50th anniversary of the premier of “Hallelujah to Vera Cruz”

 

Today marks the 50^th anniversary of the premier of “Partirono preti, tornarono... curati” (Hallelujah to Vera Cruz) directed by Bianco Manini using the alias Newman Rostel and starring Lionel Stander, Riccardo Salvino and Jean Luis. Sam ‘Tonaca’ Thompson (Lionel Stander) and Joe /John the Timid (Ricaardo Salvino), two wanted outlaws, are roaming around revolution-torn Mexico in search of safety and easy money. General "Stumpy" Migeul (Giampiro Albertini), a revolutionary leader, captures them and pretending to believe they are priests from the clerical disguise they are using, presents to them a plan to steal a non-existent cargo of gold, from the coffers of the governor for a large ransom. The two drifters then get involved in a series of adventures during which Sam and Joe humiliate an arrogant landowner named Don Felipe (Jean Luis), and are involved in shootings in the massacre of "Regulares". Joe also wins Adelita (Clara Hoph), the granddaughter of "Stumpy" living in the rectory of a small town where, to remedy the loss of the statue of St. Theodosius, old Sam is carried in procession disguised as the statue. A gust of wind redistributes the governor’s money to the people. Joe is happy because he will be able to remain with Adelita while Sam takes comfort in the prospect of appearing in a movie in the disguise of a cardinal.

 

The comedy western the film made 217,899 lire and is ranked 313 in Spaghetti western Italian box office returns.

 

Partirono preti, tornarono... curati - Italian title

Odesli jsme jako knezi vratili jsme se jako kurati – Czechoslovakian title

Oi 2 trinita apo ti Vera Cruz - Greek title

Halleluja Vera Cruz - Greek title

Aranyvadászok - Hungarian title

Hallelujah to Vera Cruz - English title

 

A 1973 Italian production [C.I.P.D.I. (Rome)]

Producer: Bianco Manini

Director: Newman Rostel (Bianco Manini)

Story: Ofelia Minaldi

Screenplay: Bianco Manini

Cinematography: Carlo Carlini [Eastmancolor, Cinescope]

Music: Luis E. Bacalov (Luis Enriquez Bacalov)

Song: "Blue Eggs and Ham" sung by ?

Running time: 102 minutes

 

Cast:

Sam ‘Tonaca’ Thompson - Lionel Stander

Joe/John the Timid - Riccardo Salvino

Don Felipe - Jean Louis

General ‘Stumpy’ Miguel - Giampiero Albertini

Adelita - Clara Hopf

Governor of Vera Cruz - Camillo Milli (Camillo Migliori)

Colonel of Regularies - Tom Felleghy (Tamás Fellegi)

clown - Colombaiomi (Falvio Colombaiomi)

revolutionaries - Spartaco Conversi, Osiride Pevarello

with: Giancarlo Badessi (Giancarlo Badese), Rick Boyd (Federico Boido), Sergio Serafini, Francesca Milizia, Stefano Patrizi, Renato Salvini, Anita Strinberg, Alvaro Vitali, Luigi Antonio Guerra, Carla Mancini