50th Anniversary of “Whisky & Ghosts”

 

Today marks the 50^th anniversary of the premier of “Whisky & Ghosts” directed by Anthony Dawson and starring Tom Scott and Fred Harris. The story is about young Napoleon Higgins (Scott), who roams the West selling the elixir of life. One day, a group of angry customers, ties him up and he ends up if an Indian burial ground where he encounters the ghost of the legendary Davy Crockett (Harris), and from that moment takes him under his wing. Thanks to Davy, Napoleon escapes the gang of the Mexican Garcia (Ricardo Palacios),and returns the favor by trying to return to Davy an old friend, Granny Rosy (Elsa Zabala), custodian of the secret of a treasure. In the company of Rosy (Maribel Martin), the pretty niece of Rosy, they head for Dusty City. During the journey Garcia returns and attacks, but suffers a humiliating defeat by Napoleon, thanks to the help of his invisible friend. With his newfound courage, he must once again deal with the raging Garcia and the man who secretly directs the actions of the gang. They want to seize the treasure of Katie, but again are frustrated by the actions of Crockett and the ghosts of Pecos Bill (José Luis Ayestarán) and Johnny Appleseed (Daniele De Luca). The treasure turns out to be a thousand cases of whiskey. Napoleon and Rosy, who become husband and wife, open a profitable saloon.

Whiskey e fantasmi – Italian title

Fantasma en el Oeste – Spanish title

Whisky y fantasmas – Spanish title

Fantasma en el Oeste – Argentinian title

Sivatagi szellemek – Hungarian title

Hayaletler – Turkish title

Whisky and Ghosts – English title

 

A 1974 Italian, Spanish film co-production [Compagnia Cinematografica Champion

     (Rome), CIPI (Madrid)]

Producer: Carlo Ponti

Director: Anthony M. Dawson (Antonio Margheriti)

Story: Gianni Simonelli, Antonio Margheriti

Screenplay: Gianni Simonelli, Antonio Margheriti, Miguel De Echarri

Cinematography: Alejandro Ulloa [Technicolor, Techniscope]

Music: Paolo Vasile

Running time: 104 minutes

 

Cast:

Napoleon Barney Higgins – Tom Scott (Alberto Terracina)

Davy Crockett – Fred Harris (Fernando Bilbao)

Captain Garcia – Ricardo Palacios

Sheriff – Barta Barri (Bernabé Barri)

Rosy – Maribel Martin

Pecos Bill – José Luis Ayestarán

Dusty City Sheriff – Paul Costello

Mastermind boss - George Rigaud (Pedro Delissetche)

Mortimer - Franco Ferracini (Francesco Ferracini)

Train maitre'd – Miguel Del Castillo

Train waiter - Fabián Conde

Train passenger – Roman Ariznavarreta (Román Gonzalez)

Paco – Rafael Albaicin

Granny Katie – Elsa Zabala

Davy Carradine – Manuel de Blas (Manuel Munoz)

Barman – Daniele de Luca

Hotel clerk – Luis Barbero

Hotel bellhop – Pedro Besti

Boutique clerk - Maribel Hidalgo

Potion customer - José Galera Balazote

Saloon patron – Gene Collins

Casino patron – Felipe Urmeneta

Poker players - Paul Benson, Santiago Ontanon (Santiago Fernández), Saturno Cerra

     (Saturnino Pendás)

Roulette players - Antonio Orengo (Antonio Alonso), Rafael Cortes

Undertaker - Agustín Bescos

Bandits – Luis Barboo, Antonio Ponciano

With: Francisco Gómez