Lino Ventura was originally set to play the part of of Maral. This would have re-teamed Ventura with Charles Bronson; the two had both starred in the earlier “The Valachi Papers” (1972). However, due to the part being a supporting role, Ventura withdrew and was replaced by Marcel Bozzuffi.
[These daily posts will cover little known actors or people that have appeared in more recent films and TV series. Various degrees of information that I was able to find will be given and anything that you can add would be appreciated.]
Sergio Cosanti is/was an Italian director, assistant director and film actor involved in three films from 1969 to 1974.
His only Spaghetti western was an uncredited role in “La sfida dei MacKenna” (Amen) in 1969. I can find no biographical information on him.
COLASANTI, Sergio [Italian] – director, assistant
director, film actor.
Amen – 1969
As we know most of the Euro-westerns were co-productions from Italy, Spain, Germany and France which incorporated British and American actors to gain a worldwide audience. The films were shot silent and then dubbed into the various languages where they were sold for distribution. That means Italian, Spanish, German, French and English voice actors were hired to dub the films. Even actors from the countries where the film was to be shown were often dubbed by voice actors for various reasons such as the actors were already busy making another film, they wanted to be paid additional salaries for dubbing their voices, the actor’s voice didn’t fit the character they were playing, accidents to the actors and in some cases even death before the film could be dubbed.
I’ll list a Euro-western and the (I) Italian, (S) Spanish, (G) German and (F) French, (E) English voices that I can find and once in a while a bio on a specific voice actor as in Europe these actors are as well-known as the actors they voiced.
Today we’ll cover “Hallelujah for Django”
[(I) Italian, (S) Spanish, (G) German, (F) French, (E) English]
Billy 'Rum' Cooney – George Hilton (I) Sergio Graziani, (I) Juan Miguel Cuesto, (G) Michael Chevalier
Santo/David Phaylard - Hunt Powers (I) Pino Locchi, (S) Luis Porcar, (G) Jürgen Thormann
Jarret/Clay Thomas – Walter Barnes (I) Carlo Romano, (S) José María Cordero (G) Alexander Welbat
Mara – Sarah Ross (I) Rita Savagnone, (S) Mari Pe Castro, (G) ?
Jenny – Erica Blanc (I) Vittoria Febbi, (S) Pilar Gentil, (G) Beate Hasenau
Mark – Jeff Cameron (I) Massimo Turci, (S) Diego Martín, (G) Fred Maire
Sheriff Martin Cooney – Enzo Fiermonte (I) Renato
Turi, (S) Fernando Mateo, (G) Hans Wiegner
Juan Miguel Cuesto (? - ?)
Juan Miguel Cuesta was truly great actor with one of the best and most beautiful voices in Spanish dubbing, with an extraordinary deep voice register that's one of the most romantic and seductive, thanks to its warmth and charm. He lent his voice to Michael Caine, Donald Sutherland, Paul Newman, Ian McKellen, and Michael Caine and dubbed Sonny Corleone (film and TV series), Mandible, and Ernie on Sesame Street, among many other characters.
I can find no biographical information on Juan other than
the Spanish dubbing data base “el doblaje” states he’s died. No dates or
locations as to his birth and death can I find. Another great film personality
gone and forgotten.
[These daily posts will cover little known actors or people that have appeared in more recent films and TV series. Various degrees of information that I was able to find will be given and anything that you can add would be appreciated.]
I can find no information on Leonardo Colapetro. There is an illustrator and a Brazilian cameraman with the same name but I doubt if either is our actor.
His only Spaghetti western was in 1962’s “Il segno di Zorro” (The Sign of Zorro) with Sean Flynn as a professor. He’s not listed in the cast on the IMDb but have seen him given credit on other sites.
COLAPETRO, Leonardo – film actor.
The Sign of Zorro – 1962 (professor)
Lex Barker – Western Hero and Playboy – English title
A 2023 French documentary film [Arte France Cinéma (Paris)]
Producers: Hannah Altschuck, Wolf von Truchsess, Lisa-Marie Voß
Director: Andreas G. Wagner
Story: Andreas G. Wagner
Photography: Ion Casado, Carlos Fuchs, Matthias Günther, Peter Reuther [color]
Music: Krystian Migotz
Running time: 53 minutes
Cast:
Narrator - Gergana Muskalla
He is the most sought-after man in Europe in the 1960s: Lex Barker. A flawless hero in his films and, as Old Shatterhand, a role model for generations of fans. Revered in Europe, misunderstood and almost forgotten in his homeland America. But who was this American who rides through Yugoslavia in a leather costume for the European audience?
In 1973, Lex Barker's life ends: a heart attack on the streets of Manhattan falls on the giants with the dazzling appearance in his hometown, of all places, a few days after his birthday. But no one recognizes the man who had been Tarzan in Hollywood. The fact that he was an icon in Europe as Winnetou's friend, Old Shatterhand, is not known or interested in anyone in New York. For the film history of the country of John Wayne and Clint Eastwood, Lex Barker's European Western adventures are only a footnote.
"Lex Barker – Western Hero and Playboy" tells the story of perhaps the most beautiful man who ever flickered across Europe's cinema screens. The story of a man who is led by a failed Hollywood career via Italy to Germany. And who proves to be a stroke of luck for European cinema there. For children and adults alike, Lex Barker is the larger-than-life American friend in the 1960s. Today, Lex Barker's cinematic legacy is controversial. Is it still allowed to watch the Winnetou films? However, his films and his life are undisputed.
