Tuesday, February 18, 2025

RIP Juan Mariné

 


Spanish cinematographer and film restorer Juan Mariné died in Madrid, Spain on February 17th. He was 104. With one hundred and forty titles to his credit, from the years before the Civil War to the 1990s, he participated in great classics of Spanish cinema. Apart from his work as a director of photography, he stands out for his work in the restoration of old films for the Film School of the Community of Madrid (ECAM) and the Spanish Film Archive from the mid-1980s, with a technology designed by him. Considered not only as one of the great professionals, but as the memory of Spanish cinema for his long experience and his work in the recovery, restoration and conservation of film heritage, he has been worthy of numerous awards and tributes among which the Honorary Goya for his professional career in 2024 stands out. Juan was the cinematographer on 1969’s “Legacy of the Incas”.

Little Known Spaghetti Western Actors ~ Ping Chen

[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.]

Ping Chen was born in 1948 as Chen Shu-Xia in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, China. She began her acting career at the age of 16, on the recommendation of Ko Chun-Hsiung. She has appeared in a number of Taiwanese-dialect movies, as well as in TV series of TTV. In 1972, she joined Shaw Brothers as an actress. Her first project was "Kiss of Death" which was directed by Ho Meng-Hua. Chen's sexy performance in the movie propelled her into stardom. She has also appeared in other erotic movies, including co-starring with Tanny Tien Ni, Hu Chin, Yueh Hua and Yeung Kwan in Li Han-Hsiang's "Illicit Desire"; and in "Sexy Playgirls", directed by Li Chi. Chen has also appeared in "The Golden Lotus", "Sinful Adulteress", "Women of Desire", "Crazy Sex", "Death Duel" and "The Call-Girls".

Her only Spaghetti western film was “El karate el Colt y el impostor” (The Stranger and the Gunfighter) in 1974 as Wang’s sister.

CHEN, Ping (aka Ping Chan) (Chen Shu-Xia) [7/7/1948, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, China -     ] – film actress.

The Stranger and the Gunfighter – 1974 (Wang’s sister)

A new French Blu-ray release of “Companeros”

 









Companeros

(1970)

 

Directed by Sergio Corbucci

Starring: Tomas Milian, Franco Nero, Iris Berben, Fernando Rey

 

Country: France

Label: Carlotta Films

2 disc set.

Aspect ratio: 2.35:1 HD

Languages: French, Italian, English

Subtitles: French

Running time: 119 minutes

Extras: Interview with Jean Baptiste Thoret, original trailer, Includes the documentary "Django & Django" on a separate BluRay disc.

ASIN: B0DMG6HDD5

Release date: February 18, 2025

60 years ago, the opening scene of this western was unheard of, and we still talk about it today!

This western marked a generation and its very first scene is one of the most original (and cynical) of the genre!

Allocine

By Corentin Palanchini

February 12, 2025

And For a Few Dollars More marked the history of the western by confirming the talent and style of Sergio Leone, while launching the wave of the Italian western. But remember the opening scene of the film? Brilliant, cynical and original, it has become cult over time by its audacity and always the black humor of its director in the background.

In the distance, a horseman is advancing quietly in the desert. The silence of the scene is broken by a relaxed whistle from a person who we guess is close to us, on a height, observing the rider. The latter continues his advance at a walk, and the whistles continue. When suddenly, a noise sounds.

It's the sound of a Winchester cocking. We can't see it, but the threat exists. The whistle stops. A shot rings out, the rider falls off his mount, which moves away. Our whistler was also a gunslinger. And the credits begin.

Each inscription of this credits is evacuated by a gunshot, as if the whistler was unleashed and firing at all costs, all accompanied by the original theme of the film signed by composer Ennio Morricone.

A not only surprising and hard-hitting way to start a film, but also completely in line with its subject, since And for a Few Dollars More tells the story of two bounty hunters. And what better way to enter their world than to show us one of them shooting down a mobster in cold blood and without taking the slightest risk?

For the anecdote, the whistle on this sequence is made by Sergio Leone himself.

This opening sequence leads to the first scene of the film, a close-up of a Bible hiding the face of Colonel Mortimer, a character played by Lee Van Cleef. And For a Few Dollars More marked Sergio Leone's first major commercial success, and it was from this success that Americans began to speak of the "spaghetti western" to refer to this emerging genre in Italy and to understand its impact.



Special Birthdays

George Kennedy (actor) would have been 100 today but died in 2016.







Rik Battaglia (actor) would have been 95 today but died in 2015.







John Manero (Colleferro Manera) (writer) would have been 85 today but died in 2013.

Monday, February 17, 2025

RIP Antonio Contreras

 


Antonio Contreras the young Spaniard who played the crying fiddle player in the Betterville Band in 1966’s “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” died on February 16th. He was born in Spain in 1942. He is the older brother of Domingo, who is still living and was born in 1946 and played the harmonica. These musicians were recruited from Burgos and neighboring towns to fill positions in the scene where Angel Eyes had Sergeant Wallace beat up and torture Tuco to try and gain information on the hidden treasure.

Presidents Day 2025

 


Little Known Spaghetti Western Actors ~ Li Chen

[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.]

Hsueh Han was born in China on September 23, 1922. He acted under several aliases and appeared in 202 films 1966-1992, was the assistant director on one. He was known for "One-Armed Boxer" (1972), "Master of the Flying Guillotine" (1976) and "A Touch of Zen" (1971).

His only appearance in a Spaghetti western was as Cin Ciao/Chen Chao in 1973’s “Tutti per uno, botte per tutti” (The Three Musketeers of the West). Here he was billed as Li Chen.

CHEN, Li (aka Hsieh Han, Hsued Han, Shieh Han, Shih Han, Xue Han, Shuhy Hang, Shut Hon, Si Hon. Sit Hon, Shit Hong, Shu Hong, Sit Hong (Hsueh Han) [9/23/1922, China – 2022, Taiwan] – assistant director, film actor.

The Three Musketeers of the West – 1973 (Cin Ciao/Chen Chao)

Spaghetti Western locations Then & Now – “The Legend of Frenchie King”.

In this scene from “The Legend of Frenchie King” (1971) we see Brigitte Bardot sitting in a rocking chair by a warm fire contemplating. The location of the house was in Cascajares de la Sierra, Burgos, Castilla y León, Spain.

Here’s what’s left of the fireplace in 2024 while the rest of the place is totally gone.


 


European Western Comic Books – Capitan Miki 2








Captain Miki 2

This is the first reprint of Captain Miki made by Dardo in the golden album format: Series I/VII collects the first seven series in strips, Series VIII collects the eighth and ninth series in strips. Using the same series, the publisher also publishes the reprints of The Great Blek. From July 15, 1957, the new series of the Collana Prateria begins, which publishes in each album both the adventures of Captain Miki and those of The Great Blek. Covers were by Alberico Motta, Emilio Uberti (Series III/VIII), Antonio Canale and others. Images were drawn by Dionigi Vescardi

 

Series I Capitan Miki

#1 (September 15, 1953) #14 (April 1, 1954)

Series II Capitan Miki vs. Magic Face

#1 (April 15, 1954) #7 (July 15, 1954)

Series III Capitan Miki and Tawega the Mohican

#1 (August 1, 1954) #7 (November 1, 1954)

Series IV Capitan Miki and the Redcoats

#1 (November 15, 1954) #7 (February 15, 1955)

Series V Capitan Miki and the Spies of S. Francisco

#1 (March 1, 1955) #7 (10 June 1955)

Series VI Captain Miki against Diablito

#1 (15 June 1955) #7 (September 15, 1955)

Series VII Captain Miki and the pirates of the lagoon

#1 (1 Oct. 1955) #7 (1 Jan. 1956)

Series VIII Captain Miki and the Western Scrollers

#1 (15 Jan. 1956) #14 (1 Aug. 1956)

 

The series was published in 1953 with issue #1 released on September 15, 1953 and ended with issue #14 on August 1, 1956. It was published in Milan, Italy by Casa Editrice Dardo (CED) by editor Franco Bagolini.

 

Titles

Serie I “Capitan Miki” (Captain Miki)

Serie II “Magic Face contro Capitan Miki” (Magic Face versus Captain Miki)

Serie III “Capitan Miki e Tawenga” (Capitan Miki and Tawenga)

Serie IV “Capitan Miki e le Giubbe Rosse” (Captain Miki and the Red Jackets)

Serie V “Capitan Miki e le spie di San Francisco” (Capitan Miki and the Spy of San

             Francisco)

Serie VI “Capitan Miki e Diablito” (Capitan Miki and Diablito)

Serie VII “Capitan Miki e nuvola nera” (Captain Miki and Black Cloud)

Serie VIII “Capitan Miki e gli scorridori del West” (Capitan Miki and His Ride from the

              West)

 


Special Birthdays

Arthur Hunnicutt (actor) would have been 115 today but died in 1979.








Marc Lawrence (actor) would have been 115 today but died in 2005.









Leonardo Pieraccioni (actor) – is 60 today.



Sunday, February 16, 2025

From the WAI! vault

 


Little Known Western Actors ~ ‘Chelelo’

[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.]

‘Chelelo’ was a nickname used by Mexican actor Eleazar García Sáenz. He was born in Mier, Tamaulipas, Mexico on September 28, 1924. Eleazar appeared in close to 120 films between 1961 and 1999.

As ‘Chelelo’ he was best remembered as Antonio Aguilar's comic sidekick. Eleazar originally is from a ranch called, El Rancho de Los Guerras, current municipality of Miguel Aleman near Mier, Tamaulipas Mexico. García was known professionally as Chelelo and was one of the three main norteño comedians of Mexican cinema, along with Eulalio González and Alejandro Reyna.

He died on 24 August 1999 after three years of struggle to recover from embolism.[1] His son Eleazar Lorenzo García Gutiérrez (1957-2011) was known as Chelelo Jr.

His only Euro-western was as an old man in 1961’s “El caballo blanco” (The White Horse).

'CHELELO' (aka (E. Garcia 'Chelelo', Eleazar Garcia 'Chelelo', Eleazar García 'Chelelo', Eliazar Garcia 'Chelelo', Eleazar Garcia Chelelo, Eleazar García Chelelo, El Chelelo) (Eleazar García Sáenz) [9/28/1924, Mier, Tamaulipas, Mexico – 8/24/1999, Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico (complications due to surgery after a fall)] – comedian, film actor, singer, married to ? father of actor, director Eleazar Lorenzo García Gutiérrez [1957-2011]

The White Horse – 1961 (old man)

Trail to Tranqulity

 

Trail to Tranquility – English title

 

A 2015 British short film production

Producer: Alistair Baranowski

Director: Paul Vernon

Story: Alistair Baranowski

Screenplay: Alistair Baranowski

Cinematography: Paul Vernon [color]

Music: Ben Traves

Running time: 30 minutes

 

Cast:

Kelly - Mikey McAllen

U.S. Deputy Marshal - Karl Fredrick Hiemeyer

Troy - Michael Lorsong

Maicle – Gregor Cameron

Gus – Ryan Hamilton

Lonesome Dave – Dave Alexander

Andre J. Butterfield - Alistair Baranowski

Prison guards – William Beaton, Brian Grassie, William Kidd, Brendan Moir, Brian Watt Brian Watt

Prison warden – Atholl Buchan

Kitty - Suzanne Kelly

Saloon girl - Samantha Domeracki

Family members on pony – Blair Largue, Erin Largue, Vicky Largue

Townsmen – Jane Leiper, Danny McCabe, Phil Vinden

Joe – Calum McRae

Ben - Iain McWhinnie

Jake - Stuart McGough

Clem - Mikey Rennie

Young boy - Cameron Lawrie Ross

Very young boy - Nathan McWhinnie

Young girl - Iona Rennie

Notorious outlaw Kelly escapes from prison but his fellow gang member and best friend, Troy, is re-captured immediately and is set to be hanged. With two prison officers killed in the escape attempt the hunt is on to recapture Kelly as a matter of urgency. Hiding away in the town of Tranquility, Kelly thinks he is safe, until a young heroic U.S. Deputy rides into town.


Film link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jpr5cHJeM6I 

Who Are Those Singers & Musicians? – Greta Polyn

 

Greta Polyn is another enigma. The only information I can find on her is she appeared in only two films. I contacted Brett Halsey to see if he remembered anything about her. He said she was an Italian actress who was rather arrogant, didn’t speak English very well. He didn’t spend much time with her off set. He said she was included in the film as a favor to one of the financiers of the film.

Therefore, although she is credited with singing the song: “How Long is the Night” her singing voice had to have been dubbed by an unknown and uncredited singer.

POLYN, Greta [German] – actress, singer.

Kill Johnny Ringo – 1965 [sings: Song: “How Long is the Night”]


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pa-sKwXok80

Special Birthdays

Guy Suzuki (cinematographer) would have been 100 today but died in 2012.

Edda Dell Orso (singer) is 90 today.







Fernando Esteso (composer, actor) is 80 today.



Saturday, February 15, 2025

RIP William Roberts

 


American born British actor, director, voice artist and writer William Roberts died in London, England earlier this month. He was 81. Born on October 18, 1943, in Roseburg, Oregon. He studied theatre arts at Humboldt State College and came to Britain initially to do a diploma in drama at Manchester University. He married journalist Nicolette Roberts in 1964, and they formed two theater companies. The couple divorced in 1980. Towards the end of his life, he turned to writing fiction and biography under the name WE Roberts. His last work was a biography of the actor Marisa Pavan, The Quiet Twin (2025). Roberts appeared as Grayling in the 2003 Euro-western “Cold Mountain” starring Jude Law, Nicole Kidman and Renée Zellweger.

From the WAI! vault

 


Little Known Western Actors ~ Jeff Chaette

[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.]

Jeffrey C. Chayette was born on March 15, 1953, in Michigan. He’s a multi-award-winning artist, designer and animator. He won an Emmy for his work on CBS, Time ‘100 People of the Century’, rendering several portraits that were used for giant magazine covers on the award-winning set design. He has also won Promax / BDA awards for his design and animation work on promos for CBS2 and KCAL, as well as two CBS Eye on Excellence awards and two LA Regional Emmy awards.

Showing talent for art in his youth, Jeff was seduced by the theater and spent his twenties pursuing a career as an actor musician. In his next decade he went back to art classes, while working at a commercial production company, and started doing shooting boards for the company’s directors. He has had paintings exhibited in a National juried show at the Brand Library Glendale and a solo exhibition of monotypes at a downtown gallery. He has designed movie posters for top design firms, designed, animated and produced television graphics for cable networks, Hallmark and FX as well as CBS. In addition, Jeff has designed websites and created movies open for independent films and documentaries.

He is married to illustrator, graphic designer Miho Harada and have two children.

Jeff appeared in one Euro-westerns a hotel clerk in 1977’s “Un autre homme, une autre chance” (Another Man, Another Chance).

CHAETTE, Jeff (Jeffrey C. Chayette) [3/15/1953, Michigan, U.S.A. -      ] – producer, film actor, artist, married to illustrator Miho Harada Smith [1967-    ], father of two children..

Another Man, Another Chance – 1977 (hotel clerk)



Vengeance is the Lord’s

 

Vengeance is the Lord’s – English title

 

A 2016 British short film production [

Producer: Adam Michael Gold, Paul Vernon

Director: Paul Vernon

Story: John Porter

Screenplay: John Porter

Cinematography: Paul Vernon [color]

Music: Grégoire Lourme

Running time: 20 minutes

 

Cast:

Henry Brooks – Adam Michael Gold

Joshua Reeves – Tony Booth

Sheriff Seth Wallace – Tobias Tolnay

Seth Wallace as a boy – Brandon Dorssom

Martin Jenkins – Richard Calvert

Terrance Dall – Brandon Gomez

Cowboy – Stan Carnes

Pa – Steve Dorssom

Stunts: Tony Booth, Brandon Gomez

 

“Vengeance is the Lord’s” is a sequel to Paul Vernon’s 2013 film “Strong Arm of the Law” the story continues of a troubled Texas Ranger pursuing outlaws while hoping to come across the man who killed him father.


Film link:VENGEANCE IS THE LORD'S - Period Western Drama Short Film 

Spaghetti Western Locations for “The Forgotten Pistolero”

We continue our search for locations for “The Forgotten Pistolero”. After wandering away from the fiesta we see Rafael enter a cantina where a Mexican girl is dancing on a table top. Rafael buys a bottle of tequila. When the girl is finished dancing she approaches Rafael and tries to seduce him. He pushes her away and she returns to dancing while Rafael returns to drinking. Now drunk he returns to the hotel and takes a room upstairs to sleep it off.

The cantina scene was filmed on a soundstage in Rome.

 

For a more detailed view of this site and other Spaghetti Western locations please visit my friend Yoshi Yasuda’s location site: http://y-yasuda.net/film-location.htm and Captain Douglas Film Locations http://www.western-locations-spain.com/


Special Birthdays

Albert Bessler (actor) would have been 120 today but died in 1975.









Roberto Rey (actor) would have been 120 today but died in 1972.









Sam Kydd (actor) would have been 110 today but died in 1982.









Erik Schumann (actor) would have been 100 today but died in 2007.









Ronny de Marc (actor) would have been 95 today but died in 2015.









Nico Minardos (actor) would have been 95 today but died in 2011.



Friday, February 14, 2025

Spaghetti Western Trivia ~ Laurence Harvey and the Spaghetti Western… almost

Laurence Harvey & James Coburn almost in A Talent for Loving (1963)

Variety

2/20/1963



     





Laurence Harvey laid the ground work for a return visit to Spain while he was producing, directing and starring in “The Ceremony” early this year. His plans for 1963 include “Talent for Loving” which he and Martin Shute will produce here from a Richard Condon screenplay. The project will go into production after Harvey finishes his starring role in “Of Human Nondage.”

Variety

5/8/1963

James Coburn, back from doing two pix abroad, returns to Europe in June to star in Martin Shute production, “A Talent for Loving”.

That makes Harvey the tops in planning (4) westerns and not getting them made

Brit Martin Shute (sic) Schute instead made "Macho Callahan".

The following year Walter Shenson from the Beatle's "Hard Day's Night" and "Help!" bought the book for them to do

Epstein liked the idea, but the Mopheads quarreled about the script and the weather turned bad in Spain forcing the Beatles out (1965-66)

Shenson finally got the film before cameras in Summer of 1968, only to have Paramount bury it.

By Michael Ferguson


RIP Geneviève Page

 


RIP Geneviève Page Legendary French actress Geneviève Page died in Paris on February 14th. She was 98, born Geneviève Anne Marguerite Bronjean on December 13, 1927. Her career spanned more than 50 years. The daughter of French art collector Jacques Paul Bonjean (1899–1990). She was a film and theater actress, known for “Belle de Jour” (1967), “The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes” (1970) and “Fanfan la Tulipe” (1952). She was previously married to Jean-Claude Bujard. The actress distinguished herself in a blockbuster that would win three Oscars: Anthony Mann's El Cid, starring Sophie Loren and Charlton Heston. Page appeared in one Euro-western as Lady Delphine Butler in 1973’s “A Talent for Loving”.

Valentines Day 2025

 


Little Known Western Actors ~ Robert Chase

[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.]

Another actor whose name appears in the credits for one film the Spaghetti western “Zwei gegen Tod und Teufel” (Montana Trap) in 1975 as Dragoon Longford.

Is it an alias and what nationality he is I have no idea. There’s another actor named Robert Chase on the IMDb but his credits don’t start until 1990 a 15 year gap so I don’t believe they are the same person.

CHASE, Robert – film actor.

Montana Trap – 1975 (Dragoon Longford)

A new German DVD combo release “Very Best of Italo Western 2”

 








Very Best of Italo Western 2

 

Country: Germany

Label: Great Movies

Discs: 6

Titles include: Disc 1) “Zwei Halleluja für den Teufel” (Dig Your Grave Friend... Sabata's Coming) (1971). Disc 2) “Killer Adios”. Disc 3 “Für drei Dollar Blei” (Three Dollars of Lead) (1964), Disc 4) “Die verdamnmten Pistolen von Dallas”. Disc 5) “Der Gefurchtete”. Disc 6) “Mein Leben hangt an einem Dollar”

Languages: Dolby Digital Italian, German

ASIN: ‎B0DT7T6TJG

Release date: February 14, 2025

6 DVDs, includes Killer adios, Zwei Halleluja für den Teufel, Für drei Dollar Blei, Die verdammten Pistolen von Dallas, Der Gefürchtete and Mein Leben hängt an einem Dollar

Total running time: 8 hours, 43 minutes

Special Birthdays

José Canales (actor) would have been 100 today but died in 2015.








Relja Bašić (actor) would have 95 today but died in 2017.









Newton Da Matta [voice actor] would have been 90 today but died in 2006.









Sandra Julien (actress) is 75 today.