50th Anniversary of “Dead for a Dollar”

Today is the 50^th anniversary of the premier showing of T’ammazzo…raccomandati a Dio (“Dead for a Dollar”) in Rome, Italy. The film starred John Ireland and George Hilton and was directed by Osvaldo Civirani. It tells the story of the Colonel who is looking for his two cohorts in crime who have made off with $200,000 from a recent bank robbery the trio performed. He comes across one of them, Roy Fulton who was shot during the robbery, who’s died and is now being buried. This leaves only one, 'The Portuguese', to find. When he locates 'The Portuguese' he finds the funeral of Fulton was a hoax and he knows where he's hiding with the cash. The priest in charge of the funeral was actually Glenn Reno who is now Fulton's partner. The coffin contained the stolen bank money. When Reno returns after the funeral with a doctor for Fulton he finds the outlaw gone and thinks he's been double-crossed. He goes to the graveyard digs up the coffin and finds Fulton's body and the $200,000 missing. The crooked banker arrives in town looking for his split of the stolen funds. A series of double and triple-crosses ensue and in the end a fourth party, Liz ends up with the money and Reno, 'The Colonel' and the 'The Portuguese' follow in hot pursuit.

T’ammazzo…raccomandati a Dio – Italian title

Fidarsi è bene, sparare è meglio – Italian title

Pour un dollar je tire – French title

Muerto por un dolar – Spanish title

Django – wo steht Dein Sarg? – German title

I’ll Kill You, and Recommend You to God – U.K. title

Trusting is Good…Shooting is Better – English title

Dead for a Dollar – U.S.A. title

A 1968 Italian film production [Denwer Film (Rome)]

Producer: Osvaldo Civirani

Director: Osvaldo Civirani

Story: Tito Carpi, Osvaldo Civirani, Luciano Gregoretti

Screenplay: Tito Carpi, Osvaldo Civirani, Luciano Gregoretti

Cinematography: Osvaldo Civirani [Eastmancolor, Cromoscope]

Music: Angelo Francesco Lavagnino

Running time: 106 minutes

Cast:

Glenn Reno - George Hilton (Jorge Acosta y Lara)

‘The Colonel’ - John Ireland

Liz - Sandra Milo (Salvatrice Greco)

‘The Portuguese’ - Piero Vida (Pietro Vida)

Roy Fulton - Gordon Mitchell (Charles Pendleton)

Hartmann - Franco Ressel (Domencio Orobona)

Frank - Dick Palmer (Domenico Palmara)

Mr. Higgins - Andrew Scott (Andrea Scotti)

Jack - Roberto Messina

Bill - Sergio Testori

Ralph's girl - Monica Pardo

Doctor Aloisius - Renato Chiantoni

Innkeeper - Enzo Andronico (Vincenzo Andronico)

Saloon patron - Franco Gulà (Francesco Gulà)

Brawler - Artemio Antonini

Sheriff Dawson - Ivan G. Scratuglia (Ivan Giovanni Scratuglia)

Sheriff at funeral – Luciano Doria

Patsy/Betty - Carla Brait

Girl hustling bets – Rosella Bergamonti

Frank henchman – Rocco Lerro

With: Mario De Vico