Chapter 6: “Cipolla Colt”

By Andrea Girolami

3/28/03/2019

The sixth episode of ‘Once Upon A Time My Set’, a column written by Andrea Girolami, on the sets of his famous father, director Enzo G. Castellari. Remember that Andrea is also a director.

Today I will tell you about my first trip abroad.

I prepared my little suitcase ... I put everything I could carry with me. Obviously they are just toys ... I also add my belt with a gun and a sheriff's badge. My emotions are at a maximum. I am overjoyed ... ..

"Mom ii will soon be Christmas ... but where are we going?"

"In Almeria to see dad! We’ll celebrate Christmas all together. "

"E VAIIIIIII ... .. !!!! But where is Almeria? "

My mother shows me the city on the globe I have in my room ... "But it's so far away !!!" - "Andrea, we’ll take a plane ... We’ll stop in Madrid and then we’ll take another small plane and we will be with dad. " Still with her sweet voice - I feel calm. Stefania is almost ready. We all start.

The journey is full of emotions. I feel in seventh heaven ... I’m going to Almeria !!!! Then, guys ... you should know that as a child I spoke Spanish well ... "I just have to add the" s "to the end of each word ... and it's done! ... Andiamos das papas !!"

Then I knew nothing of the beautiful and wonderful Almeria. Where we Italians, thanks to the great Sergio Leone, had created an envied genre - still today – known by all, the "Spaghetti Western". With “A Few Dollars (for Django)" we have created a real industry. The place is still the most fascinating in the world today. There is absolutely "nothing" ... only three beautiful western villages surrounded by a completely desert and inhospitable environment ... but at the same time it creates that indescribable charm. You have to go there to understand everything. When you arrive, you hear the horses that they ride and the guns that shoot ... and the dust that enters everywhere ... "Vamos companeros !!"

We arrived in Almeria ... outside the airport there is a super clean and super shiny car with a driver waiting for us ... Direction: Hotel. I am so tired that during the little trip, I fall asleep immediately - with the belt and gun. We arrived in Spain where Dad was filming "Cipolla Colt". It is the Spain of Generalissimo Caudillo Francisco Franco - who at the end of that year died along with his fascist dictatorship. But now I'm in his Spain with a young King Juan Carlos. Where everything is perfectly in order. It is a Spain where everything is cheap ... and here is the real reason why Italian productions have "invaded" Spain. For the costs.

The next day I'm on the set !!! I can't believe it ... the set is a western village ... with cowboys, horses and wagon. But everything around me is dirty. Dirty but fake. It is a scenic request. The village is covered with used motor oil. I see pneumatic tires burning everywhere. "Why does dad burn the tires?" "They must give the effect of intense smoke. I need it for the village. " It's all too cool !!!

I still can't believe it, the western villages still exist ... .. My sister is with me. We have a lot of fun. "No one stops me !!!", not even the real sheriff of the village, my sweet friend Leo Anchoriz. Wherever I go, there it is him who watches me and controls me. I have to tell you a little secret ... every time I visit a set of my father ... I practically disappear. Really! I disappear into nothingness. I open a small drawer of the drawers of my film memory ... in the summer of '83 I was in Israel. Dad was filming "Tuareg" ... one fine day I decided to "disappear" ... At one point "But where is Andrea?" All in search, even my uncle Enio! and for security reasons, a dozen Israeli army soldiers). After several hours ... I decide to return. Full of ammunition boxes and cartridge belts (which I still have) ... I remember everyone's face ... They didn't know whether to cry, get angry or laugh ... Well they chose to laugh. Even the Israeli soldiers laughed ... Because I looked like a little Rambo. What had I done that ws so dangerous ?? My uncle approaches:

"Did you go to the desert?"

"Yes, uncle! What did I do wrong??"

"But where exactly?"

I indicate the place ...

"Andrew!!! Fuck! You went where you didn't have to ... It's a minefield !!! "... ..

"Ooops !! I made a big mistake!!! "

Almeria ... has no mines. But is was always a deeply arid place. But at the same time, engaging and fascinating. As usual, I begin to walk ... farther and farther away ... I hear my mother's voice, which doesn't leave me for a moment: "ANDREA !!!! Come back immediately ... ".

For the first time I see many buildings ... I control everything. As curious as I am, I begin to open the doors. But they don't open up! I try again. Anything. Virtually all the doors are closed. I think: "They have closed the doors ... so that I cannot enter!!" But instead I discover the magic of cinema. Yes, the doors are closed, because there is nothing behind it. They are only facades, very real but only walls ... ... Leo and my sister make me see behind the houses ... there are only iron pipes and smany tables to support the facades of houses, no rooms!!!

"Leo, but where do you live?"

He answers me with his voice. A warm and loving voice. A secure voice that I still miss terribly today: "At home. The people of the country have appeared. It's all fake. Come on Kid we go ... they are waiting for us ”. My first day at "Mini-Hollwood" has come to an end ...

The next day, I wake up before everyone and want to go back to the set. I’m ready with my belt and gun ... Upon  arrival, what do they give me? A real cowboy belt !!!! I'm so happy I finally meet my other "uncle", "uncle" Franco (Nero) ... He hugs me hard !!! At one point I see two ... Yes, they are two. But how?? Franco has a twin brother ??? ... I will tell you about this new adventure in the next episode. A kiss!