From the WAI! vault

  

Little Known Spaghetti Western actors ~ Vonk De Ridder

[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.]

Vonk de Ridder is a pseudonym used by Danie van Rensburg who was born in 1940 in South Africa. He was an actor and photo novella star, best known for his role in Ruiter in Swart (Black Rider). He appeared in several 1960s films, including “The Hellions” in 1961, “Voor sononder” in 1962 and “Kimberley Jim” in 1963. He also worked as a production assistant on the 1968 film “Majuba: Heuwel van Duiwe”

Vonk De Ridder appeared in only one Euro-western performing stunts in 1973’s “They Call Me Lucky”.

De RIDDER, Vonk (aka D.P.J. Van Rensburg) (Danie van Rensburg) [1945, South Africa -     ] – stuntman, film actor.

They Call Me Lucky – 1973 [stunts]

Spaghetti Western Directors, Screenwriters, Cinematographers

Spaghetti Western Director ~ Günther Brandl

Günther Brandl was born in Arnstorf, Niederbayern, Germany on June 17, 1980. He is the oldest of Alois and Gisela Brandl’s children. Gunther is a producer, director, writer, cinematographer, film editor actor and founded Brandl Pictures. His brother is director, writer, cinematographer, film actor, Helmut Brandl born in Arnstorf in 1982 and his sister is director, writer, film actress Monika Brandl born in Arnstorf in 1984. Günther appeared in 48 films among which is four westerns: “Er kannte kein Erbarmen” in 2001 as Valdez, Sheriff Whitmore, Frank Anderson, Mr. Tunstall, saloon patron) also as co-director, co-writer, co-cinematographer, “Der stumme Schrei des Todes” in 2005 as Moses Cane/Colonel Sam Emerson also director, writer, co-cinematographer, “Und sie kehrten niemals wieder” in 2013 as Nameless also co-director, writer and “Im Tal von Achor” in 2022 as Reverend John Tanner also director, writer.

Günther Brandl directed and co-directed four Euro-westerns: “Er kannte kein Erbarmen” in 2001 with Helmut Brandl, “Der stumme Schrei des Todes” in 2005, “Und sie kehrten niemals wieder” in 2013 with Helmut Brandl and Monika Brandl, “Im Tal von Achor” in 2022.

BRANDL, Günther [6/17/1980, Arnstorf, Niederbayern, Germany -     ] – producer, director, writer, cinematographer, film editor actor, son of actor Alois Brandl [1949-    ], actress Gisela Brandl [1953-    ], brother of actor Helmut Brandl [1982-    ], actress Monika Brandl [1984-    ], actress Romy Brandl [1984-    ], founded Brandl Pictures

Er kannte kein Erbarmen – 2001 (co)

Der stumme Schrei des Todes – 2005

Und sie kehrten niemals wieder – 2013 (co)

Im Tal von Achor – 2022

Spaghetti Western Screenwriter ~ Herma E. Barker

Hermanna Caroline Elfriede Barkhausen was born on July 25, 1875, in Hamburg, Germany. He was a German writer, painter, draughtswoman, songwriter and screenwriter of the German silent film of the 1920s years.

Very little is known about Hermanna Barkhausen. The second youngest of nine children of the Bremen merchant Albrecht Wilhelm Barkhausen-Büsing (1837–1890) and his wife Catharina Anna Therese Will (1845–1919) began to take an interest in painting and the art of drawing as a young woman and studied painting in Munich. The landscape painter was the mother of Hanswolf Barkhausen-Büsing.

Based in southern Germany in her early years, Hermanna Barkhausen made contacts with the film industry during the First World War and was hired by Emelka as a screenwriter in 1919. Some of the nearly fifty screenplays she wrote were written under the name Herma E. Barker. In this function, it was initially responsible for adapting models of Ganghofer novels for the silent screen. At the beginning of her cinema career, this led to several collaborations with director and screenwriter colleague Franz Osten. She remained loyal to Emelka until 1927 and wrote comedies as well as dramas and melodramas for the most important Munich production company. Barkhausen, on the other hand, she wrote her last work for the film for a Berlin company, she was no longer active in sound films.

As Herma E. Barker she wrote the screenplay for one Euro-western “Der Kampf um den Goldfund” in 1920.

BARKER, Herma E. (Hermanna Caroline Elfriede Barkhausen) [7/25/1875, Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany – 2/14/1957, Rotenburg, Hannover, Germany] – journalist, writer, songwriter.

The Heroine of the Prairie – 1919

Der Kampf um den Goldfund – 1920 [as Herma E. Barker]

 

Spaghetti Western Cinematographer ~ Ugo Brunelli

Ugo Brunelli was an Italian cinematographer and cameraman. We worked as a thirty-eight films as a cinematographer from 1953-1977 and four as a cameraman from 1953-1960.

I can find no biographical information on him.

Brunelli was a cinematographer on two Spaghetti westerns: “Vayas con dios, gringo!” (Go with God, Gringo) in 1966 and “C’era una volta questo pazzo pazzo west” (Once Upon a Time in the Wild Wild West) in 1973.

BRUNELLI, Ugo [Italian] – cinematographer, cameraman.

Go with God, Gringo – 1966

Once Upon a Time in the Wild Wild West – 1973

Andrés Macho: "I've been typecast as a reverend gunslinger and I love that" Extraordinary people

In his films he always wears his usual reverend attire, with his pistols hanging from his hips, ready to shoot at

Diario de Almeria

By Rubén García Felices

October 5, 2025

Andrés Macho is a film director, screenwriter and actor from Almeria. He was born in Benahadux on April 12, 1970 (55 years old), into a humble family, making his film debut late in 2018 with “Return to Bethlehem”, as director of the film. Since then, he has not stopped working on his own film projects to make a small niche for himself in the wave of independent cinema in Almeria. His best-known film is “Blessing”. “Sangre y Nácar” (2024), with which he participates in the new edition of the Almería Western Film Festival.

Question. Andrés, how do you remember your childhood and youth?

Answer. Everyone knew me and called me "Andresillo, el del Salón" (and they still call me that), because I spent my entire childhood in the Salón bar in Benahadux that belonged to my parents. I spent my childhood in that bar and in the church square that was opposite, where I shared thousands of soccer games with my friends. I remember that my first idol was Arconada, the goalkeeper of Real Sociedad. Soon I started working as an apprentice in Pepe Damián's mechanic workshop (my godfather), but one day the inspection came to do a medical examination and as soon as they said to draw my blood I ran away. Since then, I have not set foot in that workshop again. (We laugh.) When they take my blood I faint, I can't handle that. Then I went to the military and when I returned, after my father died, my brother José took over the bar, I helped him for a few years.

Q. How do you currently make a living?

A. For about 3 and a half years I have been working as a social health worker in the company Atende, a social services company, where I am lucky enough to take care of the elderly people of my town, Benahadux, who saw me grow up. Before I was a bricklayer's laborer, a job that I combined for 17 years with the care of a paraplegic person.

Q. How did your interest in cinema come about? What do you remember about your first shoots?

A. About 8 years ago I was called to play a small role with dialogue, as an actor, and as a result of that I got hooked on this world; deciding very soon to do my own projects and shoots, as a director and acting. My first directed work was called “Return to Bethlehem” (2018), a version of the birth of Jesus set in the Wild West. As for the first time I performed, it was in “Arizona 1878. A History of the Old West” (2019), by Manuel Olaya, where I played a small role, in the mines of La Partala, guarding some prisoners. One of those prisoners was Micky Molina, one of the sons of the singer Antonio Molina, who personally congratulated me by telling me that he was doing well... and that's when I got the spark.

Q. You live cinema as an actor and director. Where do you prefer to be: behind the camera or in front of it?

A. It depends on the moment. I find it difficult to answer this question. I like to bring my ideas to life as a director but, on the other hand, I love to see myself on the big screen.

Q. Is it a blessing? “Blood and Mother-of-Pearl” (2024) your most ambitious film project so far?

A. So far, yes. In fact, the film (in its shortened version) has been a finalist this year at the Almería Western Film Festival (AWFF) in Tabernas and next Saturday, October 11, at 1 p.m., it will be screened in Fort Bravo – Texas Hollywood. I mean we had to reduce the film to only 22 minutes long, turning it into a short film, which was necessary to be able to participate in this festival. It's a shame that at the AWFF you can't see it in its entirety. The film is a fusion between a western and its clichés and the real daily life of a village in Bajo Andarax in the middle of the nineteenth century. In it, gunmen arrive from the United States to Almeria in search of the foreman of some mines, a place where he takes refuge from a murky past. The movie contains a lot of action, romantic scenes and some other touch of humor. As far as the places that we can discover are concerned, we find old farmhouses from that time, the Plaza Vieja de Almería, the Cable Inglés, ... although eighty percent of the film is filmed in Benahadux, in the mines of La Partala. The part that corresponds to the history of the USA has been shot in Western Leone. The film contains performances by flamenco singers very much from our land.

Q. How long is the full version of the film?

A. It is a medium-length film of 49 minutes.

Q. Will there be a continuation of Blessing?

A. Yes, and it will be titled Blessing. Recover your soul. I'm already finishing the script, but I still have to specify several aspects of the shoot: set locations, permits, search for sponsors, etc. I am very excited about the realization of this second part, because people already know what the story of Bendición is about. They want and ask me to do another work of this character, which I play myself.

Q. Who is Blessing?

A. Blessing in the film is an Almerian who emigrates to North America, joins a gang of outlaws, and finally, repenting of his sins, becomes a priest. Then, shortly after, and for circumstances that I will not say, he kills the son of the leader of another gang, so he has no choice but to flee to his homeland, Benahadux. Bendición is a character who always wears his usual reverend attire, with his pistols hanging from his hips, ready to shoot at full speed.

Q. Who do you get together with to shoot your projects?

A. With great people and friends who love the cinema of their land. I am not going to mention them all because there are many, so I will only name the technical team, which is in charge of filming, editing, etc. Nuria Campos, Nazaret Prados and Miguel Montoya from Mírame Almería.

Q. What have you been working on lately?

A.I have shot two western short films, as you already know (counted with your participation in both): “Cursed Revenue” (2024), which tells the last two days of Pat Garrett, and which was also selected for screening at the AWFF last year; and “Death to the Bastard” (2025), another western, which deals with the fight against cancer and is currently finishing editing.

Q. What are your hobbies besides cinema?

A. I collect antiques, I love archaeology, and I'm also a fan of country music, such as artists like Alan Jackson or George Strait. Apart from this, I have another passion that no one knows about and that is the practice of survival. Spending five days lying on a mountain with minimal resources, building my own shelters, hunting...

Q. What kind of antiques are you interested in?

A. I've been collecting antiques from the nineteenth century for about 14 years, which are the same ones I use for props in my films, such as lamps, clothes, furniture, reproductions of weapons, etc. As I didn't know what to do with so many things, I did several film sets in my own farmhouse where I live. One is a Mexican kitchen, another a hunter's cabin, I also have a blacksmith's cabin, and the largest is an interior decoration (where you and I are right now) of a small cantina that is at the same time a store. All together they make a post stop. I call the set of sets Rancho Majuelo.

Q. Could you name some films that have been shot here?

A. Here, in Rancho Majuelo, several film shoots have already been done, apart from all my own (my own projects). One of these films is “Your Last Duel, Friend” (2025), by Dirk Roche, where, by the way, I am a co-star. With this German director I have also co-starred in “A Bastard, a City and the Dead” (2022). In the same way, scenes have been filmed in my ranch from “La Marcha del Diablo”, by José Enrique Martínez Moya, which is currently being filmed and where, likewise, I participate with an important role. Curiously, in all these works he is seen in the same clothing as a reverend gunslinger, as in Blessing. It seems that I have been pigeonholed with this outfit that I love.

Q. Upcoming projects.

A. In the short term, the aforementioned Blessing 2 and other film work related to my profession. The latter, an autobiography of mine, that of a man who feels bitter for not finding a job and who suddenly gets an opportunity to work in home help caring for a patient with cerebral palsy. But, be careful, don't think that it will have a sad story, but on the contrary, it will be a short film that will have a lot of humor.

Who Are Those Singers & Musicians ~ Ken Tobias

 

Kenneth Wayne Paul Tobias was born on July 25, 1945, Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. Raised in Saint John, Ken briefly worked as a draftsman and from 1961 played guitar in the local folk band The Ramblers, and drums in the rock band Badd Cedes.

Formed a folk-bluegrass group The Ramblers with his brother Tony Tobias. Later moved to Halifax to perform on Frank's Bandstand and was also part of a rock 'n' roll group The Badd Cedes. He joined Singalong Jubilee for 1965 to 1967 as guitarist, solo then chorus performer. Ken then moved to Montreal and to Los Angeles, where he recorded his first hit, You're Not Even Going to the Fair with Bill Medley of the The Righteous Brothers. He has recorded two albums, and his best-known hit is The Bells - Stay Awhile. He moved to Toronto in 1972, where he continued to perform and record albums, write music for films, television, commercials, and a ballet. Since the mid-1980s, Ken had become a painter.

Ken Tobias ceased recording by 1984. He wrote film and television scores through the 1980s-1990s, occasionally produced recordings, and successfully took up painting. He returned to live in Saint John in 2004 and made festival appearances throughout the Maritime provinces.

Tobias died in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada on October 2, 2024. He was 79.

TOBIAS, Ken (Kenneth Wayne Paul Tobias) [7/25/1945, Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada – 10/2/2024, Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada (brain cancer)] – songwriter, singer, musician (guitar, drums), TV actor, painter, brother of musician, singer, Tony Tobias, member of ‘The Ramblers’, ‘The Badd Cedes’.

Silver Saddle – 1977 [sings “Silver Saddle”, “Two Hearts”]

Special Birthdays

Judith Dornys (actress) would have been 85 today but died in 1989.

Spaghetti Western Trivia – “Missing scene from For a Few Dollars More”

Here’s a still from a scene cut from “For a Few Dollars More”. We’ve all seen the photo of Mary, the El Paso hotel owner’s wife in bed with The Man With No Name”. During that scene the hotel manager said to have been watching through the keyhole. “No Name” hearing a noise at the door get’s out bed and opens the door to see the hotel owner (Kurt Zips) bent down at the keyhole.

Submitted by Michael Ferguson

RIP Angela Luce

 

Italian actress and singer Angela Luce, known as the “The Voice of Naples” died in that city on February 20^th. She was 87. Born Angela Luce Savino in Naples on December 3, 1938, she ranked third at the 1975 Sanremo Festival with the song Ipocrisia while in 1995 she won a David di Donatello for her role in the film “L'amore molesto” by Mario Martone. She worked with some of the big names of Italian cinema such as Totò, Mario Mattoli, Pier Paolo Pasolini and Pupi Avati. Luce appeared in two Spaghetti westerns “For a Few Dollars Less” in 1966 as Katherine and “The Specialist” (aka Drop Them Or I’ll Shoot) in 1968 as Valencia with Johnny Hallyday.

Little Known Spaghetti Western actors ~ Pedro Rodríguez de Quevedo

[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.]

Spanish actor Pedro Rodríguez de Quevedo appeared in eighty-five films and television appearances between 1956 and 1983. He received several nominations and awards for his acting prowess.

Totally neglected by writers and journalists there is very little about him in any of the books or online about him No birthdate or place of birth and whether he’s still living or has passed on.

Pedro appeared in six Spaghetti westerns: “ L'ombra di Zorro” (Shadow of Zorro) in 1962 as a banker, “Tres hombres buenos” (The Implacable Three) in 1963 as Badenas, “Uncas, el fin de una raza” (Fall of the Mohicans) as General Webb, “100.000 dollari per Ringo” ($100,000 for Ringo) and “Aventuras del Oeste” (7 Hours of Gunfire) as Waddell all in 1965 and “Per pochi dollari ancora” (Fort Yuma Gold) as a colonel in 1966.

de QUEVEDO, Pedro Rodriguez (aka Pedro R. De Quevedo, P. Rguez. Quevedo, P. Rodríguez Quevedo, Pedro R. Quevedo, Pedro Quevedo, Rodriguez Quevedo, A.R. de Quevedo, P. Rodriguez de Quevedo, P. Rodríguez de Quevedo, Pedro R. de Quevedo, Pedro Rguez. de Quevedo, Pedro de Quevedo, Rodriguez de Quevedo, Rodríguez de Quevedo [Spanish] – film actor.

Shadow of Zorro – 1962 (banker) [as Pedro R. Quevedo]

The Implacable Three – 1963 (Badenas)

The Fall of the Mohicans – 1965 (General Webb)

$100,000 for Ringo – 1965

Seven Hours of Gunfire – 1965 (Waddell)

Fort Yuma Gold – 1966 (colonel)

Spaghetti Western Directors, Screenwriters, Cinematographers

Spaghetti Western Director ~ Hal Brady 

Hal Brady was a pseudonym or alias used by Italian director, assistant director, writer and cameraman Emilio Paolo Miraglia. He was born in Casarano, Puglia, Italy in 1924. He began working in film as a director's assistant and technician and worked on many B movies.

Miraglia is known for his two early 1970s giallo films, “The Night Evelyn Came Out of the Grave” and “The Red Queen Kills Seven Times”, which was his final film.

Emilio Miraglia's directorial career spanned from 1967 to 1971, encompassing six feature films that transitioned from spy thrillers and crime dramas to giallo horror and spaghetti westerns. His works often featured international casts and were produced for the Italian market with English-dubbed versions for export.

Emilio Miraglia died in Rome on August 26, 1982, at age 58.

As Hal Brady he directed one Spaghetti Western “Spara Joe... e così sia!” (Joe Dakota) in 1971.

BRADY, Hal (Emilio Miraglia, Emilio P. Miraglia) (Emilio Paolo Miraglia) [1924, Casarano, Puglia, Italy – 8/26/1982, Rome, Lazio, Italy] – director, assistant director, writer, cameraman.

Joe Dakota – 1971

 

Spaghetti Western Screenwriter ~ Marco Barboni

Marcotullio ‘Marco’ Barboni was born in Rome on August 27, 1952. He is the grandson of cinematographer Leonida Barboni and the son of director, writer, cinematographer, cameraman, SFX Enzo Barboni.

Barboni is an Italian screenwriter known for his contributions to popular action-comedy films of the 1980s and 1990s, many featuring Terence Hill and Bud Spencer or similar pairings.

Barboni grew up immersed in cinema, appearing as an extra in films such as “Ben-Hur” and beginning his professional involvement as second assistant director on his father's “They Call Me Trinity” (1970). He transitioned to screenwriting in the early 1980s, collaborating closely on projects with his father and others, and has credits on approximately 40 films and television episodes. His most recognized works include the screenplays for “Go for It” (1983), “Double Trouble” (1984), “They Call Me Renegade” (1987), “Speaking of the Devil” (1991), and “Trinità & Bambino... e adesso tocca a noi!” (1995).

In addition to his film career, Barboni has written for Italian television series such as ‘Detective Extralarge’ and ‘La squadra’, and in more recent years has published novels including …e lo chiamerai destino. Today he continues to reside in Rome.

Marco Barboni wrote the screenplays for four Spaghetti Westerns: “Renegade” (They Call Me Renegade) in 1987, “Trinità & Bambino... e adesso tocca a noi!” (Sons of Trinity) in 1994, “Doc West: with Marcello Olivieri and “Doc West: La sfida” (Triggerman) with Marcello Olivieri both in 2008.

BARBONI, Marco (aka Marco Tullio Barboni, Mark Barboni) (Marcotullio Barboni) [8/27/1952, Rome, Lazio, Italy -     ] – writer, grandson of cinematographer Leonida Barboni [1909-1970], son of director, writer, cinematographer, cameraman, SFX Enzo Barboni [1922–2002].

They Call Me Renegade – 1987

Sons of Trinity - 1994

Doc West – 2008 (co)

Triggerman – 2008 (co)

Spaghetti Western Cinematographer ~ Georges Asselin Brun

George Asselin Brun was a French cameraman and cinematographer born in the 1890s. Very little information on Geroge is available other than he was a cinematographer on fifty-seven films between 1920 and 1941. He was a cameraman on two films in 1922 and 1929.

Asselin’s only Euro-western was on “La bête errante” (The Wandering Beast) in 1931.

BRUN, Georges Asselin (aka Asselin) [French] – cinematographer, cameraman.

The Wandering Beast – 1931

 

35th death anniversary for writer Maria Adriana Prolo February 20 1991

 

She wrote the book "Storico Italiana del Cinema Muto". Milano 1951

Listing all the silent films made in Italy including westerns

I find references to it all the time

How often do we get to honor a female pioneer

A hundred years from now somebody might remember us (don't say)

 

By Michael Ferguson

New Book Release “Hollywood on the Tiber Volume 1”

 

Hollywood on the Tiber Volume 1

Authors: Michelle Alexander, Allen Kupfer, Robert Monell

 

Country: U.S.A.

Publisher: BearManor Media

Language: English

Pages: 824

ISBN 9798887719306 paperback

Available: January 2, 2026

 

Have you ever wondered what Charles Bronson’s acting gigs were prior to his breakout success in Death Wish? Or what Jack Palance was up to in between his mega-hits Shane and City Slickers? How about Kirk Douglas’ post-Spartacus career? The answers to these – and much more – can be found in Hollywood on the Tiber Vol. 1: An American in Rome – 250 U.S. Actors in Italian Cinema, 1950-1990, an A-Z reference book featuring a selection of biographies and filmographies of 250 U.S. born actors who appeared in three or more Italian-funded (or partially Italian-funded) films. From the prosperous 1950s when Cinecitta was the MGM of Rome, to the television-dominated lean years of the 1980s, this book focuses on those American actors who flooded the Eternal City during those four decades on the hunt for movie work. A broad span of actors has been covered, from internationally recognized superstars such as Christopher Lee and Jane Fonda, to cult favorites (Joe Dallesandro, Fred Williamson), to the more obscure (Eugene Walter, Sue Ellen Blake). The biographies include information on specifically why the actor appeared in Italian-funded movies (such as blacklisting from Hollywood, financial or health reasons, change of scenery, etc), as well as some discussion of the films they were in.

Hollywood on the Tiber Vol. 1: An American in Rome – 250 U.S. Actors in Italian Cinema, 1950-1990 is the first of its kind to compile all of these profiles into one book, one which tells the stories of the performers, their domestic careers and a specific regard to their Italian dalliances. It is a collection of historical nuggets which can either be read from cover to cover or dipped into on impulse. 

Special Birthdays

Conrado San Martin (actor) would have been 105 today but died in 2019.

Little Known Spaghetti Western actors ~ Cinzia de Ponti

[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.]

Cinzia Fiordeponti best known as Cinzia De Ponti was born on October 3, 1960. She is an Italian actress, model, television personality and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Italia 1979 and second runner-up to Miss Universe 1982.

De Ponti was born in Pescara, Abruzzo, Italy on October 3, 1960. In 1979, while a law student at Teramo University, she won the Miss Italia beauty contest. She later won the 1982 Miss Universo Italia contest and entered the Miss Universe 1982 competition, finishing third.

De Ponti studied as an actress at the "Studio di arti sceniche" drama school led by Alessandro Fersen. She appeared in a number of films in the 1980s, alternating main roles in comedy and genre films and minor roles in art films where she was also credited as Cinthia Stewart. Since the second half of the 1980s, she focused on television, working as an actress and a presenter.

de PONTI, Cinzia (aka Cinthia Stewart) (Cinzia Fiordeponti) [10/3/1960, Pescara, Abruzzo, Italy -     ] – Miss Italy 1979, Miss Universe Italy 1982, model, film, TV actress.

White Apache – 1985 (Isabella)

Spaghetti Western Directors, Screenwriters, Cinematographers

Spaghetti Western Director ~ Bruno Bozzetto

Bruno Bozzetto is an Italian cartoonist, animator and film director who was born in Milan, Italy on March 3, 1938. He is known for his political and satirical productions. He created his first animated short, "Tapum! the Weapons' Story" in 1958 at the age of 20. His most famous character, a hapless little man named "Signor Rossi", has been featured in many animated shorts as well as starring in three feature films: “Mr. Rossi Looks for Happiness” (1976), “Mr. Rossi's Dreams” (1977), and “Mr. Rossi's Vacation” (1977).

Since 1999, Bozzetto turned to flash cartoons, most notably with the award-winning Europe and Italy, a commentary on European vs. Italian socio-cultural attributes. He also laid inspiration for the countryballs meme.

Bruno Bozzetto has animated three Euro-westerns: “Fantasia Indiana” in 1954, ‘Unca Dunca’ (TV series) 1961-1970, “West and Soda” with Attilio Giovannini in 1964 and ‘Far West’ in 1999.

BOZZETTO, Bruno (aka Bozzetto) [3/3/1938, Milan, Lombardy, Italy -     ] – producer, director, writer, animator, cinematographer, son of actor Umberto Bozzetto, married to actress Valeria Ongaro (197?-    ) father of director Fabio Bozzetto [1975-    ].

Fantasia Indiana - 1954

Unca Dunca (TV) – 1961-1970

West and Soda – 1964 (co)

Far West (video) - 1999

Spaghetti Western Screenwriter ~ Albert Band

Albert Band was born in Paris, France on May 7, 1924. Alfredo Antonini was an alias he used and not as is often found in books his real name. Albert was the son of artist Max Band [1901-1974]. His mother was born in Marijampolė, and his father was from Kudirkos Naumiestis. His family heritage is Jewish. He escaped from Paris to the United States with his family prior to the occupation of France during World War II. There he graduated from Hollywood High School.

Interested in film, he became an apprentice at Warner Bros. where he developed contacts eventually becoming an assistant director on John Huston's “The Asphalt Jungle”, then adapting the story “The Red Badge of Courage” for Huston's film of the same name.

He made his debut as a producer and director in “The Young Guns” (1956), combining the two then-popular genres of Westerns and juvenile delinquent films. In the late 1950s, he moved to Europe, producing a variety of films, beginning in Sweden with “Face of Fire” (1959), based on another of Stephen Crane's stories, The Monster.

Albert wroter screenplays and stories for eleven films between 1951 and 1979 six of them were for westerns. He is the father of filmmaker Charles Band and of film composer Richard Band.

Albert Band died in Los Angeles, California on June 14, 2002, from complications from stomach blockage and lung infection. He was 78.

Band wrote screenplays for five Spaghetti westerns: “Duello nel Texas” (Gunfight at Red Sands) with Ricardo Blasco and Don Prindle and “Massacro al grande Canyon” (Massacre at Grande Canyon) with Sergio Corbucci both in 1963, the story with Ugo Liberatore for “I crudeli” (The Hellbenders) and the screenplay with Liberatore for “Gli uomini dal passo pesante” (The Tramplers) both in 1966 and the screenplay and story with Liberatore and Louis Garfinkle for 1968’s “Un minuto per pregare, un istante per morire” (A Minute to Pray a Second to Die).

BAND, Albert (aka Alfredo Antonini) [5/7/1924, Paris, Île-de-France, France – 6/14/2002, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A. (complications from stomach blockage and lung infection)] – producer, production manager, director, assistant director, writer, son of artist Max Band [1901-1974], married to actress Jacquelyn Band (Jacquelyn Lois Richardson) [1927-2012] (19??-2002), father of producer, director, writer, actor Charles Band (Charles Robert Band) [1951-    ], producer, production manager, assistant director, writer, composer, songwriter, actor Richard Band (Richard Howard Band) [1953-    ], grandfather of actress Taryn Band (Taryn Lynn Band) [1977-    ], producer, composer, songwriter, actor Alex Band (Alexander Max Band) [1981-    ], actor Harlan Band (Harlan Stefano Band) [1991-    ], actor Zalman Band (Zalman Kerrigan Band) [1995-    ].

Gunfight at Red Sands – 1963 (co) [as Alfredo Antonini]

Massacre at Grande Canyon – 1963 (co)

The Hellbenders – 1966 (co)

The Tamplers – 1966 (co)

A Minute to Pray a Second to Die – 1968

Spaghetti Western Cinematographer ~ Gerard Brissaud

Gerard Brisseau was a French cameraman and cinematographer producer and writer. He worked on twenty-nine films as a cinematographer from 1964-1980, five as a cameraman from 1960-1967, one film as a producer in 1950, writer in 1973 and twenty-four in the sound department 1943-1971. He was sometimes credited as Gerard Brissaud.

He worked mostly in adult films and there is very little information available other than his filmography. When and where he was born in unknown as is whether he’s still living.

Gerard was the cinematographer on one Euro-western: 1974’s “Convoi de femmes” (Convoy of Women).

BRISSAUD, Gérard (Gérard Brisseau) [French] – cinematographer, cameraman, screenwriter, producer, writer.

Convoy of Women - 1974

RIP Anna Ranalli

 

Italian model, singer and actress Anna Ranalli died on February 14^th. She was 84. Born Anna Maria Ranalli in San Benedetto del Tronto, Marche, Italy on January 21, 1942, she was Miss Italy in 1959, Miss Beirut in and Miss Europe in 1960. Ranalli - who in 1958 had interrupted her studies to enroll at the Experimental Center of Cinematography - was hired by Italian directors and made 7 films. The best known was "The Magnificent Three" in 1961 with Walter Chiari, Ugo Tognazzi and Raimondo Vianello. After achieving popularity, she studied singing with the masters Francesco Ferrari and Bruno Zambrini, recorded some records and participated in the television program "Tempo di musica". She left the cinema to devote herself to her family after marrying Gianfranco Battelli, a rally driver who had abandoned racing for her. He followed him to manage two hotels in Chianciano Terme. In recent years she had retired to private life between San Benedetto and Martinsicuro, unforgotten. Rinalli played Dolores in the 1961 Euro-western “The Magnificent Three”.

Voices of the Spaghetti Western “Killer Adios”

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 “Killer Adios”

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

Jess Bryan – Peter Lee Lawrence (S) José Moratalla, (G) Hans-Georg Panczak

Sheila Simpson – Marisa Solinas (S) Maria Luisa Rubio, (G) Katharina Lopinski

Bill Bragg – Armando Calvo (S) Armando Calvo, (G) Herbert Weicker

Fannie Endes – Rosalba Neri (S) Maite Santamaría, (G) Eva Kinsky

Jack Bradshaw – Nello Pazzafini (S) Benjamín Domingo, (G) Wolf Goldan

Sheriff Clint Simpson – Luis Induni (S) José Martínez Blanco, (G) Alexander Allerson

José Moratalla  (1941 – 1989)

José Moratalla was born on December 23, 1941 in Sisante, Cuenca, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain. Known as Pepito Moratalla he was a Spanish actor and voice actor known for his extensive career in film, television, theater, and dubbing that spanned from childhood roles in the 1940s to his work in the 1980s. He debuted as a child actor in Spanish cinema shortly after World War II and became recognized for his versatility across live-action and animated projects as well as providing Spanish dubs for international films and series.

Moratalla appeared in notable Spanish productions including a role in a film directed by Pedro Almodóvar and contributed voices to animated series such as “Around the World with Willy Fog” and “The World of David the Gnome”. His dubbing work also extended to major Hollywood titles like “The Godfather”, “Scanners”, and episodes of ‘The Incredible Hulk’.

He continued working in the industry until his death on December 28, 1989, in Madrid at the age of 48, leaving a legacy as one of Spain's early child actors who transitioned successfully into adult roles and voice work.

Das Märchen von Texas Bill

Das Märchen von Texas Bill – German title

Oilstory – German title

[The Tale of Texas Bill English translated title]

 

A 1974 East German short film production [DEFA-Studio für Trickfilme (Dresden)]

Producer:

Director: Jörg Herrmann

Story: Jörg Herrmann

Screenplay: Jörg Herrmann

Photography: Walter Eckhold [color]

Music: Eberhard Weise

     Song: ? sung by Gerry Wolff, Oppenheimer Choir

Running time: 15 minutes

Cast:

Puppets

 

Story: The progenitor Old Bill comes to power and wealth in crooked ways and even after his death makes the inhabitants of heaven and hell dependent on his oil business.

Special Birthdays

Richard Groschopp (director, writer) would have been 120 today but died in 1996.

Joseph Schorn (actor) would have been 115 today but died in 1994.

Lamberto Antonelli (writer) is 105 today?

Little Known Spaghetti Western actors ~ Jaime de Pedro

[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.]

 Jaime de Pedro is/was a Spanish character actor. He appeared in only six films between 1960 and 1974.

Among those six films were two Spaghetti westerns: “Quindici forche per un assassin” (15 Scaffolds for a Killer) as Miguel and “Tierra Brava” as a Rojas bandit both in 1968

I can find no biographical information on him.

de PEDRO, Jaime [Spanish] – film actor.

15 Scaffolds for a Killer – 1968 (Miguel)

Tierra Brava – 1968 (Rojas’ bandit)

Spaghetti Western Directors, Screenwriters, Cinematographers

Spaghetti Western Director ~ Theo Bouwmeester

Theodorus Maurita Frenkel was born on July 14 1871, in Zutphen, Gelderland, Netherlands. He was a Dutch film director, actor and screenwriter of the silent era. He worked in England under the name Theo Bouwmeester for the Natural Color Kinematograph Company, using the surname of his renowned mother and uncle (both who were accomplished actors), before working in Germany in 1913 and 1914 and then returning to the Netherlands, a neutral country, before World War I. He directed more than 200 films between 1908 and 1928. He also appeared in 21 films between 1911 and 1948. His nephew Theo Frenkel Jr. (1893–1955) was a film actor.

Theo Bouwmeester died in Amsterdam on September 20, 1956.

Bouwmeester’s only Euro-western was “Fate” in 1911.

BOUWMEESTER,Theo (aka Theo Frenkel, Theo Mann-Bouwmeester) (Theodorus Maurita Frenkel) [4/19/1850, Zutphen, Gelderland, Netherlands - 4/18/1939, Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands] – director, actor, son of actress Theo Mann-Bouwmeester (Theodora Bouwmeester) [1850- 1939] composer, conductor Gottfried Mann [1858-1904], nephew of actor Louis Bouwmeester (Louis Frederik Johannes Bouwmeester) [1842-1925].

Fate – 1911

Spaghetti Western Screenwriter ~ Don Balluck

Donald Eugene Balluck was born in Cleveland, Ohio on June 25, 1929. He was an actor, playwright and television writer for such durable series as ‘Little House on the Prairie’ and ‘Father Murphy’. Balluck began his career as an actor in Cleveland and moved to New York in 1956 and to Los Angeles four years later to pursue writing. His first teleplay, an episode of ‘Dr. Kildare’ starring Richard Chamberlain, was broadcast in 1964. Balluck went on to write episodes of ‘Run for Your Life’ and ‘Daniel Boone’, then became executive story editor for ‘High Chaparral’. With producer and actor Michael Landon, Balluck worked as executive story consultant and wrote for ‘Little House on the Prairie’ and its spinoff, starring Merlin Olsen, ‘Father Murphy’. More recently, Balluck was executive story supervisor for ‘Fantasy Island’ and ‘Hell Town’ and wrote for ‘Magnum, P.I.’ and ‘Beauty and the Beast’. Adept at westerns as well as police drama, Balluck was an active member of the Western Writers of America. He earned its Golden Spur Award for a 1982 episode of ‘Father Murphy’ titled “Knights of the White Camelia.” Balluck rarely ventured into motion pictures but did script the 1969 western “Four Rode Out” starring ‘Bonanza’ television veteran Pernell Roberts.

Balluck died from lung cancer and emphysema on April 7, 2000, in Burbank, California. He was 70.

As mentioned above his only screenplay credit for a Euro-western was for “Cuatro cabalgaron” (Four Rode Out) in 1968 with Paul Harrison.

BALLUCK, Don (Donald Eugene Balluck) [6/25/1929, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.A. – 4/7/2000, Burbank, California, U.S.A.] – producer, writer, married to actress Rhea Mae ‘Riki’ Gordon [1934-1973] (1957-1969) father of Professor Pamela Jo Balluck [1959-    ], Cynthia Balluck [1960-    ].

Four Rode Out - 1968 (co)

Spaghetti Western Cinematographer ~ Wolfgang Braumann

Wolfgang Braumann was born on January 7. 1938 in Potsdam, Germany. Braumann was a German cinematographer known for his extensive contributions to DEFA children's films in East German cinema.

Braumann established himself as a leading figure in DEFA productions, where he served as chief cinematographer on nearly 40 films over approximately 25 years, many of which continue to air regularly on television. He developed a distinctive visual style featuring hand-held camera techniques for heightened realism, atmospheric backlighting, elaborate production design, special effects, and camera placement at children's eye level to treat young performers as equal creative partners. Braumann frequently collaborated with directors such as Walter Beck, Hans Kratzert, Egon Schlegel, Jörg Foth, and Günter Meyer, and his notable credits include “Hut ab, wenn du küßt!” (1971), “Der Prinz hinter den sieben Meeren” (1982), “Zille und ick” (1983), “Das Eismeer ruft” (1984), and “Der Froschkönig” (1988).

Although best remembered for his work in children's cinema, Braumann also contributed to other genres within DEFA, including comedies and musicals. He was married to costume designer Barbara Braumann, with whom he had one child, and he resided in Potsdam throughout his life. Braumann died on April 8, 2017, at the age of 79.

Wolfgang was the cinematographer on one Euro-western “Tecumseh” in 1972.

BRAUMANN, Wolfgang [1/7/1938, Potsdam, Brandenburg, Germany – 4/8/2017, Potsdam, Brandenburg, Germany] – cinematographer, cameraman, married to costume designer Barbara Braumann (Barbara Müller) [1940-    ] (19??-2017), father of a son.

Tecumseh – 1972 

 

Peris Costumes participates in Lucky Luke, the new live-action series on Disney+

Peris Costumes

1/28/2026

Peris Costumes has participated in ‘Lucky Luke’, the new live-action comedy-adventure series coming to Disney+ in spring 2026, starring Alban Lenoir as the iconic lone cowboy.

Disney+ and France Télévisions are joining forces to bring back to the screen one of the most iconic characters in European comics, created by Morris and later developed with René Goscinny. Although initially scheduled for 2025, the series has adjusted its premiere schedule and will premiere in spring 2026 on Disney+ in France, with subsequent broadcast on public television.

The series, directed by Benjamin Rocher, consists of eight episodes and is produced by Federation Studio France in co-production with Un Pour Tous Productions. The filming has taken place mainly in Spain, with the aim of merging the essence of the classic western, the characteristic humor of the original comics and a contemporary serial narrative.

The costume design is in charge of the costume designer Pepo Ruiz Dorado, at Peris Costumes we are proud to have collaborated in this project, providing costumes that contribute to building the visual and narrative universe of the series.

In this new adventure, Lucky Luke is forced to break away from his legendary loneliness to help Louise, an eighteen-year-old girl as unpredictable as she is charming, find her mysterious mother, who disappeared without a trace. Their journey through the Wild West will confront them with complex intrigues, conspiracies capable of altering the course of American history and a gallery of iconic western characters.

Who Are Those Guys? ~ Karel Fiala

 

Fiala was born on August 3 1925, in Hrušov, Ostrava, Czechoslovakia, and initially worked as a chimney sweeper before entering the Prague Conservatory in 1947. After earning his degree in 1952 he pursued further studies at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague for three years, graduating in 1955.

While still a student, Fiala began performing in operas at the National Theatre in Prague in 1949. He was committed to that theatre through 1954 after which he joined the roster of principal artists at the Hudební divadlo Karlín where he performed roles for several decades. He was particularly successful in portraying parts in operettas and musicals, including such roles as Count Danilo in Lehar's The Merry Widow, Freddy in My Fair Lady, and Jim Kenyon in Rose-Marie.

Fiala is chiefly remembered for his numerous appearances in films of Czech operas, operettas, and musicals. His first film was in 1956 where he portrayed the title role in Dalibor, a movie version of Smetana's opera of the same name. A major success for him was the title part in the 1964 musical film “Lemonade Joe”. He notably appeared as Mozart's Don Giovanni in the 1984 Academy Award winning film “Amadeus”. Fiala also appeared as a non-singing actor in a handful of Czech films during his career, mostly in smaller roles. His last film was “Tichý společník” in 1989.

In 1988 Fiala was awarded the Medal of Merit by the government of Czechoslovakia. In 2013, he was awarded the Czech Thalia Prize for achievements in acting. He was married three times and had four sons.

On October 3, 2020, Fiala died after a long illness in Vršovice, Prague, aged 95.

FIALA, Karel [8/3/1925, Hrušov, Ostrava, Czechoslovakia – 10/3/2020, Vršovice, Prague, Czech Republic] – theater, film, TV actor. married to 19??-19??), married to ? (19??-19??), married to Věra Vlková [1942-    ], father of four sons, grandfather of Anna Fialová [1997-    ], grandfather of actress Anna Fialová [1995-    ], awarded the Medal of Merit by Czech Government [1988].

The Noble Cowboy Sandy or Gamble Bride (TV) – 1963 (postmaster)

Lemonade Joe – 1964 (Lemonade Joe)