Hurricane Hutch in Many Adventures

Betrogene Erpresser - Austrian title
Hutsch und die Erbschleicher - German title
Gewandtheit gegen Tücke - German title
Il cavaliere dell'uragano - Italian title
Hurricane Hutch in Many Adventures - English title

A 1924 British production [Ideal (London)]
Producer: ?
Director: Charles Hutchison
Story: Eliot Stannard
Screenplay: Eliot Stannard
Cinematography: ? [black & white]
Running time: ?

Story: Unknown.

Cast:
Larry ‘Hurricane Hutch’ Hutchable - Charles Hutchison
Dick - Warwick Ward
Frank Mitchell - Malcolm Tod
Nancy Norris - Edith Thornton
Hugh - Robert Vallis
Mr. Mitchell - Ernest A. Douglas
Mrs. Mitchell - Daisy Campbell
butler - Cecil Rayne

Remembering Hannjo Hasse

Hannjo Hasse was born on August 31, 1921 in Bonn, Germany. Hannjo began his adult life working in an office. He then studied acting at Lilly Ackermann’s Training Institute for the Young German Stage. His studies were interrupted by military service during World War II. Hasse was captured and then released and then studied drama in Weimar for a short time. He made his stage debut and also wrote his first play in Nordhausen before joining a theater group in Eisleben and then Potsdam from 1954 - 1962 with the Hans Otto Theatre Group. In 1961 he appeared with Armin Mueller-Stahl in Berlin in Shakespeare’s "Twelfth Night". He then joined the DEFA group of film actors. Hasse had appeared in films since 1951's "Der Untertan". Hannjo specialized in playing villainous roles and became one of DEFA’s leading actors. He appeared in five Euro-westerns: "The Sons of Great Bear" (1966), "The Falcon’s Trail" (1967), "Fatal Error" (1969), "Kit & Co" and "Ulzana" (both 1974). Later in his career he would appear in television series and films such as "Alchimisten" (1968) and "Martin Luthe" (1981) and in the TV series "Police 110" as Major Zirrgiebel. An actor of many talents he also dubbed the voices of such actors as Philippe Noiret, Pierre Brasseur and Yves Montand for German audiences. Hasse died on February 5, 1983 in Falkensee, East Germany. Today we remember one of the great stars of East German films, Hannjo Hasse, on what would have been his 90^th birthday.

Remembering Rafael Pacheco

Rafael Pacheco de Usa was born on August 31, 1921 in Madrid, Spain. Little is known about his life but he was one of the most well known and frequently called upon cinematographers and cameramen in all of Spain. He worked on American and British productions filmed in Spain starting as a still photographer on 1943's "Misterio en la marisma" and as cinematographer on such productions as "Anthony and Cleopatra" (1972) and "Curse of the Black Cat" (1977). His list of 14 Euro-westerns begins with "The Judgment of the Coyote" (1955) and includes such classics as "Fort Yuma Gold" (1966), and "Face to Face" (1967). Today we celebrate Rafael Pacheco’s 90^th birthday.

New Spaghetti Western book

Radical Frontiers in the Spaghetti Western

Publisher IB Taurus (London)
Author: Austin Fisher
Pages 320
Available October 25, 2011
Cost: $99.00

A heavily-armed battalion of communist students, led by a man dressed as Che Guevara, is a disconcerting spectacle at the best of times. When it appears in a Western, the viewer might be forgiven for checking the DVD case, only to be informed that the film is indeed described thus. Clearly, something is amiss.

Though European cinema frequently reflected the shifting mores and ideological schisms which now characterize the 1960s in the popular imagination, the complex and extensive relationship of the Italian (or "Spaghetti") Western to these ferments has gone almost entirely unnoticed. Radical Frontiers, as the first in-depth account of the genre’s Marxist extremities, fills this gap. Fisher opens up this area for scholarly cultural-political discourse with a detailed, historically-grounded examination of such films as "A Bullet for the General", "The Big Gundown" and "Face to Face" – hitherto placed as footnotes to the now-canonized Sergio Leone – arguing that they directly engage contemporaneous issues preoccupying Italy’s political Left. Challenging long-held assumptions about this increasingly-adored yet oft-homogenized genre, his book charts the historical narrative of this movement’s brief but intriguing lifespan: from its cinematic and cultural antecedents, through its emergence from the Italian studio system, to its legacy in exploitation cinema from the 1970s to the present day.

Through close readings of stylistic, ideological and narrative methodologies, Radical Frontiers demonstrates how and why Damiano Damiani, Sergio Sollima and Sergio Corbucci, in responding to international and national events, chose the Western genre as an apt vehicle for Far Left doctrine in the second half of the 1960s. By refocusing the Hollywood Western itself through the lens of Italy’s revolutionary Left in and around the events of 1968, Fisher shows how, in this new political context, the genre’s traditional focus on redemptive violence took on fresh meanings, and appealed to new audiences. As Horace Greeley did not quite say: "Go West, comrade!"

THE HUNTING PARTY

The Hunting Party - U.K. title
Krvavi Lov - Czechoslovakian title
Les charognards - French title
Leise weht der wind des Todes - German title
Il giorno dei lunghi fucili - Italian title
Polowanie - Polish title
Caza implacable - Spanish title
De Jagade - Swedish title
The Killers Pack - U.S.A. title
The Hunting Party - U.S.A. title

A 1972 British production [Brighton Pictures (London)]
Producer: Lou Morheim (Louis Morheim)
Director: Don Medford (Donald Muller)
Story: Lou Morheim (Louis Morheim), Gilbert Alexander (Gilbert Ralston)
Screenplay: Lou Morheim (Louis Morheim)
Cinematography: Cecilio Paniagua (Cecilio Rodriguez) [DeLuxe color, widescreen]
Music: Riz Ortolani (Riziero Ortolani)
Running time: 111 minutes

Cast:
Frank Calder - Oliver Reed (Robert Reed)
Melissa Ruger - Candice Bergen
Brand Ruger - Gene Hackman (Eugene Hackman)
Matthew Gunn - Simon Oakland
Doc Harrison - Mitch Ryan (Mitchell Ryan)
Hog Warren - L.Q. Jones (Justice McQueen)
Jim Loring - William Watson
Sam Bayard - G.D. Spradlin (Gervais Duran Spradlin)
Crimp - Rayford Barnes
Watt Nelson - Ronald Howard
Buford King - Bernard Kay
Mario - Eugenio Escudero Garcia
Owney Clark - Ritchie Adams (Richard Adams)
Collins - Dean Selmier
cowboys - Carlos Bravo (Ramon Bravo), Bud Strait
sheriff - Ralph Brown
teacher - Marian Collier
telegrapher - Max Slaten
Mexicans - Rafael Escudero Garcia, Marisa Tovar (Maria Tovar)
priest - Emilio Rodrigues Guiar
redhead - Sara Atkinson (Sarah Atkinson)
Chinese - Francesca Tu
blonde - Lilibeth Solison
whores - Christine Larroude, Stephanie Pieritz

A rich and ruthless rancher named Brandt Ruger treats his beautiful young wife Melissa like a piece of property and subjects her to his will. After Ruger and a group of friends leave on a hunting trip Melissa is kidnapped by the famous outlaw Frank Calder. Frank wants to learn to read so he takes Melissa, a local school teacher, with him to teach him. Calder tells her, he doesn't know or care who's wife she is. He takes care of her well, and eventually Melissa falls in love with him. But when Ruger is told of the crime he feels humiliated. Full of hate and revenge, he sets out to kill Calder and Melissa too, if necessary. Together with his friends and their guns, equipped with the newest technology of high power and long distance capability of up to 800 yards, Ruger begins to eliminate the gang one by one until only Calder and Melissa remain.

YouTube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ush0IBPOLfA

Spaghetti Western Locations

Continuing our search for locations for "Duck You Sucker". When Juan tries to flag down the approaching coach, but it drives on bye only stopping to water the horses at a nearby trough. This location is along the same dirt road in Rambla del Saltador. The trough is gone so you’ll have to line up the location by use of the surrounding hills.

For a more detailed view of this site and other Spaghetti Western locations please visit my friend Yoshi ‘Garringo’ Yasuda’s excellent website: http://y-yasuda.net/

Remembering Cris Avram

Cristea Avram was born on August 28, 1931 in Bucharest, Romania. In 1958 he graduated from the "Theater and Cinematographic Art Institute" in Bucharest, and would go on to appear in several Romanian films during the early 1960s. When the French film "Tunelul" (1967) by Florin Piersic was made in Romania they used several Romanians for supporting actors in the film including Cristea. Actress Marina Vlady was impressed by Avram and convinced the Romanian authorities to allow him to return to France with her for a visit. Cristea never returned to Romania but became a supporting actor as Chris Avram in French and Italian films appearing in over 40 films during his career. Among them were supporting roles in three Euro-westerns: "A Man Called Django", "Thunder Over El Paso" (both 1971) and "California" (1977). Cristea Avram died of cancer on January 1, 1989 in Rome, Italy at the age of 58 of lung cancer. Today we remember Cris Avram on what would have been his 80^th birthday.

The Human Target

Il bersaglio vivente - Italian title
Il bersaglio umano - Italian title
La cible humaine - French title
Ein lebendes Ziel - German title
Zavorra umana - Spanish title
A Human Target - U.K. title
The Human Target - U.S.A. title

A 1913 Italian production [Società Anonima Ambrosio (Turin)]
Producer: Arturo Ambrosio
Director: Luigi Maggi
Story: ?
Screenplay: ?
Cinematography: Giuseppe Vitrotti [black & white]
Running time: 2000 feet

Cast:
Walter - Carlo Campogalliani
Lucy - Giulietta De Riso
with: Luigi Chiesa, Luigi Maggi, Mary Cleo Tarlarini

A man named Walter decides to travel to the west with the beautiful Lucy now that the plains of the west have been conquered by civilization. He puts his skills as a cowboy to use serving the people in search of entertainment and excitement.

Happy 80th Birthday Andrea Scotti

Andrea Scotti was born on August 27, 1931 in Naples, Italy. He studied acting at the Experimental Centre of Cinematography in Rome, and graduated in 1956. He made his film debut while still in drama school in a small role in "Lo scapolo" (1955). This was followed in subsequent years a large number of small character and supporting roles. Even though he’s photogenic and conveys an ease in his performances he does not become a leading actor. He remains relegated to secondary roles in successful commercial films. He becomes one of the most active actors in Italian Euro-westerns and adventure films. Usually appearing under the alias Andrew Scott he appeared in 28 Euro-westerns. Some of his more familiar titles are: "The Sign of the Coyote" (1963), "Shatterhand" (1964), "Buffalo Bill, Hero of the Far West" (1965), "Blood for a Silver Dollar" (1966), "Starblack" (1967), "I Want Him Dead" (1968), "Shango" (1970), "Adios, Sabata" (1971) and "Those Dirty Dogs" (1973). His last recorded appearance was in 1994's "Terror Express" (1979). Today we celebrate Andrea Scotti’s 80^th birthday.

Guess Who I Am

I’m a Spanish actor born in Sebreño, Spain in 1924. Guess who I am.

I appeared in 13 Euro-westerns from 1963-1972. Guess who I am.

Chris Casey correctly named this week's photo as that of Saturno Cerra.

Happy 90th Birthday Joachin Luis Romero Marchent

Joaquin Luis-Romero Hernández Marchent was born on August 26, 1921 in Madrid, Spain. The son of Radio Cinema Magazine publisher, editor and film producer Joaquín Gómez de Avellaneda Marchent Romero and the brother of director Rafael Romero Marchent [1926- ], film editor Ana Maria Romero Marchent and actor Carlos Romero Marchent [1941- ]. Joaquin started his career as a child actor in school plays and later small film roles in the 1940s. He left law school to pursue a profession in the film industry. His first film appearance was in 1946's "El crimen de Pepe Conde" produced by his father and directed by José López Rubio. He formed a stage company with his brother Rafael and then became first an assistant director and then a director with "Juzgado permanente" (1953). 

Marchent helped introduce the western by bringing the José Mallorqui character ‘El Coyote’ to the screen in 1954 co-directing with Fernando Soler. The Marchents helped produce and direct 16 Euro-westerns in the 1960s among which were "The Shadow of Zorro" (1961), "Seven Guns for Texas" (1964), "Seven Hours of Gunfire" (1965), "Gunfight at High Noon" (1966), "Fedra West" (1968), "Cut-Throats Nine" (1972) and "Revenge of the Black Wolf" (1981). Joaquin moved into almost exclusively producing and screenwriting in the late 1960s and 1970s writing for most of the films made through his production company Centaur Films. Most of these were westerns directed by his brother Rafael.

Marchent's last involvement was in 1994's "Curro Jiménez II", TV mini-series which he directed. He is married to actress Ángela Caballero and their daughter Nuria Romero is an assistant director. Today we celebrate Joaquin Luis Romero Marchent’s 90^th birthday.

Italian Walk of Fame to induct Franco Nero

Italian Walk of Fame to induct Franco Nero

The city of Toronto has the largest community of Italians outside of Italy. It is host to the world’s first and only Italian Walk of Fame (IWOF). Located in Toronto’s famous downtown district’s "Little Italy" it pays tribute to the extraordinary achievements of Italians in all fields with stars placed permanently and prominently in the sidewalk. This year’s inductees include Spaghetti Western star Franco Nero. The induction takes place September 5, 2011. For more information check the Italian Walk of Fame http://italianwalkoffame.com/

[Thanks to Mike Ferguson for heads-up and the link to the above information.]

The Human Bridge

Sulla via dell’oro - Italian title
De goudzoekers - Netherlands title
Pour de l’or - French title
Peter - German title
Prospecting for Gold - U.K. title
The Human Bridge - U.S.A. title

A 1913 Italian production [Cines (Rome)]
Producer: ?
Director: ?
Story: ?
Screenplay: ?
Cinematography: ? [black & white]
Running time: ?

Cast:
Kate Sampson - Hesperia (Olga Mambelli)
Lea - Lea Giunchi
Sampson - Ignazio Lupi
John Wood - Amleto Novelli

A group of miners have to construct a human bridge across a deep chasm to escape to freedom during a severe winter storm and being left stranded for the winter.

Remembering Giacomo Rossi Stuart

Giacomo Rossi Stuart was born on August 25, 1931 in Todi, Umbria, Italy. He was athletic from and early age and participated in boxing, riding, fencing and participated in the pentathlon. Wanting to become an actor he moved to New York City and took acting lessons at the Actors Studio returning to Italy in the mid-1950s. His first film appearance was in "Il mantello rosso" (1955). He appeared on stage in 1957 and made his first TV appearance in 1962. His career would continue with over 100 films and TV appearances. For a 20 year period 1958-1978 he was a stalwart in swashbucklers, westerns, espionage and historical films. He left the film industry in the late 1970s only to return 20 years later appearing in two films. He is the father of actor Kim Rossi Stuart [1969- ]. Using the alias G.R. Stuart and Jack Stuart he appeared in 13 Euro-westerns including "Gunfight at Red Sands" (1963), "Massacre at Grand Canyon" (1964), "Deguello" (1966), "Zorro the Fox" (1968), "The 5-Man Army" (1969), "Shanghai Joe" (1973) and "Zorro" (1975). Giacomo died on October 20, 1994 in Rome, Italy. Today we remember Giacomo Rossi-Stuart on what would have been his 80^th birthday.

Remembering Van Johnson

Charles Van Dell Johnson was born in Newport, Rhode Island on August 25, 1916. Van’sparents divorced when Johnson was a toddler, and his father was given custody due to his mother's alcoholism. Young Johnson was dancing in theatrical musicals while still attending high school, and made his Broadway debut as a chorus boy in 1936. He was still in the chorus for the 1939 Broadway production of Richard Rodgers’ "Too Many Girls", when he made his film debut dancing in the same role when the play was filmed with Lucille Ball.

For many years, Johnson was an extremely close friend of actor Keenan Wynn and Wynn's wife, Eve. They had met when all three were struggling actors in New York in the late 1930s, and after Johnson and Wynn both signed with M-G-M and moved to Hollywood, the bachelor Johnson reportedly spent as much time at the Wynns' home as his own residence. In 1943, the Wynns were passengers in Johnson's car when it was broadsided by another vehicle which ran a red light. Johnson was seriously injured, and had a metal plate installed in his head. He then recuperated for several months at the Wynns' home.

The accident may have been a lucky break for Johnson, as it left him unsuitable for military duty during World War II. While many of his contemporaries were at war, Johnson rose to stardom playing military men in features like "A Guy Named Joe" with Spencer Tracy, "Two Girls and a Sailor" with June Allyson and Gloria De Haven, and "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo" with Robert Walker.

In 1947, the Wynns were divorced, and Johnson married the former Eve Wynn on the same day her divorce was finalized. They were separated in 1961 when, according to Johnson's stepson Ned Wynn, Johnson had an affair with a chorus boy during a stage production of "The Music Man". In 1999, just a few years before her death, Eve Wynn Johnson told a reporter that her marriage to Johnson had been arranged at M-G-M's request, as the studio "needed their 'big star' to be married to quell rumors about his sexual preferences," and she was the only woman he would agree to marry.

He is perhaps best remembered as the executive officer who seized command from Captain Queeg (Humphrey Bogart) in "The Caine Mutiny". He also starred in "Battleground" with Ricardo Montalban. Johnson appeared in only one Euro-western, as President James Garfield in "The Price of Power" (1969) with Giuliano Gemma. Van died on December 12, 2008 at the age of 92. Today we remember Van Johnson on what would have been his 95^th birthday.

Friday, August 19, 2011

MANDURIA, ITALY - For a truly special event in Manduria "extraordinary". Tony Dimitri, actor, showman, painter and singer of popular music will perform (on keyboards and Mark Master Alberto Giraldi Boy, guitar and vocals) in the beautiful setting of Largo Campanile in the center of Manduria, Sunday, August 21, 2011 onwards, with free admission. An appointment strongly backed by the municipal administration and coordinated by Rudolph Reindeer (StudioComunic @ tion), Daniel and Dino (with the staff of the Angel Pub). It will be a unique recital, the story of a life lived to fullest as an adventurer. He moved to Rome in the 50's at 20 years of age,, the enterprising Tony, in spite of everything and everyone, started an incredible career (after having attended the Academy of Dramatic Arts in Rome) that would take him into acting, in theater with Massimo Girotti, Edmond Aldini and eventually, with Monica Vitti, Enrico Maria Salerno, Amedeo Nazzari and the great Domenico Modugno (with him on tour in the 1960s, all over the world). From stage to screen was a short step was short and Tony started with small roles as a character actor in dozens of films that marked Italian cinema from the 1950s years to 1970s (starting from "La Traviata, 53" (1953) by Vittorio Cottafavi and "Sense" (1954) by Luchino Visconti, just to name a few, and then as co-star and supporting actor in the great period of the "Spaghetti Western" (and beyond), working with Sergio Leone and others.

Sometimes credited as George Stevenson. Moving on to musical productions (often simultaneously with his acting), Tony Dimitri realized by the end of the 1960s and into yhr late 1970s, he made something like 6 albums, folk songs ("Songs FEstival dela" - "Songs of Labor" - "Songs of Live" - Songs of Green Grass" - "Songs of Taratatani" and "Rutuli Rutuli") the result s of enormous research, from medieval time in the 900s in Salerno folk and regional Italian. Continuing to the present day, the tireless Tony Dimitri has been working on his latest his latest career: that of a painter, he has found support from his fans and critics. After so many years, Tony, on August 21st will be reunited with his homeland, he never fogot and he was never forgotten.

Happy 85th Birthday Florestano Vancini

Florestano Vancini was born in Ferrara, Emilia Romagna, Italy on August 24, 1926. Vancini started his career as a journalist for the local Courier Po which was an off shoot of the defunk Corriere Padano. His film career began in the early 1950s directing documentaries such as "Delta Padano" (1951). His first feature film was "La lunga notte del ‘43" (1960). Many of his films dealt with historical and political subjects such as the assassination of Matteotti, the massacre of Bronte, the Italian resistance during World War II, Communism crisis in the 1960s and Italian social problems. In the early 1980s he made the TV film "The Octopus 2" (1986) and "Spagna" (1992). He appeared in only one film as an actor and that was in "Corpses" (1976) directed by Francesco Rosi. Vancini as Stan Vance, directed only one Euro-western, "The Long Days of Vengeance" (1967) with Giuliano Gemma. Vancini died on September 18, 2008 in Rome. Today we remember Florestano Vancini on what would have been his 85^th birthday.

RIP Jesper Klein

After a short bout with liver cancer the popular Danish actor Jesper Klein died last night August 22, 2011. "The family was together, so my father died in the bosom of his family," said his son, director, screenwriter Sebastian Klein

Jesper Klein was born on November 13, 1944 in Naestved, Denmark and first appeared on TV in 1968. Klein never took any formal acting training, but is considered one of the biggest and most versatile Danish drama talents ever. He originally wanted to be a musician, but was quit his music studies and became a pub pianist and, after some theater studies became an actor. The breakthrough came in 1969 in "Camel Lady" by Jytte Abildstrøm. The same year, he played a major role as the rootless, young dairy worker in "The Ballad of Carl-Henning" and was awarded a Bodil. Then he became involved in a long series of memorable roles. Both in the theater and in films such as Niels Malmros '"Beauty and the Beast'. But for most Danes, he was known from television. On television, from the early 1970s he was a permanent freelancer in DR's children and youth series. He wowed generations of "Radio Tirana", "Mrs. Bak Sweep", "Christmas Calendars", and the controversial youth program "Pepper Grinder" and many more. It was also on TV in 1974 he was put together with Tom McEwan and Jess Ingerslev which became the legendary musical mad trio "Avocets'.

Besides the many funny, wry and quirky roles, he was among other things, admired for his unique ability to use his voice. Jesper Klein was able to give voice to virtually all kinds of characters, and placed voices for a large number of puppet and animated films, such as "Jungle Beast Hugo" and in the cartoons "Samson and Sally" and "Bicycle Mosquito Egon".

Klein was married to fellow actress Lykke Nielsen for 37 years. She died five years ago after a very long and difficult struggle against breast cancer. In this context, he said that he would hate to have a death as cruel and painful as his wife.

Jesper Klein is survived by his son Sebastian Klein, who has two children, a daughter, Sandra, who lives in Norway and also has two children.

Klein appeared in two Euro-westerns, "Tough Guys of the Prairie" (1970) and "Gold for the Tough Guys of the Prairie" (1971).

How Men Love

How Men Love - British title

A 1914 British production [? (London)]
Producer: Harley Granville-Barker
Directors: J.M. Barrie (James Matthew Barrie), Harley Granville-Barker
Story: J.M. Barrie (James Matthew Barrie), Harley Granville-Barker
Screenplay: J.M. Barrie (James Matthew Barrie), Harley Granville-Barker
Cinematography: ? [black & white]
Running time: ?

Cast:
Lord Howard de Walden (Thomas Scott-Ellis), William Archer, G.K. Chesterton (Gilbert Keith Chesterton), George Bernard Shaw

Comedy western starring some of England’s most well known aristocrats and shown only once in 1916 at the London Coliseum.

"Dances with Wolves" Screenwriter to Adapt German Western "Winnetou"

Oscar-winner Michael Blake to pen script for "Winnetou" remake.

8/11/2011
Scott Roxborough

COLOGNE, Germany - German mini-major Constantin Film is planning a revival of one of the country's most beloved film franchises: the Winnetou series of Westerns based on the novels by German author Karl May. A remake of the Winnetou films has been rumored for years but now Constantin has confirmed that it is pushing ahead with the project. Writer Michael Blake, who penned the Oscar-winning script to "Dances with Wolves", will adapt May's work for the screen. Constantin's Robert Kulzer and Martin Moszkowicz will produce.

Nearly a dozen Winnetou films were made from 1962-1968 starring French actor Pierre Brice as the titular Apache chief and American Lex Barker as his friend and blood brother Old Shatterhand. They were huge hits and are still stables on German television. As with "Dances with Wolves", the films flipped the traditional cowboy and Indian system portraying native Americans (at least Winnetou and his friends) as the heroes and white settlers mainly as villains. The franchise also inspired German comedian Bully Herbig to make his Winnetou spoof "The Shoe of Winnetou" in 2001, which went on to become the most successful German film of all time, earning some $90 million.

Remembering Tony Kendall

Luciano Stella was born on August 22, 1936 in Rome, Italy. He was a model and seen in many of the Fumetti photo comics before becoming an actor. At the suggestion of Vittorio De Sica he changed his name to Tony Kendall and made his film debut in "Femminie tre volte" (1957) and then under Tony Kendall in "Brennus, Enemy of Rome" (1963). Kendall is best remembered for his films with Brad Harris [1933- ], first in two German westerns ""Pirates of the Mississippi" (1963) and "Black Eagle of Santa Fe" (1965). The two would re-team later in a series of action films called Kommisar X as New York Police Captain Tom Rowland and then in three "Fantastic Super Men" films. Kendall appeared in eight Euro-westerns. Beside the two mentioned above he also appeared in "Hate is My God" (1969), "Brother Outlaw", "Django Defies Sartana", Gunman of 100 Crosses" (all 1971), "Twilight Avengers" (1972) and "White Fang and the Kid" (1977). Tony also appeared in Giallo and Horror films. His last film appearance was in the 2007 film "Voce del verbo amore". Tony, Brad Harris and Gianfranco Parolini appeared at a Kommisar X reunion on September 25, 2009. This was only months before Tony’s death from cancer on November 28, 2009. Today we remember Tony Kendall on what would have been his 75^th birthday.

RIP Werner W. Wallroth

German director Werner W. Wallroth died from a heart attack on August 9, 2011 in Potsdam, Germany. Werner was born on February 28, 1930 in Erfurt, Germany. In 1948 he began his studies at the university but decided to leave school and worked as an assistant at the Cultural Council in Erfurt. There he developed a choir which took part in the World Festival of Youth and Students in East Berlin in 1951. He then applied for a government grant to study at the German Film Academy in Potsdam-Babelsberg and graduated in 1959. He debuted as a director with "The Raubaukenkabinett". In front of the camera were some of the young actors who would help shape the face of DEFA films in later years, including Ernst-Georg Schwill, Peter Reusse, Günter Junghans and Peter Sindermann. After his movie "Mord in Gateway" (1962), he produced for television "Alaskafüchse" (1964) based on a novel by Wolfgang Schreyer, a political adventure film about reconnaissance flights over Soviet territory in the Arctic Ocean. The plane must make an emergency landing on American soil and their lives are saved by a Soviet submarine. The film is particularly impressive with camera work by Otto Merz, who delivers brilliant flying scenes. In 1975 he directed his only Euro-western "Blood Brothers" with Dean Reed and Gojko Mitic which was one of the most successful East German films of the year. In 1985 he directed the romantic comedy film "Der Doppelgänger". Wallroth was also a songwriter and wrote songs for such singers as Gerry Wolff, Chris Noek, Nina Hagen, Thomas Lück and Holger Biege. Most of his compositions were for his brother singer and composer Wolfgang Roth Wallroth.

The House of the Smoking Guns

The House of the Smoking Guns - International title

A 2008 Spanish, U.S.A. co-production [Cuántica Films, Mariachi Style Films (Madrid), KarmaCritic Films (Hollywood)]
Producer: Victor Peceno, David Xarach (David Santana)
Director: Victor Peceno, David Xarach (David Santana)
Story: Ezequiel (Ezequiel Martinez, Jr.)
Screenplay: Ezequiel (Ezequiel Martinez, Jr.)
Cinematography: Victor Peceno, David Zarach [color, black & white]
Music: ?
Running time: 10 minutes

Cast:
Loco - Manolo Ortega
Easter McKade - José Diaz
barman - Antonio Gopar
cowboys - José Santana, Borja Doreste, Juan Gil, Leo Wells, Pepe Carpi, David Ledda, Aarón

7 gunmen try and protect a small town in the Old West from the terror of a phantom vampier gunfighter. They are no match for him until one day Easter McKade comes to town.

YouTube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlLFo7DYhzI

Spaghetti Western Locations

Continuing with location sites for "Duck You Sucker". Juan sees the coach approaching and tries to flag down a ride. The road used for this scene is the same road you have driven into the agricultural test area to locate last week’s location approximately 2.3 km. north of the solar generating plant.

For a more detailed view of this site and other Spaghetti Western locations please visit my friend Yoshi ‘Garringo’ Yasuda’s excellent website: http://y-yasuda.net/

RIP Pino Ferrara

Italian actor and voice actor Giuseppe ‘Pino’ Ferrara died on August 8, 2011 after a long illness. Pino was born in Padua, Veneto, Italy on March 11, 1929. For several years he worked in the theater, particularly in the company of Peppino De Filippo. He taught acting at the International Academy of the Actor in Rome.

Ferrara was a member of the cast of many television dramas, including "The Count of Monte Cristo" (1966) and "The Adventures of Pinocchio" (1972), the latter directed by Luigi Comencini . Since 1998 he had been a part of the first five seasons of "Un medico in famiglia", in the role of Faustus, which starred Lino Banfi. Ferrara appeared in five Euro westerns: "Il bandolero stanco" (1952), "The Bang Bang Kid" (1967), "Karate, Fists and Beans" (1973), "Carmabola" (1974) and "The Crazy Adventures of Len and Coby" (1975).

Guess Who I Am

I’m a French actress born in 1940. Guess who I Am.

Rex Lee correctly identified this week's photo as that of Marie Versini.

RIP Jimmy Sangster

Hammer Horror screenwriter Jimmy Sangster dies.The British director, whose writing credits for the Hammer label included The Curse Of Frankenstein, died August 19, 2011 aged 83.Born December 2, 1927 in North Wales, Sangster scripted two of the company’s most successful and defining films, 1957's The Curse Of Frankenstein and 1958's Dracula (called The Horror Of Dracula in the US), both of which threatened their Universal depictions for iconic status. His other writing credits for the company include The Revenge Of Frankenstein, The Blood Of Dracula, The Mummy, The Brides Of Dracula amongst many others, and in 1970 he added direction to his repotoire with The Horror Of Frankenstein and Lust For A Vampire.Elsewhere in the genre Jimmy Sangster wrote episodes of Kolchak: The Night Stalker, Wonder Woman and The Six Million Dollar Man.

Sangster produced and was a co-screenwriter for 1961's "The Savage Guns" starring Richard Basehart.

HOODED ANGELS

Glory Glory - U.K. title
Hooded Angels - U.S.A. title

A 2000 British production [Peakviewing Transatlantic PLC (London)]
Producers: Elizabeth Matthews, Paul Matthews
Director: Paul Matthews
Story: Paul Matthews
Screenplay: Paul Matthews
Cinematography: Vincent G. Cox [Fujicolor]
Music: Mark Thomas
Running time: 109 minutes

Cast:
Hannah - Chantell Stander (Chantelle Stander)
Wes - Paul Johansson
Ellie - Juliana Venter
Billy - David Dukas
Sil - Gideon Emery
Widow Wilson - Amanda Donohoe
Jack - Steve Bauer (Esteban Echevarria)
Sheriff Ben - Gary Busey (William Busey)
Jane Wilson - Jenna Dover
April - Julie Hartley
Becky - Candice Argall
Christa - Jennifer Steyn
Marie - Ana Katarina (Ana Stojanovic)
Sherrie - Michelle Bradshaw
Beard - Cordell McQueen
Confederate General - Greg Melvill-Smith
Packer - Ron Smerczak
bathhouse assistant - Daniel Lee
priest - André-Jacques van der Merwe
Frank - Nick Boraine
Ellie’s grandmother - Lynne White (Lynn White)
old timer - Dale Cutts
Roy - Russel Savadier
Sheriff Sam Shepard - Wilson Dunster
bank teller - Donald Woodburn
bank manager - John Lesley
Silus - Robin Smith
Deek - Marcel Van Heerden
Tommy - Conner Dowds (Connor Dowds)
old lady - Anne Curteis
woman hostage - Joselyn Broderick
customers - Graham Lucas, Alan Granville
drunken soldier - Ian Rossouw
gunmen - Graham Clarke, Alyzzander Fourie
posse men - Hannes Muller, Michael Maxwell, Iain Winter-Smith, Cecil Carter, Rik Proost, Damon Thomas, Glen Vaughan, Jacques Gombault
militia men - Anthony Bishop, Anthony Coleman, Philip Moolman, Carl Beukes
casino manager - Graham Anderson
old whore - Judith Ditchfield (Judith Broderick)
old man - Victor Mellaney

In the waning days of the Civil War, rebel stragglers plunder the community of Silver Creek, raping the women-folk for good measure. After the marauders slay their male relatives, Hannah and the Widow Wilson, who've just lost a four-year-old son and a spouse, respectively, unleash their fury on the male gender. Decked out in distinctive hoods, Hannah and her girl gang pose as male outlaws and knock over banks. Using their feminine wiles, they even fool a pursuing posse and gun them down. But an old incident in Silver Creek, where they executed a rebel general, come back to haunt them. The girls ride into interference in a town housing a federal payroll; the dead officer's son, Wes, comes looking for vengeance, joined by friends cowboys Jack, Syl and Billy, who had friends in the slaughtered posse. While Wes expects the hooded thieves to gallop into town, the amazon angels are already there, masquerading as saloon hostesses. Inevitably, romance compromises the gang's professionalism — Hannah falls for Wes, much to the dismay of her lesbian lover Ellie, while the Widow Wilson dallies with Jack. During the payroll heist, Ellie uncovers her face before witnesses, figuring that if she's forced to become a fugitive, Hannah will have to join her. But as the women retreat from the scene of the crime, Hannah is wounded and fellow bandit Jane is killed. How can Wes and Jack reconcile their romantic feelings with the vendetta they've sworn against the beautiful bandits?

YouTube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kP5GF3hHaMA&feature=fvsr

Happy 80th Birthday Marianne Koch

Marianne Koch was born on August 19, 1931 in Munich, Bavaria, Germany. She began a studying for a medical degree in college but stopped to pursue an acting career. Her first film appearance was in 1950's "The Man Who Wanted to Live Twice". In 1954 she appeared with Gregory Peck and Broderick Crawford in "Night People". She received a Best Actress Award for her performance in "Vater sein dagegen sehr" (1957). She was well known by German TV viewers for her appearances on the game show "Was bin ich" (1950-1988). Koch was signed to a Hollywood contract and appeared in several films under the pseudonym Marianne Cook. Her most remembered film appearance was as Marisol alongside Clint Eastwood in "Fistful of Dollars" (1964). In all, Koch appeared in 6 Euro-westerns such as "The Last Ride to Santa Cruz" (1964), "A Place Called Glory" (1965), and "Clint the Stranger" (1967). She married Dr. Gerhard Freund in 1953 and the they had two children. The couple divorced in 1973 after Marianne had returned to finish her degree in medicine in 1971 and graduated in 1974. She practiced internal medicine until retiring in 1997. She hosted a medical advice program on radio and made regular appearances on the German TV talk show "3 nach 9" for which she received the prestigious Grimme Preis Award. Today we celebrate the 80^th birthday of Marianne Koch.

Who are Those Guys? - Pierre Barouh

Pierre Élie Barouh is a French writer, composer and singer. Born on February 19, 1934 in Paris, France. Along with his brother and sister he was raised by his parents, who were fabric merchants, in Levallois-Perret until the outbreak of World War II. The children were hidden in Montournais region of Vendée, France. During this time Pierre drew the inspiration for several songs he would later write such as "À bicyclette", "Des ronds dans l'eau", and "Les Filles du dimanche". After the war Pierre worked as a sports journalist and played for the French National volleyball team. He spent time in Portugal and discovered Brazilian songs and music. On his return to France he became familiar with the Brazilian writers and composers of the ‘Bossa Nova’. Pierre turned to acting and appeared in "D'ou viens-tu Johnny?" as the gypsy leader and in Claude Lelouch’s "Une fille et des fusils" (both 1964). He filmed a documentary on the early days of Bossa Nova with Baden Powell de Aquino. In 1966 he took part on the soundtrack and actor in "A Man and a Woman" which won the Palme d’Or at the 1966 Cannes Film Festival. He also married actress Anouk Aimée that same year but the couple divorced in 1969. With his earnings from "A Man and a Woman" he bought a mill by the river of his childhood home in Vendée. He started a recording studio and a record label ‘Saravah’. He discovered several singers such as Jacques Higelin and Brigitte Fontaine. Since then he has spent half of each year in Japan with his wife Atsuko Ushioda where he continues to release albums, make films and writes plays. He composed music for the 1992 Winter Olympics.

BAROUH, Pierre (Pierre Elie Barouh) [2/19/1934, Paris, Île-de-France, France - ] - producer, director, screenwriter, composer, married to actresses Anouk Aimée [1932- ] (1966-1969), Dominique Barouh.
Another Man, Another Chance - 1977 (street singer)

HOLY WATER JOE

Acquasanto Joe - Italian title
Joe eau-benite - Spanish title
Los violentos de Texas - Spanish title
Acquasanta Joe - French title
Weihwasser Joe - German title

Prisjägaren – Swedish title

Holy Water Joe - English title

A 1971 Italian production [Daunia 70 Film (Rome)]
Producer: Robert Paget (Mario Gariazzo)
Director: Mario Gariazzo
Story: Mario Gariazzo
Screenplay: Mario Gariazzo, Nando Poggi (Ferdinando Poggi)
Cinematography: Franco Villa [Eastmancolor, Cinemascope]
Music: Marcello Giombini
Running time: 97 minutes

Cast:
Acquasanta/Holy Water Joe - Lincoln Tate
Jeff Donovan - Ty Hardin (Orson Hungerford II)
Charlie Bennett - Richard Harrison
Estella - Silvia Monelli
Sergeant Butch - Pietro Ceccarelli
‘The Sicilian’ - Tuccio Musumeci
‘The General’ - Fidel Green (Fedele Gentile)
Jim - Lee Banner (Giulio Baraghini)
banker - Dante Maggio
officer - Alfredo Rizzo
Donovan henchman - Anthony Freeman (Mario Novelli)
gunmen - Rick Boyd (Federico Boido), Ferdinand Poggi (Ferdinando Poggi), Domenico Maggio (Vincente Maggio)
Confederate Lieutenant - Sergio Serafini
Confederate soldier - Valerio Tordi
saloon girl - Rosa Torosh (Rosita Torosh)
hotel clerk - Marco Ruan
with: Adriano Vitale, Virgilio Ponti, Pietro Manzella (Pietro Rosella), Enrico Casadei, Giulio Mauroni, Gianclaudio Jabes, Giuseppe Tuminelli, Gilberto Galimberti, Omero Capanna, Lorenzo Fineschi

At the end of the Civil War, taking advantage of the chaos that reigns throughout the land, a band of ex-Confederate soldiers dominates the territory. When Acquasanta Joe learns that his savings have gone up in smoke due to a robbery carried out by the outlaw gang, he goes on their trail in an effort to recoup his money and put an end to their lawlessness. Rivalry within the gang complicates things for Joe as well as the Union Army, who is also interested in stopping the outlaws.

YouTube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJC09fCveSs

Remembering Tito Garcia

Pablo García González was born on August 17, 1931 in Salamanca, Salamanca, Castilla y León Spain. In his younger days González lived in Gijon and was a bullfighter for six years. He moved to Madrid where he was asked to play a role in the film "Pelusa" (1961) directed by Javier Setó. He enjoyed the experience so much he decided to devote his career to becoming an actor. Known by the public as Tito Garcia, he became one of Spain’s most recognizable character actors for the next 30 years. He would appear in more than 135 films and TV appearances. His size and rough looks made him perfect for villains and most of his roles were as Mexican bandits, thugs and henchman. In the ‘70s he devoted most of his time to television. His final film was as Tonito in "800 Bullets" (2002) directed by Álex de la Iglesia. Tito appeared in 40 Euro-westerns during his career such as: ""Bullets Don’t Argue" (1964), "Finger on the Trigger", "In a Colt’s Shadow" (both 1965), "Seven Magnificent Guns" (1966) "The Ugly Ones", "Up the MacGregors" (both 1967), "A Train for Durango", "The Mercenary" (1968), "Companeros" (1970), "A Town Called Hell", ‘Catlow", "Blindman" (all 1971), "The Fat Brothers of Trinity", "Shanghai Joe" (both 1973), "Eh? Who’s Afraid of Zorro" (1975). Tito died from a heart attack on May 6, 2003 in Madrid. Today we remember one of the great Spanish character actors on what would have been his 80^th birthday.

Happy 70th Birthday María Silva

María Jesús Marín Rodríguez was born on August 16, 1941 in Palencia, Castilla y León, Spain. She worked as a model which opened the doors to her film debut in 1959 with "April in Portugal" credited as Mara Silva. She would continue to appear steadily in small roles in Spanish films until the early 1990s. She found greater fame in television in the late 1960s in the TV musical "Zaruela" directed by Juan de Orduña. María continue to make films but most of her career was spent in television in such series as "Juan y Manuela" (1973) and "Taller Mecánico" (1991) directed by Mariano Ozores. Known as María Silva to Spaghetti western fans she appeared in 10 Euro-westerns from "The Terrible Sheriff" (1962) to ‘The Black Wolf" (1981). Her best remembered role was probably in 1967's "Kill the Wicked" as Judy Mary. Married to director José Grañena, María left films in 1991 to become an actor’s agent. Today we celberate María Silva’s 70^th birthday.

Remembering Barta Barri

Bernabé Barta Barri was born in Budapest, Austria-Hungary on August 16, 1911. Before entering films Barta was a dancer and circus performer. During a tour with the circus he fell in love with Spain and decided to settle there. He quickly found work in films as a character actor usually billed as Barta Barri or Barta Barry and once as New Fuzzy. He appeared in over 100 film and TV appearances starting in 1949 with "La familia Vila" and his resume included such films as "Brigada Criminal" (1950), "The Pride and the Passion" (1957), "Las Chicas de la Cruz Roja" (1958), "The Son of Captain Blood" (1962), "Estambul 65" (1965), "The Lost Command" (1966), "Nicholas and Alexandra" (1971), "The Three Musketeers" (1973) and "Serpiente de Mar" (1984). He appeared in 25 Euro-westerns beginning with "La montaña sin ley" (1953) to "The Black Wolf" (1981). Some of his best known westerns were "Gunfight at Red Sands" (1963), "Son of a Gunfighter" (1965), "The Big Gundown" (1966), "A Man Called Sledge" and "Cannon for Cordoba" (both 1970), "Red Sun" (1971), "The Man Called Noon" (1973), "The Stranger and the Gunfighter" (1974). Barta’s last appearance was in 1986's "Las tribulaciones de un Buda Bizco". Barri passed away on December 7, 2003 in Madrid, Spain. Today we remember Barta Barri on what would have been his 100^th birthday.

RIP Friedrich Schoenfelder

The actor and voice actor Friedrich Wilhelm Schoenfelder has died at the age of 94. Schoenfelder played hundreds of roles in theater and in film, among other things, in the Edgar Wallace films. The actor has also dubbed over 400 films and TV series. Schoenfelder was married and the father of two sons. His elegant appearance always made sure that actor Friedrich Schoenfelder was always busy as a gentleman even at a very young in his career. He had hundred of choice roles in the Berlin theater and in movies. On Monday August 15, 2011, the actor and voice actor died at the age of 94 years with his family at his bedside. Schoenfelder was the son of an architect and was born on October 17, 1916 in Sorau in Lower Lusatia, Brandenburg, Germany in what is now Poland. In 1936 he appeared in Berlin, under Gustav Gründgens, where he had been at the acting school of the Prussian State Theatre for his training, his professional stage debut. In Frankfurt, he made an early 1950s appearance at the City Theater. 1948 he began his film career where he had the lead in four films. The list of film and television work of Schoenfelder is very long. From the mid-50s he was constantly in front of the camera: from the airplane drama "Abschied von den Wolken" (1959) to "Unsere Pauker gehen in die Luft" (1970) to series like "Berliner Weiße mit Schuss" (1984) and "The Wicherts von nebenan" (1986) extends the spectrum. He participated in four Edgar Wallace films. Even though they are now considered cult, he found them to be terrible. "The crowd just has a bad taste and it is why there are so many bad things on television and in the movies," he said in a 2006 interview with The Associated DAPD. The novels which he had already read as a young man and was already upset about how stupid and bad they were.  

Schoenfelder always returned to the theater. He had a role in the staging of John Patrick's Frankfurter "The Little Tea House" was one of the personal milestones of his career. 175 shows were played. 1,200 times he stood on stage after in the premiere of the musical "My Fair Lady" at the West Berlin Theatre as Colonel Hugh Pickering, and finally Henry Higgins in the lead role in the theatrical version for his character was played by Rex Harrison. Schoenfelder lent his voice to many U.S. stars in the dubbed German versions. He was the German voice of such international fellow actors as Vincent Price, David Niven, William Powell, James Mason and Alec Guinness. About 400 films did Schoenfelder dub throughout his career and with his distinctive voice as narrator, for example, 140 episodes of the "Kingdom of Wild Animals". In 2006 he received a Lifetime Achievement Award the German dubbing Prize.

"Acting is not a profession, which one does until they are 65 years-old and then you retire and look forward to finally being able to grow roses," Schoenfelder said in an interview on his 90th Birthday news agency DAPD. "An actor wants to work in the best case until his death."

Friedrich Schoenfelder dubbed over a dozen Euro-westerns and was the German voice of Mario Lanfranchi in 1966's "Navajo Joe", Lukas Ammann in "Day of Anger" (1968), Eduardo Fajardo "The Mercenary" (1969), Mario Valgoi "The Genius" (1975) and Sterling Hayden in Cipola Colt (aka "Spaghetti Western") 1976. He was also the German narrator in "Pyramid of the Sun Gods (1965) and "The Shoe of Manitu" (2000).