Thursday, February 2, 2017

50th Anniversary of the Premier of “Hellbenders”



Today February 2nd we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the premier of Sergio  Corbucci’s “I Crudeli” (The Hellbenders) in Rome 1967.

The Civil War is over, but not for Colonel Jonas, a ruthless Confederate officer who wants to continue the fight by reorganizing Confederate troops in the Southwest with the support of a large sum of stolen money. He devises an elaborate ruse to allow his small party to travel with minimal scrutiny through territory now controlled and patrolled by Union forces The money is hidden in a coffin, said to contain the body of his dead son. Jonas' other sons travel with him along with a hired "widow", as they proceed to what they hope to be a new start to the War between the States. However, while en route, they face severe, ongoing strife among themselves and successive threats from Union soldiers, a posse of cowboys, and an Indian war party.

I crudeli - Italian title
Los despiadados - Spanish title
Rio Hondon kuolemanloukku - Finnish title
Les cruels - French title
Die Grausamen - German title
Helvetescommandos - Swedish title
Initkam yolu - Turkish title
The Cruel Ones - English title
The Hellbenders - U.S.A. title

A 1966 Italian, Spanish co-production [Alba Cinematografica (Rome), PEFSA, Tescia (Madrid)]
Producer: Albert Band, José Gutiérrez Maesso
Director: Sergio Corbucci
Story: Virgil C. Gerlach, Ugo Liberatore
Screenplay: Ugo Liberatore, Albert Band, José Gutiérrez Maesso
Cinematography: Enzo Barboni [Eastmancolor, CinemaScope]
Music: Leo Nichols (Ennio Morricone]
Running time: 93 minutes

Cast:
Colonel Jonas - Joseph Cotten
Claire/Mrs. Ambrose Allen - Norma Bengell (Norma Benguell)
Ben/Dan - Julián Mateos (Julián Perez)
Jeff - Gino Pernice (Luigi Pernice)
Nat - Angel Aranda
Pedro - Aldo Sanbrell (Alfredo Brell)
‘The Beggar’ - Al Mulock (Alfred Rogers)
Sergeant Tolt - Julio Pena (Julio Munoz)
Reverend Pierce - Claudio Gora (Emilio Giordana)
Lieutenant Sublette - Enio Girolami
sheriff - José Nieto
Kitty/Mrs. Ambrose Allen - María Martín (María Vargas)
Indian chief - Claudio Scarchilli
Slim - Benito Stefanelli
Union soldiers - Gene Collins, William Conroy
Bixby - Álvaro del Luna (Alvaro Blanco)
Denton Saloon gambler - Ivan Scratugli
Mexican bandits - Rafael Vaquero, Simón Arriaga, José Canalejas



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