the creator of the so-called theory of pansexuality, presented in various congresses of sexology. Boom a homosexual used his status as a spokesman for gay rights. Boom was one of the main singers used for singing the main themes during the Spaghetti western genre in the 1960s and 1970s. He sang such songs as "Necklace of Pearls" for Blood at Sundown (1966) with Anthony Steffen and Johnny Garko, "Song of the Cowboy" for "A Man Called Amen" (1968), "Kidnappping" for the film of the same title (1969), "Julie" for "4 Gunmen of the Holy Trinity" (1970) and "Ride Alone" for "Sartana Kills Them All" (1971). He also recorded an English language version of "Run, Man, Run" and was featured on the soundtrack for "Sabata which was later cut.

Any Gun Can Play Book Signing Party report

Euro-Western legend Franco Nero made a rare appearance at The Odeon cinema in Covent Garden London, on the 28th of May as part of publishers Fabpress / Cine-Excess cult weekend, which also included Italian horror Maestro Ruggero Deodato, in town for a screening of the directors cut of "Cannibal Holocaust", and cult crime thriller "Live Like A Cop, Die Like A Man".

The main draw of the weekend was Django himself, guesting with Author Kevin Grant for the worldwide book launch of Grant’s 480 page homage, Any Gun Can Play - The Essential Guide To Euro Westerns. There was a book signing followed by a Q&A with Nero where he discussed his career at length with many amusing anecdotes. On hand was the Cine-Excess team to present Nero with a lifetime achievement award and then a treat for the fans, a special screening of Sergio Corbucci's 1966 masterpiece "Django".

When asked why the film had such an enduring legacy, he exclaimed it was popular with the working man and that they (the public) could picture themselves up on the silver screen as that character. He was also asked by a fan which was his personal favorite film that he had made, in a career spanning decades over many genres, and he emphatically replied, "They are all like my children.... !" The jury is still out as to whether he will be returning to the saddle in Quentin Tarantino’s proposed script "Django Unchained", as he explained he had not yet spoken with him, although a year and a half ago he had bumped into Harvey Weinstein, and he had said he wanted him for the project. Meanwhile, it's possible Franco will be teaming up with fellow cohort and protagonist, Director Enzo Castellari for another western, seemingly a more personal project for Nero. He was by turn articulate, and profound and remains to this day a heavyweight spokesperson for an often maligned genre, now being recognized as a serious art form. Long may he reign, Viva Django!



Any Gun Can Play is available from the Fabpress Website priced £39.99. Initial copies , Signature edition in hardback. Signed by Kevin Grant and Franco Nero.

It's a great book full of lavish color reproductions and black and white stills with a studied Thesis of all aspects of the genre.

Sundance Kid

Images by Sundance Kid & Etta Place

Memorial Day 2011

Happy 70th Birthday Marisa Solinas

Anna Marisa Solinas was born in Genoa, Italy on May 30, 1941. She is the older sister of singer actress Vittoria Solinas [1943- ]. Marisa dreamed of becoming an opera singer and attended Teatro Carlo Felice and studied voice. She decided to become a pop singer instead and in 1960 she moved to Milan. She became an actress and appeared in an episode of Boccaccio 70. She married director Italo Panone in 1964 and they had a son David. In 1968 she appeared in the first issue of Playmen. She was linked to Italian song writer Luigi Tenco [1938-1967] who committed suicide in 1967. Solinas blamed his death on debts he owed to pay a bribe to the organizers of the Sanremo Song Festival. For this she was denounced. She made her singing debut in 1964 with ‘Devi imparare’ & ‘Le tue care dolci cose. Her biggest hits were ‘Ecstacy’ 1968 and ‘vai suora vai’ (1981). In 2009 she released an album ‘Venerefenice - History’. Marisa appeared in five Euro-westerns: "A Colt in the Hand of the Devil" (1967), "Killer, Adios", ""Blood Calls to Blood", "Garter Colt" (1968) and "Blindman" (1971). Marisa’s last film appearance was in the 2005 TV film "Lucia". Today we celebrate Marisa Solinas’ 70^th birthday.

Remembering Carlos Otero

Carlos Otero Dos Santos Pereira was born on May 30, 1916 in Lisbon, Portugal. He studies dramatic arts at the National Academy of Sports of Saint Benedict in 1941. A classmate introduced Carlos to director who was looking for someone to cast in "Lobos da Serra" (1942). Otero received good reviews but his dream of entering the world of the cinema was short lived after his second film "The Courtyard of the Ballads" (1942) received much criticism. He abandoned his acting career and became an electrician. He became a crew member for three years on the ship ‘Pero de Swindon’ and sailed to the U.S.A., South America and Africa. He re-entered films in 1946 with an appearance in "Cais do Sodré". He then appeared in a number of films before relocating in Barcelona, Spain where he had a long film career and marrying actress Isabel del Castro [1931-2005) from 1950 until 1964. Otero was often billed as Charlets Otter and appeared in nine Euro-westerns such as "The Coyote" (1955) and "Judgment of the Coyote" (1956), "Who Killed Johnny R.?" (1966) and is probably best remembered as the barber in Giuliano Gemma’s "The Long Day of Vengeance" (1967). Carlos died on August 29, 1979 in Ibiza, Spain. Today we remember Carlos Otero on what would have been his 95^th birthday.



GUN SHY PILUK

Giurò... e li uccise ad unon ad uno - Italian title

Piluk il timido - Italian title
Matar Sem Piedade - Brazilian title
The Avenger - Danish title
Piluk le timide - French title
Pilluks nimmt Maß - German title
Tha tous skotoso enan-enan - Greek title
Tihi Osvettnik - Yugoslavian title
Swear to Kill Them One by One - English title
Piluk, the Timid One - English title
Gun Shy Piluk - English title

A 1968 Italian production [Palinuro Film (Rome)]
Producer: Guido Celano
Director: William First (Guido Celano)
Story: Guido CelanoScreenplay: Guido Celano, Luigi Silori
Cinematography: Angelo Baistrocchi [Eastmancolor, Widescreen]
Music: Carlo Savina
Running time: 97 minutes

Cast:
Sheriff Roger Terence Everett/Brown - Edmund Purdom
Margaret Amelia Moorehead - Micaela Pignatelli Cendali
Sheriff Alvin/Albert Moorehead - Peter Holden
Doc Burt Lukas - Livio LorenzoN
Piluk - Luis Barber (Luigi Barbieri)
Roy Mason - Dan Harrison (Bruno Piergentili)
Daisy Sugar Candy - Aïché Nana (Kiash Nanah)
saloon owner - Fedele Gentile
bartender - Elio Angelucci
blacksmith - Giuseppe Castellano
with: Michele Branca, Massimo Campagnoli, Salvatore Caronia, Emo Cauros, Arturo Croce, Pietro De Santis, Attilio Dottesio, Benjamin Gigli, Luigi Mannoi, Ivan Giovanni Scratuglia, Gavino Simi, Sergio Tedesco, Silvano Zutter (Silvano Zuddas), Pino Manca, Fabio Testi

Sheriff Albert, son of Piluk is betrayed and killed by Sebastian Mason, a vicious landowner, who along with his brothers, gets rid of anyone who tries to resist his bullying. Before his death, Albert reveals tells his father who was his killer, but Piluk stubbornly refuses to tell the new sheriff, Roger Brown. When Roy's brother, Sebastian, kills Dr. Lukas and is sentenced to hang, Sebastian kidnaps the wife of Roger, in exchange for the release of Roy. But Piluk intervenes and frees the woman. Roger then organizes a posse and defeats Mason and his henchmen: Sebastian manages to escape, but in his path is Piluk, who kills him.

Happy 70th Birthday Robert Logan

Robert F. Logan was born on May 29, 1941 in Brooklyn, New York. He’s one of seven children of banker Robert Logan Senior. Active in high school sports he received a baseball scholarship from the University of Arizona. While at Arizona University he was spotted by a talent scout from Warner Brothers. Logan appeared in over 25 film and television series. As. J.R. Hale He replaced Edd ‘Kookie’ Byrnes as the parking attendant on "77 Sunset Strip" (1961-1963). He then became a regular as Jericho Jones on "Daniel Boone" (1965-1966). He’s probably best remembered for his role as Skip Robinson in the "Wilderness Family" film series. He then became a producer and writer. Logan appeared in one Euro-western "Catlow" (1971). Today we celebrate Robert Logan’s 70^th birthday.

Happy 85th Birthday Louis Velle

Louis Velle was born on May 29, 1926 in Saint-Leu-la-Foret, France. His film career began with an appearance in "Matrimonial Agency" (1951). Since then he has appeared in over 70 film and TV shows. Velle is also a screenwriter and a voice actor. He appeared in two Euro-westerns "Frontier Hellcat" (1964) as Gordon and in the 1986 French short "Bitumes". Louis married screenwriter and actress Frédérique Hébrard [1927- ] in 1949. They had a son Nicholas Velle who is a film producer. Velle is still active and currently appears in the French soap opera "Les châtaigniers du désert". Today we celebrate Lous Velle’s 85^th birthday.

Django Lives!

            [Franco 'Django' Nero, Vicky Millington, Mark Chester]

I received this photo from Vicky via e-mail which was taken at today's book signing in London for Kevin Grant's release of "Any Gun Can Play" authoritative book on Spaghetti Westerns.

Spaghetti Western Locations

Continuing with Spaghetti Western film locations for "Once Upon a Time in the West". Sam and Jill are traveling to Brett McBain’s Sweetwater ranch. The road takes them past the building of the railroad and through the workman’s camp. This location is not in Spain but was filmed in Monument Valley, Arizona. The road is the same dirt road you drive on through the monument. The rock formations are called ‘The Mittens’.

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

Happy 80th Birthday Carroll Baker

Karolina Piekarski was born on May 28, 1931 in Johnston, Pennsylvania. Before becoming an actress she attended community college for a year and was a magician’s assistant. She attended the Actor’s Studio in New York and began her career appearing in commercials. She appeared on Broadway in "All Summer Long" in 1954. This caught the attention of director Elia Kazan who cast her in the lead role for "Baby Doll" (1956). That same year she also appeared in "Giant" and then "The Big Country" (1958). Some of her other major film roles were in "How the West Was Won" (1962), "The Carpetbaggers" and "Cheyenne Autumn" (1964), "The Greatest Story Ever Told" and "Harlow" (1965). She had a protracted legal battle with Paramount and had divorced her second husband director Jack Garfein [1930- ] when she moved to Italy. She picked up her career again with appearances in ""Her Harem" (1967) and "The Sweet Body of Deborah" (1968), "Paranoia" (1969) and "Baba Yaga" (1973). She made films in Spain, Italy, Germany and England including her only Euro-western "Captain Apache" (1971) with Lee Van Cleef.. Appearing in "Andy Warhol’s Bad" brought her back to the U.S.A. In the 1980s she began appearing in character roles in such films as "Star 80" (1983), "Ironweed" (1987), "Kindergarten Cop". She is the mother of actress Blanche Baker [1956- ] and composer Herschel Garfein [1958- ]. Besides Garfein she was married to actor Donald Burton [1934-2007]. Baker is currently living in retirement in the U.K. Today we celebrate Carroll Baker’s 80^th birthday.

Guess Who I Am

I’m a French actor born in Piolenc, France in 1930. Guess who I am.

Both of my daughters have died, one in 1969 the other in 2003.

António Rosa correctly guessed this week's photo as that of Jean-Louis Trintignant.

Franco Nero Always and Forever Django

FRANCO NERO: NO ESCAPING DJANGO

'In Germany they call all my movies Django': Franco Nero tells how everywhere he goes, even today, people shout Django, the name of the 1966 film he credits with giving him a great career

Interview by Phelim O’Neill

The Guardian

Thursday May 26, 2011

Everyone has a first love and mine was the western. When I was a child and dreamed of the movies, it was always as a cowboy on a white hores. Every actor wants to make a western. But when I was offfered "Django", I didn't want to do it. It was movies. I studied at the Piccolo Teatro di Milano: I was a theatre actor. I had done a few films - I was actually discovered by John Huston, who made me Abel in his movie of "the Bible".

But I agreed. Django was a fast shoot. We started in December 1965; it was out by March 1966. There was no real script: in the Christmas break Bruno Corbucci, brother of the director Sergio, wrote a scaletta, like a synopsis but more detailed, still not a full screenplay. This was not an unusual situation: I remember going to the Caribbean to shoot a film called "The Shark Hunter" for Enzo G. Castellari and all the copies of the script vanished when the Italian actor who was supposed to translate it lost his luggage. But for the Italians that was not a problem, there was no fear. We just shot it day by day, and little by little we made the movie.

But when we shot Django, it was very cold and raining. I remember Sergio Corbucci saying one time "We have to shoot the titles now." I had to walk and walk carrying a coffin through the mud. Sergio told me: "I will tell you when to stop." I kept on and on, waiting for him to call. When I finally stopped and looked back, everyone had gone. That was his idea of humour, very black. We'd arrive on set and he'd say, "How many shall we kill today, Franco? 20? 30? I think 30."

I had no idea it would turn out to be so special. It wasn't just a success; it was a phenomenon. Everywhere I go people shout Django at me. Even today, as I am working in Brazil, kids call me Django. In Japan, they won't even put my name on movie posters, they put Django. In Germany, they call all my movies Django; I did a great movie about the Sicilian mafia and they called it "Django in the Mafia". "The Shark Hunter" they called "Django Django". They say: "Well, it's your problem."

But it's not really a problem for me. Django gave me a great career. I have done movies with all the top European directors: Bunuel, Fassbinder, Bondarchuk. I did Hollywood movies such as "Camelot" and "Die Hard 2". I've done comedies, dramas, thrillers, everything. One movie I'm particulary proud of is "A Quiet Place in the Country". It was made by Elio Petri who for me was an Italian Kubrick. He only made about 10 films but they were all completely different, and so ahead of their time. For Petri I played and artist, so they put me with a young painter, who did the paintings in the films. After shooting, he asked me if I wanted to buy any of them, for $10,000. In the 1960s that sounded ridiculous, he was a nobody. I think I told him to fuck off. Years later, I was in New York and saw his paintings on huge billboards. His name was Jim Dine, and you can't get a painting of his for less than $100,000.

I can only guess as to why Django was so big. The world is made up of workers and workers would love to be Django. They would like to go to the boss and say: "Listen, from now on things are going to be different." Django is that man. Now Tarantino is making "Django Unchained". Everybody is telling me I am in the movie but I've not been asked by Tarantino officially. Not yet. There were many, many other Django films following mine, with other actors and directors, but there is only on Django.

Nero introduces "A Quiet Place in the Country" tonight at the Italian Cultural Institute and "Django" tomorrow at the Odeon, Covent Garden, London, as part of the Cine-Excess Festival. For details go to
cine-excess.co.uk

Grizzly Falls

La légende de l'ours - French title

l’Ours - French title

Meu Melhor Amigo - Brazilian title

Abenteuer im Land der Grizzlys - German title

Sti skia tis fysis - Greek title

Grizzly Falls - la valle degli oris - Italian title

Wielka niedzwiedzica - Polish title

Pequeno gran gazador - Spanish title

Grizzly Falls - English title

A 1999 Canadian, British, U.S.A., French co-production [The Movie Network (Toronto), Behaviour Worldwide, Grizzly Productions (London), Western International (Hollywood), Le Sabre (Paris)]Producers: Alan Scott, Peter R. Simpson
Director: Stewart Raffill
Story: Stuart Margolin
Screenplay: Richard Beattie
Cinematography: Thom Best [Color by Deluxe]
Music: David Reilly, Paul J. Zaza (Paul James Zaza)
Running time: 94 minutes

Cast:
Tyrone Bankston -  Bryan Brown
Joshua - Tom Jackson
Old Harry -  Richard Harris
Genet - Oliver Tobias (Oliver Freitag)
young Harry - Daniel Clark
young Jennifer - Chantel Dick
Joshua Jr. - Trevor Lowden
Mrs. Bankston - Marnie McPhail
house master - Ken Kramer
Lanky - Brock Bearden
Grits - Colin D. Simpson
Menke - Jim Bearden (James Bearden)
Wes - John Tench
boy - Hayden Simpson
Miz - Ali Oop
Miz’s cubs - Barney, Betty
black bear - Bonkers
grizzly bear - Whopper
Ridgeback dog pack - Bhoy-Bhoy, Kura, Ruti, Chica, Queda, Raleigh

The year is 1913 and young Harry is still mourning the death of his mother when he joins his estranged father on a wilderness expedition in the wild Canadian west. Dad, a world famous adventurer who's been gallivanting all over the world when a good father would have been at home bonding with his son, wants to capture a grizzly bear and plans to stun the beast with newfangled tranquilizer darts. A bear is spotted, but things go terribly wrong and the hunters wind up with nothing but her cute cubs. Mad as hell, the bear kidnaps Harry. Fortunately, even small children will realize that the bear isn't going to hurt the boy: The robustly healthy old Harry, whom we've just seen camping in the woods with his own grandchildren, is telling the tale in flashback. So it comes as no great surprise when little Harry realizes his abductor is a big old softy who's just bluffing when she rears up on her hind legs and looks as though she's about to tear someone's head off. Harry nicknames the bear "Mizzy" because she's such a miserable grouch, and embarks on a wilderness journey of self-discovery, while his father, wounded and exhausted, slogs through the woods, feeling worse by the minute for having been such a bad dad. It's all nicely photographed and competently acted, but even kids will cringe when Harry starts sharing his innermost feelings with Mizzy. Parents desperate for "clean entertainment" will find that this fits the bill, but that doesn't mean it's actually entertaining. ~ Maitland McDonagh

YouTube link: http://www.zimbio.com/watch/sa030T1LOjV/Grizzly+Falls/Richard+Harris

Lee Broughton's DVD Reviews

DVD Review by Lee Broughton

Spaghetti Western Two-Fer Dorado Films, USA. Format: NTSC Region 1.

Two of Dorado Films' earlier releases -- Django Shoots First and Gatling Gun -- are now available to buy together as a budget-priced double pack.

Django Shoots First Directed by Alberto De Martino. 1966. 84 minutes. Widescreen (2.35:1 anamorphic).

Django (Glenn Saxson) arrives in the town of Silver Creek and links up with a local eccentric, Gordon (Fernando Sancho). Gordon, who literally loves the smell of money, informs him that his late father owned half of the town and the pair decide to prise Django's rightful inheritance out of his father's crooked business partner, Kluster (Nando Gazzolo). A series of violent confrontations and double-crosses duly follows and matters are further complicated by the actions of Kluster's duplicitous wife (Evelyn Stewart) and the sudden arrival of a mysterious stranger called Doc (Alfredo Lupo).

This show is noteworthy because it features Fernando Sancho in a rare outing as a gringo good guy. Sancho turns in a great performance, expertly providing just the right amount of mild comic relief in a couple of spots. In many ways Gordon is like a gringo antecedent of the supporting Mexican characters that Ignazio Spalla (AKA Pedro Sanchez) played in each of Gianfranco Parolini's three Sabata films. Glenn Saxson displays a great deal of confidence here, and he brings a kind of Giuliano Gemma-like sense of fun to his role, but he doesn't exude enough charisma to make a particularly big impression as a genre anti-hero. That said, his Django character is likeable enough. Interestingly, this show possesses something of a film noir-ish vibe: Kluster's wife is a dangerous femme fatale whose unpredictable behaviour and vicious nature potentially spell big trouble for anyone who gets in her way and Doc -- who dresses like Sartana and makes use of a gadget-rigged cane -- is a hard-boiled loner with a secret past. Bruno Nicolai turns in a rousing soundtrack score which compliments some generally very good -- and at times quite outstanding -- cinematography. Django Shoots First swings towards the more populist end of the genre but there's nothing wrong with that: there may be some slightly ill-fitting comedy aspects present here but the film remains engaging and entertaining in a rip-roaring kind of way. The picture and sound quality here are both near enough excellent.

Extras: 5 trailers, an Italian audio track and a French audio track.

Gatling Gun Directed by Paolo Bianchini. 1968. 100 minutes. Widescreen (2.35:1 anamorphic).

Dr. Richard Gatling (Ennio Balbo) arranges to hold a private demonstration of his new rapid-fire weapon for a trio of Union representatives. However, assassins soon eliminate the Union representatives and Gatling and his gun are kidnapped by Tarpas (John Ireland), a Mexican bandit who is working in conjunction with a shadowy, unseen partner. Circumstantial evidence leads the Union's top brass to suspect that one of their own secret service operatives must be guilty of passing details about Gatling's top-secret work to the South: agent Chris Tanner (Robert Woods) is duly court-martialed and imprisoned pending execution. Convinced of his innocence, Tanner's superior secretly gives the beleaguered agent a chance to prove his loyalty to the Union by finding out what has happened to Gatling and his gun and Tanner duly embarks on an undercover mission that is fraught with danger and intrigue.

At a basic narrative level, Gatling Gun has quite a bit in common with the fanciful Spaghetti Westerns directed by Gianfranco Parolini. Granted, Tanner is a public servant who is working for the good of the Union and instead of the fortunes in stolen gold or banknotes that generally interest Parolini's avaricious anti-heroes, the focus of Tanner's mission is a super weapon and the man who invented it. But with two different ransom deals on the table that each amount to one million dollars, you can be sure that the kind of outrageous intrigues, murderous misunderstandings, false trails and deadly double-crosses that litter the Sartana and Sabata films are also much in evidence here. Gatling Gun's content also betrays the influence of the James Bond films but while the show's spy/espionage aspects work well enough they result in a plot that is so intricate and convoluted that a good amount of the show's running time is necessarily taken up by talky exposition and quite detailed scene setting sequences. The film's cast -- which represents a virtual "who's who" of genre stalwarts -- all turn in suitably lively performances. The quality of the show's cinematography fluctuates somewhat (quite stylish one moment but rushed-looking the next) but Piero Piccioni provides an enjoyably groovy soundtrack score that possesses a slightly jazzy and sub-psychedelic vibe. Interest in this show is high since Quentin Tarantino ranked the film at number twenty in a list of his favourite Spaghetti Westerns. Gatling Gun wouldn't feature in my own top twenty list but it remains an interesting and entertaining enough take on the genre. Picture quality here is excellent while the sound quality is just short of very good.

Extras: an image gallery, 11 trailers and an Italian language audio track.

© 2011 Copyright Lee Broughton.

Happy 75th Birthday Richard Harrison

Richard Harrison was born on May 26, 1935 in Salt Lake City, Utah. He moved to Los Angeles and worked at Vic Tanny and Bert Goodrich gyms. Because of the many encounters with actors who trained and worked out at the gyms he became interested in becoming an actor. He married Loretta Nicholson, the daughter of co-chief of International Pictures James H. Nicholson. He broke into acting on the Santa Monica stage, TV and small parts in films. Richard worked at 20^th Century Fox and appeared in "South Pacific" (1958). He signed a three picture deal with American International Pictures which led him to Italy where he remained for almost 30 years, making sword and sandal films, westerns, crime, spy and action films. Because of his formal film training he was a step above the other peplum actors he is usually grouped with. Harrison was offered the part of "The Man with No Name" but turned it down because he had already committed to another film. Harrison became one of the biggest stars in Spaghetti westerns with starring roles in 18 films such as "Gunfight at Red Sands" (1963), $100,000 for Ringo" (1954), "El Rojo" (1967), "Vengeance" (1968), "One After the Other" (1969), "A Man Called King", "Reverend Colt", and "Aquasanta Joe" all in 1971. During the 1970's Harrison reached the pinnacle of his acting career and appeared in dozens of films made all over the world. In the 1980s he was duped into making a series of films which were then cut up with his name being used on many films he never actually made just archive footage was added in order to use his name on the title. He never agreed to this or was ever paid for the films. He became discouraged with the industry and retired to Palm Springs, California. He ran for public office a few times and today runs an electronic business with his son actor Sebastian Harrison. Richard was a recent guest at the 1^st Los Angeles Spaghetti Western Festival in March of 2011. Today we celebrate the 75^th birthday of a gentleman and icon of the Spaghetti western genre Mr. Richard Harrison.

RIP Edward Zentara

Edward Zentara committed suicide today May 25^th, 2011 in his apartment in Tarnowie, Poland.

Edward Zentara was born on 18 March 1956 in Sianów (West Pomeranian). He was a theater actor, and film and television director. From July 4th 2008, he has been director of the Tarnów theater.

For the first time he performed at Theatre in Koszalin Proposition dialogue in a benefit production of "Actor" (1975).

At first he wanted to be a physical education teacher and then thought about becoming an actor after high school when he was preparing to attend the academy to study Economics. After graduating from the School of Economics in Koszalin in 1975, he studied at the Lodz Acting State College of Film, Television and Theatre. Leon Schiller, from which he graduated in 1980.

He has performed in theaters: the. Julius Osterwa in Lublin, Polish in Warsaw, the old. Helena Modjeska in Cracow. He worked with Stanislaw Ignacy Witkiewicz in Warsaw. Appearing in Krakow, Szczecin and the Polish Baltic Dramatic Theatre and he appeared in Koszalin, where he served as artistic director. His television debut occurred in 1978's series "Family" where he played the part of a servant.

Zentara appeared in the Euro-western TV series "Alaska Kid" (1991) as Sprague.

Grey Owl

Grey Owl - U.K. title
Buho Gris - Spanish title
Grey Owl - Gufo Grigio - Italian title
Grey Owl - U.S.A. title

A 1999 British, Canadian co-production [Ajawaan Productions, Allied Filmmakers, Beaver Productions, Largo Entertainment (London), Transfilm (Toronto)]
Producers: Richard Attenborough, Jake Eberts, Claude Leger, Diana Hawkins, Josette Perrotta
Director: Richard Attneborough
Story: William Nicholson
Screenplay: William Nicholson
Cinematography: Roger Pratt [Kodakcolor, Panavision]
Music: George Fenton
Running time: 120 minutes

Cast:
Archibald ‘Archie Grey Owl’ S. Belaney - Pierce Brosnan
Cyrus Finney - Stewart Bick
Harry Champlin - Vlasta Vrana
Anahareo/Gertrude ‘Pony’ Bernard - Annie Galipeau
hunters - Neil Kroetsch, Serge Houde
hotel guest - Peter Colvey
Ned White Bear - Nathaniel Arcand
hotel manager - Jacques Lussier
Chief Pete Misebi - Jimmy Herman
Slim Hancock - John Dunn-Hill
Jim Bernard - Graham Greene (James Nolan)
Gus Mitchell - Gordon Masten (J. Masten)
trappers - Chip Chiupka, John Walsh
Jim Wood - David Fox
hikers - Annabelle Torsein, Marcel Jeannin, Kent McQuaid, Craig Gauthier
Hawkins - Matthews Sharp
Walter Perry - Charles Powell
Bill Oliver - Sean Gallagher (Seann Gallagher)
Tom Walker - James Bradford
Southampton reporter - Noel Burton
Carrie Belaney - Renee Asherson (Dorothy Ascherson)
Ada Belaney - Stephanie Cole (Patricia Cole)
Halifax reporters - Richard Jutras, Art Kitching, Pierre Lenoir, Norris Domingue (Joseph Domingue) Immigration officer - Al Vandercruys (Al Vandecruys)
powwow chief - Floyd Crow Westerman (Floyd Red Crow Westerman)
Wabiken Lodge dancers - Gene Blackbird, Lindsey Cote, Arnold Jocks, Tahatie Montour, Rene Tonda, Splicer Kiepprien, Donald J. White, Kevin Peltier, Donald Swamp
lead Wabiken Lodge drummer - Gerald McDonald
Wabiken Lodge drummers - Michael MacDonald, Narcisse Kakegabon
powwow dancers - Frank Buswa, Vernon Cardinal, Josie Cox, Donald Dowd, Hilliard Friday, Les Harper, David Herman, Joseph McLeod, Dylan Manitopyes, Brian Moore, Gordie Odjig, Gary Parker, Ron Ranville, Steve Sands, Dwight ‘Bucko’ Teeple, Denis Whiteye, Larry Yazzie,
lead powwow drummer - Steve Wood
powwow drummers - Elmer Baptiste, Shane Dion, Aaron McGilvery, Ferlin McGilvery, Bradley McGilvery, Cecil Nepoose, Leroy Whitstone
Chief’s Counselman - Jeffrey Lee
King George VI - himself (Albert Wettin) [archive footage]
Princess Margaret - herself (Margaret Windsor) [archive footage]
Queen Elizabeth - herself (Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon) [archive footage]
Princess Elizabeth - (Queen Elizabeth II) (Elizabeth Windsor) [archive footage]

Grey Owl’, was an Englishman who moved to Canada and embarks on a Native American adventure packed with high explosives, exploitation and romance. The true story tells the tale of the enigmatic Archie Belaney, an Englishman who moved to the Canadian wilds and reinvented himself as the Apache Indian, ‘Grey Owl.’
When Grey Owl takes to the Canadian wilderness as a trapper and adventurer, he exploits the forests for his own profit, making good use of dynamite and high explosives! However, he soon changes his ways when he meets the native Mohawk-Indian ‘Pony’ and falls in love with her. Slowly, through her kindness, he learns to protect and not trap animals, a decision that has enormous consequences.

Grey Owl begins to understand the fragile balance of their habitat and embarks on a mission to bring awareness of the destruction of the natural world to the masses. He rises to international status as a pioneering voice of environmental conservation but his fame is jeopardized when a reporter discovers his dark secret that he is a white man not the Indian he is made out to be.


YouTube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WF6GDK_TDk

Remembering Claude Akins

Claude Marion Akins was born on May 25, 1925 in Nelson, Georgia but grew up in Bedford, Indiana. He attended Northwestern University where he majored in Theater Arts, graduating in 1949. He made his first film appearance in 1953's "From Here to Eternity" followed in 1954 with an appearance in "The Caine Mutiny". Other major film roles followed such as "Rio Bravo" and "Don’t Give Up the Ship" (1959), "Inherit the Wind" and "Comanche Station (1960), "Merrills Marauders" (1962), "The Devil’s Brigade" (1968) and "Battle for the Planet of the Apes" (1973). Claude made an early TV appearance on "The Adventures of Superman" in the early 1950s and it was this medium that made him a household name. Akins made regular guest appearances on such series as "The Twilight Zone", "Alfred Hitchcock Presents", "I Love Lucy", "Perry Mason" and dozens of westerns. He starred in three TV series, as trucker Sonny Pruett in "Movin’ On" (1974-1976), "B.J. and the Bear" (1979-1981) and "The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo" (1979-1981). Claude appeared in two Euro-westerns: "Return of the Seven" (1966) as Frank and "A Man Called Sledge" (1970) as Hooker". Akins died from cancer on July 27, 1994 in Altadena, California. He was only 67. Today we remember Claude Akins on what would have been his 85^th birthday.

Who are Those Guys? - Luis Barbero

Luis Barbero was born on August 8, 1916 in Madrid, Spain. His father was the director of the Zarzuela Orchestra. Luis studied music and engineering in school but decided to become and actor debuting on stage in 1939 in the Ruperto Chapi [1851-1901] operetta "El rey que rabió". Barbero continues to appear in opera performances as a tenor and then turns to comic performances. Barbero did not make his film debut until 1957 but followed that with over 150 films and TV appearances. Luis became one of the most famous character actors in Spanish films while continuing to appear on stage. His most famous role was his last as Matías Poyo in the Spanish TV series "Médico de familia" (1995-1999). Barbero appeared in only two Euro-westerns as Juez in "A Fistful of Knuckles" (1965) starring Francho & Ciccio and as Mr. First in "Al este del Oeste" (1983). Luis Barbero died in Madrid on August 3, 2005.

BARBERO, Luis [8/8/1916, Madrid, Madrid, Spain - 8/3/2005, Madrid, Madrid, Spain] - stage, TV actor.
A Fistful of Knuckles - 1965 (Juez)
Al este del Oeste - 1983 (Mr. First)

RIP Silvia Solar

Sultry and sexy with a flowing mane of red hair (sometimes brunette or blonde according to the role), Sylvia Solar (often credited as Silvie or Sylvie Solar) appeared in numerous European films from 1957 onward. Solar died May 18, 2011 in Lloret de Mar, Catalonia, Spain. She was 71. Her career highpoints included roles in a number of espionage films, comedies, thrillers and westerns. Born Geneviève Couzain on March 20, 1940 in Paris, France she won the Miss France beauty contest in 1956 and made her first film appearance in the French film "C’Est Arrive a 36 Chandelles" in 1957. Her next film was 1958's French-German spy adventure "Hoopla-Jezt Kommt Eddie!" starring Eddie Constantine. Other films followed such as "Mister Dynamite", "Danger Death Ray" (1967), "Death and Diamonds" (1968). During the 1960s Sylvia appeared in eight Euro-westerns including "Tomb of the Pistolero" and "Two Gunmen" (1964), "Finger on the Trigger" and "A Man Called Gringo" in 1965, but was probably best remembered as Vicky in "Gentleman Killer" in 1967 starring Anthony Steffen. In the 1970s she appeared in a number of Spanish horror films. Solar married to bullfighter, actor Rogelio Madrid (Moruno Cordero) [1913-2010] in 1958 but the two were later divorced. Thanks to Nzoog Wahrlfhehen for letting me know of Sivia’s passing.

THE GREAT TREASURE HUNT

Monta in sella... figli di...! - Italian title
Cinque per l’oro di los Quadros - Italian title
Repóker de bribones - Spanish title
Cinq pour l’or de los quadros - French title
Dipsasmenoi gia hrysafi kai aima - Greek title
Five for the Gold of Los Quadros - English title
The Great Chihuahua Treasure Hunt - English title
The Great Treasure Hunt - English title

A 1972 Italian, Spanish co-production [Continental Films, Industrial Prucine (Rome), Estudios Cinematográficos Roma (Madrid)]
Producer: Tonino Ricci (Cecil Richardson)
Director: Tonino Ricci (Cecil Richardson)
Story: Jesús R. Folgar (Jesús Rodriguez Folgar)
Screenplay: Tonino Ricci (Cecil Richardson), Fabio Tallevi (Fabrizio Diotallevi)
Cinematography: Raul Artigot (Cecilio Rodriguez) [Eastmancolor, CinemaScope]
Music: L.E. Bacalov (Luis Enriquez Bacalov)
Running time: 95 minutes

Cast:
Dean Madison - Mark Damon (Alan Herskovitz)
Agnes - Rosalba Neri
André - Alfredo Mayo (Alfredo Martinez)
Sam Madison - Stan Cooper (Stelvio Rossi)
Felipe - Luis Martin (Luis Gutierrez)
El Supremo - Giancarlo Badessi (Giancarlo Badese)
with: José Luis Chinchilla, Adolfo Thous, Francisco Sanz, Bruno Arié

Brothers Dean and Sam Madison, ally themselves with poker cheat Andre the Frenchman and his female companion Agnes). They accept the proposal of a Mexican ballad singer named Felipe, which involves stealing, and then dividing a large treasure accumulated by a Mexican government General named El Supremo. Upon entering Mexico, the enterprise succeeds in their mission, thanks to the wiles of Agnes, that has enchanted El Supremo, and with the help of Felipe. Once in possession of the treasure, Felipe (who was been faking blindness) forces his comrades to surrender the treasure to his Mexican revolutionary comrades.

YouTube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EfNq-R1joY

Spaghetti Western Collectables

Are you a fan of Western movies of the 60s? The watchmaker Boegli has a new pocket watch for you. A new model, named the Far West , which is inspired by the musical pocket watch that Clint Eastwood is holding in the unforgettable film by Sergio Leone "For a Few Dollars More" 1965.

When the lid is lifted it activates a musical mechanism that plays the melody of the final duel, composed by Ennio Morricone.

The design evokes the charming and dusty atmosphere of the old west, with the characteristic motifs of the guitars on the western quadrant.

Fully polished gold plated to 10 microns, Far West is a limited edition of only 99 numbered copies. A must for any fan of the Spaghetti Western!.



Every Italian must have seen at least once in a lifetime a spaghetti western movie signed by the master of the genre Sergio Leone and especially the Dollars Trilogy. That's why if you look back to the last scenes of For a Few Dollars More (1965), each scene, will seem familiar. Even more recognizable, thanks to the genius of Ennio Morricone, will always be the thin and clear sound of the pocket watch that Clint Eastwood is holding, before the final showdown, scanding the sixty endless seconds.

Boegli has decided to reproduce this cinema's cult object: every time you lift the lid, the mechanism will play those same musical notes, which will take you back in the dusty old west. Obviously the watch is available in a limited edition of 99 numbered specimens in shiny gold (on sale for 1'560 euros). Every self-respecting fan of this kind of cinema should have one.

Spaghetti Western Locations

Continuing with locations for "Once Upon a Time in the West". Jill coming to the conclusion that no one is coming to pick her up hires a driver and a hack to take her to Brett McBains "Sweetwater" ranch. The driver Sam starts out from Flagstone set, which is in Southern Spain and will now venture through the desert country located in Monument Valley, Arizona, U.S.A. Only through the magic of cinema and the dream of Sergio Leone could this feat be accomplished.

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/

Armed Forces Day 2011

THE GREAT SILENCE

Il grande silenzio - Italian title

Le grand silence - French title
Le grand massacre - French title
O silencio da morte - Brazilian title
O Vingador Silencioso - Brazilian title
Suuri hiljainen - Finnish title
Suuri hiljaisuus - Finnish title
Leichen pflastern seinen Weg - German title
O ekdikitis tou diavolou - Greek title
A halál csöndje - Hungarian title
Czlowiek zwany Cisza - Polish title
O Grande Silêncio - Portuguese title
El gran silencio - Spanish title
Den tyste hämnaren - Swedish title
The Big Silence - English title
The Great Silence - English title

A 1967 Italian, French co-production [Adelphia Compagnia Cinematografica (Rome), Les Films Corona (Paris)]
Producer: Sergio CorbucciDirector: Sergio Corbucci
Story: Sergio Corbucci
Screenplay: Sergio Corbucci, Vittoriano Petrilli, Mario Amendola, Bruno Corbucci
French dialogue: André Tranché
English dialogue: Lewis E. Ciannelli (Lewis Edward Ciannelli), John Hart
Cinematography: Silvano Ippoliti [Eastmancolor]
Music: Ennio Morricone
Running time: 106 minutes

Cast:
Silenzio/Silence - Jean-Louis TrintignanT
Sheriff Gideon Burnett/Corbett - Frank Wolff (Walter Wolff)
Tigrero/Tiger - Klaus Kinski (Nikolaus Nakaszynski)
Henry Pollicut - Luigi Pistilli
Pauline Middleton - Vonetta McGee (Lawrence McGee, Jr.)
Martin - Mario Brega
Governor of Utah - Carlo D’Angelo
Regina - Marisa Merlini
Sanchez/Bobo Schultz - Raf Baldassarre (Raffaele Baldassarre)
Walter - Spartaco Conversi
false sheriff - Remo DeAngelis
Charlie - Bruno Corazzari
barman - Mimmo Poli (Domenico Poli)
Silence as a boy - Loris Loddi
Silence’s mother - Adriana Giuffre
saloon girl - Mirella Pamphili
bounty killers - Claudio Ruffini, Luciano Rossi
child on sled - Giulia Slavatori
outlaw - Fortunato Arena
stagecoach driver - Benito Pacifico
Miguel’s mother - Maria Mizar (Maria Ferrara)
mother of murdered outlaw - Pupita Lea Scuderoni
with: Marisa Salli, Jacques Toulouse

In the winter of 1898, the rough weather brings hunger and privation to the small village of Snow Hill, Utah. In order to survive, the poor people start to steal and rob. Therefore they become outlaws and have to hide in the mountains, because they now have bounties on them. While people are suffering, the village becomes a paradise for bounty hunters, who cannot be opposed by now wanted outlawed villagers.

When Pauline's husband falls prey to the unscrupulous bounty hunter Loco, she hires a mute gunfighter named Silence, to kill Loco and avenge her husband’s murder. Since Silence as a child had to watch his parents being killed by bounty hunters, he tramps through the country chasing those who are killing people for money under the cloak of the law. In order not to violate the law and be added to the blacklist of the bounty hunters, he provokes them to pull out their weapon first and shoots them in self-defense. But Loco is too smart to fall for this trap and does not allow himself to be provoked. Sheriff Gideon Burnett has been given the impossible task by Governor of Utah to re-establish law and order in the region and to grant amnesty to those starving in the mountains. He is eliminated by Loco and now must face Silence in a final showdown. [Two endings were filmed and are available: (1) Silence is shot and killed. (2) Sheriff Burnett rides into Snow Hill just in time to save Silence and together they dispose of Loco and his gang].

Alternative ending link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRwLDQTgZ1k&feature=related

YouTube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAJI-UQ4Tak

Remembering Hartmut Beer

Hartmut Beer was born on May 21 1941 in Pabianice, Poland. The son of a bricklayer the family left their home due to World War II war and settled in Holzweißig near Bitterfeld, Germany. After graduation, the young Hartmut enters the Babelsberg film school and because of his talent and successful training he graduates in 1964. At the Meininger Theater, he embarks on a stage career. He then appears on stage in Greifswald, Annaberg, Radebeul and Freiberg, before he returns again to working in Meiningen from 1988-1990. Here he stars in Ediger Aitmatov's "Ein Tag, länger als ein Leben" (A Day Longer Than a Life) and his most important - by his own admission - his most difficult role. In 1990, he makes a commitment to appear in Heidelberg but, only two years later, he is stricken with a an ailment that will eventually take his life. Already during his college studies Beer makes his film debut with small roles in DEFA films, as an accomplice in the fairy tale film "The Golden Goose". With his special love for horses, he enjoys appearing in five of the legendary DEFA Indian films: "Trail of the Falcon" (1968), "Fatal Error" (1970), "Apaches" (1973), "The Long Ride from School" (1982) and "The Scout" (1983). In these westerns he specializes in playing the villains. 1997 doctors diagnose him with an incurable brain tumor. The last few months of his life he spends with his caring sister-Barbara Heide Schmidt Holzweißig. Beer died on May 15, 1998 in Holzweißig, Germany. Today we celebrate what would have been Hartmut Beer’s 70^th birthday.



Remebering Fulvia Franco

Fulvia Franco was born in Trieste, Italy on May 21, 1931. She won the Miss Italy contest in 1948 and along with it a role in comedian Totò’s 1948 film "Totò al Giro d'Italia". In 1950 she married boxer and future actor Tiberio Mitri. The couple had a son Alexandro, born in 1951, who died of a drug overdose at the age of 28. Franco and Muria divorced in 1954. Fulvia appeared in over 45 films usually as window dressing in comedies, action and western films. She was probably best remembered for her appearance in 1959's "Hercules Unchained" with Steve Reeves. She appeared in five Euro-westerns including "Massacre at Marble City" (1964), "A Coffin for the Sheriff" (1965) with Anthony Steffen, "Rngo’s Two Sons" (1966) with Franco & Ciccio, "The Magnificent Texan" (1967) using the alias Lola Larsen, and her final film appearance "Tara Poki" (1971). Fulvia then turned to television and appeared regularly in soap operas for a number of years before retiring. She died on May 15, 1988 in Rome, Italy. Today we remember Fulvia Franco on what would have been her 80^th birthday.

Guess Who I Am

I’m a German actor born in Wismar in 1941. Guess who I am.

Rex Lee correctly identified this week's picture as that of Klaus Grünberg.

Winnetou of the East

The "Winnetou of the East", Gojko Mitic, is attending the international film festival Crossing Europe in Linz as a guest. In the section "Red Westerns" some of the twelve Indian films, which star the now turned 70-year-old actor, are shown. The APA was able to ask the Serbian-born actor of the Communist East European film industry a few questions.

APA: You are known as the "Winnetou of the East", is this a compliment?

Gojko Mitic: I don’t mind, because I'm already used to it. When the GDR still existed, they gave me a nickname: I was called "Indian chief" because I starred in the DEFA films as different Indians. Then when I appeared in Bad Segeberg for 15 years and 1,400 performances at the Karl May Festival, the writers like you, gave me that name.

APA: "Red Westerns" are something completely different than the American Western.

Mitic: Of course, I grew up with the US-Western. I can remember that we were all glad when John Wayne appeared. But I never wanted to be an Indian, because they were "evil". In retrospect, I realize that we have done them wrong. We were the ones who came to their country and decimated them. These Indians, who I played did not meet the American stereotype. It was researched more at the DEFA films, they were stories of real Indians retold. These films were for me, a bit of an attempt to correct the story.

APA: Are you yourself of any the Indian heritage?

Mitic: No, but I am very grateful to the Indian people. I appreciate their way of living very much - in harmony with nature. Do not take more than you really need. The Indians say, we think of the seventh generation after us. This is important. I have always admired their beliefs and attitudes.

APA: Have you ever even met Indians?

Mitic: Yes, I showed my films to them. This was a very interesting experience. First, they could not believe that Europeans made films about them. Then they said: "This is our story." I feel that my films have given them back a piece of restitution. I was a hero to them.

APA: Has the role of the Indian performer ever gotten on your nerves?

Mitic: I made many other television series and films. But when you have success in one genre, some of the fans will always see you as that person and that has always been the case. There is a drawback, but what the heck, it's not the worst.

(Interview by Tiziana Arico / APA)