Today marks the 50th anniversary of the
premier of “Deaf Smith & Johnny Ears” directed by Paolo Cavara and starring
Franco Nero and Anthony Quinn. The film tells a story based on a real character
who lived Texas’ fight for freedom and then admission to the Union In 1834,
Texas is about to join the Union. But an ex-army general has other plans. He
wants the state for himself, and, secretly backed by German finance, he gathers
together an army of desperados to overthrow the President and seize control.
The President hears of the plot and, without the money to pay an army of his
own, is forced to call upon two extraordinary characters – Deaf Smith (Anthony
Quinn) ageing deaf mute and his excitable young sidekick Johnny Ears (Franco
Nero). Together, the gun-totin' duo take on a whole garrison of soldiers in
this exciting tale that explodes at the seams with action and adventure!
The film made 387,899 lire at the Italian box office and
ranks 170 on the all-time Spaghetti western box office list.
Los amigos – Italian title
El sordo Smith y Johnny Orejas – Spanish title
Los Amigos – Spanish title
Rápidos, Brutos e Mortais – Brazilian title
Смит Глухаря и Джони Слухаря – Bulgarian title
Døve Smith & Johnny Øre – Danish title
Los amigos – Finnish title
Los amigos – French title
Das Lied von Mord und Totschlag – German title
Oi iroes tis siopis – Greek title
Βίβα Αμίγκος – Greek title
Lung fu ping mong – Hong Kong title
Süket Smith és Nagyfülű Johnny – Hungarian title
ロス・アミーゴス – Japanese title
Deaf Smith i Johnny Ears – Polish title
Los Amigos – de två professionella – Swedish title
İsyancılar – Turkish title
Deaf Smith & Johnny Ears – English title
A 1972 Italian, Spanish film co-production [Prima
Compagnia Cinematografica (Rome), Co. Film
(Madrid)]
Producers: Joseph Janni, Luciano Perugia
Director: Paolo Cavara
Story: Oscar Saul, Harry Essex
Screenplay: Oscar Saul, Harry Essex, Paolo Cavara, Lucia
Brudi, Augusto Finocchi
Cinematography: Tonino Delli Colli (Antonio Delli Colli)
[Technicolor, Panavision]
Music: Daniele Patucchi
Songs: “The
Ballad of Deaf and Ears”, “Even if You’re Not the First One” sung by Ann Collin
Running time: 97 minutes
Cast:
Erastus ‘Deaf’ Smith - Anthony Quinn (Antonio Quinn)
Juanito/Johnny Ears - Franco Nero (Francesco Sparanero)
Susie - Pamela Tiffin (Pamela Wonso)
General Lucius Morton - Franco Graziosi
J.M. Hoffman - Renato Romano (Raffaele Romano)
Hester McDonald Morton - Ira Fürstenberg (Virginia von
Fyrstenberg)
Reverend Williams - Adolfo Lastretti
Senator - Antonio Faa Di Bruno (Antonino Faà di Bruno)
Mrs. Porter - Francesca Benedetti
Rosita McDonald - Cristina Airoldi (Conchita Airoldi)
Bull Logan - Romano Puppo
Bess - Franca Sciutto
Barrett - Enrico Casadei
James - Lorenzo Fineschi
Corey - Mario Carra
Moss - Luciano Rossi (Luciano Romano)
Von Mittler - Tom Felleghy (Tamás Fellegi)
Colonel Mitchell McDonald - Renzo Moneta
Mrs. McDonald - Margherita Trentini (Margherita Horowitz)
Saloon barman - Franz Colangeli
Brother bartender – Giorgio Dolfin
Saloon artist - Pasquale Nigro
Man watching artist - Vizio Nitili
Man with Susie – Fulvio Grimaldi
Saloon patron - Mirko Bajocchi
Morton henchman - Mario Ingrassia
Hitman – Omero Capanna
Man in bedroom – Gennarino Pappagalli (Primo Gennaro)
With: Paolo Pieri, Freddy Unger (Goffredo Unger)