50th Anniversary of the premier of “Return of the Holy Ghost”

 Today we celebrate the 50^th anniversary of the premier of “Return of the Holy Ghost”. Directed by Roberto Mauri using the pseudonym Robert Johnson and starred Vassili Karis, Craig Hill, Remo Capitani using the alias Ray O’Connor and Daria Norman. It tells the story of Lieutenant Albert Donovan’s handicapped brother, has married the girl he, Spirito Santo (Vasili Karis), is in love with. Donovan’s earned the nickname Spirito Santo because he always seems to be in the right place at the right time and stands up for justice in an evil in a corrupt world. A gang, led by a bandit named Diego of Habsburg (Remo Capitani), continually robs the gold shipments departing from Fort Phoenix. Lieutenant Donovan is asked to investigate the case and discovers that the bandits grow more frustrated with each robbery because the ingots are replaced by fakes. Diego thinks a treacherous sergeant is behind all of this, but Spirito Santo reckons the affair might be more complicated. Also suspicion is also cast upon his own commanding officer (Craig Hill) and a banker (Jose Torres).

This was the second film in the Spirito Santo (Holy Ghost) trilogy.

Bada alla tua pelle Spirito Santo – Italian title

Le magnifiche canaglie West - Italian title

Bem vindo Espírito Santo – Brazilian title

And His Name was Holy Ghost – English title

Watch Your Back, Holy Ghost – English title

Return of the Holy Ghost – English title

 

A 1972 Italian film production [CEPA Cinematografica (Rome)]

Producer: Franco Vitolo

Director: Robert Johnson (Roberto Mauri)

Story: Roberto Mauri

Screenplay: Roberto Mauri

Cinematography: Pino Pinori (Giuseppe Pinori) [Eastmancolor, CinemaScope]

Music: Carlo Savina

Running time: 92 minutes

 

Cast:

Lieutenant Albert Donovan/Spirito Santo/Holy Ghost – Vassili Karis (Vassil

     Karamesinis)

False Colonel John Mills – Craig Hill (Craig Fowler)

Diego d’Asburg – Ray O’Connor (Remo Capitani)

Elizabeth/Suomi – Daria Norman (Maria Francesca Pomentale)

Banker Jim Charlie – José Torres (José Medina)

Garibaldi/‘Il Garibaldino’ – Ken Wood (Giovanni Cianfriglia)

‘Morgan the Pirate’ – Augusto Funari

‘The Priest’ – Omero Capanna

Little Thomas – Gaddo Gelli

Bogey/Caccola – Aldo Berti

Margaret – Lilian Tyrel

Mike – Roberto Danesi

Sergeant William Barrett – Salvatore Billa

Colonel John Mills – Tom Felleghy (Tamás Fellegi)

Suomi’s father – Fortunato Arena

Elizabeth/Suomi’s mother – Lina Franchi

Commandant - Attilio Pelegatti

With: Vittorio Fanfoni, Lorenzo Piani, Malfisa Macelloni