50th Anniversary of “Vendetta at Dawn”

 

Today is the 50^th anniversary of the premier of “Vendetta at Dawn”. Directed by Willy S. Regan (Sergio Garrone) and stars George Eastman and Ty Hardin, Bruno Corazzari tells the tale of Dr. George Benton, who after graduating from medical school in San Francisco, returns home to the farm of his brother Jonatham (Ty Hardin) to marry Lorry (Constanza Spada), his girlfriend of five years. Sometime later the brothers Fargas (Bruno Corazzari,Rick Boyd, Dominic Barto),

disappointed gold miners, attack the farm to rob and kill all the family members of George (only a brother and a nephew survive). Assuming that the criminals responsible for the attack are Ralph Barry (Nello Pazzafini) and his two accomplices, George is determined to avenge the deaths and pursues the three alleged killers of which only Ralph escapes. Having discovered that one of the surviving Bentons knows who the real culprits are, the Fargas brothers force Barry to join them and attack the farm to eliminate the dangerous witness. George, now aware of the truth (being informed by a prostitute), rejects their assault, killing both Ralph and Fargas. The third, Rod, flees, but is captured by George who turns him over to the sheriff to face justice.

Quel maledetto giorno della resa dei conti – Italian title

Sabata regle ses comtes – French title

Django – Der Tag der Abrechnung – German title

Ta colt ton paranomon – Greek title

Venganza – Spanish title

Terrible Day of the Big Gundown – English title

Vendetta at Dawn – English title

 

A 1971 Italian film production [Pentagono Cinematografica, Mancori Film (Rome)]

Producer: Alvaro Mancori, Felice Zappulla

Director: Willy S. Regan (Sergio Garrone)

Story: Gino Mangini (Luigi Mangini)

Screenplay: Sergio Garrone, Gino Mangini (Luigi Mangini)

Cinematography: Guglielmo Mancori [Kodakcolor, widescreen]

Music: Francesco De Masi

     Song: “Walk by My Side” sung by Raoul (Ettore Lovecchio)

Running time: 94 minutes

 

Cast:

Jonathan Benton – Ty Hardin (Orison Hungerford, Jr.)

Doctor George Benton/Sabata – George Eastman (Luigi Montefiori)

Jane – Anita Saxe

Gregory – Steffen Zacharias

Rod Fargas – Bruno Corazzari

Peter Fargas – Rick Boyd (Federico Boido)

Carl Fargas – Dominic Barto

Lorry Baxter Benson – Constanza Spada (Laura Troschel)

Sheriff Jed – Lee Burton (Guido Lollobrigida)

Hannah Benton – Lucia Catullo

Johnny Benton - Leo Widmark (Roberto Dell’Acqua)

Dan Benton – Roberto Dell Acqua

Wal – Jean Louis

Ralph Barry – Nello Pazzafini (Giovanni Pazzafini)

Joe – Bernard Faber (Bernard Farber)

Outlaw – Piero Nistri

Sam – Manfred Freyberger

Mexican – Sandro Scarchilli

Townsman – Elio Angelucci, Vincenzo De Palo

Saloon brawler – Rocco Lerro

With: Claudio Trionfi, Angelo Pieri, Vittorio Fanfoni, Franco Ukmar