STRAIGHT TO HELL

Straight to Hell – U.K. title

A Caminho do Inferno – Brazilian title
Suoraan helvettiin – Finnish title
Straight to Hell - Fahr zur Hölle – German title
Kalos irthate stin Kolasi – German title
Kalos irthate stin Kolasi – Greek title
Diritti all’inferno – Italian title
Z piekla rodem – Polish title
Directos al inferno – Spanish title
Straight to Hell – English title
 
A 1986 British production [Commies From Mars Corp., Initial Pictures (London)]
Producer: Eric Fellner
Director: Alex Cox
Story: Alex Cox, Dick Rude
Screenplay: Alex Cox, Dick Rude
Cinematography: Tom Richmond (Thomas Richmond) [color]
Music: The Pogues, Pray for Rain
Running time: 86 minutes
 
Cast:
Willy – Dick Rude
Norwood – Sy Richardson
Velma – Courtney Love (Courtney Harrison)
Simms – Joe Strummer (John Mellor)
Maid – Gloria Miralles Ruiz
Policeman – Juan Uribe
Dead man in car – Joe Cashman
Gomez – Jose Pomedio Monedero
Chuch – Sara Sugarman
George – Miguel Sandoval
Fabienne – Jennifer Balgobin
Frank McMahon – Biff Yeager
Bruno McMahon – Shane MacGowan
Angel Eyes McMahon – Spider Stacy (Peter Stacy)
Biff McMahon – Frank Murray
Tom McMahon – Terry Woods
Jimmy McMahon – James Fearnley
Lance McMahon – Andrew Ranken
Ed McMahon – Philip Chevron
Mac McMahon – Ed Pansullo
Stupid McMahon – Martin Turner
Repo McMahon – Paul Verner
Preacher McMahon – Xander Berkeley
Slim McMahon – Cait O’Riordan (Caitlin O’Riordan)
Churbo – Juan Torres
Leticia – Sue Kiel
Sabrina – Kathy Burke
Louise – Michele Winstanley
Hives – Elvis Costello (Declan McManus)
Karl – Zander Schloss
Kim Blousson – Fox Harris
Granpa McMahon – Jem Finer (Jeremy Finer)
Molly – Anne-Marie Ruddock
Porter – Sharon Bailey
McGee – Turnham Green
Rusty Zimmerman – Edward Tudor-Pole
Blacksmith McMahon – Charlie Braun (Karl Braun)
Jarheads – Sean Madigan, Paul Wood
Poncho – Del Zamora
Sal – Luis Contreras
Branding victim – Chalkie Davies
Whitey/Jeeves – Graham Fletcher-Cook
I.G. Farben – Dennis Hopper
Sonya – Grace Jones (Grace Mendoza)
Amos Dade – Jim Jarmusch (James Jarmush)
Weiner – Linda the dog
Thug in Amazula band – Alex Cox

Three hitmen, Willy, Norwood, and Simms are staying in a posh Los Angeles hotel. After failing a job, they take off in a car with a whiny pregnant woman named Velma, who is in on their scheme. They then flee to Mexico to escape the wrath of their boss, Amos Dade, and rob a bank along the way. While driving through the desert, their car breaks down due to Simms having filled the gasoline tank with diesel by mistake. They bury their suitcase of money in the desert and begin to walk.
 
Night falls, and they come upon a town in the middle of the desert, where they see a demolished car with a corpse inside. They then enter an empty bar, where the three men get drunk and Velma angrily pesters them to leave. As they exit the bar, the wrecked car has vanished, but the men are too inebriated to notice it. The group camps out for the night, and the following morning, Velma witnesses several trucks of lively cowboys enter the town, carrying espresso machines with them. Much to the dismay of Velma, who insists they keep a low profile and leave, the three men enter the town, which is now full of townspeople, and go back to the bar.
 
There, they are confronted by a gang of cowboys addicted to coffee, and a shoot-out ensues, but they are ultimately welcomed by the townspeople. The bizarre townspeople include a couple who own a mercantile full of piñatas, a man running a hot dog stand, and countless cowboys and prostitutes, among others. The head honcho of the town, Tim McMahon, invites the gang to a party that evening. The following day, Tim McMahon's elderly father is pushed off of a building by his relative Sabrina McMahon and dies. The entire town has a funeral procession for him, and at the funeral, a friend of Amos', named Whitey, shows up looking for the hitmen and Velma.
 
The town seizes Whitey for being a "stranger", and accuses him of the murder of the McMahon grandfather. During the burial of the grandfather, his hand comes up out of the dirt and grabs the priest's ankle, and the priest shoots into the ground, killing him. Meanwhile, on the gallows, Whitey begins to tell the town the truth about Amos and the hitmen, but is hanged before he can tell his story. A man named I.G. Farben, who claims to be a house manufacturer, enters town with his wife Sonya and introduces himself to the gang and the rest of the townspeople, advertising his company. The next morning, Simms sees Amos' car enter the town, and tries to get a drunken Willy and Norwood to leave with Velma.
 
A series of shootouts begin between the townspeople, Amos' crew, and the hitmen, and I.G. Farben and Sonya provide high-grade weapons for the killers. Tim McMahon joins Amos' team after having wrongfully hanged Whitey, and everyone begins to turn against each other. As Simms and Willy run into the desert, a shootout ensues with the town priest. They reach the spot where they buried the money, and Simms shoots Willy as they are trying to lift the suitcase out of the ground. Simms then hears Velma laughing, and turns around only to be shot by Velma and one of the townsmen. After Velma shoots Simms several times, the townsman with her is shot by Tim McMahon. Tim and Velma then take off arm-in-arm with the suitcase of money, while Simms and Willy die.
 
Meanwhile in town, chaos has ensued, and the town hardware store is set on fire. Amos is shot in the head, and virtually everyone in the town is killed, aside from Norwood and several prostitutes. Tim and Velma leave the town in a truck with the suitcase of money, but accidentally drive off of a cliff when their brakes go out, and die as the car explodes in mid-air. Norwood leaves town with the prostitutes, and the film ends with Farben Oil Company trucks entering the town to drill for oil.
 
YouTube trailer link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKmFR7kbB1I

Guess Who I Am

 

I’m an American actor born in New Jersey in 1925.

 
I appeared in over 170 films, of which 103 were westerns and of those 17 were Euro-westerns.
 
I am as popular today as when I was alive having died in 1989.
 
Guess who I am.

Breccio correctly identified Lee Van Cleef as this week's photo.

Remembering Pedro Fenollar

Pedro Fenollar (shown on the right abov) was born on November 29, 1923 in Madrid, Spain. His film career began in the mid-1950s and continued until 1969. He appeared in eleven euro-westerns among which were “The Terrible Sheriff” (1962), “The Last of the Mohicans” (1965), “Rattler Kid” (1967) and “Ringo the Lone Rider” (1968). After making over forty-five films and many theater appearances left his profession to bring up his two small children. His daughter Marta a well- known artist has a website in memory of her father. Who died on September 24, 1985 in Malaga, Andalusia, Spain.

http://martafenollar.blogspot.com/2009/09/mi-padre.html

Today we remember Pedro Fenollar on what would have been his 90^th birthday.

Thanksgiving 2013

STING OF THE WEST

Te Deum – Italian title

Tedeum – Spanish title
Tedeum – Um Pistoleiro em Apuros – Brazilian title
Man kalder os Vestens frækkeste fupmagere – Danish title
Tedeum - Lännen rämäpää – Finnish title
Te deum – French title
Tedium – Jeder Hiess ein Prankschleg – German title
Tedeum, i pio dynati grothia – Greek title
Vrohi apo sfaires – Greek title
Dá-lhe Agora Tedeum – Portuguese title
Tedium tar hem potten – Swedish title
The Con Men – English title
Father Jackleg – English title
Sting of the West – English title
 
A 1972 Italian, Spanish co-production [FP Cinematografica, Canaria Film (Rome), Tecisa (Madrid)]
Producers: Franco Palaggi, Virgilio De Blasi
Director: Enzo G. Castellari (Enzo Girolami)
Story: Gianni Simonelli (Giovanni Simonelli), José G. Maesso (José Gutiérrez Maesso), Enzo Girolami
Screenplay: Tito Carpi, Gianni Simonelli (Giovanni Simonelli), Enzo Girolami, José G. Maesso (José Gutiérrez Maesso)
Cinematography: Manuel Rojas (Manuel Hidalgo) [Technicolor, Techniscope]
Music: Guido & Maurizio De Angelis
Running time: 99 minutes
 
Cast:
Buck Santini/Father Jackleg – Jack Palance (Volodmyr Palanyuk, Jr.)
Tedium Manure – Timothy Brent (Giancarlo Prete)
Stinky Manure – Lionel Stander
Betty Brown – Francesca Romana Coluzzi
Grant – Eduardo Fajardo
Wendy Brown – Mabel Karin
Sheriff – Riccardo Garrone
Ma Manure – María Vico (María Villardo)
Rags Manure – Renzo Palmer (Renzo Bigatti)
Billy – Ángel Álvarez (Ángel Fernandez)
Blake – Rocco Lerro
Train passenger – Dante Cleri
Rich man on train – Ivan Palance (Ivan Palanyuk)
Grant henchman – Freddy Unger (Goffredo Unger)
Branch - Miguel Jiminez Pedregosa
Francisco – Franco Borelli
Miner – Karl Braun
Little Girl – Stefania Girolami
Waiter – Bruno Boschetti
With: Carlo Calo, Ana Suriani, Carla Mancini, Fidel Gonzáles, Gianclaudio Jabes, Guillermo Méndez, Claudio Ruffini

In a rotting cabin, Tedeum Manure along with his father, his mother and grandfather insult and beat each other up furiously, but in their own way they love each other. They have the deed to a rich mine in an area that is full of cheaters and swindlers where documents relating to mining operations are non-existent. Mr. Grant buys these unproductive mines at auction at ridiculously low prices, which he then operates, with the intention of getting his hands on real producing mine sooner or later. Coming on the scene is Father Jackleg a fake priest who is actually an escaped convict named Buck Santin on whose head hangs a sizeable reward. Tedeum and all the Manure family find themselves in the pool of a public restroom, where their mine document becomes soggy and faded, and then useless. Finally, it all comes together in a penitentiary, at the center of which is the well that leads to the rich mine.

 

YouTube film clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fau4Nf0LsKU

Remembering Mario Nascimbene

Mario Ernesto Rosolino Nascimbene was born on November 28, 1913 in Milan, Lombardy, Italy. Nascimbene studied composition and orchestral conducting at the "Giuseppe Verdi" Conservatory of Music in Milan under the guidance of Ildebrando Pizzetti, Following graduation he wrote several pieces for chamber music and a ballet.

 
He was commissioned to write the soundtrack for the film "L'amore canta" (Love Song), directed in 1941 by Ferdinando Maria Poggioli, and the success of this film opened the doors of an entirely new career for him. He was one of the few composers in Italy whose career was based on his work in the cinema.
 
He was particularly appreciated for the revolutionary innovation called 'Mixerama’ which incorporated the sounds of non-orchestral instruments like that of a jaw harp or a harmonica, everyday noises (like the tick-tock of a clock, the ring of a bicycle bell or the ticking sound of typewriters in “Rome 11:00” (1952)) in a musical score, with the purpose to underline some particular film scenes. This sound was used to great success by Ennio Morricone in his compositions for his Spaghetti western scores a decade later.
 
After World War II he developed an artistic partnership with such famous Italian film directors as Giuseppe De Santis and Roberto Rossellini. His work found him acclaim in the United States, where he was invited to Hollywood to compose the score for famous films, including “The Barefoot Contessa” directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz in 1954, “Alexander the Great”, directed by Robert Rossen in 1956, and “Solomon and Sheba” directed by King Vidor in 1959. These scores were conducted by Franco Ferrara, the great conductor and lecturer on conducting at many academies of music around the world. Mario scored two Euro-westerns: “The Girl of the Golden West” (1942) and “The Dream of Zorro” (1951).
 
During his career, Nascimbene won three Nastro d'Argento for Best Score awards in 1952 for “Rome 11:00”, in 1960 for “Violent Summer”, and 1968 for “Pronto...c'è una certa Giuliana per te”. He was also nominated for a David di Donatello Award in 1990 for his work on “Blue dolphin - l'avventura continua”. Although he did not win the prize that year, Nascimbene was awarded a "Career David" from the David di Donatello Awards in 1991 honoring his lifetime achievements in film music.
 
Today we remember the great Italian composer Mario Nascimbene on what would have been his 100^th birthday.

RIP Tony Musante

Italian American actor Tony Musante died November 26, 2013 at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City due to complications following surgery. He was 77. Antonio Peter Musante, Jr. was born on June 30, 1936 in Bridgeport, Connecticut. He attended Oberlin College and Northwestern University.

 
Musante acted in numerous feature films, in the United States and elsewhere, including Italy. Among his body of work are the television series ‘Toma’ (1973-1974) (predecessor to ‘Baretta’ with Robert Blake) and the soap opera ‘As The World Turns’, and the 1975 Broadway play, ‘P. S. Your Cat Is Dead!’, for which he was nominated for a Drama Desk Award. He was nominated for an Emmy Award for his work in a 1975 episode of ‘Medical Center, A Quality of Mercy’. Musante also played Antonio "Nino" Schibetta, a feared Mafia boss and the Italian gang leader inside of Emerald City during the first season of the HBO critically acclaimed television series ‘Oz’. He’s known by Spaghetti western fans for his portrayal of Paco Roman alongside Franco Nero in the 1968 film “The Mercenary”.
 
Tony was married to writer Jane Sparkes [1937- ] since 1962.

RIP Marcello Gatti

Italian cinematographer Marcello Gatti died in Rome yesterday November 26, 2013. He was 89. Born in Rome on February 9, 1924, Gatti became one of Italy’s greatest cameramen and cinematographers. He’s best remembered for his cinematography on “The Four Days of Naples” (1962), “The Battle of Algiers” (1966) and “Burn!”  (1969). Gatti won 5 Silver Ribbons during his distinguished career. He has long been the president of the AIC (Association of Italian directors of photography). Marcello was the cinematographer on three Euro-westerns: “The Ruthless Colt of the Gringo” (1965), “The Tall Women” (1966) and “Bastard, Go and Kill” (1971).

Happy 75th Birthday Pasquale Squitieri

Pasquale Squitieri was born on November 27, 1938 in Naples, Campania, Italy. After graduating with a degree in Law in the 60s he went to work at the Banco di Napoli. He made his debut in film as a director and screenwriter with “Io e Dio” in 1969, produced by Vittorio De Sica, with Torres and Jose Gregorio Di Lauro and, along the lines of directors such as Sergio Leone he focused briefly on the spaghetti western genre with “Django Defies Sartana” (1970 ) and “Vengeance Trail” (1971). With both films he used the pseudonym "William Redford."

 
Later, Squitieri abandoned his stage name and dealt with the more current topics and reality of the Italian society. Such ambitious films such as “L'ambizioso” (1975), “Il prefetto di ferro” (1977) and “Corleone” (1978) concerning the contacts between the Mafia and politics, “Viaggia, ragazza, viaggia, hai la musica nelle vene” (1974) and “Atto di dolore” (1990) have drugs as its main theme; “Gli invisibili” (1989) terrorism; “L'avvocato de Gregorio” (2003) the so-called "white deaths" ; “Razza selvaggia” (1980) and “Il colore dell'odio” (1990) addressing the topic of ' immigration.
 
Squitieri is more known for his historical and political films, some of which earned him much criticism. Among them can be mentioned “I guappi” (1973), “Claretta” (1984) and “Li chiamarono... briganti!”, a film about post-unification brigandage which tells the story of his most representative figure Carmine Crocco. The latter was one of his most discussed, and was immediately withdrawn from the cinemas.
 
In 2001 he was a member of the scientific committee that organized the seventh edition of the Città del libro a National Review of the publishers, edited by Salento.
 
Squitieri has been romantically linked for many years with actress Claudia Cardinale [1938- ] who has appeared in several of his films.
 
Today we celebrate Pasquale Squitieri 75^th birthday.

STAY AWAY FROM TRINITY WHEN HE COMES TO ELDORADO

Scansati... a Trinità arriva Eldorado – Italian title

Colpo grosso a Eldorado – Italian title
Os Pistoleiros de Trinity – Brazilian title
Pistoleiros de Trinity – Brazilian title
Planque-toi minable… Trinita arrive – French title
Arriva Eldoraro – German title
Pokerface auf krummen Touren – German title
Dynasteia katharmaton – Greek title
Go Away! Trinity Has Arrived in Eldorado – English title
Step Aside! Eldorado is Coming to Trinity – English title
Run Men, Eldorado is Coming to Trinity – English title
Run Men Run – English title
Pokerface – English title
Trinity in Eldoraro – English title
Trinity in Eldorado – English title
Go Away! Trinity has Arrived in Eldorado – English title
Stay Away from Trinity When He Comes to Eldorado – English title
 
A 1972 Italian production [Elektra Film (Rome)]
Producers: Massimo Bernardi, Diego Spataro, Demofilo Fidani
Director: Dick Spitfire (Aristide Massaccesi)
Story: Romano Scandariato, Diego Spataro
Screenplay: Demofilo Fidani, Romano Scandariato, Diego Spataro
Cinematography: Aristide Massaccesi [Eastmancolor, widescreen]
Music: Giancarlo Chiaramello
Song: “Jesahel” sung by Delirium
Running time: 95 minutes
 
Cast:
Sebastian ‘Seb’ Carter – Stan Cooper (Stelvio Rosi)
Jonathan Duke – Gordon Mitchell (Chuck Pendleton)
Eldorado – Craig Hill (Craig Fowler)
Juanita – Daniela Giordana
Ringo Jones – Custer Gail (Amerigo Castrighella)
Annie – Carla Mancini
Mexican girl at party – Erica Blanc
Henchman – Aristide Massaccesi
Bartender – Fulvio Pellegrino
Pussy – Lina Alberti (Anna Lina Alberti)
Wedding guest - Xiro Papas
Young Mexican at party – Erica Blanc (Enrica Colombatto)
Band - Osanna
With: Lucky McMurray (Luciano Conti), Paul Crain (Vincenzo Pulcrano), Anthony G. Stanton (Franco Ricci), Dennis Colt (Benito Pacifico), Claudio Ruffini, Sergio Testori, Ergio Smacchi, Enrico Chiappafreddo, Gianni Brezza

Jonathan Duke makes a living by cheating at cards and selling the fake elixir of life. He’s helped in this enterprise by Sebastian Carter as his barker. Unmasked by a stubborn old man, the two return to Trinity. Here Eldorado has accumulated wealth through tyranny and calling himself a god. He fulfills his delusions in the midst of a bevy of servants. To rob this dangerous madman Duke asks for help from Ringo Jones and sides with Juanita, a victim of the despot. With a ploy (appearing as a magician who is assisted by Juanita) Jonathan manages to steal a large sum from Eldorado. Then with Eldorado neutralized Ringo, Carter, Juanita and himself he opens a gambling hall where he can happily cheat.

Who Are Those Gals? - Paolina Biguine

 

Paolina Biguine was born in France on March 24, 1995. She has starred in several TV movies and feature films. She played the lead female role of Deborah White in the Euro-western “Big City” (2006). Paolina is also a model and poses for her father, Jean-Claude Biguine a hairdresser. She is the sister of actress Paloma Biguine [1999- ].

BIGUINE, Paolina [3/24/1995, France -     ] - TV actress, daughter of hair dresser Jean-Claude Biguine, sister of actress Paloma Biguine [1999-    ].
Big City - 2006 (Deborah White)

THE STAR AND DEATH OF JOAQUIN MURIETA

Zvezda i smert Khoakina Murety – Russian title

Звезда и смерть Хоакина Мурьеты – Russian title
Zvezda i smert hoakina Murety – Russian title
Csillagom, halálom – Hungarian title
Estrella y muerte de Joaquin Murieta – Spanish title
The Life and Adventures of Joaquin Murieta, the Celebrated California Bandit – English title
The Star and the Death of Joaquin Murieta – English title
The Star and Death of Joaquin Murieta – English title
 
A 1982 Russian production [Gorky Film Studios (Moscow)]
Producer: Konstantin Zagorsky
Director: Vladimir Grammatikov
Story: Pablo Neruda, Pavel Grsushko
Screenplay: Vladimir Grammatikov, Aleksei Timm
Cinematography: Aleksandr Antipenko [color]
Music: Aleksei Rybnikov
Songs: “Blessed-Zaika”, “Organ Grinder”, “Chilean Rangers” sung by F. Ivanov
Song: “Maid” sung by E. Sanin, Jeanne Christmas
Song: “Chilean Girl” sung by Olya Christmas
Song: “Song of the Stars”, “Song of Teresa” Jeanne Christmas
Song: “Three-Fingers” sung by A. Paranin
Song: “Joaquin Murieta”, “Death” sung by Gennady Trofimov
Song: “Chilean Rangers” sung by A. Paranin, A. Kurdiumov, Alexander Sado, Vladimir Naumov, V.

Krivopuschenko, Gennady Trofimov

Running time: 83 minutes
 
Cast:
Joaquin Murieta – Andrei Kharitonov
Teresa – Alyona Belyak
Death – Aleksandr Filippenko
Organ grinder – Eduard Martsevich
Child – Oksana Bochova
Village boy – Vadim Fedulov
Murieta’s henchmen – Semyon Chungak, Sokrat Abdukadyrov, Adel Al-Khadad, Elgudzha Gagishvili, Igor Surovstev
Murieta’s friend – Konstantin Kuzhaliev
Customs official – Anatoli Kalmykov
Posse - Aleksandr Yakovlev, Aleksei Mikhaijlov, Anvar Gumarov, I. Sandler, Yuri Loza, V. Shchedrin (Valerie Shchedrin)
With: Lyudmila Solodenko, V. Fisyun, Natalya Novikova, E. Novak, N. Novak, Mariya Postnikova, T. Grudneva (Tatiana Grudneva), Aleksandr Maryamov, Irina Suvorova, L. Rayanova, Z. Podrezova, Viktor Andriyenko
Stunts: Victor Andrienko, Oleg Fedoulov, Semyon Grigoriev, Oleg Korytin

During the California Gold Rush thousands of people go to America to get rich. Among them, were Joaquin Murieta and his beloved Teresa. But their dreams remained dreams, in the real America they encounter hostile bandits and Teresa dies at the hands of these tyrants. Joaquin swears revenge and his vengeance is scary and bloody with him and his henchmen killing women, children, and burning homes. Violence begets violence, cruelty breeds more violence until Joaquin is finally hunted down by the law and killed.
 
YouTube film clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWUxtPIPC5Y

Spaghetti Western Locations

We continue our search for “Return of the Seven” film locations. As Chris rides through town in the early morning light he picks up Vin, Frank and Colby. After arriving at the prison the now four ride past the entrance to the prison but Delgado is not there and they ride on.

The scene was filmed in Nuevo Baztan a town south of Madrid. The scene of the men passing the entrance to the prison is at the rear of the Goyeneche Palace which is called Plaza de Fiestas.

This location has been used in several Euro-westerns including as for the prison in “The Hills Run Red” and the army headquarters in “The Genius”.

 

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 Nadia Gray

Nadia Kujnir-Herescu was born on November 23, 1923, in Bucharest, Romania. She left Romania for Paris in the late 1940s to escape the Communist takeover after World War II. Her film debut as Nadia Gray was in “L'Inconnu d'un soir” in 1949. Perhaps her most well-known role was in the Federico Fellini masterpiece “La Dolce Vita” in 1960. Nadia appeared in one Euro-western “Thunder at the Border” as Michele Mercier in 1966.

 
She played Number 8 in "The Chimes of Big Ben", an episode of the 1960s cult television series The Prisoner.
 
Gray was first married to Constantin Cantacuzino [1905-1958], a Romanian aristocrat who was one of Romania's top fighter aces of the war. They were married from 1946 to his death in 1958. Her third husband was Manhattan banker Herbert R. Silverman [1912-2003]. They were married from 1967 till her death from a stroke in New York City on June 13, 1994.
 
Today we remember Nadia Gray on what would have been her 90^th birthday.

Guess Who I Am

 

I’m a German actress born in Steglitz in 1930.

 
I’ve appeared in over 120 films and TV appearances.
 
I’m the widow of an Austrian director, writer and actor who died in 2010.
 
My only Euro-western was made in 1965.
 
Guess who I am.

An anonymous poster correctly identified this week's photo as that of Maria Sebalt.

STAGECOACH OF THE CONDEMNED

La diligencia de los condenados – Spanish title

Ni Sabata, ni Trinità, moi c'est Sartana – Spanish title
Prima ti perdona… poi t’ammazzo – Italian title
Sartana, la diligence de la mort – French title
Ranceros – German title
Prota syghoro… ystera skotono – Greek title
A diligencia dos condenados – Portuguese title
Grav din grav, Sabata kommer – Swedish title
Förlåt först, skjut sen – Swedish title
I’ll Forgive You, Before I Kill You – English title
First They Pardon, Then They Kill – English title
Stagecoach of the Condemned – English title
 
A 1970 Spanish, Italian, co-production [I.F.I. Produccione (Madrid), Devon Films (Rome)]
Producer: Ignacio F. Iquino
Director: John Wood (Juan Bosch)
Story: Lou Carrigan (Antonio Vera Ramirez)
Screenplay: Luciano Martino, Steve McCoy (Ignacio Iquino), Jackie Kelly (Juliana San José de la

Fuente)

Cinematography: Clinton Taylor (Luciano Trasatti) [Eastmancolor, widescreen]
Music: Henry Soteh (Enrique Sotes)
Running time: 89 minutes
 
Cast:
Robert Walton/Wayne Sonnier – Richard Harrison
Martha Walton/Sonnier – Erica Blanc (Enrica Colombatto)
Ramón/Manuel Sartana/Leon Pomparo – Fernando Sancho (Fernando Les)
Anthony Stevens – Bruno Corazzari
John McCandy – Gustavo Re
Herbert Green – Florencio Calpe
Joanna Patricks – Maria Cinta (Maria Labatut)
Elizabeth Patricks – Elena Pironti
Pedro – Fernando Rubio
Patterson/Fox – Ángel Lombarte
Frederick – César Ojinaga
Buchanan – Antonio Molino Rojo
Martin Leroy – Ignacio Abadal (José Abadal)
Voss – Indio González (Gaspar González)
Brett Hudson – Ricardo Moyán
Judge – Miguel Muniesa
Blond girl at farm – Leontine May (Leontina Mariotti)
Jeremy Foster – Juan Torres
Saloon girl – Maria Cinthia Rosello
Cowboys – Juan Patiño, Juan Miguel Solano
With: José Fernando de Miragya, Joaquín Germán, Nano Martín, Alberto Severi

A dangerous criminal, Anthony Stevens, is in jail, accused of murder, but there is only one witness who can prove his crime : he is expected to arrive in town at any moment, coming by stagecoach. A friend of the outlaw, the outlaw Ramon, comes to his rescue by intercepting the coach and kidnapping all passengers and keeping them at the stage station run by a man who calls himself Robert Walton. In order to discover, and eliminate the witness, Ramon must determine which of the passengers the right person is. Ramon and his men terrorize their captives even killing a few. Walton, however, in reality is Wayne Sonnyer, a famous gunslinger, (who supposedly died a few years before, after a duel with Stevens). At first he is powerless to act against Ramon, but is finally able to arm himself and kill the gunman and his accomplices. Meanwhile Stevens, acquitted for lack of evidence, discovers what has happened to Ramon and decides to avenge him. In the ensuing duel between the two, Sonnyer iss definitely the better of the two and kills Stevens.
 
YouTube trailer link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Znf34VxDMUc

RIP Marta García

Spanish voice actress and weather reporter for TVE from 1989 to 2004 Marta García died on today November 21. Marta was a pioneer on Spanish TV as one of the first female weather reporters. The daughter of actor, TV presenter and voice actor Antolin García [1928-1990] and actress Rosita Valeron [1929-2010] was the Spanish voice of Amy Farrah Fowler in the TV series ‘The Big Bang Theory’. She was also heard in such TV series as ‘Falcon Crest’, ‘Alf’ and ‘CSI New York’. During her career she was the voice of a Mexican girl in “One Man’s Hero” (1998) and the voice of Audra Blaser in “Bandidas” (2004). Marta passed away from cancer and is thought to be in her 50s.

Cortijo del Fraile declared a ruin

Nijar declares the Cortijo del Fraile in ruin and given one year to the owner to rehabilitate

Cultura
D. Martínez/Redacción                                        
20.11.2013
 
Technicians estimated at 748,748 euros municipal budget to run the maintenance and repair of the BIC
 
The City of Nijar (Almería ) has ordered the company who owns the Cortijo del Fraile, the scene of the natural park of Cabo de Gata linked to the play "Blood Wedding" by Federico Garcia Lorca , who must within a year work on and consolidate the repair of the property and were given 30 days to submit a relevant draft of action on the building declared of site of Cultural Interest (BIC).
 
The measures are part of the decree issued on day 6 which agrees to open its proceedings to the legal declaration of the urban ruin of the monument and for which, therefore, are advised to
'Agricultural Mission', based in Murcia, that it has a one year term to do the restoration work or otherwise, the property will pass to a forced sale situation and go out to auction for another company or owner to run.
 
The resolution of the City of Nijar, which had transferred the Andalusian Board decision that is maintaining an administrative penalty against the company, comes as the prosecution maintains an open investigation procedures to resolve whether he would be committing a criminal offense alleged to "circumvent" the order of a court issued last February that forced him to take measures to conserve and recover the Cortijo del Fraile.
 
The technical report justifying the initiation of the legal declaration of ruin BIC, consulted by Europa Press, stresses that it is "obvious" that the set, covering nearly 2,000 square meters, requires the conservation and rehabilitation works "inherent" by the brand owner as Andalusian planning regulations.
 
It refers, in this line, that the Board disciplinary proceedings against 'Agricultural Mission' forces them to "strengthen and repair the property" and to "develop a conservation project, and to proceed to the perimeter fence, where the work will be currently executed ".
 
Nijar municipal technicians indicate that the estimated budget practical to conduct much of maintenance and repair works would amount to 520,000 euros, no overhead, industrial benefit and tax, which brings the figure to rise to 748,748 euros. Moreover, according to this estimate which quantifies the fees prescriptive for writing this conservation project of 62,920 euros.
 
"Partially collapse hazard "
 
According to the same report, the current state of the building is "very hazardous" as there are constructions "partially demolished walls along with other still standing and others on the verge of collapse." So, detailing that areas with greater degradation corresponds to the pastor's house, the trough the barn and cortijero housing," the whole structure of the horizontally and vertically to be demolished".
 
Still standing but in "grave condition and at risk of partial collapse," according underscore are the main house, stables and chapel. With regard to the latter, says it has a structural system "very different" with a dome, arches and buttresses," which enabled it to be kept better than the rest". However, it warns that it has seen "a significant deterioration of the walls and bell movement with a possibility of crashing to the west".
 
It concludes that, in general, there is "cracking and disintegration" of the walls, wooden floors rotting, symptoms "obvious" in the rafters exhaustion, lack of waterproofing the roofs, cracks in interior partitions" that have not yet collapsed" and peeling paint.
 
The Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports of the Junta de Andalucía has imposed five penalty payments to the owner of the Cortijo del Fraile over its refusal to restore the building after the requirements made by the Andalusian government. It represents a cumulative amount of 18,500 euros.
 
The Board has also sanctioned 30,000 euros for neglecting several of the requests made to strengthen, restore and rehabilitate the property after having resolved the administrative appeal submitted by the ownership of the disciplinary action which was opened in February 2012.

 

Remembering Gerd Frickhöffer

Gerhard Emil Karl Josef Frickhöffer was born on November 21, 1913 in Tientsin, China. The son of a merchant, he attended a secondary school and higher commercial school in Bremen. After acting classes with Hermann Schultze -Griesheim , he made his debut in 1933 at a theater in Bremen, Germany . In 1935, he worked at the Stadttheater Giessen, 1938 at the Deutsches Theater in Berlin, from 1939 in Koblenz and last until the end of the war at the Staatstheater Wiesbaden. Frickhöffer was drafted into the army during World War II and went on to front theaters in France, Luxembourg and Belgium.

 
He became a prisoner of war and after his release, he returned to Baden-Baden Theater from 1946-1947. In 1947, he signed to an engagement at the Metropol Theater in Berlin. Later, he also acted on other stages in Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt and other cities.
 
Since 1947 Frickhöffer was a busy as a supporting actor in German cinema. The "long beanpole" often appeared as a pompous official, porter, police officer, waiter, womanizing rogue or brought a dash of humor to the film. Gerhard appeared in one Euro-western “Rampage at Apache Wells” (1965) as Kovacs and also made an appearance in the 1973 film ‘Aye, Aye Sheriff’. He also worked for radio (RIAS) as well as a voice actor and was married to actress Irene Korb [1923-1978].
 
Frickhöffer died on July 4, 1980 in Baden-Baden, Germany.
 
Today we remember Gerhard Frickhöffer on what would have been his 100^th birthday.

RIP Mickey Knox

Abraham ‘Mickey’ Knox, known to all Europena western fans for writing the English dialogue for “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” passed away in Los Angeles, California on November 15, 2013. He was 88. Born in New York City on December 12, 1921 Knox began his career in show business as an actor who appeared in several films before being blacklisted. Moving to Italy to find work, he worked on the English dialogue for “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” (1966), “Black Jack” (1968) and “Once Upon a Time in the West”. When the blacklist ended, he returned to acting, appearing in such films as “Bolero” (1984) and “The Godfather Part III” (1990). Woody Harrelson's character in Natural Born Killers was named after him.

The Squtter's Daughter

The Squatter’s Daughter – British title
 
A 1906 British production [Hepworth Manufacturing (London)]
Producer: Cecil Hepworth
Director: Lewin Fitzhammon (Lewin Hayman)
Story: ?
Screenplay: ?
Cinematography: ? [black & white]
Running time: 600 feet
 
Cast:
Squatter - Lewin Fitzhammon (Lewin Hayman)
Squatter’s daughter – Dolly Lupone
Indian chief - Bertie Mainwaring
 
When Indians capture a girl, her father saves her from the stake.

Remembering Tonino Delli Colli

Antonio ‘Tonino’ Delli Colli was born on November 20, 1923 in Rome, Lazio, Italy. Tonino is considered one of the best cinematographers of all time, he was only sixteen when he made his feature film debut, starting as an assistant at Cinecittà under Ubaldo Arata and Anchises Brizzi. His first work as a director of photography was in 1943 with “Finalmente sì”, directed by Laszlo Kish. Initially he followed in the footsteps of his cousin Franco Delli Colli [1929-2004], who was also director of photography.

 
Among Tonino’s most important works: “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” (1966), “Once Upon a Time in the West” (1968) and “Once Upon a Time in America” (1984 ) by Sergio Leone, “The Name of the Rose” (1986 ) by Jean-Jacques Annaud, “Bitter Moon” and “La morte e la fanciulla” by Roman Polanski, “Life is beautiful” (1997, his last film) by Roberto Benigni, as many as 8 films by Pier Paolo Pasolini and several films by Dino Risi .
 
He was one of the makers of the first Italian film in color: “Toto Color Steno” (1952).
 
He was also active in television for which he has edited among other things, the photography of the 1965 television series ‘Resurrection’.
 
Tonino Delli Colli won six silver ribbons, obtained in 1985 a British BAFTA Nomination for “Once Upon a Time in America”, and was honored with a special award for Lifetime Achievement in 2005 by American Association of Directors of photography (American Society of Cinematographers, abbreviated (ASC)).
 
He also won 4 David di Donatello for Best Cinematography in 1982 “Tales of Ordinary Madness”, 1986 “The Name of the Rose”, 1997 “Marianna Ucrias” and 1998 “Life is Beautiful”. He was nominated in 1990 for “The Voice of the Moon”.
 
Delli Colli died of a heart attack on August 16, 2005 in Rome. He was married to actress Alexandra Delli Colli [1957- ].
 
Today we remember Tonino Delli Colli on what would have been his 90^th birthday.

Remembering Bugdan Bulan

Bugdan Buljan was born on November 20, 1923 in Drniš, Croatia. He appeared in more than the 7 films listed on the IMDb, but I can find little else on his career or personal life. His film career began in the mid-1950s and most of his career was spent working in Yugoslavian TV series during the 1970s. His one Euro-western was “Last of the Renegades” in 1964 playing the role of Tah-Sha-Tunga which is not even listed on the IMDb website. Buljan died in Split, Croatia in 1986 at the age of 63.

 
Today we remember Bogdan Buljan on what would have been his 90^th birthday.

Sommerville, NJ welcomes home Lee Van Cleef

 

Tim Ferrante, founder of Westerns... All'Italiana!, sent me this rare photo of the The Cort Theater marquee in Somerville, New Jersey which welcomes a live appearance by Lee Van Cleef, their hometown hero, where a huge crowd awaits the town's homegrown Euro-western star.

The Cort Theater was located at 32 East Main Street, Somerville, New Jersey, but apparently the building has been redesigned into several smaller shops and no longer exists. Both Tim and I are unable to read the side of the marque to determine what film was being shown. If anyone can decifer what it says or knows what film was showing on this grand occassion please leave us a comment. 

Who Are Those Guys? - Giancarlo Bigazzi

Giancarlo Bigazzi was born in Florence, Tuscany, Italy on September 5, 1940. Already at a youg age he is already a successful author : he wrote songs for Riccardo Del Turkish (July), Caterina Caselli ( Carnival ), Mario Fabric ( Lisa blue-eyed ), and Renato dei Profeti (Lady Barbara ) .

 
In the 1970s he continued his career as a songwriter and musician , winning successes often writing with Toto Savio for Massimo Ranieri (Vent'anni, Erba di casa mia), or for Gianni Nazzaro (L'amore è una colomba) with Gianni for Marcella Bella (Non si può morire dentro, Dolce uragano, No, Più ci penso, Questo amore, Toc toc) and other hits or with Claudio Cavallaro for Chameleon (Eternità, cantata also sung by Ornella Vanoni, Come sei bella, Oggi il cielo è rosa) Gigliola Cinquetti .
 
In 1970-71, it is the producer of I Califfi  and writes, with the group's leader Franco Boldrini , Acqua e sapone e Lola bella mia.
 
Alongside his career as a songwriter in 1971 Bigazzi creates , along with lyricist Daniele Pace, the musician and recording artists Toto Savio Alfredo Cerruti and Elio Gariboldi the group Squallor, which is born as a college project among friends, for the success they received, will produce albums for 25 years for Squallor, Bigazzi writes some of the lyrics and also appears as an actor in two films by the group, “Arrapaho” and “Birds of Italy”.
 
Also in the seventies along with Savio Bigazzi they produce the complex pop-rock of Il Giardino dei Semplici, he will garner incredible success from 1975 to 1978. Bigazzi and Savio are the authors of some of the most important songs of the band M'innamorai, Miele (4^th place at Sanremo  in 1977 and 1 million copies sold) andVai e Tamburino.
 
In the middle of the decade he becomes acquainted with Umberto Tozzi and, as a producer, composer and lyricist and accompanies him to national and international success, writing the hits

Donna amante mia, Io camminerò, Ti amo, Tu, Gloria, Stella stai, Notte rosa, Eva ed anche Si può dare di più (sung by Tozzi with Gianni Morandi and Enrico Ruggeri). 

 
In Florence between the mid-eighties and early nineties Giancarlo creates a kind of clan and produces the early work of Marco Masini, Raf and Alessandro Canino, which immediately topped the charts, Depeche Mode, Fabrizio Venturi, Aleandro Baldi , Danilo Amerio . During this period he often worked in tandem with the composer and lyricist Tuscan Beppe Dati.
 
He also embarks on a career as a composer of soundtracks for film such as “Mery per sempre” and “Ragazzi fuori” by Marco Risi, nonché dell'Oscar Mediterraneo di Gabriele Salvatores as well as the Oscar nominated “Mediterraneo” by Gabriele Salvatores .
 
In the early nineties he breaks his artistic partnership with Tozzi and Raf, while continuing to work with Masini; writes Gli uomini non cambiano a successful hit for Mia Martini. In 1996 he wrote the music of Cyrano , on a text by Beppe Dati and Francesco Guccini who plays her .
 
His wife, Gianna Albini, was also a lyricist, and they collaborated on several occasions together.
 
Giancarlo Bigazzi died in Viareggio, Italy on January 19, 2012 at the age of 72.
 
 
BIGAZZI, Giancarlo [9/5/1940, Florence, Tuscany, Italy – 1/18/2012, Viareggio, Tuscany, Italy] - record producer, composer, songwriter, TV actor, married to lyricist Gianni Albini [19??-
    ] (19??-2012) owned Il Bigallo srl. publishing company [1984-2005].
Arrapaho - 1984 (man with sled)

 

RIP Cristóbal García

Spanish actor and director Cristóbal García died yesterday November 17, 2013 in Almeria of a heart attack. He was 46. Known for his kindness as well as his acting and directing skills in local theater and short films Garcia was born in Spain in 1967. He had just begun to burst upon the Spanish cinema scene as an actor after working behind the scenes as a techincal assistant and advisor. He appeared in the 2013 Euro-western short "The Man Without Time" as a gunslinger.

Sporchi dollari

Sporchi dollari – Italian title
 
A 1970 Italian production
Producer: Cesare Bianchini
Director: Sergio Garrone
Story: Sergio Garrone
Screenplay: Sergio Garrone, Manuel Martinez Remis
Cinematography: Pablo Ripoll, Gaetano Valle [color]
Music: Elsio Mancuso
Running time: 88 minutes
 
Cast:
Peter Martell (Pietro Martellanza), William Berger (Wilhelm Berger), Diana Lorys (Ana Vega), Cris Huerta, Fabian Conde
 
A peon is framed for the killing of a rich cattleman but escapes and with the help of a bounty hunter goes after the real murderer.
 
[Film was later completed as “Bastardo, vamos a matar” (“Bastard Go and Kill”)]

Happy 85th Birthday Max Turilli

Marcello ‘Max’ Turilli was born on November 18, 1928. Max found fame for his characterizations using a Marche accent as the voice of Bernard Blier in “Riusciranno i nostri eroi a ritrovare l'amico misteriosamente scomparso in Africa?”, and a German accent in the TV series “I ragazzi della 3ª C”. Max appeared in one Euro-western 1984’s “Arrapaho.”

 
Today we celebrate Max Turilli’s 85^th birthday.