50th Anniversary of the premier of “Death Rides Alone”

Today marks the 50^th anniversary of the premier of “Con lui cavalca la morte” (Death Rides Alone) starring Mike Marshall, Helen Chanel, Paolo Giusti Carol Andre and Robert Hundar. Marshall was the son of director William Marshall and actress Michèle Morgan. Mike would also star in the 1968 Euro-western “Vendo cara la pelle” (I'll Sell My Skin Dearly).

Con lui cavalca la morte – Italian title

Com Ele Cavalga a Morte – Brazilian title

Tödlicher Ritt – German title

Tödlicher Ritt nach Sacramento – German title

En kula for var och er – Swedish title

Yasamak icin dua et! – Turkish title

Pony Express – U.K. title

Death Rides Alone – English title

A 1967 Italian production [Intalcine TV, Piciene (Rome)]

Producer: Franco Palombi, Gabriele Silvestri, Enzo Bulgarelli

Director: Joseph Warren (Giuseppe Vari)

Story: Augusto Caminito, Fernando di Leo

Screenplay: Augusto Caminito, Fernando di Leo, Adriano Bolzoni

Cinematography: Amerigo Gengarelli [Eastmancolor, Cromoscope]

Music: Lallo Gori (Coriolani Gori)

Running time: 92 minutes

Story: Bobby 'Idaho' Kent works as an agent for the pony express. He's asked to go to Sacramento with proof to indite, Bryan Talbot, a corrupt political candidate for Senator against Stuart Cooper. Talbot hires a group of henchmen led by Kriss to try and keep Idaho from completing his mission. Kent is ambushed but rescued by pioneers from a wagon train. Kriss tries to stop Kent again but he and two of his men are killed. Talbot's wife Dolores now hires her ex-lover Luke Prentiss to stop the messenger. Prentiss tracks Idaho down disarms him, hits him and watches as he falls over a cliff. Thinking he's accomplished his task Prentiss returns to Sacramento only to find Kent has reached Sacramento and is able to keep Talbot from winning the election. In his place Cooper is elected Senator.

Cast:

Bobby 'Idaho' Kent - Mike Marshall (Michael Marshall)

Dolores Talbot - Hélène Chanel

Kriss - Paolo Giusti

Susan - Carole André (Carol Smith)

Luke Prentiss - Robert Hundar (Claudio Undari)

Susan - Carole André (Carol Smith)

Bryan Talbot - Andrea Bosic

Luke Prentiss - Peter Martell (Pietro Martellanza),

Jeremiah - John McDouglas (Giuseppe Addobbati)

Warwick - Attilio Severini

Susan’s mother - Luisa Della Noce (Maria Della Noce)

Man killed in church - Alfredo Adami

Talbot cook - Amerigo Santarelli

Talbot henchman - Amerigo Castrighella, Claudio Ruffini

With: Giorgio Gargiullo, Carlo Gaddi, Paola Natale, Bruno Arié, John Bryan (Gianni Brezza)