50th Anniversary of “A Fistful of Death”

 

Today marks the 50^th Anniversary of the premier of “Giù la testa… hombre!” (A Fistful of Death). Directed by Demofilo Fidani using the alias Miles Deem and starring Hunt Powers, Jeff Cameron, Klaus Kinski and Gordon Mitchell. The film tells the story of Macho Callaghan (Cameron), an army lieutenant, is sent on a mission as an undercover agent to destroy an outlaw gang led by Butch Cassidy (Powers) and Iron Head Donovan (Gordon). He manages to get in with the gang, posing as a wanted outlaw. When Cassidy and Donovan get into a dispute, they decide to form to separate and form independent bands. Macho is then able to convince Iron Head to attack his ex-partner. In the ensuing clash, the two bands end up destroying each other. Iron Head, survives the massacre, but in trying to escape with the gangs accumulated loot he is prevented in doing so by Macho, who completes his mission by killing the bandit leader.

 

Giù la testa… hombre! - Italian title

Doppia taglia per Minnesota Stinky - Italian title

Da bende van Butch Cassidy - Dutch title

Macho Callaghan gaat er op los Dutch title

Macho Callaghan se dechaine - French title

Ballada para Django - Spanish title

Ich will ihn tot - German title

Ich will deinen Kopf! - German title

The Strange Tale of Minnesota Stinky - English title

A Fistful of Death - U.S.A. title

 

A 1971 Italian film production [Electra Compagnia Cinematografica (Rome)]

Producer: Siego Spataro

Director: Miles Deem (Demofilo Fidani)

Story: Demofilo Fidani

Screenplay: Demofilo Fidani, M.R. Valenza (Maria Rosa Valenza), Alfredo Medori

Cinematography: Aristide Massaccesi [Eastmancolor]

Music: Lallo Gori (Coriolano Gori)

Running time: 91 minutes

 

Cast:

Butch Cassidy - Hunt Powers (Jack Betts)

Macho Callaghan - Jeff Cameron (Giovanni Scarciofolo)

'Testa di ferro'/Iron Head Donovan - Gordon Mitchell (Charles Pendleton)

Reverend Cotton - Klaus Kinski (Nikolaus Nakaszynski)

Sundance Kid - Philip Garner (Giancarlo Prete)

Buck O'Sullivan - Dennis Colt (Benito Pacifico)

Ben - Lucky Mc Murray (Luciano Conti)

Colbert – Giglio Gigli

Carson – Antonio Danesi

Lucas - Custer Gail (Amerigo Castrighella)

Donovan henchman - Michele Branca, Marcello Meconizzi

Saloon girl - Grazia Giuvi

Notary Paul J. Stark - Renzo Arbore (Lorenzo Arbore)

Mr. Pinkerton - Manlio Salvatori

Cardsharp - Franco Ricci

Townsman - Elio Angelucci (Aurelio Angelucci), Alessandro Perrella

Michael - Pietro Fumelli

Gang member - Paul Crain (Vincenzo Pulcrano)

Brawler - Calogero Caruana

With: Pino Polidori (Giuseppe Polidori), Enzo Radicchio