Tuesday, March 31, 2020

Sergio Leone: my films, my life




Among the books that can be downloaded for free today on the website of the publishing house Il Saggiatore , which has joined the Digital Solidarity initiative by publishing on its website, on a regular basis, e-books to download, the beautiful volume C'era una volta il cinema, an interview book with Sergio Leone created by Noël Simsolo  the result of fifteen years of uninterrupted dialogue.

“At the base of this book of interviews there are fifteen years of friendship - writes Noël Simsolo in the preface - fifteen years of continuous dialogue between Paris, Cannes and Rome. Fifteen years of film festivals in Roman trattorias or in small Marais bistros, in haute cuisine restaurants or in friends' homes. Fifteen years of walks at the Montreuil flea market, animated discussions and crazy laughter in the buildings of Paris or the French Riviera; fifteen years of telephone conversations to talk about cinema or to make appointments with potential financiers. Fifteen years of coexistence that have resulted in this book, as a sort of marriage of convenience."

Once upon a time there was cinema is the text to which Leone entrusted the story of his life and all the films he made. The frames of his memories carry the hat of Clint Eastwood and the badly shaved beard of Gian Maria Volonté, the melodies of Ennio Morricone, the look of Claudia Cardinale and the blurred smile of Robert De Niro, the meetings with  Pier Paolo Pasolini, Klaus Kinski and Orson Welles.

Reading this memoir-interview, published in Italy in 2018, is like finding a voice that was believed to be lost in an old cassette. A high-pitched, amused, ferociously unconventional voice, which between an anecdote of life on set and a reflection on cinema ends up revealing the secrets of a director who has managed to transform the years of prohibition into the poignant novel of betrayed friendships, revenge and love lost.



Special Birthdays


Jose Prada (actor) would have been 95 today, he died in 1978.

Monday, March 30, 2020

Albo Edis ~ Grand Adventures


This comic book release consisted of only 9 issues which was dived into two series. With
non progressive numbering. Series I #1 was published in April 1973 while #8/9 (6) was published in December 1973. Series II #1 was published January 1, 1974 and #3 February 1, 1974. From #6/7 published in November 1973 the heading becomes THALAKO and the number of pages are reduced. Text and drawings were done by Pini Segna. Eight pages were devoted to sports. In series I: the #4/5, 6/7, 8/9 are double numbers. The comic was published by EDIS Publishing House in Torino, Italy. It originally consisted of 80 pages for the double numbered issues and was reduced to 32 pages for the single numbered issues.

Seies I Titles
01 (00.04.73) - "Albo Edis" (Aldo Edis)
02 (00.05.73) - "Il tesoro del tomawak" (The Treasure of the Tomahawk
03 (00.06.73) - "Un'ondata di morte (A Wave of Death)
4/5 (00.00.73) - "Poker di sangue" (Blood Poker)
6/7 (00.11.73) - "Una taglia per due sceriffi" (One Size for Two Sheriffs)
8/9 (00.12.73) - "Una tomba piena di odio" (A Grave full of Hate)

Series II Titles
01 (01.01.74) - "Stretta mortale" (Deadly Grasp)
02 (15.01.74) - "Il ritorno del vampiro" (The Return of the Vampire)
03 (01.02.74) - "Desperados" (Desperados)

Special Birthdays


Francisco Marin (cinematographer) would have been 100 today, he died in 1983.
Egon Gunther (actor) would have been 90 today, he died in 2017.













Preben Kaas (actor) would have been 90 today, he died in 1981.

Sunday, March 29, 2020

Spaghetti Western Location ~ Forte/Dehesa de Navalvillar


In the northern part of the Dehesa de Navalvillar, Spain under the direction of the production designers Jaime Perez Cubero and Jose Luis Galicia, a fort (Fuerte Laredo) was built for the films “Seven from Texas” (1964) by Joachim Romero Marchent. It is an imposing structure (70 x 35 meters), surrounded by a sturdy palisade of logs up to seven meters high, with a large internal courtyard, watering troughs and various wooden buildings, which then appears in another film by the same director , “Seven Hours of Gubnire” (1965), and in :Three From Colorado” (1965); “Black Eagle of Santa Fe” (1964); “The Two Sergeants of General Custer” (1965); “The Fall of the Mohicans” (1965); “Custer of the West” (1966); “Kill the Wicked” (1967) (in which it appears in a state of abandonment); “Fort Yuma Gold” (1966); “Gatling Gun” (1968) (the fort appears to be in ruins); “Duel in the Eclipse” (1968); “Land Raiders” (1969). Very few traces of this fort remain today: only the concrete bases of two drinking troughs and some holes in which the largest trunks of the palisade were inserted. Three hundred meters away, from J.P. Cubero and J.L. Galicia, a large ranch was built (see Rancho Cubero-Galicia / Dehesa de Navalvillar.)



"Seven from Texas" (1964)




"Black Eagle of Santa Fe" (1964)



“Fall of the Mohicans” (1965)




“Fort Yuma Gold” (1966)



“Land Raider” (1969)


Spaghetti Western Locations for “Day of Anger”


After visiting the bank Talby goes to Abel Murray’s saloon. He finds Abel at his desk and throws down the $1,000 he got from the bank and the confession. He demands a 50/50 partnership in the saloon. Murray asks if this is a joke and Talby says no he’s lost his sense of humor but has gotten his inheritance of the saloon from Wild Jack. He tells Murray to sign the paper of partnership. He tells Able Bill Farrow talked and either sign it or end up on the gallows tomorrow. After signing the paper Talby asks for a room since he’s boss now and is given #7. Murray asks Talby what he just signed and is told a complete detailed confession.


This scene was shot in the western set at Cinecitta Studios in Rome, Italy.



For a more detailed view of this site and other Spaghetti Western locations please visit my friend Yoshi Yasuda’s location site: http://y-yasuda.net/film-location.htm and Captain Douglas Film Locations http://www.western-locations-spain.com/

Special Birthdays


Natalia Avelon (actress) is 35 today.

Saturday, March 28, 2020

RIP Hipolito de Diego


Veteran Spanish dubbing actor and director Hipolito de Diego died March 28, 2020 in Spain. It was announced by by Voces de Imagenes on Facebook of his passing. I have no record of his date or place of birth and no mention was where Hipolito died. He was both active in Barcelona and Madrid during his career and both dubbed voices and directed the dubbing sessions. His Euro-western dubbing included  “The Sheriff of Fractured Jaw” (1960) as director and Spanish voice of Sid James and Sheldon Lawrence; “The Vengeance of Zorro” (1962) where he was the Spanish voice of Manuel Alexandre and Guillermo Mendez; “Two Mafiamen in the Far West” (1965) as director and Spanish voice of Mario Brega; “Taste of Vengeance” (1969) as the Spanish voice of Ivan Scratuglia; “My Name is Nobody” (1974) as the Spanish voice of Geoffrey Lews and Mario Brega; “El Zorro” (1974) as the Spanish voice of Padre Eusebro; “Zorro” (1976) doing various voices and for the 1983 DVD release of “Black Jack” hse was the Spanish voice of the hotel clerk.

RIP Salvador Vives


It was announced Saturday March 28, 2020 by Voces de Imagenes on Facebook that Spanish actor and voice dubber Salvador Vives had passed away from the Coronavirsu. Salvador was born in Barcelona, Spain in 1942. He was the Spanish dubbing voice of Jeremy Irons, Rupert Everett, Pierce Brosnan and William H. Macy. Along with his long dubbing career he also appeared in over 20 film and TV series from 1967 – 2006. His Eurowestern dubbing consisted of the Spanish voice of John Steiner in the 1983 Spanish DVD release of “A Man Called Blade”, Pierce Brosnan’s voice in 1999’s “Grey Owl”, the voice of Fabio Testis in the 2007 Spanish DVD release of “China 9, Liberty 37” and the voice of Manuel Bozzuffi in the 2015 DVD release of “Lucky Luke’.

BFI Southbank events and screenings cancelled or postponed



It is with great regret that, due to the rapidly evolving COVID-19 pandemic, and following Government's updated advice on 16 March, we have taken the decision to close BFI Southbank effective immediately, and all forthcoming events and screenings are now cancelled or postponed.

Our priority is first and foremost the health of our staff and of our audiences and visitors to BFI Southbank.

Our teams work incredibly hard on developing our programmes, and the decision to close the venue and cancel all events has not been taken lightly, particularly as the financial implications on us as a charity are considerable.

Please be assured that all ticket holders for cancelled events have options on refunds and we will be contacting people in due course. However, by not requesting a refund you would be making an exceptionally generous and much appreciated charitable donation to the BFI during these unprecedented times.

Though we are unable to join each other in cinemas across the country for the time being, we are all part of a global community of film lovers and film makers and will continue to champion the art form that we love.

In the meantime you can enjoy the best of British and World Cinema at home on BFI Player and we are looking forward to opening our doors again and welcoming our fellow film lovers as soon as it is safe to do so.

From BFI Chief Executive Ben Roberts and the everybody at the BFI


The music included on this compilation was due to be performed live at the Royal Festival Hall in April, due to the Corona virus outbreak it has been cancelled. But the music has been released by Silva Screen for you to enjoy.  The recording will be available on April 17th 2020. 


Voices of the Spaghetti Western ~ “The Dead are Countless”


As we know most of the Euro-westerns were co-productions from Italy, Spain, Germany and France which incorporated British and American actors to gain a worldwide audience. The films were shot silent and then dubbed into the various languages where they were sold for distribution. That means Italian, Spanish, German, French and English voice actors were hired to dub the films. Even actors from the countries where the film was to be shown were often dubbed by voice actors for various reasons such as the actors were already busy making another film, they wanted to paid additional salaries for dubbing their voices, the actor’s voice didn’t fit the character they were playing, accidents to the actors and in some cases even death before the film could be dubbed.

I’ll list a Euro-western and the (I) Italian, (S) Spanish, (G) German and (F) French, (E) English voices that I can find and once in a while a bio on a specific voice actor as in Europe these actors are as well-known as the actors they voiced.














Today we’ll cover “The Dead are Countless”
[(I) Italian, (S) Spanish, (G) German, (F) French, (E) English]

Anthony Steffen – Lieutenant Garringo (I) Anthony Steffen, (S) Jose Guardiola, (G) Horst Naumann
Johnny – Peter Lee Lawrence (I) ?, (S) Luis Carrillo, (G) Michael Hinz
Julie – Solvi Stubinh (I) ?, (S) Celia Honrubia, (G) Solvi Stubing
Sheriff Klaus - José Bódalo (I) ?, (S) Vicente Bano, (G) Paul Klinger
Damon – Raf Baldassarre (I) Raf Baldassarre, (S) Fernando Mateo, (G) K.E. Ludwig
Pete – Luis Marin (I) ?, (S) Luis Marin, (G) ?














CELIA HONRUBIA (1929 – 2014)

Celia Honrubia was one of the most prestigious voices of the Spanish cinema. She was born Celia Riva García in Valencia, Spain on January 16, 1929. She studied dramatic art and piano at the Cnservatory of Valencia. There she began he career as a theatrical actress in the Casa del los obreros. Celia settled in Madrid and started he dubbing career in 1956. She worked at Sincronía Studios from 1964 until her retirement in 1992 due to poor eyesight. She was known as the Spanish voice of Greta Garbo, Ingrid Bergman, Elizabeth Taylor, Liv Ullman, and Katharine Hepburn. Se was married to actor Jesús Nieto. Celia Horubia died in Spain on February 1, 2014.


Who Are Those Composers ~ Daniele Patucchi



Daniele Patucchi was born in Turin, Piedmont, Italy in 1945. The son of artists, Patucchi learned his profession directly working and performing music, in a wide range: from Jazz and Rock to Classic and Digit Synthesizers on which he performs his own works. The composer, conductor, bassist and producer he has composed more than 50 movie soundtracks.


PATUCCHI, Daniele (Danielle Patucchi) [1945, Turin, Piedmont, Italy -     ] – producer, conductor, songwriter, musician (bass).
Black Killer* – 1971
A Cry of Death – 1971 (co)
Requiem for a Bounty Hunter – 1971
The Federal Man - 1972
Deaf Smith & Johnny Ears* – 1972
Death Played the Flute - 1972
They Call Me Amen – 1972
You Are a Traitor and I'll Kill You!* – 1974

*Available on CD

Special Birthdays


Dante Cleri (actor) would have been 110 today, he died 1982.













Aiace Parolin (cinematographer) is 100 today.













Alberto Grimaldi (producer) is 95 today.


Friday, March 27, 2020

Spaghetti Western Trivia ~ Lavagnino / Morricone



When Sergio Leone was making “A Fistful of Dollars” his first choice for composer was Angelo Francesco Lavagnino a well known Italian film composer from the Peplum days. Because his film was produced by Arrigo Colombo and Giorgio Papi who were able to get the town site, costumes, crew and some of the actors from “Bullets Don’t Argue” they suggested Leone meet with the composer being used named Ennio Morricone. Leone did not remember he had gone to grade school with Ennio but Morricone remembered him immediately upon meeting him and the two were able to work well together and Leone replace Lavagnino with Morricone and the rest is history. 


New CD Release ~ Franco De Gemini performs Ennio Morricone












Franco De Gemini performs Ennio Morricone
Composer: Ennio Morricone
Performer: Franco De Gemini

Country: Italy
Label: BEAT
#CDX1016
Tracks: 26
Extras: Available in a slim jewel case with an external obi, with mastering by Claudio Fuiano and Daniel Winkler, graphic layout and liner notes by Daniele De Gemini


Track listing:
PER UN PUGNO DI DOLLARI
1 LA REAZIONE 2:36
2 MUSICA SOSPESA 1:01
IL BUONO, IL BRUTTO,IL CATTIVO
3 MARCETTA 2:52
4 IL TRENO MILITARE 1:25
FACCIA A FACCIA
5 BALLANDO SULL'AIA 1:41
NAVAJO JOE
6 PELLI CONCIATE E PELLI MORTE 1:20
SETTE DONNE PER I MACGREGOR
7 SETTE DONNE PER I MACGREGOR (Titoli) 2:34
C'ERA UNA VOLTA IL WEST
8 MAN WITH A ARMONICA 3:27
9 DEATH RATTLE 1:43
L'ALIBI
10 IMMAGINI DEL TEMPO 2:26
11 SOGNANDO 1:51
VAMOS A MATAR COMPAÑEROS
12 VAMOS A MATAR COMPAÑEROS (Titoli) 2:26
13 IL PINGUINO 2:57
14 LA MESSICANA 2:40
15 IL PINGUINO (#3) 2:02
LA BANDA J.& S. : CRONACA CRIMINALE DEL FAR WEST
16 SWEET SUSAN 5:24
UNA VITA VENDUTA
17 ITALIANI CONTRO ITALIANI 3:10
PEUR SUR LA VILLE
18 PAURA SULLA CITTA' 4:13
19 ESSERE PRESO DAL PANICO 1:29
L'ULTIMO TRENO DELLA NOTTE
20 COINCIDENZE 4:03
21 L'ULTIMO TRENO DELLA NOTTE 5:01
LE RUFFIAN
22 WESTERN? 3:42
23 LE RUFFIAN 1:12
24 L'ORO COME PERICOLO 4:23
L'AGNESE VA A MORIRE
25 L'AGNESE VA A MORIRE (Titoli) 3:15
Bonus track
26 C'ERA UNA VOLTA IL WEST (RECORDING SESSION) 1:25

Special Birthdays


Manfred Freyberger (actor) would have been 90 today, he died in 1980.








Victor Auz (screenwriter) is 85 today
Stefano Capriati (actor, stuntman) would have been 85 today, he died in 2015.

Thursday, March 26, 2020

New Comic Book Release Deadwood Dick. Black Hat


Deadwood Dick. Black Hat
Subject:  Joe R. Lansdale
Script:  Mauro Boselli
Illustrator:  Stefano Andreucci
Cover:  Stefano Andreucci
Format:  22 x 30 cm, b / w
Pages:  200
ISBN code:  978-88-6961-485-9
Bookshop release: March 26

The new adventure of the African-American cowboy Deadwood Dick
The new adventure of the African-American cowboy Deadwood Dick with the screenplay by Mauro Boselli and the drawings by Stefano Andreucci in the bookstore and comic store from 26 March

Sergio Bonelli Editore presents DEADWOOD DICK. BLACK HAT JACK by JOE R. LANSDALE

The new adventure of the African-American cowboy Deadwood Dick in the bookstores and comic book shops on March 26th. With the script by Mauro Boselli and the drawings by Stefano Andreucci.

As a child I was attracted to science fiction and fantasy, and still am, but later I realized that westerns were also a form of fantasy. My family had lived through the final part of the epic of the West, going through the years of the Civil War. So my family history is intimately linked to that world, to that broad mythology of the West that I always liked so much - Joe R. Lansdale

Joe R. Lansdale 

He is the Texas writer who has been able, book after book, to conquer readers from all over the world. During his career, Lansdale has used various narrative registers and has dealt with very different genres: noir, science fiction, horror ... His novels have shown his preference for the use of strong language and black humor that constitutes the original stylistic code. A unique sound that is also the protagonist in the stories of Deadwood Dick.

In DEADWOOD DICK. BLACK HAT JACK, the African-American cowboy  Deadwood Dick in fact he tells one of his most incredible adventures in a light-hearted way. An epic feat during which he, his friend Black Hat Jack and a handful of buffalo hunters had to face the attack of hundreds of warriors Comanche, Cheyenne, Kiowa and Arapaho. A day when it was really difficult to keep the scalp in the head ...
The story, written by Mauro Boselli and with drawings and cover by Stefano Andreucci, is inspired by the story in which Joe R. Lansdale recalls the Second Battle of Adobe Wells of June 27, 1874. The volume is also accompanied by an interview with Lansdale made curated by Luca Crovi and Seba Pezzani.


50th Anniversary of “Paths of War”


Today marks the 50th Anniversary of Franco & Ciccio’s “Paths of War” a Euro-western comedy film directed by Alberto Grimaldi. The story concerns itself with Franco and Ciccio, two soldiers in the Sicilian army, are forced to flee by the arrival of Garibaldi. The two smuggle themselves out of Sicily by lying in coffins being shipped to America, where they find themselves lost and without any money. They enlist in the U.S. Army and are sent west to fight Indians, despite their stupidity they are able, by a series of fortuitous circumstances, to cause the defeat of the Indians and their final surrender. Things seem to be for the best for Franco and Ciccio, but the sudden discovery of a wrong doing forces them to abandon their enlistment in the army and they find refuge in the desert. To put an end to their troubles, the two hapless friends agree to marry the daughters of an Indian chief and to integrate into an American Indian tribe.


Franco e Ciccio sentiero di guerra - Italian title
Zwei Trottel als Revolverhelden - German title
Franco - Ciccio, oi dyo polemarhoi - Greek title
Franco & Ciccio on the Warpath - English title
Paths of War – English title

A 1969 Italian film production [Mondial Televisione Film (Rome)]
Producer: Sergio Bonotti
Director: Aldo Grimaldi (Arnaldo Grimaldi)
Story: Giovanni Grimaldi, Bruno Corbucci
Screenplay: Giovanni Grimaldi
Cinematography: Fausto Zuccoli [Eastmancolor]
Music: Roberto Pregadio
Running time: 95 minutes

Cast:
Franco Lo Cascio - Franco Franchi (Francesco Benenato)
Ciccio Spampinato - Ciccio Igrassia (Francesco Ingrassia)
Jeff - Renato Baldini
Lucy Foster - Adler Gray
Wowoka - Joseph Persaud (Turam Quibo)
Lieutenant Martin/Morgan - Stelvio Rosi
Colonel Foster - Gianni Solaro (Gianni Lorenzon)
Officer – Silvio Klein
Mormon - Lino Banfi (Pasquale Zagaria)
Indian - Pietro Torrisi
Scotsman - Renato Malavasi
Sergeant Douglas - Alfred Rizzo
Barman - Luigi Bonos
Sheriff - Fulvio Mingozzi
With: Turi Campochiaro (Salvatore Campochiaro), Wolff Fischer (Wolfgang Fischer), Silvano Spada, Veronica Mary Wells