RIP Antonio Guidi

From Italy comes the news of the death of stage, TV and voice actor Antonio Guidi, born in Ferrara October 28, 1927 who passed away on Thursday, October 17 in Milan, Loimbardy, Italy. He was 86.

 
Guidi, who had won the award Noce d’oro  for Best Young Actor , he graduated  with a degree in architecture in 1951, then for two years he attended the acting school of the Piccolo Teatro in Milan, directed by Giorgio Strehler, and after four seasons in the glorious theater scene in central St. Erasmus in Milan he dedicated his career to dubbing.
 
Guidi was known as the Italian voice of such actors as Peter Ustinov, Peter Falk, Redd Fox among

others.

 
Antonio was active during the Golden Age of the Spaghetti Western and I’ve listed his known credits

below:

Savage Gringo – 1966 [Italian voice of Peter Carter]
A Hole in the Forehead – 1968 [Italian voice of Giorgio Gargiullo]
Sartana – 1968 [Italian voice of Gianni Rizzo]
Hate is My God – 1969 [Italian voice of sheriff]
Shoot the Living, Pray for the Dead – 1970 [Italian voice of Dan May]
Chato’s Land – 1971 [Italian voice of Richard Basehart]
My Name is Nobody - 1972 [Italian voice of Piero Lulli]

Halloween 2013

SONNY & JED

J. and S. – storia criminale del far west – Italian title

La banda J. & S. – cronaca criminale del far-west – Italian title
Los hijos del dia y de la noche – Spanish title
Die rote Sonne der Rache – German title
Lännen karhukopla – Finnish title
Far West Story – French title
Listeia ala Amerikanika – Greek title
Grym Revansch – Swedish title
Far West Story – U.K. title
Bandera Bandits – English title
The Gang of the Far West – English title
The J & S Band – English title
J & S: The Criminal Story of an Outlaw Couple – English title
Bandits! – U.S.A. title
Sonny & Jed – U.S.A. title
 
A 1972 Italian, Spanish, West German co-production [Producciones Cinematográficas Orfeo (Rome), Roberto Loyola Cinematografica Sp A (Madrid), Terra-Filmkunst (Munich)]
Producer: Roberto Loyola
Director: Sergio Corbucci
Story: Sergio Corbucci
Screenplay: Sergio Corbucci, Sabatino Ciuffini, Mario Amendola, Adriano Bolzoni, José María Forqué
Cinematography: Luis Cuadrado (Luis Encinar) [Technicolor]
Music: Ennio Morricone
Songs: “Sonny”, “Sweet Susan” sung by I Cantori Moderni
Running time: 97 minutes
 
Cast:
Jed Trigado – Tomas Milian (Tomás Rodríguez)
Sonny – Susan George
Sheriff Franciscus – Telly Savalas (Aristotelis Savalas)
Linda Moreno – Rossana Yanni (Marta Paxot)
Aparacito – Franco Giacobini (Francesco Giacobini)
Doña Aparacito – Laura Betti (Laura Trombetta)
Doñ Garcia Moreno – Eduardo Fajardo
Merril – Herbert Fux
Killer – Werner Pochath
Bounty hunter – Dan van Husen (Daniel van Husen)
Hotel clerk – Gene Collings (Gene Collins)
Felipe – Victor Israel (Josep Vilanova)
Somillo – Simón Arriaga
Don Garcia henchmen – Jose Canalejas, Raphael Albaicin
Lawman in bowler – Álvaro de Luna (Álvaro Blanco)
Roulette croupier – Lorenzo Robeldo
Sbirro - Rafael Albaicín (Ignacio Escudero)
Sheriff – Alvaro de Luna
With: Francesco Arcuri, Luis Aller, Pilar Climent, Mario Talleri, Ruggero Fedozzi, Luis Cuadraro, Miguel Amario (Miguel Bosch), Fabián Conde, Jaime Doria, Gonzalo Esquiroz, Ruggero Fedozzi, Léopoldo Francés, Carmen Guardón, Ricardo G. Lilló, David Nero, José Riesgo, Beatriz Savón, Bernie Thomas, Lucy Tiller (Lluch Tiller), Juan Cazalilla

 

Jed Trigado is an extravagant lone outlaw, who only steals from the rich and hidesout in Bandera, Mexico, with the peaceful Somillo Indian tribe. His biggest enemy is Sheriff Franciscus, who is determined to avenge the defeat suffered at the hands of Jed who managed to escape from his prison after killing many men. Sonny is a great admirer of Jed and wants to work with him. The insistence of the girl, and the pressure of Franciscus, forces the reluctant Jed to accept her and after a few robberies taken together and they get married and then rob the minister. Franciscus, still in pursuit the outlaw couple demand from the sheriff a promise, in addition to a sizeable reward, amnesty for all their crimes. But this strategy is unsuccessful and they escape during a fire set in a barn which results in the blindness of Sheriff Franciscus. Now emboldened, Sonny and Jed present themselves at the banquet of Garcia Moreno and his wife, Linda, during which Jed kidnaps the lady and takes her to Bandera. Sonny becomes jealous of Linda and allows Sheriff Franciscus to enter Jed’s hideout. Jed is wounded by him and Sonny, nurses him back on his feet, and forces her husband to follow her in a state of subservience, treating him like a slave which is how Jed treated Sonny at the beginning of their relationship.

 

YouTube Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWu5UDH-_lU  



Remembering William Campbell

William J. Campbell was born on October 30, 1923, Newark, New Jersey. Campbell received his acting training at the American Theater Wing. In 1952 he married Judith Immoor, as Ms. Exner was then known, who was 18 at the time; they divorced in 1958. She took up with Frank Sinatra, through whom she met President Kennedy and the Chicago mob boss Sam Giancana, who also became her lover. Campbell's film career began in 1950, with a small part in the John Garfield film, “The Breaking Point”. After several years of similar supporting performances in a number of films, including as a co-pilot in William Wellman's “The High and the Mighty” (1954), he won his first starring role in “Cell 2455 Death Row” (1955), based on the memoir by the convict Caryl Chessman. His film credits include  “Man Without a Star,” (1955) directed by King Vidor, “Love Me Tender,” (1956), Elvis Presley’s first picture, “Dementia 13” (1963), directed by Francis Ford Coppola; and “Hush ... Hush, Sweet Charlotte” (1964) directed by Robert Aldrich and starring Bette Davis and Olivia de Havilland.

 
In 1959 Campbell made his only appearance in a Euro-western as Keno in “The Sheriff of Fractured Jaw”, with Kenneth More and Jayne Mansfield.
 
Campbell was a constant presence on 1950s and 1960s TV obtaining cult status for his guest starring roles on Star Trek, appearing first as the mischievous super-being Trelane, in an episode of the original series called "The Squire of Gothos" (1967). Campbell also appeared twice as the Klingon Captain Koloth. He reprised the role on the series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode entitled "Blood Oath", some thirty years later. Campbell appeared at several Trek conventions in the 1980s and 1990s and many Star Trek fans consider Campbell's portrayal of the Trelane character as the first introduction of the "Q culture" to the series.
 
In later years, Mr. Campbell worked as the chief fund-raiser for the Motion Picture & Television Fund. Campbell died at the Motion Picture Home in Woodland Hills, California on April 28, 2011.
 
Today we remember William Campbell on what would have been his 90^th birthday.

Remembering Xan das Bolas

Xan das Bolas was born Tomás Ares Pena on October 30, 1908 in A Caruña, Galicia, Spain. He started his acting career in the theater in the early 1930's as a comedian and actor in variety shows. After the Spanish Civil War, he began his film career with “Salome” (1940).

 
He chose the stage name of Xan das Bolas which is an expression in the Galician language, which means 'John, the one of the tales'.
 
In the following years he became a supporting actor with an extensive career in Spanish cinema. His filmography exceeds two hundred titles and he worked under some of the most distinguished local filmmakers such as Florian Rey, Luis Lucia, José Luis Sáenz de Heredia, Juan de Orduna, Luis García Berlanga and Juan Antonio Bardem.
 
On television he worked on the series ‘Crónicas de un pueblo’ (1971) and co-starring with Fernando Fernan Gomez in ‘El Pícaro’ (1974).
 
Xan appeared in over 25 Euro-westerns from “The Coyote” in 1955 to “Spaghetti Western” in 1975, usually playing small roles as hotel clerks, shop owners, barman and townsman and farmers.
 
Xan das Bolas died in Madrid, Spain on October 13, 1977.
 
Today we remember Xan das Bolas on what would have been his 105^th birthday.

Rememberng Werner Röwekamp

Werner Röwekamp was born on October 30, 1928 in Rostock, Mecklenburg Vorpommern, Germany. He was an actor, writer and director known by a large German audience for his appearances in DEFA films and German television.

 
After World War II he took lessons at a drama school and at the Conservatory of Rostock and there he made his debut at the then Kabarett Distel in Neustrelitz and Potsdam, eventually becoming a permanent director at DFF. Röwekamp also worked as an actor in film and television and directed numerous DFF television episodes of series ‘Police 110’ and ‘Der Staatsanwalt hat das Wort’. He made his only Euro-western appearance in the 1969 DEFA film “Fatal Error” in the part of Elmer Guiness. He was married to actress Traute Sense until his death on April 3, 1982 in Kleinmachnow, Potsdam Mittelmark, Brandenburg, Germany.
 
Today we remember Werner Röwekamp on what would have been his 85^th birthday.

RIP Nigel Davenport

British stage, film and television actor Nigel Davenport died in England on October 25^th. He was 85. He was born Arthur Nigel Davenport on May 23, 1928 in Shelford, Cambridgeshire, England, U.K. 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 and was a founding member of the English Stage Company. 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). Davenport retired from acting at the turn of the 21st century when he could no longer memorize lines from scripts. Nigel appeared in two Euro-westerns “Charley One-Eye” in 1972 as the bounty hunter and later in 1997 in “The Return of El Coyote” as Félix de Echagüe. Married twice he leaves three children Hugo a journalist, actress Laura Davenport with his first wife, Helena, and the actor Jack Davenport with his second, Maria Aitken.

New DVD Release

Hanging for Dango

(Una lunga fila di croci
(1969)
 
Director: Sergio Garrone
Starring: Anthony Steffen, William Berger, Mario Brega
 
Label: Raro Video
Country: U.S.A.
BluRay version also available
Region: 1, NTSC – BluRay Region A/1
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1 - 16:9, Anamorphic, widescreen
Audio: English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono, Italian – BluRay Italian only
Subtitles: English both
Running time: 95 minutes - BluRay 93 minutes
Extras: Featurette - "Bounty Killer for a Massacre", trailer, booklet
ASIN: B00CL1SQMA
ASIN: BluRay version B00CL1SPYE
Available: October 29, 2013

Song of the Prairie

Arie Prerie – Czechoslovakian title

Preerian laulu – Finnish title
Das Lied der Prarie – German title
Prairie Aria – English title
Song of the Prairie – English title
 
A 1949 Czechoslovakian title [Ceskoslovenský Státní Film, Loutkovy Film Praha, Barevny
Loutkovy Film (Prague)]
Producer: Vedoucí Výroby
Director: Jirí Trnka
Story: Jiří Brdečka
Screenplay: Jirí Trnka
Animation: Břetislav Pojar, Bohuslav Šrámek, Zdeněk Hrabě, Stanislav Látal, Jan Karpaš
Music: Jan Rychlik
Songs: Slávka Procházková, Oldřich Dědek
Running time: 23 minutes
 
Cast: Puppets

A comic story of a pretty maiden travelling to the Wild West by stagecoach. She is saved from the claws of an evil-eyed bandit at the very last moment by a fair-haired singing cowboy.
 
[1955 BAFTA winner for best animated film]
 
YouTube entire film link:  http://www.viddler.com/v/dc24d435

Happy 70th Birthday Charo Lopez

María del Rosario López Piñuelas was born on October 28, 1943 in Salamanca, Castilla y León, Spain. After having studied philosophy and psychology Maria went to the "Escuela Oficial de Cinematografia de Madrid" and studied interpretation. Known professionally as Charo López, the first part of her filmography was mainly made by young directors until she was discovered by Gonzalo Suárez  for "Diatrambo” (1967) with whom she worked again once in a while after that. In Spain she became famous for the television series "Gozos y las Sombras, Los" (1981) as "Morena Alba".

López has appeared in over 95 film and television appearances since her first TV appearance in “Los encuentros” (1967) until her most recent appearance in “Contra el cristal” (2012) among her films were three Euro-westerns: “Dead Men Ride” (1970) as Jessica, “The Bandit Malpelo” (1971) as Lupe and “Eh? Who’s Afraid of Zorro” (1975) as Rosita Florenda.
 
Today we celebrate Charo López’s 70^th birthday.

Happy 75th Birthday Valeria Fabrizi

Valeria Fabrizi was born on October 28, 1938 in Verona, Veneto, Italy. Valeria became a film actress through her participation in several beauty pageants among which was the Miss Universe contest in 1957 (where he finished fourth). Her film debut came in 1954 with a small role in the comedy movie “Ridere! Ridere! Ridere!”. Since the mid-1950s to the mid-1970s she starred in over forty films. Valeria appeared in two Euro-western films: “Ringo and His Golden Pistol” (1966) as Margie and “The 4 Gunmen of the Holy Trinity” (1970) as Adeline Martinez.

 
She began working in television in 1964, beside her husband actor Tata Giacobetti [1922-1988] whom she had married in 1964 and who was a member of the singing group ‘Quartetto Cetra’. She appeared in such TV films as “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” and “The Story of Scarlett O'Hara” as part of the Library of Studio One, and later in the musical comedy ‘Don’t Sing Shoot’ TV western ( 1968). The following year she showed up on, ‘A che gioco giochiamo?’ a popular quiz show of the era. This was followed, in the 1970s, with appearances in several police series, including ‘Un certo Harry Brent’ ( 1970) and ‘Qui squadra mobile’ (1973). In 1981 she appeared in the cast of the drama for television ‘Dopo vent'anni’, directed by Mario Foglietti.
 
In the 1990a, she participated in several television dramas, including ‘Linda e il brigadiere 2’ and ‘Sei forte maestro’. In 2004, she starred onstage in the comedy Pygmalion (My Fair Lady) , while on the television she stepped into ‘Tournée’ a program that was the brainchild of Marianella Bargilli with the intention to bring drama to television. At the end of 2007 Fabrizi appeared in the TV series ‘Un posto al sole’, on Rai 3 and in 2009 and starred in the drama ‘Tutti per Bruno’.
 
In 2011 she was back on TV in the fiction of ‘Raiuno Che Dio ci aiuti’ Rai 1 starring alongside Elena Sofia Ricci. The following year Pupi Avati chose her for his new work entitled ‘Un Matrimonio’ for television, along with Micaela Ramazzotti, Andrea Roncato and Christian De Sica.
 
Today we celebrate Valeria Fabrizi’s 75^th birthday.

Remembering Marcel Bozzuffi

Marcel Louis Edouard Bozzuffi was born on October 28, 1928 in Renes, Rennes Île- et Vilaine, Bretagne, France. A stage, screen and TV actor Bozzuffi appeared in over 90 films and TV appearances. Often he was confined to roles of "evil" which he gave a dark and ominous tone. Bozzuffi also wrote and directed a film ( The American in 1969 ), three films and a collection of short stories ( Forfana - Stories , published posthumously in 1990). Bozzuffi appeared in only one Euro-western as Maral in 1973’s “Chino” with Charles Bronson.

 
He also can be heard as a voice dubber for such actors as Paul Newman and Charles Bronson. He was also the voice of Lucky Luke in “Daisy Town” (1971).
 
In 1963, he married actress Françoise Fabian, with whom he remained until his death on February 2, 1988 in Paris, following a brain hemorrhage.
 
Today we remember Marcel Bozzuffi on what would have been his 85^th birthday.

Remembering Tina De Mola

Ernesta ‘Tina’ De Mola was born on October 28, 1923 in Milan, Lombardy, Italy. Driven by her family she attended school and began to cultivate a passion for singing. In 1941 she won a competition for new voices that lead to performing in vaudeville in which she increasingly appeared in musical roles and is exposed to the public as a singer.

 
Tina then was given her own TV show by RAI in 1956. She then joined a theater company where she met Renato Rascel who later became her husband. As a couples she performs with him in the film “Pazzo d'amore” (1942) and then follows in numerous films such as “Quanto è possibile”, “Il ragno d'oro” and “Allegretto”. In 1945 he also participates in “Settenote” along with the Nava Sisters.
 
In the theatrical season 1946/47 she returns to work with her husband in “Cominciò con Caino e Abele” by Michael Galdieri and then “Il cielo è tornato sereno” from which she sings the song ‘Poison’.
 
In 1948 he joined the cast of the show “Oklabama” by Mario Amendola with Erminio Macario and then joined the company of Ugo Tognazzi making his debut with the show “Quel treno si chiama desiderio” by Giovanni D'Anzi . Working in Germany in a German version of “Buondì zia Margherita” before heading out on a tour in Mexico with the play “Carnival of Venice”. She then quits the company starting a tour of South America with a show of songs that will take her to Cuba, Venezuela and Colombia .
 
In 1954 he returned to Italy where she reunites with the now ex-husband Renato Rascel to appear in the films “Attanasio cavallo vanesio” and “Alvaro piuttosto corsaro”. In 1959 she appeared in her only Euro-western “The Sheriff” as Dolly.
 
She then moved onto television and appears in show which are reminiscent from her theater revues.
 
De Mola died on April 18, 2012 in Rome.
 
Today we remember Tina De Mola on what would have been her 90^th birthday.

RIP Eduard Murashov

Eduard Murashov of the Russian Drama Theatre of Lithuania has died

 
Russian Drama Theatre of Lithuania announced the passing of Edward Murashova - actor, director, artist on October 25th in Vilnius, Lithuania.

Edward V. was born August 15, 1938 in Lithuania. In 1968 he graduated from the Higher Theatre School of Boris Shchukin. He played in the Kalinin Youth Theatre and Tula Drama Theatre. He also appeared in several films including one TV Euro-western: 'Zveroboy' in 1990 as Tom Hutter. A Russian telling of "The Last of the Mohicans".

 

THE SON OF ZORRO

Il figlio di Zorro – Italian title

El hijo del Zorro – Spanish title
Le fils de Zorro – French title
Der wilde Ritt der Geister Reiter – German title
Zorro’s Son – Swedish title
The Man With the Golden Winchester – English title
The Son of Zorro – English title
 
A 1973 Italian, Spanish co-production [International Art Films (Rome), Film Triunfo (Madrid)]
Producers: Giovanni Vari, Miguel Ángel Gil
Director: Frank G. Carroll (Gianfranco Baldanello)
Story: Guido Zurli, Arpad De Riso, Joaquín Luis Romero Marchent (Joaquín Canales)
Screenplay: Guido Zurli, Arpad De Riso, Frank G. Carroll (Gianfranco Baldanello)
Cinematography: Franco Delli Colli [Technicolor, Techniscope]
Music: Carmelo Gigante
Running time: 88 minutes
 
Cast:
Don Ricardo Villaverde/Zorro – Robert Widmark (Alberto Dell’Acqua)
Colonel Michel Leblanche – Fernando Sancho (Fernando Les)
Doña Conchita Herrera – Elisa Ramírez (Elisa Sanz)
John Warren/Mathias Boyd – William Berger (Wilhelm Berger)
Pedro Garincha/Garcia – George Wang (Wang Yie)
Mathilda Leblanche – Dada Gallotti (Alba Gallotti)
Sergeant Marat – Marco Zuanelli
Captain Francois Bardeau – Franco Fantasia (Francisco Fantasia)
Carmen – Marina Malfatti (Marissa Malfatti)
Don José Herrera Coser – Andrea Fantasia
Pedro – Charly Bravo (Ramon Bravo)
Soldier – Osiride Pevarello
With: Giorgio Dolfin, Marcello Monti, Mario Dardanelli, Marcello Simoni (Marcello Simonelli), Lorenzo Piani, Pietro Riccione, Renzo Pevarello, Franco Ukmar

In Mexico, at the time of the Emperor Maximilian, lives a young nobleman Don Ricardo Villaverde, cynically in love. The twists and turns in the aristocrats behavior are provoked by sudden appearances of the son of Zorro, a masked supporter of the rebels and engaged in collecting aid for the revolution. A load of weapons is being shipped to the Alcalde of San Ramon, Don Herrera Coser, but a rebel, Garincha, is aware of the shipment and attacks the convoy and Don Coser is killed, while his daughter Donna Conchita manages to escape and hide with the help of the son of Zorro and he falls in love with her. Meanwhile, the weapons are taken into possession by the rebels and now armed the peons and a revolution begins, the Governor and his wife are forced to flee. Having accomplished his mission, the Son of Zorro gallops toward the house where Conchita is living, unhappily married to Don Ricardo Villaverde and discloses to her his true identity.
 
YouTube trailer link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsPQaafcrV0

Remmberng David Bailey

David Bailey was born on October 27, 1933 in Newark, New Jersey. Bailey enlisted in the Air Force at 16 and served for eight years in Japan as a drill sergeant. After separating from the military, he settled in Delaware for a brief time. There he met actor Robert Mitchum, who encouraged Mr. Bailey to go to New York and pursue an acting career. While auditioning for acting jobs, he paid the bills by working as an electrician and plumber. He had a lengthy career in theater and television as a playwright, director and actor, perhaps his best known role being Dr. Russ Matthews on the long-running daytime soap ‘Another World’ (1973–1978, 1979–1981, 1989, 1992).

 
Bailey appeared in over 30 films and TV appearances among which was one Euro-western “Up the MacGregors” (1967) replacing Robert Woods in the role of Gregor MacGregor to the sequel of “Guns for the MacGregors”. Later he became “The Mitchum Man,” the sexy spokesman for Mitchum deodorant, and sold Maxwell House coffee and Suave shampoo in TV commercials.
 
On November 25, 2004, Bailey drowned in the pool at his home in Los Angeles, California. He was 71 years old.
 
Today we remember David Bailey on what would have been his 80^th birthday.

Spaghetti Western Locations

Continuing our search for “Return of the Seven” film locations. The amateur bullfighter slays the bull and the town throws a huge party that evening.

The scene takes place in Colmenar de Oreja, Madrid. This central plaza is still used to occasional bullfights to this day.

 

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.com  and Yoshi Yasuda’s location site: http://y-yasuda.net/film-location.htm    
 
 
[Captain Douglas has dedicated and entire section of his website to “The Return of the Seven” with behind the scenes photos and stories, highly recommended.]

 

Remembering Bruno Carstens

Bruno Carstens was born on October 26, 1918 in Wilhelmshaven, Lower Saxony, Germany. – He grew up in Hamburg and actually wanted to become a sea captain, and spent four years at sea and was a sailor at the beginning of World War II. He was captured by the Russians and spent the war in Soviet captivity. He made his debut as an actor during the captivity on the stage of the prison camp near Karaganda (U.S.S.R.).

 
After his return from captivity Bruno studied for a year at the Deutsches Theater in Weimar Institute. After exposure in Weimar, Leipzig and Brandenburg / Havel, he finally moved in 1959 to Berlin and became a member of the the Berliner Ensemble.
 
During the 1950's along with his theater work he appeared in numerous film and television productions sometimes in the capacity of assistant director.. Carstens was often seen in DEFA film in supporting roles. He appeared in five Euro-western DEFA films from “Fatal Error” (1969) as McLaurin to “The Long Ride from School” in 1981.
 
He received bigger roles in East German television broadcasts such as Captain Wernicke in the ‘Blue Light series, 1959-68, and in 1962’s ‘Temple of Satan’. Later he appeared mainly in smaller roles such as various guest appearances on "Police 110".
 
Carstens was married to actress  Iseult Kilian [1924–1986] from 1965-1986.
 
Bruno Carstens died in Saalfield, Thuringia, Germany on October 30, 2001.
 
Today we remember Bruno Carstens on what would have been his 95^th birthday.

Remembering Stuart J. Byrne

Stuart James Byrne was born on October 26, 1913 in St. Paul, Minnesota. At the age of twelve, he moved with his family to California. In his teen years, he developed an interest in science fiction and became an avid amateur astronomer.

 
In the 1930s, he married Joey and fathered two children, Richard and Joanne. He earned an M.A. at UCLA and then published his first science fiction story, entitled "Music of the Spheres" in Amazing Stories in 1935. In the 1940s and 1950s, Byrne had stories published in Science Stories, Amazing Stories, Imagination Magazine, and Other Worlds Magazine. He published under his own name and the pseudonyms Rothayne Amare, John Bloodstone, Howard Dare, and Marx Kaye.
 
He was especially noted as the creator of Michael Flanagan, the hero of three stories that appeared in Amazing Stories: The Land Beyond the Lens, The Golden Gods, and The Return of Michael Flannigan, all credited to his alias John Bloodstone.
 
As a screenwriter, Byrne wrote for the ‘Men into Space’ TV show 1959-1960. He received credit for the story of the 1971 film called "The Deserter" as well as the original story and screenplay for the 1972 film "The Doomsday Machine". According to Bleiler and Bleiler, he was also a screenwriter for the 1975 film “Journey into Fear”.
 
Stuart J. Byrne died on September 23, 2011 in Ojai, California.
 
Today we remember Stuart J. Byrne on what would have been his 100^th birthday.

Remembering Richard Häußler

Richard Häußler was born on October 26, 1908 in Munich, Bavaria, Germany. After acting lessons in Munich, he made ​​his debut in 1926 in Nuremberg. He then acted not only at the Munich Kammerspielen, but also in Stettin, Hamburg and at the Deutsches Theater in Berlin. From 1935 to 1938 he was part of the ensemble at the Schauspielhaus in Munich.

 
In 1935, he made ​​his film debut, where he participated in minor and sometimes major roles in films of all genres. Haussler usually played cultured men, whether as lovers or superiors as foresters, doctors or lawyers or as a crime boss in the Edgar Wallace film “Zimmer 13”. He also directed several films. Häußler appeared in only one Euro-western “$5,000 on One Ace” (1964) as Attorney Dundee.
 
Häußler, who continued to act until the end of his life at various theater stages in Germany, was married to the actress Maria Andergast [1912-1995] from 1958 until his death on September 28, 1964

in Grünwald, Munich, Bavaria, Germany.

 
Today we remember Richard Häußler on what would have been his 105^th birthday.

Remembering Joë Hamman

Jean Paul Arthur Hamman was born on October 26, 19883 in Paris, France.He became the French equivalent of the American cowboy in a long ranging career from 1907 to 1967. He was also an affluent film director.

 
We generally associate the western with American cinema, but in the early years there were European westerns too. Joë Hamman was the epitome of the French western, often filmed in the Camargue, South of France. His father was a Dutch expert in painting, his mother a former lady’s companion of empress Eugénie. Hamman studied in Paris and London before going to Art School in Paris. He became a sketcher and a noted water colorist, but he chose a different career. When Jean was six, the circus of Buffalo Bill Cody came to Paris, but young Hamman was not allowed to go. He had to wait until he was 21 to meet Cody, when in 1904 his father took him on a business trip to America. Hamman and Cody met privately, became friends, and Hamman visited Cody’s North Plate house in Nebraska, meeting the extras of Cody’s wild west show, and drawing water colors for local rangers. At a ranch in Montana Jean Hamman learned to ride, and was employed as a cowboy, and learned to break and gather horses. He also visited the Pine Ridge reservation in Dakota, and met Spotted Tail, war lieutenant of Indian Chief Red Cloud, who presented him with a buckskin war costume. In the Fall of 1904 he returned to Paris to do his military service. When in 1905 Cody’s circus came to Europe, Hamman was invited to join and participated in the French tour of Buffalo Bill and was billed as Joë Hamman.
 
In 1907 Hamman started out as both actor and director of “Le desperado”, followed by performances in some 40 other short westerns until early 1914. He made mostly short westerns with Gaumont Productions, often directed by Jean Durand, who from 1910 on specialized in the genre at Gaumont, though some were also shot by Léonce Perret. Often Hamman’s antagonist in the Gaumont westerns was the actor Gaston Modot. Hamman also directed 10 early shorts himself, in different genres, such as “L’ile d’épouvante” (“The Island of Terror”) (1911) and the western “La ville souterraine” (“The Subterranean City”) (1913) for the Eclipse company.
 
During the First World War, his film acting and directing came to a halt.
 
When sound cinema came in, Hamman had a comeback and was a lead in several French early sound films. When France got involved in the Second World War Hamman himself faced destiny of nomore film roles during the war. After the war, Hamman played in an uncredited role as general Kellermann in Sacha Guitry’s “Napoléon” (1955). His last performance was an uncredited part in “Pop’s Game” (Francis Leroi 1967).
 
Joë Hamman died in Dieppe, Seine-Maritime, France on June 30, 1974.
 
Today we remember Joë Hamman on what would have been his 130^th birthday.

RIP Antonia Bird

Antonia Bird, who directed the 1999 cannibalism Euro-western horror pic “Ravenous,” died Thursday October 24, 2013 in London after an illness. She was 62.

 
The British helmer born in London on May 27, 1951 was known for directing films including “Priest,” “Mad Love,” and “Face.” Her close friend and frequent collaborator Robert Carlyle starred in several of her movies. Her films are renowned for their socially-conscious themes. Bird’s first feature, 1994′s “Priest,” was heavily criticized by the Catholic Church. She won a BAFTA for the “Safe” episode of the series “Screenplay” and another for “Care.”

She began her career at the Royal Court Theatre before venturing to the small screen in the mid-1980s with “EastEnders.” She later directed TV shows such as “Cracker,” “MI-5″ and “Casualty.”

Guess Who I Am

 

I’m a German actor born in Gummersbach, Germany

 
I have appeared in 22 Euro-westerns.
 
I’m still acting today and will appear in a several films scheduled for release in 2014 and 2015.
 
Guess who I am.

Bill Connolly correctly named Dan van Husen as this week's photo.

RIP Hal Needham

Hal Needham, a stuntman who dazzled Hollywood for years before directing such Burt Reynolds films as Smokey and the Bandit and Cannonball Run, died in Los Angeles, California today October 25, 2013. He was 82.

 

As a stunt performer and coordinator, Needham has worked on more than 30 films, including The Spirit of St. Louis (1957), How the West Was Won (1962), Little Big Man (1970), Blazing Saddles (1974) and Chinatown (1974). The co-founder of Stunts Unlimited and a mentor to young stunt performers, he earned the Academy’s Scientific and Engineering Award in 1986 for the design and development of the Shotmaker Elite camera car and crane, which allows filmmakers greater versatility in shooting action sequences.

 

Born Harold Brett Needham on March 6, 1931 in Memphis, Tennessee, Needham said that during the course of roughly 300 movies and 4,500 television episodes, he broke 56 bones, including his back twice, punctured a lung, dislocated a shoulder and knocked out a bunch of teeth.

Hal appeared in two Euro-westerns: “100 Hundred Rifles” (1969) as a stuntman and “Take a Hard Ride” (1975) as Garmes and performed stunts and was a second unit director.

New DVD Releases

Von Mann zu Mann

(Death Rides a Horse)
(1968)
 
Starring: Lee Van Cleef, John Philip Law
Director: Giulio Petroni
 
Label: Explosive Media
3 Discs
Region: 2, Pal
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1 – 16:9
Audio: German, Italian, English Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles: German, English
Running time: 116 minutes
Extras: Bonus disc, booklet
ASIN: B00ELTO99O
Available October 25, 2013

Sabata

(1969)
 
Starring: Lee Van Cleef, William Berger
Director: Frank Kramer
 
Label: Explosive Media    (Mediabook, BR + DVD + Bonus Disc)
3 Discs
Region: 2, Pal
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1 – 16:9
Audio: German, English Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles: German, English
Running time: 106 minutes
Extras: Bonus Disc, booklet
ASIN: B00ELTOAIY
Available: October 25, 2013

THE SON OF JESSE JAMES

El hijo de Jesse James – Spanish title

Der zoon van Jesse James – Dutch title
Aleen tegen allen – Dutch title
Seul contre toue – French title
Der sohn von Jesse James – German title
Solo contro tutti – Italian title
Jesse James’ Kid – English title
One Against All – English title
Man Alone – English title
The Son of Jesse James – English title
 
A 1964 Spanish, Italian co-production [Apolo Film (Madrid), PEA (Rome)]
Producer: Alberto Grimaldi
Director: Antonio Del Amo (Antonio Algara)
Story: Pino Passalacqua, Antonio del Amo (Antonio Algara)
Screenplay: Pino Passalacqua, Antonio del Amo (Antonio Algara), Marcello Fondato
Cinematography: Alfredo Fraile (Alfredo Peña), Fausto Zuccoli [Eastmancolor, Totalscope]
Music: Angelo Francesco Lavagnino
Running time: 91 minutes
 
Cast:
Bill Smith/Bill James/Mr. Howard – Robert Hundar (Claudio Undari)
Dorothy Parker – Mercedes Alonso (María Gómez)
Sheriff Allan Davies – Adrian Hoven (William Hofkirchner)
Bruce – Raf Baldassarre (Raffaele Baldassarre)
Alfonso/Alonso – Robert Camardiel (Roberto Escudero)
Bob Marshall/Bob Ford – Luis Induni (Luigi Radici)
Federal agent – John Bartha (János Barta)
Cowboy – Miguel Brendel
Marshall’s henchman – Joe Kamel (Giuseppe Frisaldi)
Bearded brawler – José Jaspe (José Rivas)
Bill Smith/Bill James as a child - Russ Stoddard (Russell Stoddard)
With: Peter A. Caminnecci, Tomás Torres, Fernando Sánchez Polack, Adolfo Torrado, Robert Johnson, Jr. (Carlos Marchent), Hilario Flores, Santiago Rivero, Lisa Sweet (Maribel Sáez), Antonio del Amo (Antonio Algara), Lucio De Santis

Bill James is just a child when his father, Jesse James, is assassinated by his cousin Bob Ford. Twenty years later, Bill James, who is the mirror image of his father, rides away from Missouri, to avoid the hatred caused by his father’s death. At Three Star ranch, owned by Dorothy, Bill is hired as a ranch hand. He enjoys the quiet farm work but not for long, because soon he becomes involved in the persecution that the farm and the girl suffer at the hands of Marshall, a bully stock breeder. The first clashes between Marshall and Bill do not lead to any solution, but Bill, indicted for the murder of a man, is forced to flee. Meanwhile he develops a suspicion that Marshall and his murderous uncle are the same person, and when his suspicions are confirmed he returns to the town and challenges and kills Bob Ford .

 

YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7NBImRHkNE

Happy 70th Birthday Orso Maria Guerrini

Orso Maria Guerrini was born on October 25, 1943 in Florence, Tuscany, Italy. He is the brother of actress Ilaria Guerrini and became known to the general public in 1970 when he was chosen to play the lead in “E le stelle stanno a guardare” by director Anton Giulio Majano. He then starred in dozens of films for the cinema and television, as well as having done voice dubbing.

 
Orso has also worked in advertising for several years and is the face of the famous Moustache of Birra Moretti. He is the narrator of General Jose Börjes in the show “La Storia Bandita”, which tells the story of the brigand Carmine Crocco and which is held every year in Brindisi di Montagna (Potenza).
 
Guerrini has appeared in five Euro-westerns from “My Name is Pecos” with Robert Woods to his best remembered role as Butch Shannon on 1976’s “Keoma”. Once married to actress Catherine Spaak [1945- ], he is married to actress Cristina Sebastianelli.
 
Today we celebrate Orso Maria Guerrini’s 70^th birthday.

Ennio Morricone Concerts L.A. & NYC 2014

Spaghetti Western composer playing Los Angeles and New York in March 2014.

 

Legendary film composer Ennio Morricone will bring some of his most iconic works to life for two concerts in the U.S. next year. As BrooklynVegan points out, the 84-year-old will play Los Angeles' Nokia Theatre at L.A. Live on March 20, and then he'll take over Brooklyn's Barclays Center on March 23. Both performances will feature the Italian maestro facing off with a 200-member orchestra and choir.
 
Despite Morricone's long history with Hollywood — he's been nominated for five Academy Awards for Best Original Score, and in 2007, he received an Honorary Oscar for his career achievements — the upcoming L.A. gig will be his first-ever West Coast concert. He made his live-debut in the U.S. just a few years ago, in 2007, with a performance at New York City's Radio City Music Hall. That milestone came after Morricone had built a decades-deep body of work, marked by collaborations with filmmakers such as Sergio Leone, Brian De Palma, Oliver Stone, Barry Levinson, and Warren Beatty.
 
More recently, Morricone made headlines for his overblown beef with director Quentin Tarantino, who used some of the composer's work (including one original song) in his 2012 film, the spaghetti Western-meets-American-slavery epic Django Unchained.

 

Tickets for the upcoming shows in L.A. and NYC go on sale October 25, 2013. Tickets are priced from $45 go on sale Friday, October 25 at 10am through AXS.com, and by phone at (888) 929-7849. Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE is located at 777 Chick Hearn Ct., Los Angeles, CA 90015. For more information please visit enniomorricone-usa-2014.com or Nokia Theatre http://www.nokiatheatrelalive.com/  The concert is presented by Massimo Gallotta Productions and AEG and also will be scheduled in New York at Barclays Center Cushman and Wakefield Theatre on March 23, 2014. http://www.barclayscenter.com/events

Who Are Those Guys? - Claudio Biava

Claudio Biava [pictured front right] was born Claudio Biavati in Italy. He had a film career from 1955 to 1972 where he appeared in over 30 films as a supporting and character actor. Among which he’s remembered for his appearances in “Metellus” (1970) by Mauro Bolognini where he played the part of Nardini. During his career he appeared in four Euro-westerns from “Ramon the Mexican” in 1966 to “A Stranger in Paso Bravo” in 1968. After 1972 he left the industry and his whereabouts are unknown.


BIAVA, Claudio (aka C. Biava) (Claudio Biavati) [Italian]
Ramon the Mexican – 1966 (Kelton)
A Golden Sheriff - 1966
Django Kills Silently - 1967
A Stranger in Paso Bravo – 1968 (Clark)