Samson Burke Interview 2002. (Part 2 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.

Gordon Harmer: How many years did you wrestle?

Samson Burke: 9 years. I used the names Sammy Berg and Samson Burke in the ring. In fact I fought Lou Thiez 3 times for the Championship Belt. I was in Los Angeles when Norman Mauer spotted me for a film called THE THREE STOOGES MEET HERCULES, which was being shot at Columbia Ranch. Of all the films that I made, that one was probably my favorite. I was wrestling in LA and a friend suggested that I try out for the role of Hercules. Norman Mauer asked me to read for the part and without even a screen test, I got the part while others that were waiting were told to leave. Even though I had no prior acting experience. Norman Mauer was very helpful and understanding in guiding me through the role. The Stooges helped me immensely.   

Larry Anderson: Tell me about DIE NIBULUNGEN.

[SAMSON BURKE IN: WHOM THE GODS WISH TO DESTROY]

Samson: This is actually an opera in which I played King Blodelin. I had a wig on, my eyes were turned up because I was Mongolian. They put a bit of tape over your ears that pull your eyes back. I had on a long suede coat, a very expensive outfit. Because DIE NIBULUNGEN is sort of like their national anthem, they put the best costumes on. Director Harold Reinl was very strict and the set was very regimented, no nonsense, just do your job. Reinl’s wife Karin Dor, was one of the stars of the film.

Gord: You worked with Herbert Lom in this one?

Samson: Yes, I did. He was very serious and workmanlike and didn’t associate with the other actors very much. He said his lines and went back to his trailer. His wife at the time, was his manager and she was the one securing his acting jobs and his finances. She made sure he was being paid up front.

Gord: Did you get hurt in any of your films?

Samson: No not really. I got onto a horse in Yugoslavia that wasn’t shoed right. Two shoes on and two shoes off.  So he was running sideways on the pavement. I was trying to rein him in. When he got a hundred yards down, he slowed down real slow; I jumped off , as I know that I would have gotten hurt if I stayed on. No it wasn’t planned. (Laugh).

Larry: Mark Forest broke his leg during his first film. (Reported in the London Times).

Samson: I didn’t know that. I never got hurt.

Gord: I met Mark Forest a few years ago. He went over to Italy, made a few films, took the money and got out.

Samson: He bought an apartment building in California.

Larry: Steve Reeves did the same, he bought that ranch in California.

Samson: Yeah, I’ve been there a couple of times. He lived alone after his wife died.

Larry: He had another lady, a very pretty blonde. I was shocked when he died.

Samson: Yes, I thought he would go on forever. He was one of those types that I thought could go on forever and ever. Gordon Mitchell was a good friend of his as well.

Gord: Tell us about Gordon Mitchell and Joe Gold and your times together in California.

Samson: Gordon and I used to run together, 2 or 3 times a week. We used to live in the same area. Joe Gold lived in Santa Monica and wasn’t part of the clique.

Larry: Tell men that Ferrari story again.

Samson: Gordon Scott had bought a new Ferrari and took a drive to Milano. It is 600 miles straightaway on the “Road of the Sun”. He turned around and came back to Rome and headed down one of those city streets and couldn’t slow it down enough. He hit 2 or 3 cars, banged up his Ferrari and left it in the street. He was lucky he walk away.

Gord: I guess he figured he was making money, so who cares. He probably didn’t want to get deported.

Gord: How many years did you stay? Did you come back to the states?

Samson: Off and on for about 10 years. I also worked in Germany. I did a spy film with Brad Harris, did you know that? Part of it was filmed in Turkey; it was called THE GREEN HOUNDS (KILL ME GENTLY). It was like a James Bond type of film. Wild Motorcycle rides up and down the mountains, a wild fight inside a cave. They loved it on TV. They wanted me to do another one. Brad specifically hired me for this “heavy” role.

[Samson Burke with Brad Harris and Tony Kendall. Olinka Berova]

Thanks to Matt Blake for the Kommissar X pics.

Gord: Brad Harris; wife Olink Berova was in that film.

Samson: Olga was a nice girl. Very pretty, healthy looking girl. She had that mountain look. Very fresh. I think she came from Russia or something.

Gord: Czechoslovakia.

Samson: I also did that Toto comedy film in Italy. Toto is a famous comedian in Italy. Very funny guy. He was like the Three Stooges.

Bill Connoly wanted to know how long it took to shoot this Fernando Cerchio film?

Samson: 3 months.

Gord: What was it like working on ARRIVA DORELLIK, a comedy-caper film, with Johnny Dorelli? Margaret Lee was in it.

Samson: I remember Margaret Lee, but I don’t remember the film. Often I did cameos, got in and got out. I only remember full-length films like FIVE FOR HELL.

Gord: What did you think of Klaus Kinski?

Samson: Kinski was very good. He had an aura about him. In his own way, he was different. He just had a different aura, and developed from there.

Gord: Did you see any of the temperamental stuff that we read about?

Samson: A little of it. He had a chauffer to drive him around to his sets etc. He wasn’t that friendly a guy. It was hard to make friends with him. Like I said, he had a thing about him, and if he successful, that’s the way it was. I’m not one to judge. I say great for him, good for him.

Gord: How about Sal Borgese?

Samson: I didn’t know him.

[To be continued]