50th Anniversary of the Premier of “Hellbenders”

Today February 2^nd we celebrate the 50^th 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