50th Anniversary of “Have a Good Funeral”

 

Today marks the 50^th Anniversary of the premier of “Have a Good Funeral” in Rome, Italy. The film was directed by Anthony Ascott and starred Gianni Garko, The story is that Sartana witnesses the killing of Benson, a gold miner, and goes to Indian Creek to find out who is behind the crime. Sometime later, Sartana arrives in the city of the dead man's niece, Jasmine, who inherited from her uncle a piece of land. Sartana presents the deed to the girl, winning her trust and convincing her to reject any offer for the estate. Wanting to become the owner at any cost, because he is convinced that gold will be found there in large quantities, the banker Hoffman, who is really responsible for the murder of Benson, first tries, in vain, to eliminate Sartana. Failing this he then kidnaps Jasmine to get her to give him the deed to the land. Sartana manages to free the girl and in a battle of wits with Hoffman he succumbs miserably. For a long time Sartana has been in contact with Chinese Tse Tung, a saloon owner who is interested in the purchase of Jasmine’s land. Sartana tells him to pay $100,000, to gain possession. Once the deal is completed Tung finds no trace of gold on the land. Jasmine knew this from the very beginning, because she had always worked with her uncle, a retired con-man, who used to sell non-existent gold mines. She tries to escape with the money from this last trick, but Sartana prevents her, leaving her with only $10,000.

Buon funerale amigos... paga Sartana - Italian title
Buen funeral amigos... paga Sartana - Spanish title
Sartana ordner begravelsen - Danish title
Viimeinen naula arkkuun! - Finnish title
Bonnes funerailles amis, Sartana paiera - French title
Sartana - noch warm und schon Sand Drauf - German ttile
Kathe trapouloharto kai mia sfaira - Greek title
Matalo... entierralo... i paga Sartana! - Mexican title
Przyjacielu, niech ci ziemia lekka bedzie - Polish title
Born funeral, amigo... paga Sartana - Portuguese title
Sartana - hamnaren - Swedish title
Have a Good Funeral, My Friend - English title
A Present for You, Amigo... a Coffin from Sartana - English title
Stranger’s Gold - U.S.A. title
Gunslinger - U.S.A. title
Have a Good Funeral... Sartana will Pay - U.S.A. title
Have a Nice Funeral My Friend - English title

A 1970 Italian, Spanish co-production [Flora Film, N.C. (Rome), Hispamer Film

     (Madrid)]
Producer: Sergio Borelli
Director: Anthony Ascott (Giuliano Carnimeo)
Story: Jeff Simon (Giovanni Simonelli)
Screenplay: Roberto Gianviti, Giovanni Simonelli
Cinematography: Stelvio Massi [Eastmancolor, Cinescope]
Music: Bruno Nicolai
Running time: 95 minutes

Cast:
Sartana - Gianni Garko (Giovanni Garcovich)
Ronald Hoffman - Antonio Vilar (Antonio Justinanodos dos Santos)
Jasmine/Abigail Benson - Daniela Giordana
Julie - Elga Line (Lisa Stern)
Peng/Lee Tse Tung - George Wang (Wang Yie)
sheriff - Luis Hinduni (Luigi Radici)
Blackie - Antonio Staccioli (Ivano Staccioli)
Samuel Piggot - Franco Ressel (Domenico Orobano)
Colorado Joe - Aldo Berti
undertaker - Franco Pesce
Jim Piggot - Rick Boyd (Federico Boido)
Ralph Piggot - Rocco Lerro
Joe Benson - Attilio Dottesio
Lee Tse Tung bouncers - Claudio Ruffini, Pietro Torrisi (Pietro Torisi)
Piggot brothers - Roberto Dell’Acqua, Jean Pierre Clarain
gamblers - Fortuanto Arena, Sergio Testori