50th anniversary of the premier of “The Judgment of God”

 

Today marks the 50^th anniversary of the premier of “Il giustiziere di Dio” (The Executioner of God). It was directed by Franco Lattanzi and starred William Berger, Donal O’Brien and George Wang. The film tells the story of Tony Lant (William Berger), a famous Arizona gunslinger, who leaves his wife Carol and his gun when his son accidentally falls into a pit and dies. Lant becomes a priest and builds a mission with an adjoining orphanage. Now known as Father Lanthony he ignores the fact that in the basement of his church lies hidden a large quantity of gold bars, the result of a robbery. Two bands at the same time go on a treasure hunt and the men of Ramon Orea George Wang), also called the gang of the Tris, they break into the church and open the passage to the gold with dynamite. They seize the gold but kill all the children in the orphanage. Tony is released from the well where he’d been thrown by his faithful servant Goliath (Victor Stock) and begins to hunt for the bandits. After a long search, he tracks them down through their spending of the spoils from the robbery. The priest draws Orea to the mission and into the hands of the sheriff who captures him with large posse. Having in the meantime also witnessed the death of Carol (Nuccia Cardinal), the former gunslinger is directed towards an Indian reservation where he will continue his ministry.

 

Il giustiziere di Dio - Italian title

Le justicier de Dieu - French title

The Executioner of God - English title

God’s Gunman - English title

The Judgment of God - English title

The Executioner of God – English title

 

A 1973 Italian production [Cigno Cinematografica (Rome)]

Producer: Giovanni Vari

Director: Franco Lattanzi

Story: Franco Lattanzi

Cinematography: Franco Appetito [Technicolor, Techniscope]

Music: Piero Piccioni (Gian Piero Piccioni)

Running time: 87 minutes

 

Cast:

Padre Tony Lang/Lant/Lanthory - William Berger (Wilhelm Berger)

Frank ’Ace of Hearts’ - Donal O’Brien

Ramon Orea ‘Ace of Diamonds’ - George Wang (Wang Yie)

John ‘Ace of Spade’ Ivan Greeve

Ramon henchman - Maurizio Mannoia

Carol Lang/Lant/Lanthory - Nuccia Cardinal

Paul ‘Goliath’ - Victor Stock (Victor Stocchi)

Tim Robson/Bronson/Donny – Attilio Dottesio

Paul’s sister – Giovanna Mainardi

Ringo - Tony DiMitri (Antonio Dimitri)

Red – Lorenzo Piani

Hotel bouncer – Bruno Arie

Hotel brawler – Franco Pasquetto

Barman – Clemente Ukmar

Brenda – Clara Hopf

Abilene Sheriff - Antonio Calo

Sheriff – Angelo Casadei

Deputy – Sergio Silveri

Safecracker – Nello Palladino (Aneillo Palladino)

Safe robbers - Luciano Conti, Benito Pacifico

with: Alessandro Perrella, Alberta Santilli, Gianni Cardillo (Gianni Cardello), Nicola Mozzillo, Raffaele Rossi, Osiride Pevarello