Guess Who I Am

 

I’m an Italian actress born in Rome in 1944.

 
I appeared in over 70 films and TV appearances.
 
I appeared in three Euro-westerns.
 
Guess who I am.

An anonymous poster guessed correctly that this week's photo is that of Marilu Tolo.

RIP Bill Lansford

Bill Lansford, 90, a Latino Marine and Army veteran who sought to bring honor to the contributions of other Latinos who served in the nation’s wars, died May 22 at his Playa del Rey home. The cause was complications of prostate cancer, his wife Ruth said.

 

William Douglas Lansford was born July 13, 1922, in East Los Angeles, the son of Rosalina Melendez, an actress, and Frank Alva Stone, a Los Angeles police officer. His parents were divorced before he was born. (The name Lansford came from a misspelling on his birth certificate of Lunsford, another name used by his father, Ruth Lansford said.)

 
He dropped out of high school at 16 and joined the Marine Corps at 18. He was stationed in Iceland, then in the Pacific theater during World War II. Several years later, he joined the Army and served during the Korean War.
 
He became a successful writer for television series such as “Starsky & Hutch,” “Fantasy Island” and “Ironside,” and also wrote several books, including a biography of Pancho Villa that was adapted into the 1968 film “Villa Rides,” starring Yul Brynner.

NEW DVD Release

A stranger arrives in a sleepy border town, where he witnesses a Mexican army regiment massacred by bandits. The outlaws take the place of the soldiers in a lucrative deal with the American army. The stranger is hired by the bandits to ‘identify’ them as Federales, but when he’s done his job, the bandit leader tries to eliminate him. The stranger manages to escape but is then trapped and brutally tortured. Finally he faces the gang in a bloody showdown in the town’s street.

 
This film was my first exposure to a non-Leone Spaghetti western. I was not impressed. In fact it turned my off of the genre for 10-years. I had no idea who Tony Anthony was and figured it was an alias for some obscure Italian actor. I was used to and wanted to see the hero walk down the middle of the street and face who knows how many baddies on the opposite side because I knew he’d kick ass and come out the victor. Tony Anthony’s idea of a showdown was to hide and shoot someone in the back if need be. It was years later when I interviewed Tony that I learned and understood his idea. He wanted to portray the Stranger as a New York City street tough. A guy who used any advantage he could get to turn the tables on the other protagonist. Okay now it made sense he wasn’t playing James Bond out west he was playing Sharks and Jets. Too bad I found out 30 years to late.
 
The new release of A STRANGER IN TOWN is a magnificent production re-mastered from the original film. If you liked THE STRANGER RETURNS you’ll be just as impressed with this masterpiece. Released by Alive in PAL with Dolby 2.0 sound in English, German and Italian with 1.77, 16/9 aspect ratio you’ve never seen a cleaner more pristine cut of this now classic film. Extras include an audio commentary by the Stranger himself Tony Anthony and an interview with Lars Bloch who portrays the Cavalry Captain in the film.    
 
A STRANGER IN TOWN
(1966)
 
Director: Vane Lewis (Luigi Vanzi)
Starring: Tony Anthony, Frank Wolff, Jolanda Modio
 
Label: Alive
Format: Dolby 2.0 PAL
Languages: English, German, Italian
Aspect Ratio: 1.77, 16/9
Running time 83 minutes
ASIN: B00BUDAM6S
Extras: Audio commentary with Tony Anthony
Interview with Lars Bloch (in English)
Release date: May 31, 2013

SABATA THE KILLER

Arriva Sabata! – Italian title

Reza por tu alma… y muere – Spanish title
Viva Sabata! – Brazilian title
Vedä aseesi Sabata! – Finnish title
Y muere ou los bandidos del ford – French title
Los bandidos del ford – French title
Arriva Garringo – German title
Galgenvögel sterben einsam – German title
Sabata der Killer – German title
I sfagi arhise sto El Paso – Greek title
Hé barátom, megint itt van Sabata – Hungarian title
10000 dolares por Sabata – Portuguese title
Mitt namn ar Sabata – Swedish title
Hé barátom, megint itt van Sabata – Swedish title
Sabata vadiler hakimi – Turkish title
Sabata prihaja – Yugoslavian title
Dollars to Die For – U.K. title
Viva Sabata – English title
Sabata the Killer – U.S.A. title
 
A 1970 Italian, Spanish co-production [Tritonefilmindustria (Rome), Producione Cinematograficas, DIA S.A. (Madrid)]
Producer: Salvatore Alabiso, Miguel Tudela
Director: Tulio Demicheli (Armando Demicheli)
Story: Nino Stressa (Sigfrido Tumbu)
Screenplay: Nino Stressa (Sigfrido Tumbo), Florentino Soria (Florentino Heredia), Tulio Demichel(Armando Demicheli)
Cinematography: Aldo Ricco [Eastmancolor, ReversalScope]
Music: Marcello Giombini
Running time: 95 minutes
 
Cast:
John/Garringo/Sabata – Anthony Steffen (Antonio de Teffe)
Mangosta – Eduardo Fajardo
Peter – Peter Lee Lawrence (Karl Hirenbach)
Garfield – Alfredo Mayo (Alfredo Martinez)
Sheriff – Alfonso Rojas (Alfonso Melquiades)
Patricia – Rossana Rovere (Luigina Rovere)
Manolito – María Villa
Butch Garrett – Alfredo Santacruz
‘Little Brother’ Fuller – Tito García (Pablo Gonzalez)
‘Big Brother’ Fuller – Cris Huerta (Crisanto Brieva)
Charlie McKenzie – Luis Induni (Luigi Radici)
Man in sheriff’s office – Lorenzo Robledo
José – Rafael Albaicin (Igancio Escudero)
Pedro - Guillermo Méndez
Clemens - Antonio Moreno
Change/Chaco – José Canalejas
Gambler – Miguel Del Castillo, José Riesgo
Garfield henchmen – Spartaco Conversi (Espartaco Conversi), Alfonso de la Vega, Simón Arriaga, Joaquín Parra
Mnagosta henchman – Álvaro de Luna (Álvaro Blanco)
Townsman - Emilio Rodríguez
Telegrapher Xan das Bolas
Gordita - Marisa Porcel
Mexican - Nazzareno Natale
Stunts: Miguel Pedregosa

With the help of Peter, a dishonest bank employee, two crooks, Sabata and Mangosta, rob a small country bank in the West. Before they can proceed to the division of the spoils, Mangosta runs away with all of the money, and flees to Mexico, where he buys a large farm and hires a group of gunmen to defend against any attempts at revenge by his ex-gang members. Peter and Sabata, discover the refuge of Mangosta and attempt to penetrate it but are captured by the outlaws henchmen. The money from the robbery is also of interest to Garfield, the most powerful and feared man in the area, who leads his men on an attack of the farm, with the ensuing fight resulting in a real slaughter. Sabata and Peter, manage to escape and eliminate all of Garfield’s men. They recovered the booty and then fight amongst themselves for the money but only end up killing each other.

 

YouTube trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgOm4EFqLkQ

Happy 70th Birthday Joe Namath

Joseph William Namath was born on May 31, 1943 in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania. After starring for Paul "Bear" Bryant's Alabama Crimson Tide football teams in the 1960s, Namath was drafted by both the NFL’s St. Louis Cardinals and the rival AFL’s New York Jets in 1965. Namath, known as a brash performer in college, signed with the Jets for a then-record $450,000 and gave the upstart, struggling AFL instant credibility in its war with the NFL. Although he didn't turn the Jets into instant winners, he did improve their fortunes his first three years in the league. Namath delivered on his promise as one of the most exciting players in the AFL, by becoming the first quarterback in history to pass for more than 4,000 yards. Namath was also popular off the field, especially with the ladies and was known for his love of the New York nightlife. Because of this, he was dubbed "Broadway Joe" by the New York press. Namath gained his legend with not only his performance, but his mouth. After leading the Jets to the AFL championship over the Oakland Raiders, Namath, weary of all the press knocking him and his team and openly favoring the NFL champion Baltimore Colts, boldly lashed out and predicted victory for him and the Jets in the Super Bowl. In the game that many felt made the Super Bowl the spectacle it is today, Namath and the Jets were nearly flawless in beating the 17-point favorite Colts, 16-7 and made Namath a household name. Namath continued his all-star performances in New York, although he never again played in the Super Bowl. For several years, he was the entertainer of the NFL and even dabbled in movies and television including his only Euro-western “The Last Rebel” (1970. He was traded to the Los Angeles Rams in 1977, but his failing knees finally gave out and he retired at the end of the season. Namath was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985 and, for a few years, was a member of ABC's "NFL Monday Night Football" (1970) crew. Namath now lives in Florida. Today we celebrate Joe Namath’s 70^th birthday.

Who Are Those Guys? - Agustin Bescos

Agustín Bescos is a Spanish actor and another of the many credited and uncredited character and supporting actors we know little to nothing about. He can be seen in many films that are Italian/Spanish co-productions. His earliest credited film that I can find any record of is the Euro-western “Torrejón City” (1962) where he plays the barman. He was still appearing in films into the 1990s as his last credited film was “Infidelity” in 1995 where he plays the role of Señor Mayor. In most of his Euro-western roles he can be seen playing military officers, politicians, land owners and barmen. Although the Imdb has him credited in over 20 Euro-westerns many of these are mistakes. As in many cases any older actor with white hair appearing in a Euro-western was mistaken for Franco Pesce and Franco Gula. Several other actors’ credits are mixed in with these two Spaghetti western stalwarts. Actually I’ve been able to identify him in 8 Euro-westerns. After his apparent retirement his whereabouts have remained unknown.

BESCOS, Agustín (Agustín Besco) [Spanish] - TV actor.
Torrejón City - 1962 (barman)
Relevo para un pistolero – 1963
Sign of the Coyote - 1963 (barman)
Dollars for a Fast Gun - 1966
Fort Yuma Gold - 1966 (gentleman on stagecoach)
Rattler Kid - 1967 (general)
Sundance Cassidy and Butch the Kid - 1969 (funeral attendee)
Tequila - 1974 (townsman)

Remembering Sergio Citti

Sergio Citti was born on May 30, 1933 in Rome, Italy the son of actor Santino Citti. He was the brother of actor Franco Citti [1935-    ]. Sergio was an Italian film director and screenwriter who often worked with Pier Paolo Pasolini, but also worked for such others as Ettore Scola. His own films include the award winning “Oedipus Rex” (1967).

 
Citti’s 1981 film “Il minestrone” was entered into the 31st Berlin International Film Festival. His 1977 film “Beach House” was shown as part of a retrospective on Italian comedy at the 67th Venice International Film Festival.
 
In 1968 he appeared in his only Euro-western “Kill Them All and Come Back Alone” as a soldier along with his brother Franco.
 
Sergio died in Rome on October 11, 2005. Today we remember Sergio Citti on what would have been his 80^th birthday.

SABATA

Ehi amico... c'è Sabata, hai chiuso! – Italian title

Sabata – Brazilian title
Heroj crnog kolta - Croatian title
Sabata, salaperäinen ratsastaja – Finnish title
Sabata – French title
Sabata – German title
Sabata, o tromokratis tou El Paso – Greek title
Hé barátom, itt van Sabata – Hungarian title
Sabata viene a matar – Mexican title
Sabata – Portuguese title
Oro sangriento – Spanish title
Sabata vadiler hakimi – Turkish title
Sabata – U.S.A. title
 
A 1969 Italian production [P.E.A. (Rome)]
Producer: Alberto Grimaldi
Director: Frank Kramer (Gianfranco Parolini)
Story: Gianfranco Parolini, Renato Izzo
Screenplay: Gianfranco Parolini, Renato Izzo
Cinematography: Sandro Mancori (Alessandro Mancori) [Technicolor, Techniscope]
Music: Marcello Giombini
Running time: 111 minutes
 
Cast:
Sabata – Lee Van Cleef (Clarence Van Cleef, Jr.)
Banjo – William Berger (Wilhelm Berger)
Hardy Stengel – Franco Ressel (Domenico Orobano)
Jane – Linda Veras (Sieglinde Veras)
Carrincha – Pedro Sanchez (Ignazio Spalla)
Judge O’Hara – Gianni Rizzo (Giovanni Rizzo)
Ferguson – Anthony Gradwell (Antonio Gradoli)
Indio/Jumping Kid/Alley Cat – Nick Jordan (Aldo Canti)
Oswald – Robert Hundar (Claudio Undari)
Slim – Spanny Conversi (Spartaco Conversi)
Sharky – Marco Zuanelli
McCallum – Gino Marturano (Luigi Marturano)
Frankie – Joseph Matthews (Giuseppe Mattei)
Virginia brothers – Franco Ukmar, Bruno Ukmar
Father Brown – R. Lodi (Rodolfo Lodi)
False Father Brown – Allan Collins (Luciano Pigozzi)
Logan – Vittorio André
Rocky Bendato – Romano Puppo
Daniel – Andrew Ray (Andrea Aurelli)
Army Captain – Franco Marletta (Francesco Marletta)
Sheriff of Daugherty City – John Bartha (Janos Barta)
Nichols – Charles Tamblyn (Carlo Tamberlani)
Bandits – Fortunato Arena
Soldier guarding bank - Gino Barbacane
Shotgun – Gilbert Galimberti (Gian Galimberti)
Sharky’s mother – Ana María Noé
Barman – Mimmo Poli (Domenico Poli)
Saloon patron – Elio Angelucci
With: Armando Bottin
Stunts: Miguel Pedregosa

Sabata rides into the town of Dougherty. While enjoying a drink in the local saloon, a group of thieves are robbing the town bank, making off with a huge metal safe containing $100,000. Sabata heads off the thieves and retrieves the money and brings back a wagon load of corpses. Sabata then runs across and old acquaintance, Banjo, who is passing through town. Sabata meets two other characters in Daugherty that he takes a liking to: a comical fat guy named Carrincha and an acrobatic mute named Alleycat, they soon become his sidekicks. After returning the money Sabata is offered a reward, by naming his price. He asks for $5,000. What everyone in town doesn’t know is that the respected town officials, Stengel, and Judge O'Hara are behind the actual robbery and Sabata just ruined their plans for collecting the insurance to buy a large portion of land that will be set aside for a train line coming through. After finding out this information, Sabata, Carrincha and Alleycat work together to blackmail Stengel and his army to get the money back. Banjo on the other hand has his own priorities and he tries to steal the money from Sabata. It all ends with a showdown and the double-crosser getting his just deserts.
 
YouTube trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4q1gtAzMK4

New CD Release

Lo chiamavano Trinita’…

(They Call Me Trinity)
(1970)
 
Composer: Franco Micalizzi
Director: Enzo Barboni
Starring: Terence Hill, Bud Spencer, Farley Granger
 
Label: Digitmovies
#DPDM009
Tracks: 25
Total time: 49:45
Extras: 16 pages booklet
Available: May 28, 2013
 
Track Listing
01. TRINITY:TITOLI (03:05)
02. UN COWBOY E DUE RAGAZZI (02:19)
03. DI FRONTE AI KILLERS (01:58)
04. TRINITY: CON LA STELLA DI VICE SCERIFFO (01:57)
05. IN DUE CONTRO TUTTI (01:30)
06. C'E' UN TEMPO PER VIVERE (01:53)
07. MESCAL, LADRONE MESSICANO (01:24)
08. TRINITY; A CAVALLO LUNGO IL FIUME (02:02)
09. LAZY COWBOY (01:03)
10. C'E' UN TEMPO PER VINCERE: I MORMONI ALLA RISCOSSA (02:33)
11. TRINITY: SEMPRE IN GUARDIA (01:08)
12. TRINITY: A MOLLO NELLA TINOZZA (01:20)

13. TRINITY SEQUENZA FINALE (03:23)

 
BONUS TRACKS

14. TRINITY: TITOLI (film version) (03:05)
15. TRINITY: SEMPRE IN GUARDIA (02:13)
16. TRINITY: A CAVALLO LUNGO IL FIUME #1 (01:01)
17. MESCAL: LADRONE MESSICANO (00:59)
18. TRINITY: CON LA STELLE DI VICE SCERIFFO (01:14)
19. IN DUE CONTRO TUTTI #1 (00:43)
20. TRINITY: A CAVALLO LUNGO IL FIUME #2 (01:10)
21. IN DUE CONTRO TUTTI #2 (01:25)
22. C'E' UN TEMPO PER VIVERE (05:48)
 
THE REJECTED SCORE

23. TRINITY'S VALLEY #1 (02:13)
24. TRINITY'S VALLEY #2 (03:12)
25. TRINITY'S VALLEY #3 (01:17)

Happy 70th Birthday Lou Castel

Ulv Quarzéll was born on May 28, 1943 in Bogota, Columbia but moved to Europe as a young man. Interested in acting from an early age, he attended the Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia, but was quickly kicked out. As Lou Castel, his first movie role was an uncredited extra in “The Leopard” (1963). But two years later, he would catch his big break when he starred in “Fists in the Pocket” (1965). His performance as the epileptic Alessandro, who murders his mother and his brother, was acclaimed all over the world. His next role to gain international prominence was as Jeff, the temperamental bisexual film director, in “Beware of a Holy Whore” (1971), directed by Rainer Werner Fassbinder.

 
In the following decades, Castel worked with some of the most important European directors of the era, including Pier Paolo Pasolini, Wim Wenders, Philippe Garrel, and Olivier Assayas. Though the quality of the films he acted in were quite disparate, ranging from art house films to cheap exploitation, Castel always chose roles that reflected his militant leftist beliefs. During this time he appeared in four Euro-westerns: “A Bullet for the General” (1966), “Kill and Pray” (1967), “Matalo!” (1970) and “Arizona Road” (1990). He is still acting to this day.
 
Today we celebrate Lou Castel’s 70^th birthday.

RIP Little Tony

Italian singer Little Tony died today in a Rome clinic suffering from bone cancer. He was 72.  Born Antonio Ciacci on February 7, 1941 he was known as the Italian Elvis. A pop singer and actor. He achieved success in Britain in the late 1950s and early 1960s, as the lead singer of Little Tony & His Brothers, before returning to Italy where he continued a successful career as a singer and film actor.

 
The group first revisited Italy in 1961 to appear at the San Remo Festival, returning more permanently the following year. Little Tony then worked as a solo singer, having his first #1 in Italy with "Il ragazzo col ciuffo" in 1962. He also began working as a movie actor, notably appearing in “5 marines per 100 ragazze” in 1962. In all, he appeared in over 20 movies in Italy. He also continued to record regularly through the 1960s, one of his biggest hits being "Cuore matto", reaching #1 for nine consecutive weeks in 1967. It sold in excess of a million copies and was awarded a gold disc in May 1967.
 
Tony formed his own record label, Little Records, in 1969 and continued to record and perform successfully in Italy, despite suffering a heart attack in 2006. He recorded the title song “Rainbow... vorrei... vorrei” for the 1968 Euro-western “The Longest Hunt” with Brian Kelly and Keenan Wynn.

Rainbow... vorrei... vorrei” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMP43xGs9XI

Memorial Day 2013

New CD Releases

5000 Dollari sull’asso

($5,000 on One Ace)
(1965)
 
Composer: Angelo Francesco Lavagnino
Director: Alfonso Balcazar.
Starring: Robert Woods, Fernando Sancho, Helmut Schmid
 
Label: BEAT
# BCM9530
Tracks: 23
Total time:
Extras: booklet
Available: May 27, 2013
 
Track Listing:
1 A GAMBLING MAN (instrumental version) 3:43
2 INCENDIO AL RANCH 2:30
3 GALOPPATE AD EST 1:12
4 LE AVVENTURE DI PANCHO 3:22
5 LOTTA NEL FANGO 1:46
6 PARTITA A POKER 2:52
7 WEST CAN CAN 3:42
8 ALLEGRO TEXAS 2:26
9 CIELO DEL WEST 2:11
10 PIANURE 1:37
11 LA MESSICANA 2:27
12 TEMPORALE SULLA PRATERIA 2:33
13 O.K. SALOON 3:07
14 DRAMMA NEL CANYON 1:47
15 MOMENTO DIFFICILE 1:36
16 AIUTO INSPERATO 2:02
 
bonus tracks
 
17. A GAMBLING MAN (vocal version - original main titles) 2:48
18. GALOPPATE AD EST 1:55
19.O.K. SALOON 1:08
20.PIANURE 1:12
21.MOMENTO DIFFICILE 2:41
22.CIELO DEL WEST 3:10
23.LE AVVENTURE DI PANCHO 1:03

 

…continuavano a chiamarlo Trinita

(Trinity is STILL My Name)
(1971)
 
Composer: Guido & Maurizio De Angelis
Director: Enzo Barboni
Starring: Terence Hill, Bud Spencer
 
Label: Digitmovies
# DPDM010
Tracks: 25
Total time: 51:17
Extras: 20 page booklet
Available: May 27, 2013
 
Track Listing:
01 … CONTINUAVANO A CHIAMARLO TRINITA' - Seq. 1 32"
02 TRINITY STAND TALL 3'17"
03 TRINITY E BAMBINO A SAN JOSE' 47"
04 ASSALTO ALLA DILIGENZA 33"
05 RANCH DI PARKER 1'14"
06 TRINITY E BAMBINO A SAN JOSE' 2'09"
07 TRINITY E BAMBINO IN CITTA' 2'11"
08 TRINITY E BAMBINO IN CITTA' 2'18"
09 TRINITY E BAMBINO AL RISTORANTE 2'02"
10 TRINITY STAND TALL (instr.) 40"
11 ASSALTO ALLA DILIGENZA 1'28"
12 IL CARRO AL FIUME 1'40"
13 REMEMBER (instr.) 1'36"
14 … CONTINUAVANO A CHIAMARLO TRINITA' - Seq. 2 1'16"
15 BAMBINO SI CONFESSA 3'08"
16 REMEMBER (instr.) 1'53"
17 PACE ALLA MISSIONE 5'27"
18 TITOLI FINALI 57"
19 REMEMBER 4'14"
20 TRINITY E BAMBINO A SAN JOSE' 1'39"
21 BAR DI NOTTE 1'09"
22 … CONTINUAVANO A CHIAMARLO TRINITA' - Seq. 3 58"
23 TRINITY E BAMBINO IN CITTA' 2'16"
24 PACE ALLA MISSIONE 2'28"
25 REMEMBER 5'15"

THE RUTHLESS FOUR

Ognuno per sé – Italian title

Das Gold von Sam Cooper – German title
Tähtää tarkasti - tapa varmasti – Finnish title
Chacun pour soi – French title
O kathenas gia ton eafto tou – Greek title
A furia do ouro – Portuguese title
Los cuatro despiadados – Spanish title
Den grymma jakten – Swedish title
Profesyonellerin intikami – Turkish title
Sam Cooper’s Gold – English title
The Goldseekers – English title
Every Man for Himself – English title
The Ruthless Four U.S.A. title
 
A 1967 Italian, German co-production [P.C.M. (Rome), Eichberg Film (Munich)]
Producers: Luciano Ercoli, Alberto Pugliese
Director: George Holloway (Giorgio Capitani)
Story: Fernando Di Leo, Augusto Caminito
Screenplay: Ferdinando Di Leo, Augusto Caminito
Cinematography: Sergio D’Offizi [Technicolor, Techniscope]
Music: Carlo Rustichelli
Running time: 106 minutes
 
Cast:
Sam Cooper – Van Heflin (Emmett Heflin, Jr.)
Mason – Gilbert Roland (Luis Dámaso de Alonso)
Manolo Sanchez – George Hilton (Jorge Acosta y Lara)
Brent/Blond – Klaus Kinski (Nikolaus Nakaszynski)
Annie – Sarah Ross (Alice Bakacirc)
Lancaster – Giorgio Gruden
Matt – Doro Corrà (Teodoro Corrà)
Hal Brady – Rick Boyd (Federico Boido)
Fred Brady – Sergio Doria (Sergio Endrigo)
Slim – Hardy Reichelt
Bank cashier – Ivan Scratuglia (Giovanni Scratuglia)

After many years of work, miner Sam Cooper discovers a gold-bearing vein. Unable to bring all the gold with him, Sam is forced to blow up the mine entrance and return to town. After arriving in town he sends for his godson and asks him to help him carry out the gold. The godson of Sam comes along with a strange man that seems to dominate his will. Cooper, while not trusting the newcomer, he is forced to accept his help. The trio is soon joined by another man, an old friend of Sam. The four reach the mine and after days of hard work recover the gold and start their way back to town. Soon differences begin to surface within the group and the conflict culminates in the death of three of Sam’s employees. So only Sam reaches town with the load of gold.
 
YouTube trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bm9UqGEdz0Q

Spaghetti Western Locations

We continue our search for film locations from “Death Rides a Horse”. After Ryan leaves Bill’s ranch he rides into town. He takes a seat on the porch of his hotel he then sees the two men he left afoot in the desert ride into town. He makes a retreat for his room before he is detected.
 
This location is the western set of Cinecitta Studios in Rome. The western set is no longer there just a few soundstages and a back lot.

For a more detailed view of this site and other Spaghetti Western locations please visit my friend Captain Douglas’ excellent website: http://www.western-locations-spain.co        

and Yoshi Yasuda’s location site: http://y-yasuda.net/film-location.htm

THE RUTHLESS COLT OF THE GRINGO

La venganza de Clark Harrison – Spanish title

La venganza de Sol Lester – Italian title
La spietata colt del gringo – Italian title
Die ganze Meute gegen mich – German title
Der embarmundclose Colt des Gringo – German title
To katarameno pistoli tou Ringo – Greek title
Gringo’s Pitiless Colt – English title
The Ruthless Colt of the Gringo – English title
 
A 1965 Spanish, Italian co-production [Coop. Cinematográfica Constelación (Barcelona), Danny Film, Cinedoris (Rome)]
Producer: Zelyko Kunkera
Director: Joseph L. Madrid (José Luis Madrid de la Viña)
Story: “El que sabe matar” Cliff Bradley (Jesús Navarro Carrión-Cervera)
Screenplay: Jess Navarro (Jesús Carrión), Mike Ashley (Mino Roli), Anthony Estevan (Antonio Santillán)
Cinematography: Marcello Gatti, Jaime Deu Casas [Kodakcolor, Techniscope]
Music: Francesco De Masi, Enrique Escobar (Enrique Sotes)
Song: “A Man Must Fight” sung by Peter Tevis
Running time: 83 minutes
 
Cast:
Sol Lester/Clark Harrison – Jim Reed (Luigi Giuliano)
Lois Duval – Martha Dovan (Conxita Ala)
Cora Grant – Pat Greenhill (Germana Monteverdi)
Halloway - César Ojinaga
Bliss – Charles Otter (Carlos Otero)
Coleman – Indio Gonzáles (Gaspar González)
Wilker – Gustavo Re
Sheriffs – Isidro Novellas (Isidro Plans), José Manuel Pinillos
Deputy Sheriff Purdy – Dámaso Muní
Judge – Antonio Jiménez Escribano
Walton – Hilario Ocon
Fess – Carlos Moyan
Coleman henchmen – Juan Miguel Solano, Jak Rocha (Moisés Rocha), Juan Torres
With: Alberto Gadea, Carlo Fabrizi, Luis Induni (Luigi Radici), Gerardo Ribas, Carlos Vargas, Vicente Bondal, Eduardo Lizarza, Francisco Aguilera, Antonio Marcos, Beni Perez, Pedro L. Conde

A young cowboy accused of killing the owner of a gold mine is found guilty on the basis of false evidence and sentenced to a prison term of hard labor. After serving his sentence, the young man returns to his the territory where the shady characters caused his sentence. Appointed sheriff, he begins his investigation to discover the true authors of the assassination of the miner. He ultimately eliminates the culprits proves his innocence of the crime, thus earning the respect and love of the daughter of the murdered miner.

Guess Who I Am

I’m a German actress born in Danzig in 1931.
 
I’ve appeared in over 150 films and TV appearances.
 
I played a saloon girl named Linda in my 1964 and only Euro-western.
 
Guess who I am.

il dottore correctly named Ingrid van Bergen as this week's photo.

RIP Isidro Novellas

Isidro Novellas Plans died in Centelles, Catalonia, Spain on March 8, 2013. Isidro was born in Centelles in 1922. Early on he worked in all kind of jobs while he tried to enter into the cinema industry. In Spain in those days it was difficult to become an actor, but despite the struggle he appeared in many Spanish films always playing small supporting parts.

 

He appeared in seven Euro-westerns from “The Ruthless Colt of the Gringo” in 1965 to “God In Heaven, Arizona on Earth” in 1972.

 

In his home town of Centelles, he appeared in a lot of theatre and also silent short adventure films mainly about war and fantasy heroes. He was struck with Alzheimer in 2004, and during his last days lived in a residence for elderly people in his own village, where he died at 91 years old.

 

New Box Set DVD Release

Italowestern Enzyklopadie No. 2

4 DVD box set

limited edition includes:
God Forgives... His Life Is Mine
Kill the Wicked
Those Dirty Dogs
California

Label: Koch
Discs: 4
Region: 2, PAL
Aspect ratio: 1,85:1 (anamorpphic 16:9), 2,35:1 (anamorphic 16:9)
Languages: German (Dolby Digital 2.0), English (Dolby Digital 2.0), Italian (Dolby Digital 2.0)
Subtitles: German
Runtime: 778 min
Extras: original trailers, exclusive interviews with cast and filmmakers, picture gallery with rare promotional material
ASIN: B00CHXVK6Q
Available: May 24, 2013

New DVD Box Set Release

Western Unchained Collection

8 DVD
Die Zeit der Geier

Mercenario - Der Gefürchtete

Navajo Joe
Tepepa
Der Tod zählt keine Dollar
Yankee
Rocco - Der Mann mit den zwei Gesichtern
Mörder des Klans
 
Label: Koch Media
Discs 8
Region: 2, PAL
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1 (16:9)
Languages: German, English, Italian (Dolby Digital 2.0)
Subtitles: German
Total runtime: 357 min
Extras: Original trailers, interviews with cast and crew, picture galleries
ASIN: B00BQ7GXJI
Available: May 24, 2013

New DVD Released

Verflucht, verdammt und Halleluja

(Man of the East)
(1972)
 
Directosr: E.B. Clucher, Italo Zingarelli
Starring: Terence Hill, Harry Carey Jr.
 
Label: Koch Media
Region: 2 PAL
Languages: German Dolby Digital 2.0, English Dolby Digital 2.0
Subtitles: German
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1 (16:9) - Remastered 
Runtime: 125 min
Extras: Featurettes, trailers
ASIN: B00BQTL1G6
Available May 24, 2013
 

 

Dynamit Jack - Der Schrecken von Arizona

(Dynamite Jack)
(1961)
 
Director: Jean Bastia
Starring: Fernandel, Eleonora Vargas, Lucian Raimbourg

Label: Colosseo Film
Region: 2, PAL
Aspect ratio: 1.77:1 (16:9)
Audio: German Dolby Digital 2.0, French Dolby Digital 2.0
Subtitles: German
Runtime: 103 min
ASIN: B00BUDALQ4
Available: May 24, 2013

Happy 80th Birthday Germano Longo

Germano Longo was born on May 24, 1933 in Poggiardo, Lecce, Italy. As a film actor he was also credited under the pseudonyms Herman Lang and Grant Laramy. Longo was most often seen in B-movie westerns, historical and peplum films, however, he is also known for drama interpretations, such as those provided in the television film “Orlando Furioso”, directed by Luca Ronconi (1974), and in the film “Sunflowers” (1970), where he was directed by Vittorio De Sica. Longo appeared in five Euro-westerns from “Charge of the 7^th” (1964) to “I’ll Sell My Skin Dearly” (1967).

 
He is the father of voice actress Germana Longo [1970- ].
 
Today we celebrate Germano Longo’s 80^th birthday.

RUSTLERS' RHAPSODY

Rustlers’ Rhapsody – U.S.A.

Esos locos cuatreros – Spanish title
O Vaqueiro Cantador – Brazilian title
Vihoviimeinen hevosooppera – Finnish title
Rhapsodie in Blei – German title
Az éneklő cowboy – Hungarian title
Addio vecchio West – Italian title
Ballada o koniokradzie – Polish title
Kowbojska rapsodia – Polish title
 
A 1984 U.S.A., Spanish co-production [The Phoenix Co. (Hollywood), Impala, Tesauro (Madrid)]
Producer: Gil Parrondo
Director: Hugh Wilson
Story: Hugh Wilson
Screenplay: Hugh Wilson
Cinematography: José Luis Alcaine [Metrocolor, black & white, Panavision]
Music: Steve Dorff (Stephen Dorff)
Song: “I Lasso the Moon” sung by Gary Morris
Song: “I Ride Alone” sung by John Anderson
Song: “Last of the Silver Screen Cowboys” sung by Rex Allen, Jr., Roy Rogers, Rex Allen
Running time: 89 minutes
 
Cast:
Rex O’Herlihan – Tom Berenger (Thomas Moore)
Peter – G.W. Bailey (George William Bailey)
Miss Tracy – Marilu Henner (Mary Puflowski)
Railroad colonel – Fernando Rey (Fernando Vega)
Colonel Ticonderoga – Andy Griffith (Andrew Griffith)
Colonel Ticonderoga’s daughter – Sela Ward
Jim – Brant von Hoffman
Jud – Christopher Malcolm
Sheepherders – Manuel Pereiro (Manuel Rodriguez), Paul Maxwell, Antonio Jesus Ruiz
Blackie – Jim Carter (James Carter)
Sheepherder’s wife – Margarita Calahorra
Doctor – Billy J. Mitchell
Bob Barber – Patrick Wayne
Sheriff – John Orchard
Sheepherder in saloon – Emilio Linder
Bartender – Alan Larson
Saloon owner – Thomas Abbot (Thomas Abbott)
Real estate broker – Elmer Modlin (Elmer Modling)
Boy – Juan Miguel Manrique
Minister – Dennis Vaughan
Complaining John – Hugh Wilson
Colonel Ticonderoga’s henchman - Juanma, Bellido,Paquito
Railroad Colonel’s henchmen – Tio Rafael, Chencho
Cowboy – José Galera Balazote
With: Charly Bravo (Ramón Bravo), Eduardo Garcia, Ignacio Carreno (Ignacio López), Alicia F. Cavada, José  Sacristan (José Turiégano), Tabaré Carballo, Solier Fagundez, George Bullock, Román Ariznavarreta  Jorge Brito, Eugenio Serrano, Miguel García, Francisco Gómez, Basilio Escudero, Gabriel Laguna, Camilo Vila, Hal Burton, Diego Jiménez Flores, Diego Rodríguez
Stunts: Román Ariznavarreta, Jorge Brito, George Bullock, Hal Burton, Tabaré Carballo, Ignacio Carreño, Alicia F. Cavada, José Luis Chinchilla, Basilio Escudero, Solier Fagundez, Eduardo García, Miguel García, Francisco Gómez, Gabriel Laguna, José Sacristán, Eugenio Serrano, Camilo Vila, Juan Manuel Torres Gomez

Rex O'Herlihan, a "singing cowboy," is the only character aware of the plot outline. He explains that he "knows the future" inasmuch as "these Western towns are all the same" and that it's his "karma" to "ride into a town, help the good guys, who are usually poor for some reason, against the bad guys, who are usually rich for some reason, and ride out again." Rex's knowledge is also connected to the unspecified "root" vegetables he digs up and eats.
 
On his high-stepping horse Wildfire, Rex rides into the town of Oakwood Estates, walks into a saloon and meets Peter, the Town Drunk. In exchange for a free drink, Peter explicates the background: the town, and especially the sheep herders, are being terrorized by the cattle ranchers, headed by Colonel Ticonderoga. Also there is Miss Tracy, the traditional Prostitute with a Heart of Gold. A local sheriff is "a corrupt old coward who takes his orders from the Colonel."
 
Blackie, the foreman at Rancho Ticonderoga, swaggers into the bar with two of his henchmen and shoots one of the sheep herders. Miss Tracy objects, hot words are exchanged, and Blackie is accidentally shot in the back by his henchmen. Rex then shoots the guns out of their hands.
 
Peter exchanges his drunk suit for a sidekick outfit, catches up with Rex, and is reluctantly accepted. At the singing cowboy's campsite, Peter finds not one but two women there eager to get to know Rex a little better, Miss Tracy and the Colonel's daughter.
 
The Colonel goes to the boss of the railroad men who wear dusters and have theme music like characters in spaghetti westerns for help. "We should stick together. Look what we have in common: we're both rich, we're both power-mad, and we're both Colonels— that's got to count for something!"
 
Rex outwits the Bad Guys because he knows their every move before they do. But then the Colonels import "Wrangler" Bob Barber, apparently another Good Guy. Bob psychs out Rex in their first meeting by attacking Rex's claim to be the "most good Good Guy" and pointing out that a Good Guy has to be "a confident heterosexual." "I thought it was just a heterosexual", Rex objects. "No, it's a confident heterosexual," responds Bob.
 
Rex backs down from the shootout. On his way out of town, while preparing to change roles to that of a sidekick, Rex explains to Peter that he rides into town, kisses the girls and rides out again. "That's all: I just kiss 'em. I mean, this is the 1880s. You gotta date and date and date and date and sometimes marry 'em before they, you know ..."
 
Bob reports that Rex is finished as a Good Guy. Nevertheless, the Colonels, over Bob's objection, arrange for Peter to be bushwhacked. This rouses Rex to round up the sheep herders and face down Bob and the rancher/railroad combine. Bob is revealed as not a Good Guy at all because, after all, "I'm a lawyer!" Rex shoots him.
 
Colonel Ticonderoga makes peace. He apologizes to Rex and throws a party at Rancho Ticonderoga, after which Rex and Peter ride off together into the sunset.
 
YouTube trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2owzVm4ifM

Happy 80th Birthday Joan Collins

Joan Henrietta Collins was born on May 23, 1933 in Paddington, London, England. Joan is a British actress, author and columnist. Although born in Paddington she was brought up in Maida Vale, during the Second World War. After making her stage debut in A Doll's House at the age of 9, she was trained as an actress at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London. After eighteen months at the drama school, she was signed to an exclusive contract by the Rank Organization and appeared in various British films.

 
At the age of 22, Collins headed to Hollywood and landed sultry roles in several popular films, including, “The Girl in the Red Velvet Swing” (1955) and “Rally 'Round the Flag, Boys!” (1958). While she continued to make films in the US and the UK throughout the 1960s, her career languished in the 1970s, where she appeared in a number of horror flicks. Near the end of the decade, she starred in two films based on best-selling novels by her younger sister Jackie Collins: “The Stud” (1978) and its sequel “The Bitch” (1979). Returning to her theatrical roots, she played the title role in the 1980 British revival of The Last of Mrs. Cheyney and later had a lead role in the 1990 revival of Noël Coward's Private Lives. In 1981, Collins landed Alexis Carrington Colby, the role for which she is perhaps best known, in the long-running 1980s television soap opera ‘Dynasty’.
 
By the time the soap opera had been cancelled, Collins followed in her sister's footsteps and published her first novel Prime Time (1988) which became a bestseller despite critical pans. Despite a protracted legal battle with Random House in 1996, she has since published many books: fictional, non-fictional and autobiographical. Flamboyant in her personal life and in roles she pursues, Collins continues to act in theatre, film and television in a career that has spanned more than 60 years.
 
Joan appeared in one Euro-western “The Great Adventure” with Jack Palance in the role of Miss Sonia Kendall.
 
Today we celebrate Joan Collins 80^th birthday.

Happy 85th Birthday Nigel Davenport

Arthur Nigel Davenport was born on May 23, 1928 in Shelford, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England, U.K , but has always gone by the name of Nigel. Davenport's father was a bursar at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge. He grew up in an academic family and was educated at St Peter's School, Seaford, Cheltenham College and Trinity College, Oxford. Originally he chose to study Philosophy, Politics and Economics but switched to English on the advice of his tutors.

 
Davenport first appeared on stage at the Savoy Theatre and then with the Shakespeare Memorial Company, before joining the English Stage Company at the Royal Court Theatre in the 1960s. He began appearing in British film and television productions in supporting roles, including a walk-on in Tony Richardson's film, “Look Back in Anger” (1959). Subsequent roles included a theatre manager opposite Laurence Olivier in the film version of “The Entertainer” and a policeman in Michael Powell's “Peeping Tom” (both 1960).

He made an impression as Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk in “A Man for All Seasons” (1966) and had a major role of Lord Bothwell in “Mary, Queen of Scots”. In 1972, he appeared as George Adamson, opposite Susan Hampshire in “Living Free”, the sequel to “Born Free”. Davenport took the leading role in the off-beat Phase IV, which failed to find an audience. Since then he has continued to work in supporting roles in film and television as a succession of lords, police inspectors, and military officers with a twinkle in his eye, most characteristically as General Lord Ismay opposite Nicol Williamson's Lord Mountbatten of Burma in “The Last Viceroy”, a classic TV drama series that aired in 1986. In the 1974 BBC production of Shaw's "Apple Cart", he excelled as King Magnus, with Prunella Scales and a young Helen Mirren in supporting roles. Nigel appeared in two Euro-westerns: “Charley One-Eye” (1972) as the bounty hunter and “Return of El Coyote” (1997) as Don César Félix de Echagüe.
 
In February 1997, Davenport was the subject of ‘This Is Your Life’ when he was surprised by Michael Aspel at David Nicholson's stables near Cheltenham.
 
Davenport retired from acting at the turn of the 21st century when he could no longer memorize lines from scripts.
 
Today we celebrate Nigel Davenport’s 85^th birthday.

Remembering Klaus Dahlen

Klaus Dahlen was born on May 23, 1938 in Berlin, Germany. Before entering show business Klaus was a skilled carpenter and commercial artist. He began appearing in small parts at the Deutsche Opera and at the Schiller Theatre in Berlin. Henceforth Dahlen began a busy stage acting career

 
His film debut was in 1957 in the film “Endstation Liebe” with Horst Buchholz. Dahlen was known to a wide audience as a curly-headed, good-natured but somewhat clumsy nerd in numerous supporting roles in film and television dramas from the 1960s. He gained particular popularity through the ARD TV series ‘Klimbim’ (1973-1979). In the last episodes of the popular series he replaced Diether Krebs in the role of the son in law of Alfred Ekel. Next, he starred in the series ‘Zwei himmlische Töchter’, ‘Es muss nicht immer Kaviar sein’, ‘Der Kommissar’, ‘Die Männer vom K3, Küstenwache’, ‘Alphateam’. Overall, he appeared in 35 feature films among which was one Euro-western “Duel at Sundown” (1965) in the role of Baby Face.
 
He made his final appearance on May 7, 2006 in the comedy Duisburg. He died after a serious physical collapse. Dahlen was married twice and left two sons.

New DVD Release

...e continuavano a fregarsi il milione di dollari

(Bad Man’s River)
(1971)
 
Director: Eugenio Martin
Starring: Lee Van Cleef, Gina Lollobrigida, James Mason, Gianni Garko
 
Label: Cult Media 
Region 2, PAL
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1, 16:9
Audio: Italian Dolby Digital, 2.0 mono, Spanish
Subtitles: Italian
Runtime: 90 minutes
ASIN: B00BX8PP4E
Available: May 22, 2013

Who Are Those Gals? - Clodi Bertola

 

Clodi Bertola was born in Bucharest, Romania on August, 12, 1913. She wanted to become a dancer but ended up a legendary stage actress. She received a religious education at a Catholic boarding school in Paris, where she was sent after the suicide of her father. Clodi graduated from the Conservatory of Dramatic Arts and soon found fame as a stage actress with the Bulandra Theatre and Comedy Theatre, National Theatre and Little Theatre. She was married to directors Liviu Ciulei and Lucian Pintilie. Her career as an actress was told in the biography "La vie en rose" by Ludmila Patlanjoglu.

 
During her long career as a stage actress she did appear in a half dozen films, among which was one European western: “The Prophet, the Gold and the Transylvanians” (1977) as Mrs. Vickenton.
 
She was awarded the Order of Cultural Merit grade II (1967) "for outstanding achievements in the dramatic arts".
 
Clody Bertola died in Bucharest, Romania on December 28, 2007 at the age of 94 years.
 

BERTOLA, Clodi (aka Clody Bertola) [8/12/1913, Bucharest, Romania - 12/28/2007, Bucharest, Romania] – stage actress, married to painter Stefan Constantinescu (1940-194?), director Liviu Ciulei [1923-2011] (1945-    ), Lucian Pintilie [1933-    ] (1963-2007).
The Prophet, the Gold and the Transylvanians – 1977 (Mrs. Vickenton)

Remembering Nino Terzo

Antonino ‘Nino’ Terzo was born in Palermo, Sicily, Italy on May 22, 1923. Prior to becoming a character actor in Italian films he worked in theater revues with such actors as Totò, Peppino De Filippo, Domenico Modugno, Franchi and Ingrassia, Lino Banfi. He was also a singer, appearing in several operettas.

 
He appeared in his first film in 1962, reinventing the character that made ​​him famous in vaudeville, which he developed as a troubled soul with a huge speech impediment, which did not allow him to speak until he inhaled and exhaled loudly.
 
He appeared as a supporting actor in comedy roles but his character was a bit disruptive and monotonous, he starred in such notable films as “The Clowns” (1970) directed by Federico Fellini, “Café Express” (1980) by Nanni Loy and “Cinema Paradiso” (1988) by Giuseppe Tornatore, in what would be his last film appearance, demonstrating his propensity for drama. Terzo appeared in two Euro-western comedies with Franco & Ciccio: “The Two Sergeants of General Custer” (1965) and “The Two Sons of Ringo” (1966).
 
In the first half of the 1980 had also had the opportunity to participate in two erotic films,
“La dottoressa di campagna” and “Chiamate 6969: taxi per signora” (both 1981), in which he did not participate in the sex scenes.
 
In 1992 he gave up show business because of serious health problems. Ill for some time he died on May 8, 2005 in Marano di Napoli, Campania, Italy, after suffering a series of four heart attacks .
 
Today we remember Nino Terzo on what would have been his 90^th birthday.

Spaghetti Westerns Unchained

Django, Keoma, Django Kill… If You Live Shoot!, Texas Adios

Directors: Sergio Corbucci, Giulio Questi, Enzo G. Castellari, Ferdinando Baldi
Actors: Franco Nero, Tomas Milian
 
Label: Blue Underground
Format: Color, Widescreen, NTSC, Mono, Subtitled
Language: English, Italian
Subtitles: English
Region: All Regions
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Number of discs: 4
Running time: 400 minutes
ASIN: B00BI3XYWE
Release Date: May 21, 2013
Run Time: 400 minutes

La ruse du cow-boy

La ruse du Cow-boy – French title
 
A 1910 French production [Pathe (Paris)]
Producer: ?
Director: ?
Story: ?
Screenplay: ?
Cinematography: ? [black & white]
Running time: ?
 
Cast: ?
 
Story: Unknown

Remembering Enzo Pulcrano

Vincenzo Pulcrano was born on May 21, 1943 in Acerra, Campania, Italy. As Enzo Pulcrano and Paul Crain he appeared mainly in 1970 films. Among his best remembered films were “Squadra antifurto” (1976) by ​​Bruno Corbucci in which he played the part of Salvatore Trapani. In 1978 he worked with Bruno Corbucci in the making of the film “Squadra antimafia” where he played the part of Masino. He appeared in minor roles in several films such as “I padroni della città” (1976) by Fernando Di Leo. His only starring role was in “La banda Vallanzasca, poliziottesco” directed by Mario Bianchi in 1977. In addition to being an actor Enzo also worked as a screenwriter in the drama of Marcello Zeani  “A pugni nudi” (1974).

 
As Paul Crain he appeared in 8 Euro-westerns from “Brother Outlaw” in 1971 to “Everything for a Friend” in 1973. Pulcrano died in Rome on February 28, 1992.
 
Today we remember Vincenzo Pulcrano on what would have been his 70^th birthday.

Happy 75th Birthday Mihail Baloh

Mihail Baloh was born on May 21, 1928 in Jesenice, Slovenia. He started participating in local theatre productions after the World War II and eventually enrolled in the AGRFT in Ljubljana, where he graduated in 1952. In 1953 he began collaboration with the Permanent Slovene Theatre in Trieste. There he worked with the director Jože Babič who also offered him his first major film role “Svet na Kajžarju” (1952). From 1967 he worked in international productions on projects such as the Austrian TV comedy series “Leni”, and in the German Winnetou films of which he appeared in three: “Frontier Hellcat” (1964), “The Desperado Trail” (1964) and “The Half-Breed” (1966) as well as a later Euro-western “Hellhounds of Alaska” (1972) with Doug McClure. He continues today to work in the theatre.

 
Today we celebrate Mihail Baloh’s 75^th birthday

RIP Carlo Monni

Actor-poet Carlo Monni has died

 
Actor and poet Carlo Monni died in a Florence hospital on Sunday May 19, 2013, after a long illness. Born in Campi Bisenzio, Florence on October 23, 1943, Monni started his artistic activity in the early 1970s, as an actor in the Tuscan vernacular comic theater. After having played some minor roles in a number of low budget films, his popularity peaked in the second half of 1970s, as the sidekick of his real life friend Roberto Benigni in a series of successful stage works, TV-programs, and then such films as “Berlinguer”, I Love You” (1977), “Seeking Asylum” (1979), “Tu mi turbi” (1983), “Nothing Left to Do But Cry” (1984). From then on Monni started a productive career as a character actor, accumulating over 300 appearances between cinema and theater.
 
Monti appeared as the dentist in “For a Book of Dollars” (1973) starring Lincoln Tate.