50th anniversary of the premier of “Deaf Smith & Johnny Ears”

 

Today marks the 50^th 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)