50th anniversary of the premier of “Gunmen and the Holy Ghost”

 

Today marks the 50^th anniversary of the premier of “Gunmen and the Holy Ghost” directed by Roberto Mauri using the alias Robert Johnson and starring Vassili Karis, Linclon Tate. This is another film in the Spirito Santo (Holy Ghost) series. A ranch owner named Powers (Tate) engages the Holy Spirit (Karis) for the capture of an outlaw, known as Solitaire. The outlaw is stealing weapons and selling them to a Mexican revolutionary general. Holy Spirit is helped by five former companions in his adventures Diego d’Asburgo (a fake priest) (Ray O’Connor), the pirate Morgan (Riccardo Pedrazzi), Boogers (Aldo Berti), Garibaldi (Ken Wood) and the Father (a former Anglican priest) (Michele Santini). The five arrive from Sicily in Springfield with two cousins of Garibaldi, who have the task of avenging the death of a relative. The two cousins are intertwined with those of the Holy Spirit, who comes to discover that Solitaire turns out to be Powers. He is later killed by his girlfriend, Elizabeth, absolving him of all crimes, but she also ends up being murdered.

 

Spirito Santo e le cinque magnifiche canaglie - Italian title

Rito Santo e le 5 magnifiche canaglie - Spanish title

Les 5 brignads de l’Ouest - French title

Holy Ghost and the Magnificent Scum – English title

Gunmen and the Holy Ghost - English title

 

A 1972 Italian production [Cepa Cinematografica (Rome)]

Producer: Franco Vitolo

Director: Robert Johnson (Roberto Mauri)

Story: Roberto Mauri

Screenplay: Roberto Mauri

Cinematography: Tonino Maccoppi (Antono Maccoppi) [Telecolor, widescreen]

Music: Carlo Savina

Running time: 91 minutes

 

Cast:

Albert Donovan/Spirito Santo/Holy Ghost - Vassili Karis (Vassili Karamesinis)

Carmelo - Salvatore Billa

Shepard/Capraio - Salvatore Baccaro

Diego d’Asburgo - Ray O’Connor (Remo Capitani)

Mr. Powers/Solitaire - Lincoln Tate (James Kennelly)

Garibaldi/Il Garribaldino - Ken Wood (Giovanni Cianfriglia)

Captain Ortega – Goffredo Ungar

Coccola/Bogey/'Booger The Irishman' - Aldo Berti

Morgan the Pirate - Riccardo Pedrazzi (Ricardo Petrazzi)

Consuelo - Angela Bo

Mr. Powers cousin – Daria Norman (Maria Pomentale)

Torreto/Turiddo - Giacomo de Michelis

Killers - Fortunato Arena, Paolo Magalotti

Girl in confessional - Josiani Maria Tanzilli

Mexican General - Spartaco Battisti

Mexicn Sergeant – Mauro Mannatrizio

Colonel - Tom Felleghy (Tamás Fellegi)

Soldier - Lorenzo Piani

Father Dillinger - Michele Santini (Michel Santini)

Priest - Gilberto Galimberti

Harem girls - Malfisa Macelloni, Claudia Bianchi

Townsman – Adriana Bruno

With: Jolando Modio (Jolanda Collimodio), Vittorio Fanfoni