50th Anniversary of “Durango is Coming, Pay or Die”

Today marks the 50^th Anniversary of the premier of “Arriva Durango, paga o muori” (Durango is Coming, Pay or Die”. Directed by Roberto Montero under the pseudonym Luis Monter and starring Brad Harris and José Torres it tells the story of Durango, a reputed gunman, who specializes in collecting unpaid debts. Durango arrives in Tucson after being hired by the town boss Ferguson. He foils a robbery by a Mexican bandit named El Tuerto and his gang, but when Ferguson refuses to pay him the reward he takes it by force. Ferguson manages to have Durango jailed for murder and theft but he escapes with the help of El Tuerto. Durango joins the gang of Arellana a friend of El Tuerto. Together they steal a gold shipment going to Ferguson. To avoid paying his debts the ruined Ferguson arranges a fake suicide and a mock funeral. Durango foils Ferguson’s plans and returns the stolen gold to the citizens of Tucson.

Arriva Durango, paga o muori - Italian title

Durango, paga o muori - Italian title

Viene Django paga o muere – Spanish title

Na mira do Colt... paga ou morre - Brazilian title

Durango encaisse on tue - French title

Aí vem Django, pagas ou morres - Portuguese title

Durango is Coming, Pay or Die - English title

 

A 1970 Italian, Spanish film co-production [Three Star Films (Rome), D.I.F.I. (Madrid)

Producer: Gisleno Procaccini

Director: Luis Monter (Roberto Montero)

Story: Mario Guerra, Vittoriano Vighi

Screenplay: Mario Guerra, Vittoriano Vighi

Cinematography: Mario Mancini [Easmancolor, CineScope]

Music: Coriolano Gori

Running time: 94 minutes

 

Cast:

Durango - Brad Harris (Bradford Harris)

El Tuerto - José Torres (José Medina)

Ferguson - Gino Lavagetto (Luigi Lavagetto)

Avellna - Giovanni Cianfriglia

Margot - Gisela Hahn (Gisela Drenkhan)

Jane Sullivan - Maretta (Maretta Procaccini)

Peter - Attilio Dottesio

Barman – Irio Fantini

Manuel Bienvenido - Salvatore Puntillo

Poker player - Fortunato Arena

Diego Avenaja - Emilio Messina

Morris - Roberto Messina

Reverend – Emilio Zago

Ferguson henchman - Franco Pasquetto

Esquimindi - Gino Turini

Avellana henchman - Vincenzo Maggio

Bienvenido henchman - Virgilio Ponti

townsman – Fulvio Pelligrino

Bandit - Gaetano Scala, Domenico Cianfriglia

Guitar player - Omero Capanna

South West Lines workman – Bruno Ariè

With: José Jaspe (José Rivas), Gabriella Giorgelli, Erika Blanc (Enrica Colombatto), Andrea Scotti, Franco Pasquetto (Gianfranco Pasquetto), Claudio Trionfi, Ivan G. Scratuglia (Ivan Giovanni Scratuglia), Gis Cooper (Gisleno Procaccini)

Stunts: Brad Harris (Bradford Harris), Roberto Messina