50th anniversary of the premier of “Now They Call Him Sacramento”

 

Today marks the 50th anniversary of the premier of “Now They Call Him Sacramento”, directed by Alfonso Balcazar using the alias Al Bagran and starring Michael Forest, Gigi Bonos and Fred Harrison. The film tells the story of Sacramento (Michael Forest), Big Jim (Fred Harrison) and Jim's father Old Tequila (Gigi Bonos) get into a fight with a gang of outlaws planning to rob a shipment of gold from a train. Believing the money belongs to the government they take it for themselves, but the cash actually belongs to a community of farmers who now face eviction from their land. It seems that the outlaw trio were outsmarted were working for a crooked banker, Cray (Antonio Molino Rojo), who is attempting to take control of the farmers' land. When he discovers that the farmland is inhabited by a colony of beautiful women who have left their husbands because they refused to stand up to the banker's bullies, Sacramento tries to make amends. However, Old Tequila runs off with the money and Cray sends his thugs after Sacramento and Jim. In a dramatic ending the entire town is destroyed in a series of explosions. The film grossed 155,423 lire on its original release.

 

Hijos de pobres, pero deshonestos padres… le llamaban Calamidad – Spanish title

Les llamaban Calamidad – Spanish title

Los bandoleros – Spanish title

I bandoleros della dodicesima ora – Italian title

Agora Eles o Chamam Sacramento – Brazilian title

Oi anoihtoherides – Greek title

Os Bandoleiros da 12 ª Hora – Greek title

De kalte ham amen – Norwegian title

Они называют его Сакраменто – Russian title

Sacramento - värst i västern – Swedish title

Desperado – English title

Now They Call Him Amen – English title

Now They Call Him Sacramento – English title

 

A 1972 Spanish, Italian film co-production [Balcázar Producciones Cinematográficas

     S.A. (Barcelona), Variety Film (Rome)]

Producer: Francisco Balcázar

Director: Al Bagran (Alfoso Balcázar)

Story: Alfonso Balcázar

Screenplay: Alfonso Balcázar, Giovanni Simonelli

Cinematography: Jaime Deu Casas [Eastmancolor]

Music: Willy Brezza (Willi Columbini)

     Song: “Sundown Son” sung by Dream Bags

Running time: 90 minutes

 

Cast:

Sacramento/Amen – Michael Forest (Gerald Charlebois)

Old Tequila – Gigi Bonos (Luigi Bonos)

Big Jim – Fred Harrison (Fernando Bilbao)

Barbara/Jenny McKinley – Malisa Longo (Maria Longo)

Mr. Cray – Antonio Molino Rojo

Sheriff – Paolo Gozlino

Jack – Gaspar 'Indio' González

Sam - Fernando Rubio (Fernando Peña)

Sheriff Jack - Antonio Almorós (Ramona Almorós)

Tony - Johnny Fairen (Juan Fairen),

Widower – Pajarito (Manuel Muñiz)

Blinky - Juan Torres

Barber - Mario Del Vago

Daisy - Bruno Arié

Bartender – Armando Tortorici

Woman on train – Irene D’Astrea

Man on train - César Ojinaga

Train guard – Manuel Bronchud (Manuel Bronchud i Guisoni)

Poker players – Oscar Giustini, Bruno Ukmar

Saloon patrons – Roberto Messina, Giancarlo Ukmar, Giovanni Ukmar

Cray henchmen - Raúl Aparici, Sergio Aparici

With: Luigi Antonio Guerra, Fabio Garriba