50thAnniversary of “Django the Bastard”

Today marks the 50th anniversary of the premier of “Django the Bastard” in Rome, Italy on November 8, 1969. The film was released in the United States as “The Stranger’s Gundown”. Starring Anthony Steffen and Paolo Gozlino and directed by Sergio Garrone. The film has often been said to be in the inspiration for Clint Eastwood’s “High Plains Drifter”, where a spirit returns to take vengeance on the men responsible for his demise.

Django il bastardo – Italian title

En Bende ploerten voor Django – Belgium title

La Horde des salopards – Belgium title

Django der Bastard – Dutch title

La horde des salopards – French title

Django contre la horde des salopards – French title

Django und die Bande der Bluthunde – German title

Höllenhunde gehetzt bis zum Verrecken – German title

Django, to megalo katharma – Greek title

W.D. jingo, el bastardo – Mexican title

I sinal de Django – Portuguese title

Django el vengador – Spanish title

El bastardo – Spanish title

Django the Bastard – English title

Django the Avenger – English title

The Stranger’s Gundown – U.S.A. title

A 1969 Italian production [SEPAC, Tigielle 33 (Rome)]

Producer: Herman Cohen, Pino De Martino, Anthony Steffen (Antonio de Teffe)

Director: Willy S. Regan (Sergio Garrone)

Story: Antonio de Teffe, Sergio Garrone

Screenplay: Antonio de Teffe, Sergio Garrone

Cinematography: Gino Santini [Technicolor, Techniscope]

Music: Vasco & Mancuso (Vassili Kojucharov, Elsio Mancuso)

Running time: 107 minutes

Story: During the Civil War, the betrayal of three Confederate officers allows the Northern troops to massacre an entire division of Southern soldier. The only survivor of the massacre, Django, goes in search of the three traitors after the end of the war. He’s determined to avenge the death of his companions. He eliminates two of the men, and prepares to settle accounts with the third, Rod Murdock, who, terrified by the fate of his colleagues, he entrusts the defense of his own safety to a large group of "gunslingers." Although alone, Django, uses all his cunning and abilities to eliminate a large number of gunman: the few survivors see fit to abandon Murdock to save their own lives. Murdock is forced to face alone his ruthless rival and succumbs after a fierce duel.

Cast:
Django/Johnny Shadow – Anthony Steffen (Antonio de Teffe)
Major Rod Murdock – Paolo Gozlino
Luke/Jack/Hugo Murdock – Lou Kamante (Luciano Rossi)
Williams – Teodoro Corrà
Brett – Carlo Gaddi
Lieutenant Sam Hawkins – Vic Gazzara (Victoriano Gazzara)
Alethea/Alida Murdock – Rada Rassimov (Rada Đerasimović)
Rowland – Tomas Rudi (Vito Gagliardi)
Captain Howard Ross – Jean Louis
Evans – Celso Faria
Sheriff Reagan – Furio Meniconi
Nick/Fuzzy – Osiride Pevarello
Rowland henchmen – Ennio Antonelli, Claudio RuffiniMurdock henchmen – Renzo Pevarello, Pietro Torrisi, Franco Ukmar, Giovanni Ukmar, Bruno Arié, Fortunato Arena, Emilio Messina
Hawkins henchmen – Angelo Susani, Artemio Antonini, Sandro Scarchilli
Man with dynamite – Remo Capitani (Renato Capitani)
Whore – Lucy Bomez (Lucia Bomez)
Storekeeper – Ennio Balbo
Howard’s wife – Emy Rossi Scotti (Emi Rossi Scotti), Elio Angelucci (Aurelio Angelucci)