Sunday, November 30, 2014

WHITE FANG AND THE HUNTER

Zanna Bianca e il cacciatore solitario – Italian title
Croc-blanc el le chasseur solitaire – French title
Von Wölfen gehetzt – das wilde abenteuer – German title
Von Wölfen gehetzt – German title
Wolfsblut - Der einsame Jäger – German title
Sta dontia tou lykou – Greek title
Fehér agyar és a magányos vadász – Hungarian title
Bialy Kiel i mysliwy – Polish title
El cazador solitario de la Predera Nevada – Spanish title
Lone Hunter of the Wild North – U.K. title
White Fang and the Hunter – English title
 
A 1975 Italian production [Pleida Film (Rome)]
Producer: Giuseppe Maggi
Director: Alfonso Brescia
Story: “White Fang” by Jack London (John Chaney)
Screenplay: Giulio Berruti, Giuseppe Maggi, Alfonso Brescia
Cinematography: Silvio Fraschetti [Eastmancolor, CinemaScope]
Music: Alessandro Alessandroni
Running time: 93 minutes
 
Cast:
Sandy Shaw/Daniel – Robert Wood (Robert Woods)
Dollar – Pedro Sanchez (Ignazio Spala)
Connie/Helen Britt/Burton – Malisa Longo (Maria Longo)
Thomas Ferguson – Claudio Undari
Johnny – Massimo De Cecco
Trent/Slider – Franco Lantieri
Luna/Rising Moon – Linda Sini (Ermelinda Siniscalchi)
Wedding guest – Bruno Arié
Brawlers – Omero Capanna, Gilberto Galimberti, Renzo Pevarello
White Fang – Habbash
RCMP Captain – Andrea Fantasia
With: Amedeo Timpani, Giovanni Ukmar, Jean-Pierre Clarain, Guido Mariotti, Artemio Antonini, Calogero Caruana 
 
 
Daniel and Dollar, two hunters who meet and become friends by chance, come loaded with valuable furs to a city where Ferguson is the master of everything and, with his gang of henchmen tends to impose rates of usury on everyone. Determined not to sell below the going price, the two friends and the magnificent dog wolf White Fang, take refuge temporarily at the farm of the young widow Helen Burton. They are thus able to take her side along with her son Johnny, who is haunted by the same Ferguson. He wants to buy their land and farm where according to the plans of the tyrant, the railway will pass. Daniel recovers documents of the murdered Burton, proving the misdeeds of Ferguson and brings them to the RCMP. Now with Ferguson arrested, Daniel marries Hellen, Dollar joins with the Indian woman Moon Rising; and the new railway is built in peace and justice.
 

Happy 50th Birthday Richard Brake

Richard Colin Brake was born on November 30, 1964 in Ystrad Mynach, Hengoed, Wales to British parents, and grew up in the U.S. states of North Carolina, Connecticut, Georgia, Tennessee and Ohio. He attended Western Reserve Academy in Hudson, Ohio and trained in The Science of Acting under the technique's founder, and founding Principal of The Academy of the Science of Acting and Directing Sam Kogan.
 
Richard has appeared in numerous productions (including brief appearances in “Cold Mountain” (2003) and “Munich” (2005)), Brake achieved his first significant role in mainstream cinema being cast as Joe Chill in Christopher Nolan's 2005 film, “Batman Begins”. In this film (as in most versions of the Batman comic series), his character is the criminal who murdered Bruce Wayne's parents, effectively starting him on his path to becoming Batman.
 
Following this, Brake appeared as the warped Portman in “Doom” (2005), with Karl Urban and The Rock. He then played the villain Bobby De Witt in “The Black Dahlia” (2006), and appears in 2007's “Hannibal Rising” as Dortlich, one of the war criminals who murders young Hannibal Lecter's sister.
 
In September 2007, Brake appeared on stage at the Young Vic in “The Member of the Wedding” by Carson McCullers. The production was directed by Matthew Dunster.
 
Returning to film, his next starring role was that of Prior in “Outpost” (2008) from director Steve Barker. In 2009, Brake appeared as Gary Scott in Rob Zombie's Halloween II, a sequel to his remake of Halloween.
 
He has also appeared in several British television shows including ‘M.I. High’, ‘Keen Eddie’ and ‘Jeeves and Wooster’, as well as the American television show ‘Cold Case’.
 
Brake portrayed a captain in the einherjar in the 2013 film “Thor: The Dark World”.
 
He has two Euro-westerns to his credit the before mentioned “Cold Mountain” (2003) and “The Tonto Woman” (2007).
 
Today we celebrate Richard Blake’s 50th birthday.

Remembering Charles Hawtrey

Charles Hawtrey was born George Frederick Joffe Hartree on November 30, 1914 in Hounslow, Middlesex, England. He was one of  that select group of comics who quite simply looked funny. He had a unique combination of little boy, with his tiny frame, spectacles, and slightly weird old man look, somehow ageless and prematurely aged at the same time.
 
The the son of a motor mechanic, he was a child actor, a boy soprano good enough to release records, and an early graduate of Italia Conti's stage school.
 
By the end of the 1930s he had already made more than 30 films, most of which have been lost to the ravages of time.
 
No one believed he had made a film with Errol Flynn, “Murder At Monte Carlo” (1934), until a still turned up, with Errol in a hat looking like a film star, and Hawtrey looking unmistakably Hawtrey.
 
Some suggest his early success was actually the ruin of him. Hawtrey believed to the end that he should have been a big star, and that the ‘Carry On’ silliness was beneath him. Self-awareness may not have been his strongest suit. Youth, of course, is a time to get things done. During the war Hawtrey, a conscientious objector, entertained the troops, often in drag.
 
In 1945, in a radio version of ‘Just William’, he got his first catchphrase: 'How's yer mother off for drippin'?. All looked hopeful, but his career didn't progress.
 
Too old to play juveniles (except on radio), and looking out of his depth whenever given a serious role, he produced and directed plays on the London stage and inundated BBC producers with begging letters for work.
 
Many of them have been found in BBC archives, with many written on hotel notepaper: half a century later they still reek of desperation. What saved Hawtrey, for a while at least, was his talent and his professionalism.
 
Norman Rossington, a co-star in “The Army Game”, said “He was one of the strangest people I have ever met, in dress, speech, stature and personality. Utterly bizarre in every way.” But he was never one of the gang, and was sacked at the end of series two because he wanted star billing and more money.
“He was rather like a character that you read in a comic,” said the TV producer Ernest Maxin, “a drawing rather than a real life person.”
  
Hawtrey became a star in his 50s thanks to the Carry On film series, but his beloved mother's decline and death increased his reliance on drink. His last ten years or so were lonely, mad and blotto. “Hawtrey's life wasn't just bad,” said Wes Butters, “it was disastrous.”
 
Charles appeared in only one Euro-western: “Carry on Cowboy” (1965) as Chief Big Heap.
 
Hawtrey died in Deal, Kent, England on October 27, 1988.
 
Today we remember Charles Hawtrey on what would have been his 100th birthday.

Remembering Luigi Bonos

Luigi Bonos was born on October 30, 1909 in Berlin, Germany. The son of two Hungarian circus artists, along with his brothers Giovani ‘Gianni’ [1907-1956] and Vittorio [1908-1966] Bonos formed a trio of comedians who found much success in the revue theaters between the 1930s and 1940s.
 
He made his film debut in 1951 in “Era lui, sì, sì!” although he had appeared as an uncredited acrobat as early as 1945 in “L'ippocampo”, and since then he appeared in over 80 films and TV appearances, mainly in comedy films, usually as a character actor. He was sometimes billed as Louis Williams and Duane Bowland but most often as Gigi Bonos.
 
Luigi appeared in 16 Euro-westerns from “Il bandolero stanco” in 1952 to “They Call Me Renegade” (1984). He was a regular in many of the Terence Hill, Bud Spencer films.
 
Bonos died sometime in the year 2000 at the age of 90.
 
Today we remember Luigi ‘Gigi’ Bonos on what would have been his 105th birthday.

Saturday, November 29, 2014

Spaghetti Western Locations

We continue our search for locations for “A Few Dollars for Django”. Passing the crowd and a man being dragged by a horse down the main street of the small town Regan stops at the sheriff’s office. Tying up his horse at the hitching rail he walks into the office and finds the old deputy tied up and gagged. He unties the man who thinks Regan is the new sheriff come to tame the town. Before Regan can argue or tell the man he’s mistaken he’s shoved out the door and down the street to break up the lynching.
 
As mentioned before this townsite is at Colmenar Viejo and most of what is left sits in a cow pasture next to a military helicopter base. The pasture is fenced in but there is parking off the side of the road and a gate that allows you to walk in and among the rocks, bushes and road apples. Look in and around the various berry bushes and you’ll still find parts of brick buildings, foundations and scrap lumber that once comprised the town.
 
 
For a more detailed view of this site and other Spaghetti Western locations please visit my friend Yoshi Yasuda’s location site: http://y-yasuda.net/film-location.htm and Captain Douglas Film Locations http://www.western-locations-spain.com/

Happy 65th Birthday Bigote Arrocet

Bigote Arrocet was born Edmund Arrocet von Lohse on November 29, 1949 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Son of a Spanish mother and Italian -German father, he lived in Argentina for 11 years, then moved to Chile .
 
He was 21 years old when he triumphed at the Viña del Mar International Song Festival as a singer, sharing the stage with some of the best vocalists of his generation, such as Joan Manuel Serrat and Julio Iglesias.
 
He rose to fame for the second time in Spain with his character of a Mexican on the television program ‘Applause’ (1979-1981) and on, ‘Un, dos, tres... responda otra vez’ from 1977 until 1988. His dialogues with the hosts became very popular Mayra Gómez Kemp, whom he addressed as Mrs. Mayrucha and the tagline was repeated again and again Piticlín, piticlín. Between 1991 and 1992 he was the host of the program ‘La ruleta de la suerte’, on Antena 3, with Mabel Lozano.
 
In 2004 he participated as a contestant on the reality show ‘La selva de los famosos’.
 
Arocet has appeared in movies such as the Euro-western comedy “Here Come Condemor the Sinner of the Plains” (1996) and “Brácula: Condemor II” (1997) as Lucas, the servant of Condemor’s orders.
 
Today we celebrate Bigote Arrocet’s 65th birthday.

Remembering Roland Brand

Roland Brand was born on November 29, 1929 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Brand was a little known character actor active from his first role in 1956’s “Reach for the Sky” to his final role in 1973’s TV film ‘Baffled!’. He appeared in 29 films and TV appearances over his nearly 20 year career.
 
Roland appeared in one Euro-western: “Chato’s Land” in 1971.
 
Brand died sometime in 1984.
 
Today we remember Roland Brand on what would have been his 85th birthday.

Friday, November 28, 2014

Guess Who I Am


I was an Italian actor born in Italy on an unknown date.
 
Before I went into pictures I was butcher.
 
I was known for my appearances in several Demofilo Fidani films
 
Guess who I am.
 
Fatman correctly named Jeff Cameron as this week's photo.
 
 

WHITE FANG AND THE GOLD DIGGERS

La Spacconata – Italian title
Kullankaivajat – Finnish title
Croc-blanc et les chercheurs d’or – French title
Wolfsblut - Der einsame Jäger - German title
Whisky und die Goldgraber – German title
Trommelfeuer für vier Fäuste – German title
Colmillo blanco y los mineros – Spanish title
White Fang and the Gold Diggers – English title
 
A 1974 Italian production [Pleiade Film (Rome)]
Producer: Giuseppe Maggi
Director: Alfonso Brescia
Story: “Pioneers and Gold Seekers” by Edgar B. Cooper
Screenplay: Giuseppe Maggi, Fiero Regnoli
Cinematography: Silvio Fraschetti [Telecolor]
Music: Alessandro Alessandroni
Running time: 103 minutes
 
Cast:
Sandy Shaw/David/Daniel – Robert Wood (Robert Woods)
Dollar – Pedro Sanchez (Ignazio Spalla)
Slider – Franco Lantieri
Connie/Linda Burton – Gabriella Lepori
Rick Shaw – Paolo Lena
Barney Taft – Robert Hundar (Claudio Undari)
Donovan – Sergio Testori
Garrick – Sergio Smacchi
Donovan henchmen – Jean-Pierre Clarain, Artemio Antonini
Sheriff – Andrea Fantasia
Poker players – Nello Pazzafini, Benito Pacifico
RCMP Captain Fairmont – Eolo Capritti
Geologist – Renato Malavasi
Whiskey/White Fang – Habbash
With: Franco Calogero, Amedeo Timpani
 

Sandy Shaw inherits the "Eagle's Nest", a gold mine in Canada's far north. He moves there with his young son, Rick and faithful dog White Fang, but soon finds a deadly enemy in Taft, who wants the mine for himself. Things get even more complicated by the arrival of Sandy's proxy bride, revenge and greed collide and violence is the inevitable result.
 

Remembering Luciano Rossi

Luciano Rossi was born on November 28, 1934 in Collepardo, Rome, Lazio, Italy. Rossi was one of the most recognizable supporting and character actor of the Spaghetti western genre the short and often hunched over actor first appeared in small background roles in a number of Spaghetti Westerns in the late 1960s. During his over 70 films and TV appearance career usually playing criminals, thugs and often slimy characters in many crime films in the 1970s.
 
Rossi appeared in some of the best of the Spaghetti western genre often using such pseudonyms as Lou Kamante, Edward G. Ross and various spellings of each. He appeared in such well- known Euro-westerns as: “Django” (1965), “The Great Silence”, “Run, Man, Run”, “Viva Django!” (all 1967), “The Forgotten Pistolero”, “Boot Hill” (both 1969), “A Man Called Sledge” and They Call Me Trinity” (both 1970), “Return of Sabata” (1971) and “Deaf Smith and Johnny Ears” (1972).
 
Rossi suffered for many years of undisclosed debilitating disease dying from it on May 29, 2005 in Rome, Italy. He was 71.
 
Today we remember one of the best villains of the genre Luciano Rossi on what would have been his 80th birthday.  

Thursday, November 27, 2014

Thanksgiving 2014


Remembering Josef Albrecht

Josef Albrecht was born on November 27, 1894 in Vienna, Austria-Hungary. Albrecht appeared in 14 films and TV appearances as a supporting and character actor, from 1954’s “Tanz in der Sonne” directed by Géza von Cziffra to the TV film “Der Fall Harry Domela” (1965). Josef appeared in only one Euro-western as Ted Daniels in “The Sheriff was a Lady” in 1964.
 
Albrecht died on January 10, 1996 in Hamburg, Germany at 102 years of age.
 
Today we remember Josef Albrecht on what would have been his 120th birthday.

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

WHITE FANG

Zanna Bianca – Italian title
Colmillo Blanco – Spanish title
Croc-blanc – French title
Caninos Brancos – Brazilian title
Croc Blanc, o Cão Lobo – Finnish title
Valkoiset torahampaat – Finnish title
Susikoira – Finnish title
Jack London: Wolfsblut – German title
Wolfsblut – German title
O aspros lykos – Greek title
Fehér Agyar – Hungarian title
Croc Blanc, o Cão Lobo – Portuguese title
Varghunden – Swedish title
Kurt Soyu – Turkish title
Izazov belle sape - ? title
White Fang – English title
 
A 1973 Italian, Spanish, French co-production [Oceana (Rome), Incine (Madrid), Fox Europa
(Paris)]
Producers: Harry Alan Towers, Ermano Donati, Giulio Sbarigia
Director: Lucio Fulci
Story: “White Fang” by Jack London (John Chaney)
Screenplay: Guy Elmes, Roberto Gianviti, Thom Keyes (Thomas Keyes), Piero Regnoli, Guillaume Roux
Dialogue:  Peter Wellbeck (Harry Alan Towers) [English]
Cinematography: Erico Menczer (Eric Menczer), Pablo Ripoll [Eastmancolor, widescreen]
Music: Carlo Rustichelli
Song: “Oh Johnny” sung by Carole André (Carol Smith)
Running time: 105 minutes
 
Cast:
Jason Scott – Franco Nero (Franco Sparanero)
Sister Evangelina – Virna Lisi (Virna Lisi)
Father Oatley – Fernando Rey (Fernando Arambillet)
Charles ‘Beauty’ Smith – John Steiner
Mitsah – Missaele
Charlie – Daniel Martin (José Martínez)
Kurt Johnson/Curt Johnson – Raimund Harmstorf
Chester – Daniele Dublino
Krista Oatley – Carole André (Carole Smith)
Jim Hall – Rik Battaglia (Caterina Bertaglia)
Mounties – John Bartha (Janos Barta), Renzo Pevarello, Maurice Poli
Daisy – Carla Mancini
Bandit – Luigi Antonio Guerra
Pianist – Mirko Baiocchi
Saloon patrons – Osiride Pevarello, Massimo Ciprari, Romano Targa, Tony Casale (Antonio Casale), Quinto Marziali, Maurizio Streccioni
 
 
Set in 1896 in the Klondike region of Yukon, Canada it follows the adventures of a wolf dog named White Fang, who helps a young Indian boy, Mitsah, as well as a reporter Jason Scott, who arrive in the small gold town of Dawson City. The town is run by a ruthless and greedy businessman named Beauty Smith and his gang of equally ruthless henchmen who control the town with fear who profit from the local prospectors. Scott with the help of a fur trapper, a nun, Mitsah and most of all White Fang cleans up the town of corruption and greed.
 

Happy 70th Birthday Karin Schubert

Karin Schubert was born on November 26, 1944 in Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany. Since the mid-1960s, the trained actress Karin Schubert played in Italian action and drama films. In the 1970s she appeared increasingly in adult films, such as with Laura Gemser in “Emanuelle”. In the first half of her career, she had successes with the films such as “Bluebeard” and “The Assassination” (both 972). Her naive and provocative appearance brought her to the attention of director Joe D'Amato, and she began to work in soft sex movies under his direction. In 1985, at 40 years of age she began to make porno films and appeared in them until 1994 with more than 20 on her resume. She then retired from the screen.
 
Schubert appeared in two Euro-westerns: “Companeros!” (1970) as Zaira Harris and “Three Musketeers of the West” (1973) as Doctor Alice Ferguson.
 
Today we celebrate Karin Schubert’s 70th birthday.

Happy 85th Birthday Hans Bergmann

Hans Bergman was born on November 26, 1929 in Breslau, Silesia, Germany. His film career started with an uncredited appearance as a soldier in 1937’s “The Private’s Job” directed by Karl Ritter. He’s gone on to appear in over 40 films and television appearances.  His last appearance was in 2008’s “A Year Ago in Winter”. His lone Euro-western appearance was as Rastano in 1953’s “Johnny Saves Nebrador” starring Hans Albers.
 
Now retired we celebrate Hans Bergman’s 85th birthday.

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

An Afternoon with Enzo G. Castellari and KEOMA

An Afternoon with Enzo G. Castellari and KEOMA (1976) December 9, 2014, 3:00 P.M. The Albert and Dana Broccoli Theatre, SCA 112, George Lucas Building, USC School of Cinematic Arts Complex, 900 W. 34th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90007
 
Outside the Box [Office], Band Pro and Blue Undeground invite you and a guest to a special discussion with director ENZO G. CASTELLARI (Inglorious Bastards, Street Law, The Big Racket) and screening of Keoma (1976).
 
 
Directed by Enzo G. Castellari
Written by Enzo G. Castellari, Nico Ducci,
Luigi Montefiori, and Mino Roli
Produced by Manolo Bolognini
 
Beginning with a Q&A with Enzo G. Castellari  Moderated by Cinematographer Jon Fauer, ASC
 
3:00 P.M. on Tuesday, December 9th, 2014
The Albert and Dana Broccoli Theatre, SCA 112
900 W. 34th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90007
 
FREE ADMISSION. OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. RSVPs REQUIRED.
 

Who Are Those Guys? - Kalena Bojko

 
Kalena Denise Bojko was born on September 18, 1998 in Argentina. She lives with her mother, father and grandmother. Currently attending high school she has a long list of friends. In her free time she likes to watch TV, use the computer, workout in the gym and be with her friends. She’s a normal 16 year-old who also has appeared in three films: “The Hairy Tooth Fairy 2” (2008), the Euro-western “Lucky Luke” (2009) and an appearance in one episode of the Argentine TV series "Sueña conmigo"’ (2010). Dedicated to finishing her schooling she’s put aside her acting career for the time being to concentrate on her studies.
 
BOJKO, Kalena (Kalena Denise Bojko) [9/18/1998, Argentina -     ] – TV actress.
Lucky Luke – 2008 (actress)

Monday, November 24, 2014

White Fang

Bleyy klyk – Russian title
Colmillo Blanco – Argentinian title
Bílý tesák – Czechoslovakian title
Ulvehunden – Danish title
Susikoira Valkohammas – Finish title
Wolfsblut – German title
Farkasvér – Hungarian title
Zanna Bianca – Italian title
Colt-alb – Romanian title
Varghunden – Swedish title
Beli Ochjak – Yugoslavian title
White Fang – English title
A 1946 Russian production [Mosnauchfilm (Moscow)]
Producer: Vladimir Basov, Sergei Kozlovsky, N. Mironovich
Director: Aleksandr Zguiridi
Story: “White Fang” by Jack London (John Chaney)
Screenplay: Aleksandr Zguiridi
Cinematography: Viktor Asmus, G. Troyanski (Gleb Troyanski), Boris Volchek [black & white]
Music: V. Oransky (Viktor Oransky)
Running time: 84 minutes
Cast:
Weedon Scott – Oleg Zhakov
Alisa Scott – Yelena Izmajlova
Matt – Lev Sverdlin
Handsome Smith – P. Plotnikov (Nikolain Plotnikov)
Tim Keenan – Osip Abdulov
Gold prospectors – I. Bobrov (Ivan Bobrov), Emmanuil Geller (Emmanuil Havkin), V. Latyshevsky, Pyotr Repnin
Mining engineer Weeden Scott buys a dog, which he had saved during a bloody dog fight. His pet White Fang is not easily tamed as he’s been brought up by his previous owner Beauty Smith as a fighter and killer. As time passes White Fang begins to become friends with Smith and saves his life when Beauty comes after Scott with a gun.


Remembering Sophie Daumier

Sophie Daumier was born Elisabeth Simonne Juliette Clémence Hugon on November 24, 1934 in Boulogne-sur-Mer, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France. The daughter of composer Georges Hgon [1904-1980], she studied ballet at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, and drawing classes. At 16, she toured abroad with a ballet of cancan, under the stage name of "Betty Hugon." With a physical similarity to Brigitte Bardot, Sophie Daumier committed to the cabaret La Nouvelle Eve as a singer under the stage name "Betty Lawrence." She later became a stage actress after attending the teachings of Pierre Dux Raymond and Girard.
 
She made her film debut in 1955 in “Paris mob”, under the name "Betty Daumier." In the early 1960s, she had an affair with rocker Vince Taylor. She returned to the theater in Patate, of Marcel Achard, where she played for six years. It was at this time that, at the instance of the latter, she chooses a new name, Sophie, and a final stage name, Daumier, maiden name of her mother.
 
Daumier appeared in over 25 films but only one Euro-western as Connie Breasrfull alongside Giuliana Gemma in “Fort Yuma Gold” (1966).
 
Stricken with Huntington’s Disease Sophie died at the age of 70 on January 1, 2004 in Paris, France.
 
Today we remember Sophie Daumier on what would have been her 80th birthday.

Remembering Kurt Heintel

Kurt Heintel was born on November 24, 1924 in Vienna, Austria. Kurt attended the Art Academy and worked as a cartoonist and illustrator for various newspapers. After drama school in Berlin at Gustaf he made ​​his debut at the Salzburg State Theater under Egon Hilbert. There, he was discovered by Rudolf Steinboeck in a production directed by Bernhard Slaviceks appearing with Annie Rosar and signed him in 1949 to his group at the Theater in der Josefstadt . There he appeared for decades with its impressive presence and his inimitable style, a pillar of the ensemble. In 1993 Heintel was presented with the Doyen Award at a matinee performance on the occasion of a rare triple anniversary: ​​50 years of stage, 50 years in the Theater in der Josefstadt and his 75th birthday.  
 
Heintel has also appeared in some 20 feature films and numerous television productions where he was particularly successfully in ‘Die liebe Familie’ (1980). Kurt appeared in only one Euro-western 1965’s “Duel at Sundown” in the role of the sheriff.
 
In 1997 Heintel had to undergo a serious heart operation, 5 years later he died of heart failure on December 10, 2002 in Vienna Austria.
 
Today we remember Kurt Heintel on what would have been his 90th birthday.

Sunday, November 23, 2014

Happy 55th Birthday Maxwell Caulfield

Maxwell Caulfield was born on November 23, 1959 in Duffield, Derbyshire, England. Although not a child actor per se, at around seven he reportedly played "Ted" (using the pseudonym Maxwell Findlater) in the 1967 film, “Accident”. The film starred starring Stanley Baker, Dirk Bogarde and Michael York.
 
The actor's American stepfather, Peter Maclaine, a former marine, reportedly kicked Caulfield out of the house at the age of 15. Peter and Maxwell's mother, Oriole, had a son, Marcus Maclaine, who is Maxwell's half-brother. Caulfield became an exotic dancer at London's Windmill Theatre in order to obtain an Equity card enabling him to work as an actor. Later he got his green card through his stepfather.
 
He became a familiar face to many TV viewers in the soap operas ‘Dynasty’ (1981) and ‘The Colbys’ (1982). He was then chosen from among thousands of applicants to appear as Michael Carrington in the sequel to the most successful musical film “Grease” of all time. Both he and his co-star, a fresh-faced young newcomer named Michelle Pfeiffer, were hailed as "The Next Overnight Sensations" and “Grease 2” (1982) was going to make him a star. However, the film was a critical and commercial disaster, and his career was seriously affected. He went on toappear in “The Parade” (1984), “The Boys Next Door (1985).
 
Since then he has appeared in a number of uninspired B-movies and direct-to-video films. However, it was his stage work that allowed him to demonstrate his range as an actor. He won rave reviews for his roles on Broadway in such productions as "Entertaining Mr. Sloane" (1981) and "An Inspector Calls" (1992). He also headlined the off-Broadway smash "My Night With Reg" (1997). Those performances, along with his widely cherished turn as sleazy pop star Rex Manning in the film “Empire Records” (1995), led to his winning the prize role of Bob in Tom DiCillo's “The Real Blonde” (1997) opposite such luminaries as Matthew Modine, Kathleen Turner, Steve Buscemi, Daryl Hannah and Elizabeth Berkley. He has been married to Juliet Mills since 1980, whom he met while starring in "The Elephant Man" on Broadway.
 
Maxwell appeared in only one Euro-western as Sweeney in 1994’s “Oblivion 2” directed by Sam Irwin.
 
Today we celebrate Maxwell Caulfield’s 55th birthday.

Remembering Jacques Ary

Jacques Ary was born Henri Beauger on November 23, 1919 in Saint-Sulpice, Laulière, Haute Vienne, Limousin, France. In the late 1940s, he worked in cabaret and theater, especially with the team Branquignols before becoming a recurring actor in French cinema. In the 1950s he played repeatedly under the direction of Jean Boyer Pierre, André Hunebelle and Jean Bastia. During his career, he shared scenes with Fernandel and Louis de Funes, especially inSénéchal le magnifique” by Jean Boyer (1957) and “Le Corniaud de Gérard Oury”.
 
Ary was the co-writer of the Euro-western film “Dynamite Jack” (1960) directed by Jean Bastia and starring Fernandel.
 
Jacques died of a myocardial infraction on September 23, 1974 in Paris, France.
 
Today we remember Jacques Ary on what would have been his 95th birthday.

Saturday, November 22, 2014

Antonio Margheriti Film Review

On Saturday 22 November 22 2014 there will be in PISA a review of some of the most significant films made by my father, ANTONIO MARGHERITI.
 
The exhibition will take place at the Red THEATER P.zza Carrara to Pisa, the program would be as follows: a first projection at 18.00 in "and God said to Cain" western Gothic atmosphere with a wonderful KLAUS KINSKI who plays a character between the ghost and the executioner; to follow a apericena and a meeting with the public debate to speak to me of the long film career by Antonio Margheriti; at 21.00 "THE OUTSIDER-IL CINEMA DI ANTONIO MARGHERITI" the documentary I made on the occasion of the tenth year of his passing and his Gothic masterpiece: "DANSE MACABRE" with one of the most intense and sensual interpretations of BARBARA STEELE; followed by a midnight screening with "COMMANDO LEOPARD" an action movie with those that have been called the best special effects that my father and I have ever made.