Samson Burke Interview 2002. (Part 1 of 3)

Based on notes taken during an interview, conducted by Larry Anderson, and Gord Hammer, with the great SAMSON BURKE in Toronto on September 8, 2002.

After having some photos autographed, we started to ask him a few questions about his career in Italian movies.

Larry: I understand that you are originally from Montreal.

Samson: Yes, I’m from a suburb of Montreal. I also graduated from McGill University and hold a degree in physical education. I also speak French fluently. When I was in Italy, I learned to speak Italian as well.

Gord: (He was born April 6^th 1930).

Larry: We all know your name is Sammy Berg, but I hope I don’t mind if I call you Samson?

Larry: I understand that you have won several bodybuilding titles?

Samson: Yes, I was the 1952 Mr. Canada and the 1961 Professional Mr. Universe.

Larry: Ercole Magazine mentioned that you were once a Mr. Muscle Beach.

Samson: Yes, I won that in 1960 in California.

Larry: I know your were involved with Ercole Magazine as there are several article on you and your films throughout the issues. (Ercole Magazine started in 1959 and is still published today.)

Samson: I was also on several of the covers.

Larry: Here is a photo of you on a horse in western attire. The article from the Weider Magazine said it was from a movie of yours called, THE RETURN OF RINGO.

Samson: I believe it was from a film called OKLAHOMA JOHN, or something like that. You know, it started off as that, but they change the names so often, it’s hard to keep track of them. That was about 1964.

Larry: Was the film ever completed? (There is a well known Italian western called THE RETURN OF RINGO that Eric Mache sent to me from New York, to look at. The video arrived a few days before I met with Samson, and I can state without a doubt that Samson Burkes is not in the movie). Samson remembers making some sort of western but doubts that it was ever completed and released.

Larry: There is also a report in Ercole that you are slated to make a film with Gordon Mitchell, called PIRATA DIABOLICO (Devil Pirates). Was that ever started? They used to team up the big guys in some of these films.

Samson: No, that was never even started. Gordon Mitchell brought me over to Italy to film the VENGEANCE OF URSUS. In fact, I stayed at his place for a while. We had a gym at Mitchell’s apartment on the roof. We had a makeshift gym with an umbrella to shade us from the sun as we worked out. We got a friend at a small machine shop nearby to make us weights and bars.  

Gord: Gordon Mitchell wants you to write to him. Here is his address.

Samson: Thanks; I’ll be sure to do that.

Bill Connolly wanted to know what it was like to work with Luigi Capuano?

Samson: He was a Commander in the Italian Navy and did “everything by the book”. Very straight forward. The Italians were more laid back in their approach to filmmaking. A very relaxed set.

Gord: Did you have an agent?

Samson: Yes, I had to have an Italian agent. It was the same agent Gordon Mitchell used.

Larry: Ercole reported in 1964 that you were going to star in a CHEIENE TV series, but didn’t say anything more about it.

Samson: Yes, 3, 1-hour long episode were filmed for RAI, the Italian TV network. I know they were completed, but don’t know if they were ever shown on Italian TV.

Larry: RAI is still going strong, I(n) fact the network is broadcast all over the world in 2002. I watch it here in Toronto.

Larry: Ercole also reported that you were to star in, IL SEGNO DI ZORRO. (Sign of Zorro), was that ever started?

Samson: No, I made IL TRIUMFO DI ROBIN HOOD (Triumph of Robin Hood) instead. I played Little John in that. Don Burnett and Gia Scala starred as well. They were husband and wife at the time.

Larry: Several magazines published reports that you were set to star in an Italian TV series based on the ERCOLE (Hercules), character. Did that ever get off the ground? 

Samson: No, never heard a word about that.

Larry: You had a good part in the I SPY, TV series.

Samson: Yes, the episode was called NOW YOU SEE HER, NOW YOU DON’T. It was filmed on the Greek islands of Delos and Mykonos.

Larry: Just so you understand Toronto a little bit. Did you know Toronto has the second largest concentration of Italians in the world, second only to Rome. Thirty years ago, there were about 20 Italian movie theaters here. I was very lucky to have seen so many types of films on the big screen. In fact I saw several of your movies here.

Samson: I have no idea. (complete surprise)

[To ne continued]