THE MOMENT TO KILL

Il momento di uccidere – Italian title

Django – ein Sarg voll Blut – German title

De kom for at dræbe – Danish title

Kuolema kulkee lannessa – Finnish title

Kuolema kulkee lännessä – Finnish title

Le moment de tuer – French title

La hora de matar – Mexican title

O Momento de Matar – Portuguese title

El momento de matar – Spanish title

De kom för att döda – Swedish title

Viva Django – U.K. title

The Moment of Killing – English title

The Moment to Kill – English title

A 1967 Italian, German co-production [P.C.E. Euro International Film (Rome), Terra Filmkunst (Berlin)]

Producer: Vico Pavoni

Director: Anthony Ascott (Giuliano Carnimeo)

Story: Tito Carpi, Enzo G. Castellari

Screenplay: Tito Carpi, Bruno Leder (Karl Leder), Francesco Scardamaglia

Cinematography: Stelvio Massi [Technicolor, Techniscope]

Music: Francesco De Masi

Song: “Walk by My Side” sung by Raoul (Ettore Lovecchio)

Running time: 95 minutes

Cast:

Lord/Django/Johnny King – George Hilton (Jorge y Lara)

Bull/Burt – Walter Barnes

Regina Forrester – Loni von Friedl (Leontine von Liebentreu)

Jason Forrester – Horst Frank

Judge Thomas B. Warren – Rudolf Schündler

Dago – Remo de Angelis

Mr. Forrester – Carlo Alighiero (Carlo Animali)

Trent Forrester – Giorgio Sanmartino

Innkeeper – Arturo Dominici

Forrester henchmen – Ugo Adinolfi, Pietro Ceccarelli, Renato Romano

Two gunslingers Bull and Lord, come into a town, called there Judge Warren for a delicate mission. They are asked to find $500,000 in gold, belonging to the Confederate States of America which has been hidden by a Confederate colonel who died in an effort to defend it from the Northerners. The discovery of the treasure is also of interest by the powerful Forrester family, relatives of the deceased Colonel, who, with the help of a gang of outlaws, attempt to obstruct the search by the two gunmen. Lord and Bull get involved in some tough battles and ambushes, but eventually succeed in their task, destroying the gang of outlaws and exposing a would-be daughter of the late Colonel who attempts to seize the treasure.

YouTube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVgdg3cXdgY

RIP Tony Epper

Actor-stuntman Tony Epper dies at 73

Part of the Epper dynasty of Hollywood stuntmen

By Variety Staff

Tony Epper, an actor, stuntman and stunt coordinator, died July 20 at home in Idaho after a long fighter with cancer. He was 73.

His film credits as an actor include Sydney Pollack's "The Scalphunters," "Valdez Is Coming," "Lawman" Mark Rydell's "The Cowboys," "Cutter's Way," "The Beastmaster," "The Hitcher," "Christmas Vacation" and Warren Beatty's "Dick Tracy."

Epper did stunt work on a large number of high-profile films including "Lethal Weapon 2," "Thelma and Louise," "Patriot Games," Francis Ford Coppola's "Dracula," "The River Wild," "Waterworld," "Money Train," "Jingle All the Way," "Volcano" and "Con Air."

Epper also worked steadily in television, first appearing in an episode of "Bachelor Father" in 1958 and racking up guest roles in series including "I Spy," "The Green Hornet," "Daniel Boone," "Batman," "Gunsmoke," "Kung Fu," "The Six Million Dollar Man," "The Rockford Files," "Charlie's Angels," "The A-Team" and "MacGyver." He last appeared in 1996 in an episode of "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" as a drunken Klingon.

John Anthony Epper was born in Los Angeles on October 1, 1938, the son of actor-stuntman John Epper [1906-1992]. He did his first Hollywood work as an actor and stuntman in the early 1950s, appearing uncredited in the films "Carbine Williams," "The Story of Will Rogers" and "Ma and Pa Kettle at Home."

He was credited as second unit director on the Abel Ferrara-helmed 1986 telepic "The Gladiator."

Epper's brothers Andy [1943-2010] and Gary [1944-2007] were also actor-stuntmen but preceded him in death.

Epper is survived by his wife, Donna; two sons, Danny, an actor and stuntman, and Roger; a daughter; two step-daughters and a variety of other Epper family members who work in the business, including his sister Jeannie Epper.

The Iroquois Trail in Croatia

BY CHRISTIAN RECORDER

It began 50 years ago in the Paklenica canyon in Croatia, the shooting of the first Winnetou film, "The Treasure of Silver Lake". Today, many Karl May fans travel to the pale mountains of the legendary Apache chief and its inventor to see the filming locations.

Every day Marin Marasovic watched as the horses and Indians passed his parent’s home. Always in the morning they rode past his street and headed for the Paklenica canyon. Marin was still a child and did not know what was going on. Today, 50 years later, he can explain everything in detail. "My whole life I've spent with Winnetou, I’ve seen all the films, read all the books."

In the summer of 1962 the shooting began for "The Treasure of Silver Lake". It was the first film and was released that same year and captivated the audience with the scenery of the rugged gorges and natural beauty, which conjured up visions of the vastness of America. In fact, some places were turning Winnetou only a few yards behind Marin's parents’ house in the Croatian Starigrad.

In the mountainous area around the Paklenica National Park a dozen westerns were shot in the 1960s. Today filmmakers are Karl May fans and remember the author, who died 100 years ago - and his most famous character.

The Paklenica gorge still offers an impressive spectacle, but dangling from the high granite walls, on ropes, are climbers, and the once-wild river has been tamed.

But as soon as you move into the canyon, you can see the original, wild nature. The pale mountains peer through the roof of the surrounding forest. They are barely covered. On the plateau is blowing a brisk wind blows dead branches before him. A scene made for Western filmmakers.

After two or three hours you will feel close to Winnetou and his Apaches, softly humming the theme tune of the composer Martin Böttcher and respond with a feeling of brotherhood. Hiking is a good way to see the Croatian hinterland, get a feeling for nature, and an insight into the Winnetou scenery.

To visit the main sites of the region, it takes a jeep with a guide such as Zvonimir Cubelic. When he was born, the movies had been filmed long before. But the Indians have his childhood memories tied up in his mind and have never let go. His enthusiasm goes so far that he even does daredevil climbing at locations in order to stand in for the tourists’ motif.

In the flat landscape near the coast the visitor suddenly looks down to the earth below. The "Zrmanja" is working its way through the gorge; high above Zvonimir does gymnastics over the rocks, making Indian noises and waits until the cameras stop clicking. For Winnetou it is the river Rio Pecos and the Colorado where a career was made. "Looks like the Grand Canyon, but it’s in Croatia," said Zvonimir who nods proudly.

A little later the Winnetou tourists overlook the striking mountain massif of Tulove Grede - Winnetou in the universe Tsil Nugget - whose spires dominate some of the most action-packed and emotional moments of the films. Another half-hour ride takes you up on gravel roads where road signs warn of land mines, a dangerous legacy of the war-stricken ex-Yugoslavia.

The grave of Intshu-tshuna and Nsho-chi is a must see for all visitors. From afar, the two rocky pyramids can be seen under which Winnetou's father and sister have their final resting place. For some fans the place is so overwhelming that they feel a need to cry. Fortunately, there are close to the Karl May fan box. There, the fans have written their feelings. The pages can be summarized as follows: overwhelmed, beautiful, tears in my eyes. Greetings from Bavaria, Austria and Switzerland. Zvonimir then describes how Mario Adorf as the gang leader Santer came to his end when he crashed into the ravine. "I play now but not after," he says, smiling mischievously. "There were no stunt men; actors had to do all the stunts himself."

Marin Marasovic, waited 50 years for the Indians and later searched for his chance to get closer to the legend. He was invited to meet Pierre Brice in his hotel in Stari Grad, talking and laughing with him and asked Winnetou if he did not remember a little boy, who every day was wide-eyed at the roadside.

Who Are Those Gals - Margit Bendokat

Margit Bendokat was born on August 12, 1943 in Templin, Brandenburg, Germany. Upon completing her training to become a technical illustrator Bendokat began acting training at the State Drama School in Berlin. Her acting debut was in 1964 on the stage in Parchim, then in 1965, a theatrical engagement at the Deutsches Theater in Berlin. While there she worked as a character actress. For her role in “Aeschylus' The Persians”, she was nominated in 2007 for the Faust Theatre Award in the category of Best Performance in the theater. In 2010 she was awarded the Berlin Theatre Prize of the Royal Norwegian Foundation considered and voted one of the actresses of the year in the critics' poll of the magazine Theater heute.

Margit also appeared in television productions of the DFF and in DEFA feature films such as the Euro-western “Atkins” (1985) as Emilie and this year's "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" (2012) where she plays the Widow Douglas. After Germany’s reunification, she starred in the movies, working with such directors as Alexander Lang, Einar Schleef, Heiner Müller, Jürgen Gosch and Nicolas Stemann.

BENDOKAT, Margit [8/12/1943, Templin, Brandenburg, Germany -     ] – stage, TV actress.

Atkins - 1985 (Emilie)

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn – 2012 (Widow Douglas)

A MINUTE TO PRAY, A SECOND TO DIE

Un minute per pregare, un instante per morire – Italian title

Dove vai ti ammazzo – Italian title

Escondido – Italian title

Elävänä tai kuolleena – Finnish title

Une minute pour prier… une seconde pour mourir – French title

Mehr tot als labendig – German title

Kataziteitai: Zontanos i nekros – Greek title

Zywy lub martwy – Polish title

Morto oy vivo – Portuguese title

Un’ minute para rezar… un Segundo para morir – Spanish title

En minut att be, en sekund att do – Swedish title

Dead or Alive – English title

Outlaw Gun – English title

A Minute to Pray, a Second to Die – U.S.A. title

A 1967 Italian production [Documento Film (Rome)]

Producers: Albert Band, Selig J. Seligman

Director: Franco Giraldi

Story: Albert Band

Screenplay: Ugo Liberatore, Louis Garfinkle

Cinematography: Aiace Parolin [Eastmancolor]

Music: Carlo Rustichelli

Running time: 103 minutes

Cast:

Clay McCord – Alex Cord

Marshal Roy W. Colby – Arthur Kennedy

Governor Lem Carter – Robert Ryan

Laurinda – Nicoletta Machiavelli

Kraut – Mario Brega

‘Cheap’ Charley – Renato Romano

Deputy Marshal Butler – Franco Lantieri

Fred Duskin – Gianpiero Albertini

Father Santana – Daniel Martin

Doctor Chase – Enzo Fiermonte

Seminole – Pedro Canalejas (José Canaleja)

Fuzzy – Osiride Pevarello

El Bailarin – José Manuel Martin

Sein – Antonio Molino Rojo

Ruby – Rosita Palomar

Barber – Paco Sanz

Sid – Paolo Magalotti

Zack – Massimo Sarchielli

Deputy – Claudio Ruffini

Clay McCord as a boy – Ottaviano Dell’Acqua

Ruby’s son – Alberto Dell’Acqua

Jonas – Antonio Vico

Jesús Maria – Aldo Sambrell

Kraut henchmen – Spartaco Conversi, Lorenzo Robledo, Franco Balducci

Doc’s old assistant – Gino Marturano

Storekeeper – Benito Stefanelli

Pete – Guglielmo Spoletini

Bounty hunter – Lorenzo Robledo

Old outlaw – Franco Gulà

Saloon patron – Mimmo Poli, Claudio Ruffini, Nino Vingelli

Townsman – John Bartha

With: Fortunato Arena, Silla Bettini, Giovanni Scratuglia

Clay McCord is a legendary outlaw determined to live the life of a law-abiding citizen. Colby is the town marshal who lives by the letter of the law. Not far from Colby’s peaceful town is Escondido, a haven for criminals led by Kraut, a trigger happy outlaw who welcomes those who are wanted by the law. McCord worries that he may have the epilepsy that plagued his father and hastened his demise. He battles the sadistic gunman while hoping for a pardon from the sympathetic governor. He also falls for the lovely Laurinda as he walks between the two worlds of the law and the lawless. The film has two endings: one McCord receives his amnesty and rides away a free man ready to start a new life. The second ending has McCord receiving amnesty but is shot and killed by two bounty hunters when he leaves town. The bounty hunters, unaware McCord is not wanted anymore and receive nothing for their trouble when they go to turn the body in.

YouTube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EX5HQKOLA90

SPAGHETTI WESTERNS UNCHAINED

 Program courtesy of Film Forum

Egyptian and Aero Theatres

July 26 – August 12, 2012

Named for its Italian origins, the “spaghetti Western” was among the hottest dishes on the movie menu in the 1960s, with a group of brash, ambitious Italian filmmakers reinventing the most quintessentially American of genres. Though Sergio Leone was the genre's most celebrated chef, such talents as Sergio Corbucci, Gianfranco Parolini, Giulio Petroni and Carlo Lizzani, to name a few, also were drawn to the table, bringing with them a new kind of anti-establishment Western that was right at home in the era of the Black Panthers, student protests and the Vietnam War. Stripping the form of its romantic patriotism and replacing it with bare-bones brutality and satire, the spaghetti Western incorporated widescreen framing, sweaty close-ups and expressive sound design (most often courtesy of composer Ennio Morricone), changing the way Westerns looked, sounded and felt. Small budgets bought plenty of bang for the lira, and relentless action and rootless antiheroes could be counted on to deliver appreciative audiences. And unlike most films, spaghetti Westerns were easy to export given their minimal dialogue - Men With No Name typically let their guns do the talking. Actors Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef, Franco Nero, Tomas Milian and even Klaus Kinski were all regulars in the genre.

Following Film Forum’s lauded program in New York, the American Cinematheque inherits this comprehensive salute to the spaghetti Western, and offers a look at the Wild West from a few thousand miles east. Included in the series are THE HILLS RUN RED, DJANGO, DJANGO KILL… IF YOU LIVE SHOOT!, THE MERCENARY, THE PRICE OF POWER, DEATH RIDES A HORSE, SABATA, IF YOU MEET SARTANA PRAY FOR YOUR DEATH, THE BIG GUNDOWN, HELLBENDERS, A BULLET FOR THE GENERAL, THE RUTHLESS FOUR, KILL AND PRAY, COMPAÑEROS, TEPEPA, CHINA 9 LIBERTY 37, ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST, A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS, FOR A FEW DOLLARS MORE and THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY.

Praise for Film Forum’s spaghetti Western series, coming to the American Cinematheque:

“All wonderful films. Visually extremely striking, aurally distinctive, wonderfully acted, violent, mystifying, perversely inspirational.” - Alex Cox, The New York Times

“THE GREATEST GENRE EVER!” - J. Hoberman, Film Comment

“THE ULTIMATE GIFT TO FILM LOVERS!” - Joshua Rothkopf, Time Out New York

“Those who only know Sergio Leone’s defining contributions to the genre may have a life-changing experience at this series." - Steve Dollar, The Wall Street Journal

Touring program compiled by Giulia D’Agnolo Vallan and Bruce Goldstein of Film Forum.

Program notes by John Hagelston and Jim Hemphill.

Complete list of films and dates can be found here:

http://www.americancinemathequecalendar.com/content/spaghetti-westerns-unchained

National Day of the American Cowboy 2012

Spaghetti Western Locations

Continuing with locations from “A Pistol for Ringo”. With the posse in hot pursuit of the wounded Sancho and his gang they ride to the Clyde hacienda and shelter. After beating back an attack by the sheriff Sancho is made comfortable on the patio. All of the interior scenes at the Clyde hacienda were filmed at the Cortijo del Romeral. Ringo makes a deal with the sheriff for a percentage of the money stolen in the bank robbery. In return Ringo is set free and it is made to look like he escaped from jail and is also on the run from the sheriff. After riding into the Clyde hacienda he demonstrates his worth by removing the bullet from Sancho’s arm and then shows his prowess with a six shooter on one of Sancho’s henchmen.

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

Guess Who I Am

 

I’m an Italian actress born in Tunisia in 1938.

I’ve appeared in over 110 films and TV appearances.

I appeared in 2 Euo-westerns.

Guess who I am.

William Connolly correctly named this week's photo as that of Claudia Cardinale

 

RIP R.G. Armstrong

R.G. Armstrong passed away in his sleep on July 27, 2012 in Studio City, California. He was 95. Born Robert Golden Armstrong on April 7, 1917 in Birmingham, Alabama. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. While there he was frequently performing on stage with the Carolina Playmakers. Although his mother had hoped he would follow the ministry, ffter graduating, R.G. headed to New York, where his acting career really took off. In 1953 he, along with many of his Actor's Studio buddies, was part of the cast of "End As a Man" -- this became the first play to go from off-Broadway to Broadway. The following year, R.G. got his first taste of movies, appearing in “Garden of Eden” (1954). However, he returned to New York and the live stage. He received great reviews for his portrayal of Big Daddy in the Broadway production of "Cat On a Hot Tin Roof" in 1955. In 1958 he took the plunge to Hollywood and appeared in two movies, a TV series, and numerous guest appearances on TV shows that year, usually in westerns such as "The Rifleman" (1958), "Have Gun - Will Travel" (1957) and "Zane Grey Theater" (1956), among others. He would go on to appear in 80 movies and three TV series in his career, and guest-starred in 90 TV series, many of them westerns, often as a tough sheriff or a rugged land baron. R.G. was a regular cast member in the TV series "T.H.E. Cat" (1966), playing tough, one-handed Captain MacAllister. Although most of us remember R.G. as a regular in several Sam Peckinpah films, the younger generation knows him as spooky Lewis Vandredi, who just wouldn't let the main characters have a good night's sleep on the "Friday the 13th" (1987) TV series. Finally retiring after six successful decades in show business, his last film appearance was in the TV western film “Purgatory” (1999). Mr. Armstrong had been blind for the past few years he enjoyed listening to old radio programs and the Encore westerns channel. Armstrong received a Golden Boot award in 1999. R.G. appeared in one Euro-western as Honest John in “My Name is Nobody” (1973).

MINNESOTA CLAY

Minnesota Clay – Italian title

Minnesota Clay – Italian title

L’homme du Minnesota – French title

Le justicier du Minnesota – French title

Minnesota Clay – German title

Skliros ekdikitis – Greek title

Balas Assassinas – Portuguese title
Minnesota Clay - Spanish title

Intikam kasirgasi – Turkey title

Minnesota Clay – U.S.A. title

A 1964 Italian, Spanish, French co-production [Ultra Film, Sicili Cinematografica (Palermo), Jaguar Films (Madrid), Franco London Films (Paris)]

Producer: Danilo Marciani

Director: Sergio Corbucci

Story: Adriano Bolzoni

Screenplay: Adriano Bolzoni, Sergio Corbucci, José Gutiérrez Maesso

Cinematography: Pepe Aguayo (José Aguayo) [Eastmancolor, widescreen]

Music: Piero Piccioni (Gianpiero Piccioni)

Running time: 95 minutes

Cast:

Minnesota Clay Mulligan – Cameron Mitchell (Cameron Mizell)

Dominiqu Ortiz Mendoza – Fernando Sancho (Fernando Les)

Andy Barr – Alberto Cevenini

Sheriff ‘Five Aces’ Fox – Georges Rivière

Uncle Jonathan – Antonio Casas (Antonio Barros)

Millicet – Joe Kamel (Giuseppe Frisaldi)

Nancy Mulligan – Diana Martin

Estella – Ethel Rojo (Ethel Castro)

Estella’s father – Antonio Jiménez (Antonio Escribano)

Tubbs – Nando Poggi (Ferdinando Poggi)

Doctor Lieutenant Stevens – Julio Peña (Julio Munoz)

Scratchy/Gracieto – Gino Pernice (Luigi Pernice)

Miguel – Álvaro de Luna (Alvaro Blanco)

Milton/Malcolm – Angel Menendez

Bartender – Pietro Tordi

Fox henchmen – Guillermo Méndez, Fernando Sánchez Polack

Ortiz henchmen – Simon Arriaga, José Manuel Martín (José Pérez)

Mute – Anthony Ross (Antonio Rossi)

Townsman – José Riesgo (José Cortina)

Narrator – Tommy Noonan (Thomas Noone)

With: Patricia De Frate, Toni Fuentes (Antonio Fuentes), Mario Morales, Manuel Peña, Alfonso Rojas (Alfonso González), Carlos Villafranca, Madelaine Deheco

Sentenced to twenty years hard labor for a crime he did not commit, Minnesota Clay escapes from prison, driven not only by an instinct for liberty, but by a desire to return to Mesa Encantada, New Mexico, home of the reluctant witness to his innocence. Suffering from the loss of his eyesight he finds the city is being fought over by two gangs: one led by the fierce Ortiz, a Mexican general defector, the other led by Sheriff Fox, the man who remained been silent at his trial. The two leaders would benefit from the help of Clay, who has a reputation as an expert marksman with a pistol, but he is disgusted by these proposals and refuses, turning both against him. Clay is then hunted and luckily manages to find refuge with his newfound daughter Nancy and old friend Jonathan. Ortiz is then eliminated by Estella, but Clay must now face Fox in a duel, directed by his hearing, he wounds Fox and forces him to confess the truth publicly that Clay was not involved in any crime.

[There are two endings that exist for this film. One - he lies dying in the arms of his daughter. Two - he rides off later wearing a pair of glasses. Stopping he throws his glasses in the air and shooting the lenses out of the frames while smiling to himself.]

YouTube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ucePF2OrWM

Alternate ending: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxif0J1wi-Q

Remembering Adolfo Celi

Adolfo Celi was born July 27, 1922 in Messina, Sicily, Italy. Celi became an Italian actor and small time director and writer. He was educated at Romes Academy of Fine Arts. Starting in the early 1940s, he spent nearly two decades as a stage actor in Brazil and Argentina, where he also owned shares in a casting agency. Throughout his later career as a film actor, Adolfo accumulated over 100 credits, including the villain Emilio Largo in the James Bond film “Thunderball” and “The Agony and the Ecstasy” (both 1965), “And Then There Were None” (1974), “The Borgias” (1981). Celi appeared in in two Euro-westerns: “Yankee” (1966) and “Death Sentence” (1967).  Adolfo spoke many languages but was often dubbed in his movies because of his strong accent. Adolfo was married to acrtreses Tônia Carrero [1922- ] (1951-1962), Marília Branco [1942-    ] (1963-196?), Marília Branco [1938-    ] (1966-1986), and is the father of producer, director, assistant director, cinematographer Leonardo Celi [1968-    ], and actress Alessandra Celi [1970-    ]. He died of a heart attack at the age of 64 in Siena, Italy on February 19, 986. Today we remember Adolfo Celi today on what would have been his 90^th birthday.