From the WAI! vault

 

Little Known Spaghetti Western actors ~ Dagmar Delmare

[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.]

Dagmar Marquardt was a German actress who was married to actor Fred Delmare from  (1965-1973). She appeared in two films with Fred using the stage name Dagmar Delmare. These are the only two films Dagmar appeared in and both were East German DEFA westerns. “Spur des Falken” (The Falcon’s Trail) 1967 (Kitty), Weisse Wolfe (White Wolves) 1969 (Kitty)

I can find no biographical information on her.

DELMARE, Dagmar (Dagmar Marquardt) [German] – film actress, married to actor Fred Delmare (Werner Vorndran) [1922-2009] (1965-1973) mother of Claudia Delmare [1968-    ].

The Falcon’s Trail – 1967 (Kitty)

White Wolves – 1969 (Kitty)

New German Blu-ray “Vier Fäuste für ein Halleluja”

 

“Vier Fäuste für ein Halleluja”

(Trinity is STILL My Name)

(1971)

 

Director: Enzo Barboni

Starring: Terence Hill, Bud Spencer, Harry Carey Jr.

 

Country: Germany

Label: WME Film Classic

Blu-ray

Discs: 1

Aspect ratio: 16:9 - 2.35:1

Languages: (DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0) German

Running time: 118 minutes

ASIN: B0FJ76PRX4

Available: December 20, 2025

“Hol colt, hol nem colt”

 

Hol colt, hol nem colt – Hungarian title

[Sometimes Colt, Sometimes Not Colt – English translated title

 

A 1980 Hungarian television film [Magyar Televízió (Budapest)]

Producer: Langmár András

Director: Nándor Bednai (Bednai Nándor)

Story: Nándor Bednai (Bednai Nándor)

Teleplay: Nándor Bednai (Bednai Nándor)

Photography: Ferenc Zádori [color]

Music: Iván Rusznák

Running time: 27 minutes

 

Story: The bank's stagecoach is attacked by robbers, but the gold goes to a lucky lone rider, who in the final at the local saloon scoops up the nicest prostitute as well, keeps the money and after a few slaps on the gangsters’ faces and all of them then want to be better people.

 

Cast:

The Good - Gábor Harsányi

Farkas Préri - Gábor Koncz

Stagecoach driver - László Csákányi

Madame - Ildikó Pécsi

Aggressive guest - Kálmán Hollai

Fake gambler - Sándor Lukács

Maid of honor - Ágnes Bánfalvy

Kitty - Erika Balogh

Bartender - Zoltán Benkóczy

Mary - Kata Csongrádi

Jacky - Zsuzsa Pálos

Szép Vendolin - Szilvia Várkonyi

Kathy Bögyös - Besztercei Zsuzsa (Zsuzsa Beszterczey)

Little Rosie - Emese Simorjay

Barbara Virgin - Judit Hernádi

Sheriffs - Péter Balázs, János Gálvölgyi

Cowboys - Béla Paudits, János Gálvölgyi, Gábor Piroch, Iván Rusznák, Sándor Boros,

     Rudolf Romhányi, Tamás Pintér

Stunts: Gábor Piroch

The "New Year's Eve" western parody began on December 31, 1980, in prime time, at 8 p.m. on Hungarian Television. It was nearly thirty minutes of cheerful compilation, humorous, musical parody from the eighties, by the Parody Team of Disco-Disco, directed by Nándor Bendai, with music by Iván Rusznák and lyrics by Péter Tardos.

The constant elements of western films came to life, the legendary six-shooter sounded, the slaps fell. In the end, everyone could be satisfied with the foreseeable outcome of the struggle between good and evil, because good had won. Being a musical comedy, in the western parody everyone burst into song and danced, the lecherous ladies, the hard-fisted gentlemen, and even the horses.

Trailer link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBw-4cd_Qnc

Spaghetti Western Locations for “I Want Him Dead”.

We continue our search for Spaghetti western locations for “I Want Him Dead”.  We see Mallek looking through some papers when Steve enters the room and Mallek asks what he found out. Steve tells him just what Mallek thought, the peace talks will begin in two days and they will begin making plans for the armistice. Mallek tells Steve they better get their plan going right away. Mallek becomes upset when Steve tells him Jack Blood is preparing to ride to the meeting place. Mallek yells he should have already been on his way. We then see Marisol enter an adjoining room and begins scrubbing the floor. She overhears Mallek discuss the murder of the two generals with Steve. She moves closer to the door to hear better. She’s suddenly discovered by one of the servants. He reports her to Mallek and she breaks away and Mallek orders Steve to go after her. The chase is on as Marisol runs to the kitchen where Aloma is sewing and bars the door. Steve breaks down the door and enters the room. Aloma struggles with Steve but he pushes her away and moves toward Marisol. Suddenly Clayton appears and kills Steve and the servant. As Steve falls, he shoots Marisol and Aloma runs to her side. Mallek orders two of his men to kill Clayton but Clayton shoots and kills them both as Mallek rides away. Before dying Marisol tells Aloma what she has heard. Aloma grabs a shawl and goes after Clayton, she begs him to take her with him and he relents. The pair ride off together in search of Jack Blood.

This was filmed in the yard of Cortijo El Romeral in San Jose, Spain.

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

Dan Leno (actor) would have been 165 today but died in 1904.

Marco Tulli (actor) would have been 105 today but died in 1982.

Dominic Barto (actor) would have been 95 today but died in 2019.

Richard Alagich (actor) is 80 today.

 

Branko Supek (actor) would have been 80 today but died in 2003.

Elizabeth Virgil (actress) is 65 today.

 

Spaghetti Western Trivia – A 4th Man With No Name” film?

 

Variety

1/11/1967 

Does Clint Eastwoof’s partnership with Robert Eaton in the new Big Sur banner augur chances in the Eastwood-Leone tandem? Eaton planed in for brief, exploratory talks with PEA’s Alberto Grimaldi who produced the last two starring Eastwood under Leone’s direction.

     Stanley Baker will play lead in Italo “No Place for Angels” before entering the cast of “Texas Kid Needs a Grandpa.”

[[A month after “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” debuted Eastwood rep & Grimaldi met to talk a fourth film

Another credit for Stanley Baker, “Texas Kid Needs a Grandpa” (most likely in Spain) “No Place for Angels” was made as “La Ragazza con la Pistola” and then Baker did :

Where's Jack”.]

Submitted by Michael Ferguson

Little Known Spaghetti Western actors ~ Giuliano Dell’Ovo

[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.]

Giuliano Dell'Ovo was an Italian actor and stuntman active in Italian films from the late 1950's through until the early 1970's. The only biographical detail known about him is that he died in 1998.

He had 2 distinctly different looks which he alternated, basically shaved-head and with hair, which has been the cause of some difficulty in identifying him. For a long time, he was confused with both Spartaco Nale, with whom his shaved-head look bears a close resemblance and with C.S.C. actor Romano Giomini, a confusion seemingly caused by them both being unknown and credited in the “Ten Gladiator” movies.

Dell’Ovo appeared in six Spaghetti westerns: “Il segno di Zorro” (The Sign of Zorro) 1962 as a rebel, “O tutto o niente” (A Man Called Amen), as a Buseba henchman also [stunt coordinator and master of arms], “7 dollari sul rosso” (Seven Dollars to Kill) in 1966 as a rider, in 1970’s “Ehi amico... c'è Sabata, hai chiuso!” (Sabata) as Bill, a bank guard “Il venditore di morte” (The Price of Death) in 1971 as Deputy Kurt, and in “Campa carogna… la taglia cresce” (Those Dirty Dogs) in 1972 (as a soldier)

Dell’OVO, Giuliano (aka Giuliano Dower, Julian Dower) [19??, Italy – 1998, Italy] – production manager, stuntman, film actor.

The Sign of Zorro – 1962 (rebel)

7 dollari sul rosso – 1966 (rider)

A Man Called Amen – 1968 (Buseba henchman) [stunt coordinator, master of arms]

Sabata – 1969 (bank guard)

The Price of Death - 1971 (Deputy Kurt)

Those Dirty Dogs – 1972 (soldier)

Today marks the 50th anniversary of the release of “The Genius”

 

Today marks the 50^th anniversary of the premier of “Un genio, due compari, un pollo” (The Genius) directed by Damiano Damiani and Sergio Leone. It starred Terence Hill, Miou-Miou, Robert Charlebois and Patrick McGoohan. The film is a sequel to “My Name is Nobody” as Hill reprises his role as the same character who starred with Henry Fonda three years earlier in 1972. It tells the story of Joe Thanks (Terence Hill), a clever crook and con man, convinces his two sidekicks, the half-breed Locomotive Bill (Robert Charlebois) and his friend Lucy (Miou-Miou), to help organize a fraud against Major Cabot (Patrick McGoohan), for getting three hundred thousand U.S. dollars, meant as payment to the local Indian tribe. The plan, somewhat tortuous, provides first of all, gaining entrance to the fort where the payment is kept, Bill will be dressed and disguised as a colonel. The twist is the Major has decided to rip off the Indians by keeping the payment in exchange for good grazing land, and an alleged gold mine. The money is loaded on a coach which gives Joe Thanks the opportunity to steal it. Despite some complications, Joe succeeds with his usual skill, and the money finally rests in his hands, but he has also conned his friends as was his intention all along to give the money to the Indians. They are all resigned to the outcome and the conclusion. For their efforts, Locomotive Bill decides to start a new life with Lucy and to live with the Indians.

The film was 9^th highest grossing Spaghetti Western in Italy with box office receipts of 2,684,413 lira.

 

Un genio, due compari, un pollo - Italian title

Un génie, deux associés, une cloche - French title

Nobody is der Größte - German title

Nobody er den storste - Danish title

Jeg hedder stadig Nobody - Danish title

Nobody on nerokkain - Finnish title

Enas exypnos, dyo synetairoi ki ena koroido - Greek title

O exypnakias - Greek title

Senki, a legnaguobb - Hungarian title

Egy zseni, két haver, egy balek - Hungarian title

Mitt naven en dorsatt nobody - Norwegian title

Chamavam-lhe Génio - Portuguese title

Nobody in indijanci - Slovenia title

Un genio, dos compadres, un pollo - Spanish title

El genio - Spanish title

Ett geni, två polare och en höna - Swedish title

Mitt namn är fortfarande Nobody - Swedish title

Ingen ar som Nobody - Swedish title

Et Geni, tua polare och ben hona - ? title

A Genius, Two Partners and a Dupe - English title

A Genius, Two Friends and an Idiot - English title

Nobody’s the Greatest - English title

Nobody’s Perfect - English title

Trinity is Back Again - English title

The Genius - English title

 

A 1975 Italian, French, West German film co-production [Rafran Cinematografica

     (Rome), AMLF (Paris), Rialto Film Preben-Philipsen (Berlin)]

Producers: Fulvio Morsella, Claudio Mancini, PrebenPhilipsen

Director: Damiano Damiani, Sergio Leone

Story: Ernesto Gastaldi, Fulvio Morsella

Screenplay: Damiano Damiani, Fulvio Morsella, Ernesto Gastaldi

Cinematography: Giuseppe Ruzzolini [Technicolor, CinemaScope]

Music: Ennio Morricone

     Song: “Glory, Glory, Glory” sung by Catherine Howe

Running time: 126 minutes

 

Cast:

Joe Thanks/Nobody - Terence Hill (Mario Girotti)

Lucy/Lilla - Miou-Miou (Sylvette Herry)

Locomotive/Steamengine Bill/Paul Lambert - Robert Charlebois

Major Cabot/Harris - Patrick McGoohan

Doc Foster - Klaus Kinski (Nikolaus Nakaszynski)

Colonel Pembroke - Jean Martin

Colonel Pembroke’s daughter - Miriam Mahler

Sergeant Milton - Raimund Harmstorf

Sergeant - Deogratias Huerta

Mortimer - Bento Stefanelli

Jerry/Jacky/Jelly Roll - Piero Vida (Pietro Vida)

Jeremy - Roy Bosier (Roy Bosshard)

Don Felipe – Frederick Ledebur (Count Ledebur-Wicheln)

Sheriff - Renato Baldini

Krutscher - Mario Brega

Mary Gomez - Bonny Miles (Lina Franchi)

Thomas Trader - Mario Valgoi

Captain - Rik Battaglia (Caterino Battaglia)

Mortimer henchmen - Pietro Torrisi, Armando Bottin

Town idiot - Gérard Boucaron

Brothel man - Elio Angelucci (Aurelio Angelucci)

Brothel prostitute – Carla Cassola

Brothel patrons – Aristide Caporale, Giuseppe Transocchi, Franco Ricci (Salvatore

     Sebastiano), Alfredo Venturi, Tommaso Palladino

La rufiana - Clara Colosimo

Husband - Fernando Cerulli

Poker player - Karl Braun 

Stagecoach driver – Furio Meniconi

Dinner guest – Irina Wassilchikoff

Jail guard - Vittorio Fanfoni

With: Valerio Ruggeri, Edmondo Thiegi

Stunts Vitoriano Terrón (Victoriano Terrón Peñaranda), Pietro Torrisi, Brandy (Ildebrando Rossetti)

Voices of the Spaghetti Western – “Full House for the Devil”

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 “Full House for the Devil”

[(I) Italian, (S) Spanish, (G) German, (F) French, (E) English]

Johnny King – George Hilton (I) Sergio Graziani, (S) Ricardo Solans, (G) Thomas Danneberg

Meredith – Paolo Gozlino (I) ?, (S) Antonio Fernández Sánchez, (G) Jürgen Kluckert

Liz – Claudie Lang (I) ?, (S) Glòria Roig, (G) ?

Ernest Ward - Gérard Herter (I) ?, (S) José Maria Santos, (G) Jürgen Thormann

George Ward – Paul Muller (I) Gianfranco Bellini, (S) Antonio Gómez de Vicente, (G) Lothar

     Blumhagen

Gary – Carlo Gaddi (I) ?, (S) José Antonio Rodríguez, (G) ?,

Antonio Fernández Sánchez (19?? - 2007)

Antonio Fernández Sánchez was considered one of the best character and supporting actors in Spanish radio and dubbing.

Gifted with a superb deep voice, Fernández Sánchez began and developed his career in radio in Barcelona and later came to Madrid, where he settled permanently. His voice became one of the classic and essential voices in Spanish dubbing, both in films and television series.

He was the voice of "Deep Throat" in the X-Files series. Sánchez was also a television actor.

Special Birthdays

Julius Stettner (actor) would have been 160 today but died in 1938.

Kim Ômae (actor) would have been 90 today but died in 2011.

Dan Bădărău (actor) is 65 today.

 

Jake Gyllenhaal (actor) is 45 today.

RIP Thomas Wolff

 

German actor Thomas Wolff died in Birkenwerder, Brandenburg, Germany on October 2^nd. He was 74. Wolff was the son of actor Gerry Wolff [1920-2005] who appeared in several DEFA Indian films. Thomas was a notable German voice actor and dubber, known for voicing major film stars like Hugh Jackman “Wolverine”, Woody Harrelson, and Tom Hanks in German-dubbed versions, plus roles in “Sonic the Hedgehog” and cartoons. Wolf appeared as Luis Cortinez in DEFA’s 1978 western “Severino”. He was the German dubbing voice of  Benito Pacifico in 1970s “Django and Sartana are Coming”, the Cookie character in “Thunder Warrior III” in 1988, Roscoe Brown in 1989’s “Powwow Highway”, Iggy Pop in 1995’s “Dead Man”, and an Indian in 2005’s “Don't Come Knocking”.

Little Known Spaghetti Western actors ~ Carlo Delle Piane

[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.]

120 films and television appearances. He also directed the 1997 film “I Love You, Maria” in which he appeared along with Laura Lattuada and Mariano Carlini.

Carlo Delle Piane was born in Rome, Italy on February 2, 1936. He made his debut at the age of twelve in Duilio “Coletti's Heart”. He then starred in the stereotypical role of an arrogant but basically kind-hearted boy in many films until the mid-fifties. The turning point of his career was the encounter with Pupi Avati, with whom Delle Piane experienced more significant and varied roles, going from comic surreal performances to melancholic and even dramatic shades. He would go on to appear in over one hundred and twenty films between 1948 and 2018.

In 1984, Carlo won the Nastro d'Argento for Best Actor for his performance in “A School Outing”. For his role in “Christmas Present” he won the Volpi Cup at the 43rd Venice International Film Festival.

Delle Piane’s on Spaghetti western appearance was as the town crier in 1971’s “Le juge Roy Bean” (Judge Roy Bean) starring Robert Hossein.

DELLE PIANE, Carlo (aka Carlo Delle Paine, Carlo delle Pianne) [2/2/1936, Rome, Lazio, Italy – 8/23/2019, Rome, Lazio, Italy] – director, film, TV actor, married to singer Anna Crispino [1972-    ] (2013-2019)

Judge Roy Bean – 1971 (town crier)

Eastwood, Cardinale film [archived newspaper article]

 

Variety 

August 16, 1967

     Wagner, who made his film production bow in Warners’ “Petulia,” is prepping “Firday The Rabbi Slept Late,” novel by Harry Kemelman, and “Oh Say Can You See,” a Shimon Wincelberg original. Former will be produced by Si Litvisoff, Wagner acting as exec producer. Ruddy-Hutton are set to film “To Kill a King,” a John Jordan original to star Clint Eastwood and Claudia Cardinale.

     The Goldwyn project is “Mr. and Mrs. Bo Bo Jones,” Ann Head novel which King Vidor would direct. At least half of the 11 initial projects may roll within the year. Theatrical distrib arrangements are not set, but previously reported talks with National General Pictures Corp. may lead to a firm deal. 

 

[Submitted by Michael Ferguson]

*Michael adds: Albert Ruddy later produced "Million Dollar Baby" (2004) and "Cry Macho" (2021), both directed and starring Eastwood. 

Brian G. Hutton did 'Rawhide', "Where Eagles Dare" (1968) and "Kelly's Heroes" (1970) with Eastwood.

New German Blu-ray of “Helge Schneider - The Spielfilmpaket”

 

“Helge Schneider - The Spielfilmpaket”

(Texas - Doc Snyder)

(1993)

 

Director: Ralf Huettner, Helge Schneider

Starring: Helge Schneider, Andreas Kunze, Peter Berling

 

Country: Germany

Label: Turbine Medien

Blu-ray

Resolution: 1080p

Aspect ratio: 2.35:1

Language: DTS-HD 2.0 Mono German

Subtitles: German

Capbox with Digipack / includes detective 00 Schneider's service ID, six posters, eight art cards and four stickers / limited to 3000 copies

Extras: Hinter den Kulissen, Im Schneideraum, Probeaufnahmen, Interview mit Helge Schneider, Helges "Stegreif-Western“, Trailer, Teaser, Audiokommentar von Helge Schneider

also includes the films „00 Schneider - Jagd auf Nihil Baxter“ (1994), „Praxis Doktor Hasenbein“ (1997), „Jazzclub - Der frühe Vogel fängt den Wurm“ (2004) & „00 Schneider - Im Wendekreis der Eidechse“ (2013)

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0G63QLKFJ

Available: December 18, 2025

Special Birthdays

Helmuth Schneider (actor) would have been 105 today but died in 1972.

Jesús Puente (actor) would have been 95 today but died in 2000.

Floriano Trenker (cinematographer) would have been 95 today but died in 2003.

Little Known Spaghetti Western actors ~ Antonella Della Porta

[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.]

Antonella Della Porta was the stage name of Maria Antonietta Cirillo born in Reggio Calabria, on August 18, 1927. She was an Italian actress active in cinema and television between the early 1960s and the second half of the 1970s. She appeared in some 52 films and television appearances between 1955 and 2000.

She was sometimes credited as Antonia Della Porta, and has been a character actor in several quality films and historical B-movies, also starring in television dramas and television series with a detective setting. She married the singer Arturo La Porta in the mid-1940s and their son is author, director actor Gabriele La Porta who was born in 1945 and died in 2019.

Antonella Della Porta died in Rome, Italy on July 16, 2002.

Antonella appeared in only one Spaghetti western 1967’s “Faccia a facia” (Face to Face) as Elizabeth Wilkins.

DELLA PORTA, Antonella (aka Antonia Della Porta, Antonella La Porta) (Maria Antonietta Cirillo) [8/18/1927, Reggio Calabria, Calabria, Italy – 7/16/2002, Rome, Lazio, Italy] – film, TV actress, married to singer Arturo La Porta [1924-    ] mother of author, director, actor Gabriele La Porta [1945-2019].

Face to Face – 1967 (Elizabeth Wilkins)

Loose Reins

 

Loose Reins – English title

 

A 2020 Swedish film production

Producers: Tima Persson, Brian Dupre, Joanna Persson, Irma Jämhammar

Director: Alexander Lönn

Story: Tima Persson, Veronika Waga

Screenplay: Tima Persson, Veronika Waga

Cinematography: Johan Kuurne [color]

Music: Veronika Waga

Running time:

 

Cast:
Anne - Asilynn Mede

Tima Persson, Richard Weston, Veronika Waga, Jack Roper, Sandro Khafor

It´s the year of 1879, and two women, Lucy and Malvina - are forced to flee their home in the middle of the night in order to avoid a deadly outcome. With the sheriff and his gruesome men close behind the women do what they can, by any means, to survive.

Who Are Those Gals? ~ Edwige Fenech

 

Edwige Sfenek was born in Bône, Constantine, France on December 24, 1948. As Edwige Fenech she moved from Nice to Rome in 1967 for her first Italian film “Samoa, Queen of the Jungle” by Guido Malatesta. In 1968, she came under contract with Austrian director Franz Antel and from the late 1960s to early 1970s, she acted in various films of Antel (including his “Frau Wirtin” series) as well as that of Franz Marischk.

Fenech starred in many genres of cinema but her greatest commercial success came with commedia sexy all'italiana films, particularly including earlier works Ubalda, “All Naked and Warm” (1972) and “Giovannona Long-Thigh” (1973), as well as the following l'insegnante (school teacher), la soldatessa (soldier), la poliziotta (policewoman) series and other films that featured Fenech in stereotypical professions, which further bolstered Fenech's position as the most popular actress of the genre. She often paired with Carlo Giuffrè and later with Renzo Montagnani in commedia sexy films as well as a regular in giallo films.

Fenech was married to Italian film producer Luciano Martino from 1971 to 1979.

In the mid-1990s, she was engaged to the Italian industrialist Luca di Montezemolo. Her son Edwin (born 1971) has worked at her production company Immagine e Cinema S.r.l. Productions and was the former CEO of Ferrari Asia-Pacific, Ferrari Greater China and Ferrari North America.

Edwige appeared in one Spaghetti western as a supporting role as Manuela in Piero Pierotti’s “Heads or Tails” starring John Ericson and Špela Rozin.

FENECH, Edwige (Edwige Sfenek) [12/24/1948, Bône, Constantine, France -     ] – producer, film, TV actress, married to producer, production manager, director, assistant director, writer, actor Luciano Martino [1933–2013] (1971-1979) mother of producer Edwin Fenech [1971-    ], founder of Immagine e Cinema S.r.l. Productions.

Heads or Tails – 1968 (Manuela)

George Hilton: The World Belongs to the Daring – 2017 [herself]

Special Birthdays

Carmen Tarrazo (actress) would have been 115 today but died in 2003.

Heikki Kuvaja (actor) would have been 100 today but died in 1983.

Armin Müeller-Stahl (actor) is 95 today.

 

Little Known Spaghetti Western actors ~ Luisa Della Noce

[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.]

Maria-Luisa Della Noce was born in San Giorgio di Nogaro, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy on May 28, 1923. She appeared in fourteen films between 1951 and 1982. Her film career began in 1951 with a supporting role in the film by Mario Bonnard, “L’ultima sentenza”, but success came only in 1956 when alongside Pietro Germi, in the double role of lead actor and director, played the part of his wife in “The Railwayman”. The skill and naturalness in the role demonstrated by Luisa Della Noce contributed to the great success of the film and, with this performance, won in 1956 the award for best female performance at the San Sebastian Festival.

Her last appearance on the big screen was in a minor role in 1982 in “Identification of a Woman” by Michelangelo Antonioni.

Luisa appeared in two Spaghetti westerns: “Con lui cavalca la morte” (Death Rides Alone) in 1967 as a pioneer woman and in “John il Bastardo” (John the Bastard) in 1967 as Sara Donald.

DELLA NOCE, Luisa (aka Malù Della Noce, Maria Luisa Della Noce) (Maria-Luisa Della Noce) [5/28/1923, San Giorgio di Nogaro, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy – 4/15/2008, Rome, Lazio, Italy] – film, voice actress.

Death Rides Along – 1967 (pioneer woman)

John the Bastard - 1967 (Sara Donald)

New U.S.A. Blu-ray release of “Forgotten Pistolero”

 

Forgotten Pistolero

(1969)

 

Director: Ferdinando Baldi

Starring: Leonard Mann, Luciana Paluzzi, Peter Martell, Pilar Velázquez

 

Country: U.S.A.

Label: Diabolik DVD

Blu-ray

Region Free

Discs: 2

Disc 1 - Feature in English

Disc 2 - Feature in Italian with Non-Removable English Subtitles

Resolution: 1080p

Aspect ratio: 2.35:1

Language: Disc 1 English, Disc 2 Italian

Subtitles: Disc 2 English

Running time: 84 minutes

Extras: Leonard Mann Interview conducted by tough guy expert Mike Malloy

ASIN: ‎B0FRVC3JXK

Available: December 16, 2025

Behind the Scenes of Death Rides a Horse (1967)

Thebad.net

By Aaron

November 22, 2025

When fans talk about the golden age of Spaghetti Westerns, Death Rides a Horse (1967) always gallops into the conversation. Directed by Giulio Petroni and starring Lee Van Cleef and John Phillip Law, the film stands out for its moody atmosphere, stylish cinematography, and one of Ennio Morricone’s most haunting revenge-themed scores. But the story behind the film’s production is just as intriguing as the movie itself.

A Director with a Bold Vision

Giulio Petroni wasn’t as widely known as Sergio Leone, but he brought his own sharp eye and political sensibility to the genre. During filming, Petroni pushed for a more psychological approach to the story—focusing on memory, trauma, and the uneasy partnership between an older outlaw and a young man bent on revenge.

Petroni and Van Cleef reportedly enjoyed a strong working relationship, with Van Cleef appreciating Petroni’s willingness to let him shape the character of Ryan into a world-weary mentor figure rather than a typical gunslinger.

Lee Van Cleef at His Post-Leone Peak

Fresh off his international breakthrough in Leone’s films, Lee Van Cleef was now a marquee star in Europe. On set, he was known for his professionalism and calm demeanor. Italian crew members often mentioned that Van Cleef preferred to stay focused between takes, conserving energy for the film’s demanding riding and action sequences.

Despite knee issues that bothered him throughout the late 1960s, Van Cleef insisted on doing much of his own riding, adding authenticity to the film’s rugged tone.

John Phillip Law’s First Ride into the West

This film was John Phillip Law’s first Spaghetti Western, and he approached the role of Bill with a surprising level of seriousness. Cast partly because of his intense eyes and stoic expression, Law trained with horses and firearms before filming began.

Law later mentioned in interviews that he and Van Cleef barely spoke off-camera—something fans have speculated helped enhance their on-screen tension. However, both actors respected each other and worked together seamlessly.

Filming in the Wild Landscapes of Almería

Like many iconic Italian Westerns, Death Rides a Horse was shot in the desert landscapes of Almería, Spain. The region’s dry terrain, isolated hills, and abandoned mining towns provided the perfect visual backdrop for Bill’s journey of vengeance.

Production faced the typical problems of desert shoots: blistering heat during the day, freezing winds in the evenings, and dust storms that sometimes-halted production for hours.

Still, the crew made creative use of the harsh environment. Many of the wide shots—especially the scenes of Bill tracking his memories in fragmented flashbacks—benefited from Almería’s vast, empty horizons.

Morricone’s Score: A Soundtrack with a Life of Its Own

One of the film’s most enduring legacies is its Morricone soundtrack. The composer created a unique blend of eerie chimes, rhythmic guitars, and a lonely vocal motif that would later be sampled in Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill.

During recording, Morricone experimented with unusual percussion and echo effects to give the flashback scenes a dreamlike, almost ghostly quality. Even Petroni admitted the score elevated the film far beyond what was on the page.

The Flashback Technique

The movie’s use of stylized flashbacks—distorted visuals, close-ups of key objects, and dramatic lighting—was innovative for the genre at the time. These sequences were filmed with special filters and gels to enhance the feverish sense of trauma and memory.

Petroni reportedly spent more time on these scenes than any other part of the film. The goal: make the audience feel Bill’s childhood memories as fragmented, painful snapshots rather than clear recollections.

A Cult Legacy

While Death Rides a Horse wasn’t the biggest box-office hit of its day, it steadily grew into a cult favorite. Home-video releases in the 1980s and 1990s introduced new fans to its stylish action, morally complex characters, and unforgettable score.

Today, the film is considered one of Lee Van Cleef’s finest post-Leone Westerns and a defining work of Giulio Petroni’s career.

Special Birthdays

Paolo Moffa (director, writer) would have been 110 today but died in 2004.

Little Known Spaghetti Western actors ~ Luccio Dell’Aera

[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.]

Luccio Dell’Aera is/was an Italian character actor who has only one film credit and that was an uncredited role in 1962’s “Il segno di Zorro” (The Sign of Zorro) starring Sean Flynn.

Dell’AERA, Luccio – film actor.

The Sign of Zorro - 1962

Spaghetti Western locations Then & Now “Silver Saddle”

In this scene from 1978’s Silver Saddle we see Geoffrey Lewis leading his horse down a dirt road past a building in the background. This scene was filmed in Nueva Frontera, Tabernas, Almería, Spain.

Here’s the same location as it looked in 2023. Nothing remains of the building. A highway now looms in the background.