From the WAI! vault

 

Little Known Spaghetti Western Actors ~ Dorit Dom

[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.]

Dorit Dom was a German model and film actress. Born in Cologne sometime in the 1940s she appeared in seven films between 1966 and 1969 and was sometimes credited as Maria Dom. She graced the cover of several magazines. Then she disappeared either changing her profession, getting married or some other reason. I can find no biographical information on her.

Dorit Dom appeared in one Spaghetti western, “Donne alla frontiera” (The Tall Women) in 1966.

DOM, Dorit (aka Maria Dom) [194?, Cologne, Germany -     ] – model, film actress.

The Tall Women – 1966

Spaghetti Western Directors, Screenwriters, Cinematographers

Spaghetti Western Director ~ Luke Gasser

Luke Gasser was born on April 8, 1966, in Lungern, Obwalden, Switzerland. From 1983-1987 he trained as a sculptor at the University in Lucerne of Applied Sciences and Arts. Since 1991 Luke Gasser has been an independent Sculptor, Painter and Musician and since 1999 he has become more and more interested in Film. At the moment, he lives in Kaegiswil, Obwalden.

Luke Gasser directed two Euro-westerns: “Fremds Land” (Foreign Land) in 2002 and “ Bodmers Reise” (Bodmers Journey) in 2010.

GASSER, Luke [4/8/1966, Lugem, Switzerland -     ] - producer, director, writer, composer, cinematographer, film editor, actor, artist, politician, grandson of politician Hans Gasser [1902-1985], son of politician Hans-Heini Gasser [1932-2022], founding president of the Film Central Switzerland association [2009-2015].

Foreign Land – 2002

Bodmers Journey – 2010

Spaghetti Western Screenwriter ~ Sabatino Ciuffini

Sabatino Ciuffini was an Italian screenwriter and assistant director known for his contributions to popular genre cinema from the 1960s through the 1980s, including action-comedies and Spaghetti westerns. Born on October 21, 1920, in L'Aquila, Abruzzo, he began his film career in the early 1950s primarily as an assistant director before shifting focus to screenwriting in the following decade. He is particularly recognized for his long-standing collaboration with director Sergio Corbucci, contributing to several commercially successful films starring Bud Spencer and Terence Hill, such as “Odds and Evens” (1978) and “Super Fuzz” (1980).

Ciuffini's work spanned various Italian genres, including writing credits for Spaghetti westerns like “The Specialists” (Drop Them or I’ll Shoot) (1969) and “Sonny & Jed” (1972), as well as other action and comedy projects. He also served as assistant director on notable productions, including “Compañeros” (1970), and occasionally took on directing duties. His screenplays helped define a distinctive style of lighthearted yet action-oriented Italian films during the peak of the genre's popularity. Ciuffini died in 2003 in Italy at the age of 83.

Sabatino Ciuffini co-wrote screenplays for three Spaghetti westerns: “Gli specialist” (Drop Them or I’ll Shoot) with Sergio Corbucci in 1968, “Che c’enteriamo noi con la rivoluzione?” (What Am I Doing in the Middle of the Revolution?) with Sergio Corbucci and Massimo Franciosa in 1971 and “J. and S. – storia criminale del far west” (Sonny & Jed in 1972 with Sergio Corbucci, Mario Amendola, Adriano Bolzoni, and José María Forqué

CIUFFINI, Sabatino [10/21/1920, L’Aquila, Abruzen, Italy – 2003, Italy] – director, assistant director, writer.

Drop Them or I’ll Shoot – 1968 (co)

What Am I Doing in the Middle of the Revolution? – 1971 (co)

Spaghetti Western Cinematographer ~ Chris Keller

Christopher Keller is a German filmmaker. He’s directed, written, been a cinematographer and cameraman and written the music for several films including four Euro-westerns. His latest His latest western “Revolver of Doom” was presented and in competition at the 2025 Almeria Western Film Festival. He sometimes uses the alias Kitosch Keller.

Chris Keller has been a cinematographer on three Euro-westerns: “…And Then the Vultures Feast” in 2014, “Azagaya” in 2022 and “Revólver de perdición” (Revolver of Doom) in 2023 all of which he directed and wrote the screenplays.

KELLER, Chris (aka Kitosch Keller) (Christopher Keller) [German] – producer, director, writer, cinematographer, composer, musician, actor, founded KelTer Productions.

4 Hyenas for Djamango – 2013 [film was never made]

…And Then the Vultures Feast - 2014

Azgaya – 2022

Revolver of Doom - 2023

 

Sonny & Jed – 1972 (co)

Jack Taylor, the "American from Chamberí" who found his Far West in Madrid

Europe Press

June 13, 2026

Jack Taylor, the "American from Chamberí" who found his Far West in Madrid

Jack Taylor was born in Oregon, passed through Marilyn Monroe's Hollywood and ended up finding his Wild West in Madrid. The American actor, who died last May at the age of 99, arrived in Spain in the 60s and ended up putting down roots in the capital, to the point of earning the nickname "the American of Chamberí".

Behind that decision to stay was the western. This is how film director Víctor Matellano, a friend of the interpreter for 30 years who vindicates a lesser-known facet of Taylor, usually associated with fantasy cinema, remembers it. "What really makes him stay here is the western," he explained in an interview with Europa Press.

Taylor landed in Spain in 1961 with a Broadway musical comedy in a Mexican version. He was living in Mexico at the time, but ended up settling in Madrid, although from the capital he worked with directors such as John Milius or Roman Polanski, and shared a cast with performers such as Johnny Depp in 'The Ninth Door'.

Before becoming one of the recognizable faces of genre cinema in Spain, Matellano recalls that Taylor had started in Hollywood at the time of the unrepeatable Marilyn Monroe. The filmmaker also points out that the actor lived closely the world of great stars and shootings such as 'A Star Is Born', with Judy Garland.

FROM OREGON TO MADRID

Born in Oregon in 1926, Jack Taylor came into the world on his grandparents' ranch, with a biography already linked to the imaginary of the West. His great-grandfather was one of the founders of Oregon City, a friend of the real Wyatt Earp, and he met Billy the Kid. In addition, Taylor was an honorary member of the Sioux tribe, renamed Wamblí Glishká, "Spotted Eagle".

His real name was George Brown Randall, but the cinema first baptized him as Greg Martin (Mexico) and ended up turning him into Jack Taylor when he settled in Spain. "George Brown in the United States is like Juan Pérez here," joked the filmmaker.

The new name was used to boost his career in westerns. Even, according to Matellano, he played with the idea that he was Robert Taylor's nephew, "which was absolutely a lie."

The actor participated in titles linked to westerns such as 'The Last Rebel', 'Outlaw', 'Tomb of the Gunslinger', 'Uncas, the End of a Race', 'General Custer's Last Adventure', 'Joe Christmas', 'Trinidad and Bambino, Like Which', 'The Valley of Concavenator' and 'Print the Legend'.

A 30-YEAR FRIENDSHIP

Matellano remembers the beginning of his friendship with Taylor, whom he met when he was very young, in the 90s, after locating his phone in the old white pages. “Back then it was very easy: you looked for whoever you wanted, you called and that’s it,” he recalled.

She went to visit him at his home, in the district of Chamberí, and found “a super friendly man”. From that first meeting a friendship was born that lasted for 30 years. “There was a kind of friendly crush right away,” he said.

Taylor agreed to participate shortly after in one of his first short films and, according to Matellano, he did not want a small role, but the protagonist. He was already about 70 years old and ended up running around the Plaza de Ópera in a low-budget shoot.

Taylor also worked with him in theater and film. His last major starring role was in ‘WAX’, alongside Geraldine Chaplin and Jimmy Shaw. In addition, he participated in ‘The Valley of Concavenator’, one of his last appearances linked to the imaginary of the West.

“I’m still grieving because we were very, very friends,” he confessed in his conversation with Europa Press. As he has related, in recent years it was usual to have breakfast or snack together once a week and call each other every two days.

Matellano assures that Taylor was a decisive figure in his career. “I owe him everything because he was super young and he is one of those who helped me,” he said, before describing the world of show business as “a jungle” in which the American actor reached out to him.

TRIBUTE THIS SATURDAY IN HOYO DE MANZANARES

Hoyo de Manzanares will pay tribute this Saturday to actor Jack Taylor with the screening of 'The Tomb of the Gunslinger' (1964), by Amando de Ossorio, shot in the Golden City sets of Hoyo de Manzanares, together with the short film 'Print the Legend' (2023), directed by Víctor Matellano, co-scripted and narrated by Taylor himself and filmed in the Sad Hill cemetery, in Burgos.

'The Tomb of the Gunman' occupies a special place in Matellano's memory. According to the filmmaker, it was "a very strange western" because it was born as a thriller about bullfighters, but finally the producers proposed to move it to the West taking advantage of the fever of the genre.

After the screenings, there will also be a colloquium and the presentation of 'My 100 years of cinema', the memoirs of the performer edited by Sial-Pygmalion.

Víctor Matellano explained that the "most important" thing about this tribute is that "he was prepared" before his death. "Nothing of what had been agreed with him is going to vary, except that he is not going to be there," he said during his conversation with Europa Press.

The event will be presented by Manolo Fernández, from Radio Nacional, and will be attended by actress Claudia Gravi, a friend of Taylor and also linked to the filming of the West.

Spaghetti Western Locations for “Companeros”.

After the meeting between the students and the Swede the scene shifts outside where El Vasco is told that two of his men Miguel and Carlos have been found dead at the train station.

This scene was filmed in El Argamasón, Carboneras, 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 Greenberg (actor) would have been 90 today but died in 2023.

Philippe Boa (actor) is 65 today.

Spaghetti Western Trivia ~ “God Forgives… I Don’t”

 

Despite rumors to the contrary, the credited composer for this movie was a noted Spanish composer in his own right. Ángel Oliver Pina who was born in Moyuela, Zaragoza, Spain on January 2, 1937 and died in Madrid on April 25, 2005 and won numerous music awards including the Gran Premio di Roma in 1965. The notion that he was a pseudonym of veteran Italian composer Carlo Rustichelli is a misconception. Music publisher CAM's copyright catalog (entry #517) registers the score to two separate composers, namely Carlo Rustichelli and Ángel Oliver Pina.

Juneteenth 2026

 

Little Known Spaghetti Western Actors ~ Erich Dolz

[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.]

Erich Dolz was a German child actor who was born in Germany on December 7, 1955. He appeared in only one film that we know of and that was also his only Euro-western film, as Erik Johson in 1972’s “Tschetan” (Chetan, Indian Boy).

Dolz died in Germany on September 28, 2023 at the age of 68.

DOLZ, Erich [12/7/1955, Germany - 9/28/2023, Germany] – film actor.

Chetan, Indian Boy – 1972 (Erik Johnson)

Spaghetti Western Directors, Screenwriters, Cinematographers

Spaghetti Western Director ~ Sergio Garrone

Sergio Garrone was an Italian film director, screenwriter, and producer known for his work in exploitation cinema, particularly spaghetti westerns and controversial genre films during the 1960s and 1970s. Born in Rome on April 15, 1925, he began his career as a screenwriter and assistant director before transitioning to directing low-budget genre pictures, often under pseudonyms such as Willy S. Regan.

Garrone became associated with several popular Italian exploitation cycles, starting with spaghetti westerns including ''Django the Bastard'' (1969) and ''No Room to Die'' (1969). In the 1970s, he directed gothic horror films starring Klaus Kinski, such as ''The Hand That Feeds the Dead'' (1974) and ''Lover of the Monster'' (1974), before directing the infamous nazisploitation pictures ''SS Experiment Love Camp'' (1976) and ''SS Lager 5: L'inferno delle donne'' (1977). These later works, produced with largely the same cast and crew, remain among his most notorious contributions to the exploitation genre.

He continued directing various low-budget films, including women-in-prison pictures, into the early 1980s before retiring from the industry around 1984. The brother of actor Riccardo Garrone, he passed away at the age of 98 in Tortola, Virgin Islands on July 12, 2023. His career exemplifies the prolific output of journeyman filmmakers in Italian popular cinema during its peak exploitation era.

Sergio Garrone directed six Spaghetti westerns: “Se vuoi vivere…spara!” (If You Want to Live... Shoot!) in 1967, “Tre croci per nopn morire” (No Graves on Boot Hill) in 1968, “Django il bastardo” (The Strangers Gundown) and “Una lunga fila di croci” (No Room to Die) both in 1969, “Uccidi Django… uccidi per primo!!! (Kill Django… Kill First) and “Quel maledetto giorno della resa dei conti” (Vendetta at Dawn) both in 1971.

GARRONE, Sergio (aka Kenneth Freeman, S. Garrone, William S. Regan, Willy R. Regan, Willy S. Regan, Willy Regan) [4/15/1925, Rome, Lazio, Italy – 7/12/2023, Tortola, Virgin Islands] – producer, production manager, director, writer, brother of producer, production manager, director, writer, actor Riccardo Garrone [1926-2016], married to Mari Garrone (19??-2023) father of Giorgio Garrone, Claudia Garrone.

If You Want to Live... Shoot! - 1967 [as Willy S. Regan]

No Graves on Boot Hill - 1968 [as Willy S. Regan]

No Room to Die – 1969 [as Willy S. Regan]

The Stranger’s Gundown – 1969 [as Willy S. Regan]

Dirty Dollars – 1970 [film was never made]

Kill Django... Kill First - 1971 [as William S. Regan]

Vendetta at Dawn – 1971 [as Willy S. Regan]

Spaghetti Western Screenwriter ~ Claudio Cirri

Claudio Cirri is an Italian producer, director, writer, SFX specialist and actor. He was born in Firenze, Tuscany, Italy on January 16, 1979. Claudio’s cinema is a tribute to the Great American Frontier. Over the years, he has dedicated his career to the Western genre, completing five short films that explore its timeless themes. His journey began with 'The Loot' (California Film Award 2014) and reached a milestone at the 2021 Almería Western Film Festival, where 'Abigail' was awarded the Jury Prize. With his latest project 'DUES', Claudio reinforces his commitment to the genre, bringing his Italian heritage and Hollywood dreams to the screen through powerful visuals and atmospheric storytelling.

Claudio Cirri has written screenplays for three Euro-westerns: “The Loot” in 2012, “Abigail” in 2021 and “Gallows Ridge” in 2024.

CIRRI, Claudio [1/16/1979, Firenze, Tuscany, Italy -     ] – producer, director, writer, SFX, actor,

The Loot – 2012

Abigail - 2021

Gallows Ridge – 2024

Spaghetti Western Cinematographer ~ Rolf Kastel

Rolf Kästel was a German cinematographer known for his work as director of photography on prominent German television crime series and feature films from the 1960s through the 1980s. He contributed to several enduring productions in the German-speaking audiovisual industry, establishing himself as a reliable and prolific figure in cinematography during the post-war era and beyond.

Born on December 16, 1919, in Cologne, Germany, Kästel pursued a career in film and television that spanned multiple decades, collaborating on both cinematic features and episodic television. His portfolio includes notable crime dramas such as “Derrick” and “Der Kommissar”, as well as adventure and action films like “Pirates of the Mississippi”, “Agent 505 - Todesfalle Beirut”, and “Countdown to Doomsday”.

Kästel's technical skill supported a wide range of storytelling in German popular media, particularly in the ZDF and other broadcaster productions that defined the era's television landscape. He died on June 26, 1987 in Munich, Germany at the age of 68.

Rof Kastel was the cinematographer on one Euro-western, “Due Flußpiraten vom Mississippi) (Pirates of the Mississippi) in 1963.

KASTEL, Rolf (aka Rolf Kästel) [12/16/1919, Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany – 6/26/1987, Munich, Unterhaching, Bavaria, Germany] – cinematographer, cameraman.

Pirates of the Mississippi – 1963

"Trinity is STILL My Name", all the curiosities about the film you didn't know

 From poker with fake hands to Italian locations transformed into the Wild West: the cult with Bud Spencer and Terence Hill continues to conquer the public even after more than 50 years

Donna Moderna

By Redazione

30.05.2026

There are films that seem to cross time without losing their charm. ... They kept calling it Trinity, sequel to the famous comedy western with Bud Spencer and Terence Hill, is one of them. Released in 1971 and directed by E.B. Clucher, pseudonym of Enzo Barboni, the film has become a fixture on Italian TV over the years, thanks to a perfect mix of slapstick comedy, chases, fistfights and memorable jokes.

To this day, audiences continue to follow him with affection, generation after generation. Behind the most iconic scenes, however, there are many little-known backstories. From the footage shot between Abruzzo and Molise to the tricks used in the famous poker game, here are the most interesting curiosities about the film broadcast on Saturday 30 May on Rete 4.

Where "They kept calling him Trinity" was filmed

Although the story is set in the American Old West, much of the film was shot in Italy. The vast plains that represent California in the film are in fact located between Abruzzo and Lazio.

Many scenes were shot in Campo Imperatore, on the Gran Sasso plateau, one of the symbolic places of Italian spaghetti westerns. Some sequences were instead shot in the plain of Camposecco, near Camerata Nuova, already used in the first They Call Me Trinity.

The mission of the friars, one of the most important places in the film, no longer exists. It had been rebuilt in the De Laurentiis factories on the Via Pontina, on the outskirts of Rome. Molise also appears in the film: some scenes along the river were shot on the banks of the Volturno, near Venafro.

These landscapes helped to create that dusty and ironic atmosphere that made Enzo Barboni's western unique.

Trinity's poker? The hands were not Terence Hill's

He was the one who created the most complex card games, including the very rapid shuffling and fanned openings. In some interviews, Binarelli said that to differentiate the hands of the various characters, the crew even went so far as to make up his fingers.

Shooting that scene took three days of work. According to the magician, the set was interrupted several times because the actors burst out laughing during filming.

A resounding box office success

When it was released in Italian cinemas in 1971, … They kept calling him Trinity, he was a real phenomenon. The film became the highest-grossing film of the 1971-72 film season and won over millions of viewers.

With over 14 million tickets sold in Italy, the film is still among the most viewed in the history of Italian cinema. A huge result, especially considering that the western at the time was experiencing a phase of change.

The success also contributed to definitively consecrating Bud Spencer and Terence Hill as the symbolic couple of Italian action comedy. After the film, the two actors continued to work together in films that became cult, always maintaining that dynamic made up of brawls, irony and brotherly affection.

How Bud Spencer and Terence Hill changed the Italian western

One of the most famous scenes in the film is undoubtedly that of the poker game between Trinity and Wild Cat Hendriks. The spectacular evolutions with the cards left the audience speechless, but there is a detail that many do not know.

The hands you see during virtuosity were not those of Terence Hill. In fact, the movements were performed by Tony Binarelli, a very famous illusionist and magician in the seventies

Before the arrival of Trinity, spaghetti westerns had much harsher and more dramatic tones. The protagonists were often lone gunslingers, marked by revenge or violence.

Enzo Barboni completely changed register. With Him they called Him Trinity… before and… They kept calling him Trinity then, he turned the western into a popular comedy full of physical humor, bewildered characters and surreal scenes.

Child and Trinity were not classical heroes. They were messy, lazy, improvised and often unable to behave like real bandits. It was precisely this humanity of theirs that conquered the public.

The film also helped define the cinematic image of Bud Spencer and Terence Hill that viewers would find again in the following years: one big and gruff, the other cunning and smiling, but both always on the side of the weakest.

The restored full version arrived on blu-ray

Over the years, the film has often been broadcast on television in shortened versions. Some scenes, in fact, had been eliminated in the home video editions and in the TV passages.

In 2016, a new DVD edition was released that recovered the cut sequences. More recently, in February 2026, the film arrived for the first time on restored and unabridged blu-ray, with a full runtime of 126 minutes.

An operation that allowed fans to rediscover the film in its version most faithful to the original theatrical release.

...Trinity is STILL My Name continues to be a cult

The secret of the success of ... They kept calling him Trinity, perhaps it lies precisely in his simplicity. The film does not focus on special effects or great twists, but on characters still capable of making you smile today.

Bud Spencer and Terence Hill have created an unrepeatable couple, which has entered the Italian collective memory. And each TV rerun continues to bring viewers of different ages back to the screen, united by the same desire to laugh.

Spaghetti Western Voices “Ringo the Lone Rider”

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.

Today we’ll cover “Ringo the Lone Rider”

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

Dan Blake/Capt. Bly/Ringo – Peter Martell (I) Cesare Barbetti, (S) José Guardiola, (G) Viktor Neumann

Daniel G. Samuelson – Piero Lulli (I) Giuseppe Rinaldi, (S) José María Cordero, (G) Erich Räuker

Lucy Corbett - Dyanik Zurakowska (I) Vittoria Febbi, (S) Maite Santamarina, (G) ?

Kid Michael - Paolo Herzl (I) Massimo Turci, (S) Rafael Romero Marchent, (G) ?

Bill Anderson - Armando Calvo (I) Riccardo Mantoni, (S) Armando Calvo, (G) Jan Spitzer

Major Corbett - Jesús Puente (I) Luigi Vannucchi, (S) Jesús Puente, (G) Tilo Schmitz

Viktor Neumann  (1958 -    )

Viktor Neumann was born on August 14, 1958, in Cologne, Germany. He is a German actor and voice actor as well as a speaker of radio plays and audiobooks.

Neumann grew up in Schildgen and completed his training at the Folkwang University in Essen. He was then engaged for seven years at the Schauspielhaus Dortmund. Further engagements followed at the Stadttheater Trier and the Renaissance-Theater Berlin.

In the fantasy series “Merlin – The New Adventures” he was the voice of the character Sir Gwaine. He is frequently heard as the voice of Alan Cumming  in “The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas”, “Garfield – The Film”, “Ripley Under Ground” and the series ‘The L Word – When Women Love Women’ and Benoît Magimel (“The Purple Rivers 2 – The Angels of the Apocalypse”, “The Secret of the Geisha”). He’s also the German voice of Jon Cryer in shorts and in ‘Two and a Half Men’, and Andrew Lincoln in the television series ‘The Walking Dead’.

Special Birthdays

Ingeborg Krabbe (actress) would have been 95 today but died in 2017.

Bob Creese (actor) would have been 90 today but died in 1998.

Jon Lord (composer) would have been 85 today but died in 2012.

Little Known Spaghetti Western Actors ~ Giovanni Dolfini

[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.]

Giovanni Dolfini was an Italian stage, film, and television actor and director, active primarily from the silent era through the mid-20th century. Born in Venice, Italy on January 8, 1885, he built a career spanning over five decades, appearing in more than 38 productions, often in supporting or character roles that highlighted his versatility in Italian cinema and early television. His work frequently featured in adaptations of classic literature, contributing to the post-war revival of Italian film and broadcast media.

Dolfini's directorial debut came with the 1920 silent film Dopo, where he also starred, marking an early highlight in his multifaceted involvement in the industry. Notable acting credits include portrayals in television miniseries such as ‘Les Misérables’ (1964) as Mabeuf and ‘The Count of Monte Cristo’ (1966) as an elderly gentleman, alongside films like “Sleeping Beauty” (1942) and “Torna!” (1954). His career reflected the evolution of Italian entertainment, from mute cinema to sound films and TV, often collaborating with prominent directors in the neorealist and classical traditions. Dolfini passed away in Rome at the age of 83 on December 9, 1968, leaving a legacy of steady contributions to Italy's cultural output.

Giovanni Dolfini appeared in thirty-eight films and television appearances from 1911 to 1966. He also directed one film “Dopo” in 1920.

Giovanni Dolfini appeared in one Spaghetti western, “Il sogno di Zorro” (The Dream of Zorro) as Don Alonso in 1951

DOLFINI, Giovanni (G. Dolfini) [1/8/1885, Venice, Veneto, Italy – 12/9/1968, Rome, Lazio, Italy] – director, theater film, TV actor.

The Dream of Zorro – 1951 (Don Alonzo)

Spaghetti Western Directors, Screenwriters, Cinematographers

Spaghetti Western Director ~ Mario Gariazzo

Mario Gariazzo was an Italian film director, screenwriter, producer, and editor renowned for his contributions to low-budget exploitation cinema during the 1970s and 1980s.

Born in Biella, Piedmont, Italy on June 4, 1930, Gariazzo began his career in the Italian film industry in the early 1960s, directing his debut feature “Lasciapassare per il morto” (Passport for a Corpse) in 1962, a crime thriller co-written with others. Over the next three decades, he helmed at least 18 films and contributed screenplays to over 20 projects, often working in genres including horror, science fiction, erotic drama, adventure, and poliziotteschi (crime-action films), with frequent international co-productions involving Spain and the United States. His style emphasized sensational and erotic elements, aligning with Italy's boom in genre and exploitation filmmaking, though his works received mixed critical reception, typically earning average ratings on platforms like MYmovies.it.

Among his most notable directorial efforts are the horror film “L'ossessa” (The Possessed, 1974), a tale of demonic possession starring Stella Carnacina; the science fiction thriller “Occhi dalle stelle” (Eyes Behind the Stars, 1978), featuring Robert Hoffmann and involving alien invasion themes; and the erotic mystery “Play Motel” (1979), which starred Ray Lovelock and Anna Maria Rizzoli and explored themes of voyeurism and murder. Gariazzo also directed westerns like “Acquasanta Joe” (Holy Water Joe, 1971) and adventure films such as “Schiave bianche: Violenza in Amazzonia” (White Slaves of the Amazon, 1985), often under pseudonyms like Ray Garrett for international releases. Later in his career, he shifted toward more explicit erotic content, with titles like “Sapore di donna” (Taste of a Woman, 1991) marking his final directorial works before his death in Rome on March 18, 2002 at age 71. Despite not achieving mainstream acclaim, Gariazzo's output reflects the vibrant, if niche, landscape of Italian B-movies during a transformative era for European genre cinema.

Mario Gariazzo directed three Spaghetti westerns: “Dio perdoni la mia pistola” (God Will Forgive My Pistol) with Leopoldo Savona in 1969, “Acquasanta Joe” (Holy Water Joe) in 1971 and “Il giorno del giudizio” (Drummer of Vengeance) in 1971.

GARIAZZO, Mario (aka Gariazzo, Roy Garret, Roy Garrett, Robert Paget, John Walker) [6/4/1930, Biella, Piedmont, Italy – 3/18/2002, Rome, Lazio, Italy] – producer, director, writer, film editor.

God Will Forgive My Pistol – 1966, 1969 (co)

Holy Water Joe - 1971

Drummer of Vengeance – 1971 [as Robert Paget]

The Most Dangerous Man in the West – 1972 [film was never made]

Spaghetti Western Screenplay ~ Marcello Ciorciolini

Marcello Ciorciolini was an Italian screenwriter, film director, playwright, lyricist, and author for radio and television.

Born in Rome on March 7, 1922, Ciorciolini began his professional career in the late 1940s by writing sketches and scripts for Italian radio broadcasts, before entering the film industry in the early 1950s as an assistant director and screenwriter on projects such as Silvio Laurenti “Rosa's La folla” (1951). Over the next three decades, he contributed to more than 50 films, specializing in popular genres like comedy, western, adventure, and parody, with frequent collaborations alongside director Giorgio Simonelli and the iconic comedy duo Franco Franchi and Ciccio Ingrassia. His screenwriting credits include notable titles such as “Robin Hood e i pirati” (1960), “La vendetta di Ursus” (1961), and “Due mafiosi contro Al Capone” (1966), often blending humor with lighthearted action.

Ciorciolini transitioned to directing in 1965 with the comedy “Con rispetto parlando”, starring Scilla Gabel, and went on to helm around 10 features, many featuring Franco and Ciccio, including “I nipoti di Zorro” (1968), “Ciccio perdona... io no!” (1968), and “Meo Patacca” (1972), a Roman dialect comedy that highlighted his versatility in regional storytelling. Beyond cinema, he worked as a playwright and authored content for television, contributing to the vibrant post-war Italian entertainment scene. As a lyricist affiliated with SIAE (Società Italiana degli Autori ed Editori), he penned the original Italian words for "Ti guarderò nel cuore" from the 1962 documentary Mondo cane, composed by Riz Ortolani and Nino Oliviero; the song achieved global fame through its English adaptation "More," earning an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song. Ciorciolini's work exemplified the prolific, genre-blending spirit of mid-20th-century Italian popular culture, though he remained best known domestically for his contributions to comedic cinema.

Marcello Ciorciolini was a co-screenwriter on five Spaghetti westerns: “Due Mafiosi nel Far West” (Two Mafiamen in the Far West) with Giorgio Simonelli, Leonardo Martin Mendez in 1964, “I due sergenti del generale Custer” (The Two Sergeants of General Custer) with Giorgio Simonelli, Amedeo Sollazzo and Alfonso Balcazar Granda in 1965, “I due figli di Ringo” (Two Sons of Ringo” with Roberto Gianviti, Amedeo Sollazzo, Dino Verde in 1966, “Ciccio perdona…io no!” (Ciccio Forgives…I Don’t!) with Amedeo Sollazzo and “I nipoti di Zorro” (The Nephews of Zorro) with Roberto Gianvitti, Vittorio Metz and Dino Verde in both in 1968

CIORCIOLINI, Marcello (aka M. Ciorciolini, James Harris, Frank Red, Frank Reed) [3/7/1922, Rome, Lazio, Italy – 9/5/2011, Rome Lazio, Italy] – director, assistant director, writer, songwriter.

Two Mafiamen in the Far West – 1964 (co)

The Two Sergeants of General Custer – 1965 (co)

The Two Sons of Ringo – 1966 (co)

Ciccio Forgives…I Don’t! – 1968 (co)

The Nephews of Zorro – 1968 (co)

Spaghetti Western Cinematographer ~ Jan Karpas

Jan Karpas is a Czech animator, director, and screenwriter known for his contributions to stop-motion animation in Czechoslovak cinema during the 20th century. Born on October 8, 1913, in Červený Kostelec, Austria-Hungary, he developed a distinctive style that incorporated creative substitutions and everyday objects in his animated shorts. His work emerged within the vibrant tradition of Czech animation, alongside contemporaries in puppet and stop-motion filmmaking.

Karpas directed and wrote several notable animated films, including “Liška a vlk” (Fox and Wolf) and “Fikmik” (1959), the latter celebrated for its inventive use of food items and pebbles as substitutes for objects in stop-motion sequences. He also contributed to other projects such as “Three Gifts” (1974). His career spanned several decades until his death on May 26, 1984, in Brandýs nad Labem, Czechoslovakia, leaving a legacy in experimental and short-form animation

Jan Jarpas was a co-animator on one Euro-western “Arie Prerie” (Song of the Prairie) with Břetislav Pojar, Bohuslav Šrámek, Zdeněk Hrabě, and Stanislav Látal in 1949.

KARPAS, Jan (Jan Karpaš) [10/8/1913, Červený Kostelec, Austria-Hungary – 5/26/1984, Brandýs nad Labem, Czechoslovakia] – director, writer, animator.

Song of the Prairie – 1949 (co)

New Italian Blu-ray, DVD release of “Sole Rosso”

 

“Sole Rosso”

(Red Sun)

 

Director: Terence Young

Starring: Charles Bronson, Alain Delon, Ursula Andress, Toshirô Mifune, Capucine

 

Country: Italy

Label: Eagle Pictures / RAI

Region: B

2K Blu-ray

Resolution: 1080p

Aspect ratio: 1.85:1

Language: Italian

Subtitles: none

Running time: 112 minutes

ASIN: ‎B0GXG16M2X

Special Birthdays

Percy Moran (actor) would have been 140 today but died in 1958.

Marco Mariani (actor) would have been 100 today but died in 1970

Jerry Ludwig (writer) would have been 85 today but died in 2021.

RIP Jenny Atkins

 

I’ve received word from Jenny Atkins’ granddaughter that Jenny passed away sometime in late May. She was 83. Jenny was supposedly born Jenny P. Riva in England 1943. Jenny moved to the United States and met actor Ty Hardin. They appeared together in an episode of TV’s ‘Riptide’ which Ty was starring in. They became a couple and appeared together in the Spaghetti western “You’re Jinxed Friend, You’ve Met Sacramento” in 1970 where Jenny played Ty’s daughter Maggie Thompson. They married after the film and appeared together again in the following year in “Drummer of Vengeance” where Jenny played a circus girl. Jenny and Ty divorced in 1974 and Jenny married Dr. Steven Zax a surgeon [1938-2017] in 1978 and they divorced in 1982. She then married George R. Brachmanski. The couple lived in Queensland, Australia.

Little Known Spaghetti Western Actors ~ Bretislav Dolejsi

[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.]

Břetislav Dolejší was a Czechoslovak football goalkeeper whose career was from 1952 to 1958. He played for such teams as Dukla Prague and Slavia Prague. In 1958 he played for Czechoslovakia in the 1958 FIFA World Cup.

Born in Bretislav Hrochuv Tynec, Czechoslovakia on September 26, 1928, he was recruited as a brawler for his only film which was also his only Euro-western, “Limonádový Joe aneb Konská opera” (Lemonade Joe) as a brawler in 1964.

After this film he emigrated to Chicago, Illinois in the U.S.A. in 1967 and became a naturalized citizen in 1973. Dolejsi was employed by the Bechtel Power Corporation. He died in Los Angeles, California from cancer on October 28,2010 at the age of 82.

DOLEJSI, Bretislav [9/26/1928, Hrochuv Tynec, Czechoslovakia – 10/28/2010, San Gabriel, California, U.S.A. (cancer)] – soccer player [goalie], film actor, played for the Czechoslovakian team in the 1958 FIFA World Cup, played for Dukla Prague [1952-1956], Slavia Prague [1957-1960], married to Donna Dolejsi (1975-2010) father of Bret Dolejsi.

Lemonade Joe – 1964 (brawler)

Spaghetti Western Directors, Screenwriters, Cinematographers

Spaghetti Western Director ~ James Gardener

James Gardener was an alias used by Adolf Marius Lesoeur who was a French film producer and writer known for his extensive work in low-budget European exploitation, horror, and erotic cinema, particularly from the 1970s through the 1980s. As the owner of the production and distribution company Eurociné starting in 1957, he played a central role in financing and overseeing numerous genre films, often collaborating on projects that blended sensational elements with modest budgets. He also founded Studios Mobiles de France and Paris-Nice Productions, contributing to the infrastructure of independent French filmmaking during a period of prolific output in these niches.

Born in Montreuil, Seine-Saint-Denis, France on January 7, 1910, Lesoeur built a career that spanned producing, writing, and occasional directing or acting roles in his own productions. His credits include notable genre titles such as “Female Vampire” (1973), “A Virgin Among the Living Dead” (1973), “Exorcism” (1975), “The Sadist of Notre Dame” (1979), and “Angel of Death” (1985). These works frequently drew from horror, zombie, and erotic thriller tropes, reflecting the commercial trends of European B-movies during the era. Lesoeur's prolific involvement helped sustain a segment of the industry focused on international co-productions and direct-to-market releases. He died in Ivry-sur-Seine, Val-de-Marne, France on May 16, 2003.

As James Gardener he co-directed one Spaghetti western, “La marque de Zorro” (The Mark of Zorro) with Jess Franco and Alain Payet. He also produced five Spaghetti westerns “Bienvenido, padre Murray” (Welcome Padre Murray) in 1962, “Les aventures galantes de Zorro” (Red Hot Zorro) in 1972, “Convoi de femmes” (Convoy of Women) in 1974 and “Les filles du Golden Saloon” (The Girls of the Golden Saloon) in 1975.

GARDENER, James (aka A.M. Frank, James Gartner, Marius Lefrère, M. Lesoeur, Mario Lesoeur, A. L. Mariaux, A.L. Mariaux, H.L. Rostaine, Dan Simon) (Adolf Marius Lesoeur) [1/7/1910, Montreuil, Seine-Saint-Denis, France – 5/16/2003, Ivry-sur-Seine, Val-de-Marne, France] – producer, production manager, director, writer, actor, married to ? father of producer Daniel Lesoeur [1942-    ], grandfather of actress Anouchka (Anouchka Lesoeur), founded Studios Mobiles de France.

Bienvenido, padre Murray – 1962 [producer]

Rebels in Canada – 1965 [producer]

Red Hot Zorro – 1972 [producer]

Convoy of Women – 1974 [producer]

The Mark of Zorro – 1974 (co-director)

The Girls of the Golden Saloon – 1975 [producer]

Spaghetti Western Screenwriter ~ Sergio Ciani

Sergio Ciani was an Italian actor and bodybuilder known for his starring roles in 1960s sword-and-sandal (peplum) films under the stage name Alan Steel. One of the few native Italians to headline the genre—typically dominated by imported American bodybuilders—he portrayed iconic muscle heroes such as Hercules, Samson, Maciste, and Ursus in numerous low-budget Italian productions.

Born in Rome on September 7, 1935, Ciani entered the film industry as a stunt performer and body double for Steve Reeves in “Hercules Unchained” (1959) and “The Giant of Marathon” (1959). He quickly rose to leading man status, starring in films including “Hercules Against the Moon Men” (1964), “Hercules and the Black Pirate” (1964), “Hercules Against Rome” (1964), and “Samson and the Mighty Challenge” (1964). Following the peplum genre's decline in the mid-1960s, he continued acting in spaghetti westerns, thrillers, and other Italian films through the 1970s, with his final known role in “Baby Love” (1979). Ciani died on September 5, 2015, in Rome, two days before his 80th birthday.

Ciani co-wrote the screenplay for one Spaghetti western which he also starred in “Mano rápida” (Fast-Hand is Still My Name) with Vittorio Salerno, Alberto Cardone and Eduardo M. Brochero in 1973.

CIANI, Sergio (aka Alan Steel) [9/7/1935, Rome, Lazio, Italy - 9/5/2015, Ostia, Rome, Lazio, Italy] – writer, film actor.

Fast-Hand is Still My Name – 1973 (co)

Spaghetti Western Cinematographer ~ Janez Kalisnik

Janez Kališnik was a Slovenian cinematographer and photographer known for his influential work as a director of photography in Yugoslav and Slovenian cinema during the mid-20th century, as well as his later contributions to architectural photography that captured transitional spaces and urban landscapes.

Born on March 2, 1921, in Drenov Grič near Ljubljana, Kališnik developed his craft in film, serving as cinematographer on notable titles such as “Ples v dežju” (Dancing in the Rain, 1961), “Sonce v mreži” (The Sunny Whirlpool, 1968), and other productions that marked important moments in Slovenian filmmaking. After retiring from film, he turned to photography, where his images of architecture and everyday scenes earned exhibitions and recognition for their ability to document the evolving cultural and built environment of late-20th-century Slovenia. He died in 2004, in Ljubljana. His career bridged the cinematic innovations of the postwar period and the reflective documentation of Slovenia's post-independence era, leaving a legacy in both moving and still imagery. Janez died in Ljubljana, Slovenia in January 0f 2004 at the age of 82

Janez Kalisnik was a cinematographer on one Euro-western, “Duell vor Sonnenuntergang” (Duel at Sundown) in 1965.

KALISNIK, Janez [3/2/1921, Drenov Grič, Kingdom of Yugoslavia – 2004, Ljubljana, Slovenia] – cinematographer.

Duel at Sundown – 1965