From the WAI! vault

 

Little Known Spaghetti Western actors ~ Ana De Sade

[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.]

Ana Luisa Trewartha Durán was born on June 3, 1952, in Mazatlán, Mexico. In 1973 the actress was part of the cast of the Mexican American co-production “La montaña sagrada”, directed by Alejandro Jodorowsky. In the film she played a prostitute. Her applauded performance in the film led her to join the cast of “I Escaped from Devil's Island” in September of that same year. Two years later she played Jacinta in the film “Don't You Hear the Dogs Bark?”, an adaptation of the story of the same name by Juan Rulfo directed by François Reichenbach. In 1976 she played Lucrecia in the film adaptation of La Celestina, simply titled “Celestina”, under the direction of Miguel Sabido.

After acting in a few films in the early 1980s such as “High Risk”, “Caveman”, and “The Triumph of a Man Called Horse”, Ana ventured into the Mexican erotic comedy genre, with appearances in productions such as “Las lupitas”, “El día de los albañiles”, and “Tres mexicanos ardientes”, where she shared a cast with well-known actors of the genre such as Alfonso Zayas, Luis de Alba, Gerardo Zepeda, Lina Santos and Alberto Rojas "El caballo". One of her last known performances was in the 1989 comedy “Mi compadre Capulina”, directed by Víctor Ugalde.

In all she a appeared in twenty-one films between 1973 and 1989.

She died in Mexico City, far from the artistic environment, at the age of 47, due to hypostatic pneumonia.

Under the stage name Ana De Sade, she appeared in two Euro-westerns: “Las mujeres de Jeremías” (Garden of Venus) as Ann Sanchez) in 1979 and “El triunfo de un hombre Hamado Caballo” (Triumphs of a Man Called Horse) as Redwing in 1982.

De SADE, Ana (aka Ana de Sade) (Ana Luisa Trewartha Durán) [6/3/1952, Mazatlán, Sinaloa, Mexico - 9/26/1999, Mexico City, Federal District, Mexico (hypostatic pneumonia)] – film actress.

Garden of Venus – 1979 (Ann Sanchez)

Triumphs of a Man Called Horse – 1982 (Redwing)

Spaghetti Western directors, screenwriters, cinematographers

Spaghetti Western Director ~ Alexander Butler 

Alexander Charles Butler was born in Lincoln, Niagara, Ontario, Canada on July 27, 1869. Butler shot around 70 works in Britain between 1913 and in 1926, mostly for the producer George Berthold Samuelson. His 1914 film “The Shepherd of the Southern Cross” was shot in Australia. His daughter, the dancer Gwendolen Tremayne, was born in Twickenham, appeared in front of the film camera as a child and was later one of the well-known Tiller girls. Occasionally, Butler, from 1917 to 1922 under the pseudonym Andre Beaulieu, also worked in front of the camera as a performer..

Butler was married to Violet Mary Gwilliam, and they had four children one of which Gwendolen Tremayne Simmons, was a child actress and later a famous dancer.

Alexander Butler directed only one Euro-western “The Night Riders” in 1920.

BUTLER, Alexander (aka Andre Beaulieu) (Alexander Charles Butler) [7/27/1869, Lincoln, Niagara Ontario, Canada – 3/7/1959, Weybridge, Surrey, England. U.K.] – director, writer, actor, married to Violet Mary Gwilliam [1887-1985] (190?-1959), father of actress, dancer Gwendolen Tremayne Simmons [1909–2012], Hugh Tremayne Simmons [1910–1988], Muriel Simmons [1912–2008], Vivien Tremayne Simmons [1914–2002].

The Night Riders - 1920

 

Spaghetti Western Screenwriter ~ Jean Bastia

Jean Charles Paul Fortunio Simoni was born February 21 1919, in Bastia, Corsica to the playwright and novelist Jean Bastia from a Corsican family. He was a French film director, screenwriter, producer, and assistant director active primarily in mid-20th-century French cinema.

He began his career in the film industry as an assistant director on numerous productions during the 1940s and 1950s, contributing to over 40 films in roles including production manager and screenwriter before transitioning to directing.

Details on Bastia's personal relationships, marriage, or children remain scarce in public records, with no documented marriages or offspring noted in available biographical sources, reflecting a private life largely shielded from media attention. His enduring connection to Corsica, through family heritage, suggests a cultural affinity that persisted beyond his professional pursuits in mainland France. No specific interests outside cinema, such as hobbies or philanthropy, are well-documented.

In his later years, Bastia resided in the Dordogne region, marking a quieter phase following his active career. He died on October 16, 2005, in Bergerac, Dordogne, France, at the age of 86, from natural causes

Besides directing a dozen films, he also was a writer on eight films including his only Eur-western: “Dynamite Jack, la terreur de l'Arizona” (Dynamite Jack) in 1960 which he also directed.

BASTIA, Jean (aka J. Bastia) (Jean Charles Paul Fortunio Simoni) [2/21/1925, Bastia, Corsica, France – 10/16/2005, Bergerac, Dordogne, France] – production manager, director, assistant director, writer, songwriter, son of songwriter, singer, actor, filmmaker Jean Bastia [1878-1940].

Dynamite Jack – 1960 (co)

Spaghetti Western Cinematographer ~ Carlo Carlini

Carlo Carlini was born in Rome on February 20, 1929. He worked on more than three hundred films, from 1949 to 1988. At the age of 16, from 1936 to 1948, he began working as an assistant cameraman together with the director of photography Otello Martelli. In 1954, he worked with directors Federico Fellini, on the film “La strada” and with Roberto Rossellini on “La paura”.

I can find no reference to his passing away, so I presume he’s still living somewhere in Italy at this time.

Carlo Carlin was a cinematographer on seven Spaghetti westerns: “El ultimo de los Mohicanos” (Fall of the Mohicans) with Miguel Mila and “Los pistoleros de Arizona” $5,000 on One Ace) with Roberto Reale and Christian Matras both in 1965, “La resa dei conti” (The Big Gundown) in 1966, “…e per tetto un cielo di stelle” (And for a Roof a Sky Full of Stars) and “Da uomo a uomo” (Death Rides a Horse) both in 1968, “Il suo nome e Qualcano” (The Last Rebel) in 1970 and “Partirono preti, tornarono... curati” (Halleluja to Vera Cruz) in 1973.

CARLINI, Carlo (aka Charlie Charlies) [2/20/1929, Rome, Lazio, Italy -     ] – cinematographer, cameraman.

Fall of the Mohicans – 1965 (co)

$5,000 on One Ace – 1965 (co)

The Big Gundown - 1966

And for a Roof a Sky Full of Stars – 1968

Death Rides a Horse - 1968

The Last Rebel - 1970

Halleluja to Vera Cruz – 1973

LAST FOUR ON SANTA CRUZ, THE

 

1936, Germany

Aka… Die Letzten Vier von Santa Cruz / ‘The Last Four of Santa Cruz’ (Ger)

Ex… Letzten Vier ze Santa Cruz (Cz), A Pénz Rabjai / ‘The Money Addicts’ (Hun), Gli Ultimi Quattro di Santa Cruz (It), Los Amotinados de Santa Cruz / ‘The Mutineers of Santa Cruz’ (Sp)

T: 80 (Ger and Cz)

Pc: UFA-Universum Film [Alfred Ernst Christian Alexander Hugenberg] (Ber)

Dist: UFA-Universum Film [Alfred Hugenberg] (02/07/36, Au), UFA (03/11/36, Ger), (02/26/36, Slov), Arzén von Cserépy Film [?] (03/11/36, Hun), (05/03/36, Fin), (07/31/36, Croat), (1937, It), Trosečníci Film (1937 [?], Cz), Internet Archive.com (12/01/2022, US-Ger/Cz)

D: Werner Klinger; P: Alfred Hugenberg & Karl Ritter; Sc: Alois Johannes Lippl; Nv: Josef Maria Frank: Die Letzten Vier Von St. Paul / ‘The Last Four from St. Pauli (Ger); Ph: Erich Rudolf Schmidtke, Hans Beierlein & Konstantin Irmen-Tschet [Konstantin Cetverikov]; Ed: Gottfried Ritter & Eduard von Borsody; M:

C: Hermann Speelmans (Captain Pieter Streuvels), Irene von Meyendorff (Madeleine, his wife), Valéry Inkijinoff [Walerian Iwanowitsch Inkischinow] (Reeder Alexis Aika), Françoise Rosay [Françoise Bandy de Nalèche] (Nadja Danouw), Erich Ponto (Alexander Ghazaroff), Josef Sieber (Jack), Max Schreck (William), Beppo Brem (Erik), Andrews Engelmann (Cairos), Harald Gloth (Hein), Walter Holten (slave owner Malherbe), Ludwig Andersen (Dunard), Max Harry Ernst (A Guest), Josef Dahmen (Cocteau), Bruno Hübner (Borinsky), Hugo Gau-Hamm (Auseklis, a buccaneer), Babette Jenssen (Borinsky's lady friend) & Hardy Vogdt

Syn: 1930’s Europe. An author, a businessman, a publisher and shipowner form a business venture that will have them harvest lobsters on the island of Santa Cruz in the Canaries. After a report in the newspaper, the business' stocks do well. But the partners quarrel amongst themselves, when they discover there aren't any lobsters in waters off of Santa Cruz. Undaunted, the group head off to the island in a decrepit boat to open a cannery anyway.

     Comm: [Filmed at the Babelsberg Studios in Berlin and on location in the Canary Islands, Spain in 1935] THE LAST FOUR ON SANTA CRUZ is a bubbly crime film set in Santa Cruz, in the Canaries (where it was largely shot), and set during the 1930's. The original book was set in ‘St. Paul’, which was likely chosen to sound like ‘St. Pauli’, the red-light suburb of Hamburg, and later changed for the film.

     German poster artwork played up the presence of ‘Cacti’ that grows in the Canary Islands. The plants, plus the ‘Santa Cruz’ title, also made the film sound like it was set in California, rather than the town of Santa Cruz, in the Islands.

     The same year the rival banner Tobis-Rota-Film Verleih AG made an actual western THE KAISER OF CALIFORNIA / Der Kaiser von Kalifornien (07/21/36), which was filmed in the US (Arizona, California, Nevada and Mexico) as well as interior studio work at the Pisorno Studios, in Tirrenia, Italy.

     It would be nearly thirty years before the Germans would return to the Canaries and shoot both THE LAST RIDE TO SANTA CRUZ and TOWN WITHOUT A SHERIFF / “Stadt Ohne Sheriff” (1972-73, Ger, TV), there. The Germans had started filming in the Canaries before the Spaniards. Strange? At least the title for ‘The Last Ride’ fit the locale more than ‘Last Four’ had.

     Similar use of 'Santa Cruz' later turned up on Lux's sword and cape adventure "Il Prigioniero di Santa Cruz" (1941, It) which is set in the 1700's.

     A print in German, with Czech subtitles has survived and can be viewed at the Internet Archive.com. Italian and Spanish posters have not.

     This was director Werner Klinger’s first film. He continued working until 1968’s “Straßenbekanntschaften auf St. Pauli / ‘Causal Street Friends in St. Pauli’ (Ger), which coincidentally was set in the Reeperbahn area of Hamburg, and he died in 1972.

     Editor Eduard von Borsody was the father of Hans von Borsody (BUFFALO BILL, HERO OF FAR WEST) and distant relative by marriage to Sky du Mont [Caetano Bremme Gaspar Neven DuMont] (THE SHOE OF MANITOU, 2001 and THE CANOE OF MANITOU, 2025).

     Even with Ms. Françoise Rosay in the cast it appears that THE LAST FOUR ON SANTA CRUZ wasn't picked up for France. Even stranger?

     Actor Max Schreck is best remembered as having played the titular vampire character “Nosferatu” (1922, Ger).

     In 1975 Antonio Margheriti Dawson shot the Lee Van Cleef topper TAKE A HARD RIDE in the Canaries. Recently the Secuoya Studios' TV ZORRO (2024, Sp) and TRINIDAD (2026, Sp) have also been shot there.

     Still, if you squint THE LAST FOUR ON SANTA CRUZ is not really a western.  Just an interesting curio that showcases the Island.

 

By Michael Ferguson

Spaghetti Western Locations for “I Want Him Dead”.

We continue our search for Spaghetti western locations for “I Want Him Dead”. During the negotiations of the surrender. The scene shifts outside where the two army detachments stand in wait. Jack Blood paces in front his men and then signals them to move leisurely leading the wagon to the rear side of the building. Once out of sight they stop and begin to unload the dynamite from the rear of the wagon.  

This location is called Cortijo Spinosa and it’s El Alquian in Almeria, 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/

Spaghetti Wester Trivia – Title variations

 

The original title for “Death Rides a Horse” was "Duel in the Wind." Lee Van Cleef came up with the Italian title while discussing the movie with John Phillip Law, who saw the film as a "man to man" story. Van Cleef remarked, "Why don't they call it  'From Man to Man'?" The Italian producers liked how it sounded in Italian ("Da Uomo a Uomo") so much they used it. Then the film was subsequently retitled "Death Rides a Horse" in English-speaking markets, which Law said he never liked.

Little Known Spaghetti Western actors ~ Maurice Derumaux

[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.]

Maurice Derumaux had one film appearance and that was as a henchman of Dynamite Jack in the 1960 film of the same name.

There is also a travel writer and photographer of Native Americans with the same name who lived from 1901 to 1985. Could they be one and the same. I can find nothing that links the two but very little information is available on either one.

DERUMAUX, Maurice (aka Arthur Derumaux)– film actor.

Dynamite Jack – 1960 (Dynamite Jack henchman)

Spaghetti Western Directors, Screenwriters, Cinematographers

 Spaghetti Western Director ~ Alex Burks

 Alex Burks was an alias used by Camillo Bazzoni who was born in Salsomaggiore Terme, Emilia-Romagna, Italy on December 29, 1934. He was an Italian film director and cinematographer, the younger brother of director Luigi Bazzoni, whose career spanned from the early 1960s to 2000, contributing to numerous productions in Italian cinema through roles in direction, photography, and camera operation.

Bazzoni began his professional journey as a camera operator on films such as Bernardo Bertolucci's “Prima della rivoluzione” (1964), “La bellezza d'Ippolita” (1962), and “Violenza segreta” (1962). Over the subsequent decades, he established himself as a director of photography on a wide array of projects, including Mario Monicelli's “Speriamo che sia femmina” (1985), Mauro Bolognini's “Le due vite di Mattia Pascal” (1985), and the television miniseries “La Certosa di Parma” (1982). His directorial efforts were more limited, encompassing four feature films between 1967 and 1972: “Vivo per la tua morte” (1967, also known as A Long Ride from Hell), “Commando suicida” (1968), “E venne il giorno dei limoni neri” (aka Black Lemons) (1970), and “Abuso di potere” (1972, (aka Shadows Unseen), often blending genres like Westerns, thrillers, and dramas. Bazzoni's later works as cinematographer included contributions to films such as “Rosa e Cornelia” (2000) and “L'ombra del gigante” (2000), showcasing his enduring versatility in capturing the visual essence of Italian storytelling across dramas, comedies, and historical narratives. He passed away in Mori, Trentino, Italy on October 8, 2020, at the age of 85.

As Alex Burks he directed on Spaghetti western “Vivo per la tua morte” (A Long Ride from Hell) in 1968.

BURKS, Alex (aka Marc Meyer) (Camillo Bazzoni) [12/29/1934, Salsomaggiore Terme, Emilia-Romagna, Italy – 10/8/2020, Mori, Trentino, Italy] – director, writer, cinematographer, cameraman, brother of director, assistant director, writer Luigi Bazzoni [1929-2012], cousin of cinematographer Vittorio Storaro [1940-    ].

A Long Ride from Hell - 1968

Spaghetti Western Screenwriter ~ William E. Bast

William E. Bast was born in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin on April 3, 1931. He moved to Los Angeles to study theater arts at UCLA. There he met and became a close friend of actor James Dean. When Dean died, Bast wrote a highly regarded biography of his friend entitled James Dean: A Biography In 2006, he wrote a second, more candid, book about his relationship with Dean entitled Surviving James Dean.

Bast, wrote extensively for both film and TV such as episodes of series including “Combat!,” “Perry Mason,” “Ben Casey,” “The Outer Limits,” “Alfred Hitchcock Presents,” “Honey West,” “Dr. Kildare,” “The Mod Squad” and “It Takes a Thief.” He also wrote scripts for the BBC and British Independent Television, adapted Jean Giradoux’s play “Tiger at the Gates” for Granada Television and wrote episodes for classic series “The Prisoner.”

In 1976 he received the Mystery Writers of America Edgar Allan Poe Award for his telepic “The Legend of Lizzie Borden,” starring Elizabeth Montgomery. His 1977 adaptation of Alexandre Dumas’ “The Man in the Iron Mask,” with Richard Chamberlain in the dual role, was nominated for an Emmy, and in 1982 his script for “The Scarlet Pimpernel,” with Anthony Andrews and Ian McKellen, was honored with a Christopher Award. In 1984, his script for the miniseries “The First Modern Olympics” won him the Writers Guild Award for outstanding script for TV longform series.

From 1985-87 Bast wrote and produced, with his partner Paul Huson, “The Colbys,” a spinoff from the ABC series “Dynasty.”

Bast died from complications of Alzheimer’s on May 4, 2015, in Los Angeles, California. He was 84.

Bast’s only Euro western was the co-screenplay for “El valle Gwangi” (Valley of Geangi) in 1968 with Julian More/

BAST, William E. (William Edwin Bast) [4/3/1931, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, U.S.A. - 5/4/2015, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A. (Alzheimer’s)] - writer.

The Valley of Gwangi - 1968 (co)

Spaghetti Western Cinematographer ~ Mario Capriotti

Mario Capriotti is/was an Italian cameraman and cinematographer who worked thirty films as a cameraman between 1953 and 1972 and also worked on thirty films as a cinematographer between 1956 and 1977.

Even with this number of film credits there is no biographical information available for him.

Capriotti was the cinematographer on eight Spaghetti westens: “Sfida a Rio Bravo” (Gunman of the Rio Grande) in 1964 with Guglielmo Mancori, “Doc, manos de plata” (The Man Who Came to Kill) in 1965 with Stelvio Massi, “Johnny Yuma” in 1966, “Lo straniero di silenzio” (The Silent Stranger) in 1968, “Un uomo chiamato Dakota” (A Gunman Called Dakota” with Angelo Baistrocchi and “Un dólar de recompense” (These Damned Pounds of Gold) both in 1971, “Lo chiamavano Verità” (They Call Hilm Veritas) in 1972 and “Prima ti suono e poi ti sparo” (Trinity the Bell, the Guitar) in 1974.

CAPRIOTTI, Mario (aka M. Capriotti, Mario A. Capriotti) [Italian] – cinematographer, cameraman.

Gunmen of Rio Grande – 1964 (co)

The Man Who Came to Kill – 1965 (co)

Johnny Yuma – 1966

The Silent Stranger - 1968

A Gunman Called Dakota – 1971 (co)

These Damned Pounds of Gold - 1971

They Call Him Veritas - 1972

Trinity, the Bell, the Guitar - 1974

 

New German Blu-ray, DVD “Zorro, der schwarze Rächer”

 

“Zorro, der schwarze Rächer”

(The Shadow of Zorro)

(1962)

 

Director: Joaquín Luis Romero Marchent

Starring: Frank Latimore, Paul Piaget, Robert Hundar, María Luz Galicia

(1962)

 

Country: Germany

Label: Hansesound / Lighthouse

Region: B

Resolution 1080p

Aspect ratio: 16:0, 2.35:1

Languages: Dolby Digital 2.0 German, English

Running time: 87 minutes

ASIN: ‎B0F7RQCRM4

Available: February 27, 2026

New German 4K Blu-ray, Blu-ray “Satan der Rache”

 

“Satan der Rache”

(And God Said to Cain)

(1969)

 

Director: Antonio Margheriti

Starring: Klaus Kinski, Marcella Michelangeli, Peter Carsten

 

Country: Germany

Label: HanseSound / Lighthouse

Discs: 2

4K Ultra HD BluRay / BluRay combo Mediabook; limited to 500 copies

Resolution 1080p, From a new 4K scan

Aspect ratio: 16:9, 2.35:1

Languages: DTS-HD 2.0 German, English

Subtitles: German

Extras: 24-page booklet, Featurette: Pakt der Vergeltung - Mythos und Moral von »Satan der Rache«; Trailer

ASIN: ‎ B0G2YTYHW2

Release date: February 27, 2026

Little Known Spaghetti Western actors ~ Reed De Rouen

[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.]

Reed Randolph De Rouen was an American and half Native American (Oneida) extraction, born in Green Bay, Wisconsin, on June 10, 1917. De Rouen was a supporting actor in film and television, based in the U.K. and very active during the 1950s and 1960s; his earliest known role was as Gilder in 1948’s “The Case of the Frightened Lady”. As well as his regular film appearances, he was also on the British stage in the 1950s, in plays such as “Plain and Fancy” (Drury Lane Theatre, 1956) and “Subway in the Sky” (Savoy, 1957).

Of note were his television appearances as Pa Clanton in "The Gunfighters", a third season adventure of ‘Doctor Who’ in which the Doctor—William Hartnell—travels to Tombstone, Arizona of 1881 in time to witness the gunfight at the OK corral, as well as writing the script for the proposed ‘Doctor Who’ story "The Spare Part People" with Jon Pertwee

Reed appeared in fifty-nine films and television appearances from 1948 to 1973. He was also credited as a writer on eleven films from 1951 to 1968 and as a story editor on eleven episodes of the “Avengers” TV series in 1961.

Reed De Rouen appeared in two Euro-westerns: “The Sheriff of Fractured Jaw’ as Claybourne in 1958 and an episode of the television series ‘Dr. Who - The Gunfighters’ as Pa Clanton in 1966.

De ROUEN, Reed (aka Reid DeRouen, Reed R. de Rouen, Reed de Rouen) (Reed Randolph de Rouen) [6/10/1917, Green Bay, Wisconsin, U.S.A. – 6/11/1986, Kensington, & Chelsea, London, England, U.K.] - ½ Oneida Indian – author, writer, film, TV actor, married to Laila Jean Stranahan [1923-2006] (1945-195?) father of writer Reed R. de Rouen Jr. [1946-deceased], married to Claire Aplhandéry [195?-    ] father of Robin de Rouen [1955-    ].

The Sheriff of Fractured Jaw – 1958 (Claybourne)

Dr. Who - The Gunfighters (TV) – 1966 (Pa Clanton)

Spaghetti Western Directors, Screenwriters, Cinematographers

Spaghetti Western Director ~ Dshamjangijn Buntar

Dshamjangijn Buntar was a Mongolian film director and writer known for his contributions to Mongolian cinema during the mid-to-late 20th century and for his involvement in international co-productions. Born on March 19, 1928, in Govĭ-Altay, Mongolia, he is recognized for directing notable films including “Iskhod” (1968) and “Nar hirtsen jil” (1975), as well as writing for earlier works such as “Elbeg deel” (1960).

His career also extended to collaborative projects, most prominently co-directing the 1983 East German-Mongolian film “Der Scout” (also known as The Scout), a Eurowestern starring Gojko Mitic that reflected cross-cultural filmmaking between socialist states. Buntar's films often engaged with Mongolian cultural themes and historical narratives, establishing him as a key figure in his country's film industry during a period of state-supported cinema.

Buntar died on July 1, 1997 in Ulan Bator, Mongolia, leaving a legacy of work that bridged domestic Mongolian storytelling with occasional international partnerships.

As mentioned above Buntar co-directed one Euro-western “Der Scout” (The Scout) in 1982 with Konrad Petzold.

BUNTAR, Dshamjangijn [3/19/1928, Govĭ-Altay, Mongolia – 7/1/1997 Ulan Bator, Mongolia] – director, writer.

The Scout – 1982 (co)

Spaghetti Western Screenwriter ~ Hermann Basler

Hermann Siegfried Basler was born in Ludwigshafen, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany on October 6, 1896. The son of son of director Adolf Basler and screenwriter Mary Basler. His claim to Euro-western fame was his starring role in the silent film three-part series "Bull Arizona". Hermann was also a producer, director and screenwriter and co-wrote one of the Bull Arizona episodes along with his mother and father. By the early 1920s his career in front of the camera was over. Hermann wrote one more script in 1922 for the film “Der graue Hund” for director Phil Jutzi and that was the climax of his short three-year career.

Basler directed one Euro-western: “Der Überfall in der Sierra-Nevada-Schlucht” in 1920.

Basler wrote screenplays for three Euro-westerns: “Bull Arizona – der Wüstenadler” (Bull Arizona – the Desert Eagle) and “Bull Arizona – das Vermächtnis der Prärie” (Bull Arizona, the Legacy of the Prairie) both in 1919 and “Der Überfall in der Sierra-Nevada-Schlucht” in 1920.

 Hermann Basler passed away on September 17, 1982, at Inning am Ammersee, Bavaria, Germany. He was 85.

BASLER, Hermann (Hermann Siegfried Basler) [10/6/1896, Ludwigshafen, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany - 9/17/1982, Inning am Ammersee, Bavaria, Germany] - producer, director, screenwriter, cameraman, actor, son of director Adolf Basler [1878-1951] screenwriter Mary Basler.

Bull Arizona – the Desert Eagle – 1919

Bull Arizona, the Legacy of the Prairie – 1919

Der Überfall in der Sierra-Nevada-Schlucht – 1920

Spaghetti Western Cinematographer ~ J. Capo

Jacques Capo is a photographer and cameraman who worked mainly on animated films and television productions. Which the IMDb gives him credit for six films beginning in 1976 and ending in 1984. His only Euro-western work was for “Lucky Luke la ballade des Dalton” (Lucky Luke: The Ballad of the Daltons) in 1976 with Michel Gantier, Claude Pointis. Her he was billed as J. Capo.

CAPO, J. (Jacques Capo) – cinematographer.

Lucky Luke: The Ballad of the Daltons – 1976 (co)

A new German Blu-ray of “Zorro, der schwarze Rächer”

 

“Zorro, der schwarze Rächer”

(The Shadow of Zorro)

(1962)

 

Director: Joaquín Luis Romero Marchent

Starring: Frank Latimore, Paul Piaget, Robert Hundar, María Luz Galicia

 

Country: Germany

Label: Hansesound / Lighthouse

Blu-ray, DVD

Region B

Resolution: 1080p new HD scan

Aspect ratio: 16:9, 2.35:1

Languages: Dolby Digital 2.0 mono English, German

Running time: 87 minutes

ASIN: ‎B0F7RQCRM4

Available: February 27, 2026

An Evening with Friends, This Little-Known Spaghetti Western is a Must-See for Genre Enthusiasts

3DVF

By Quentin Couprie

February 14, 2026

What links a crackdown on cookies to a rediscovered showdown on Amazon Prime? One name keeps echoing through the dust and the data, pointing to the western you weren't expecting to queue up tonight.

New cookie rules are forcing media sites to redraw their business plans, but tonight’s attention is better spent on a buried gem. On Amazon Prime Video, Blood at Sundown rides in with a stark, almost Greek-tragedy confrontation between Johnny and his brother Sartana. Gianni Garko slices through the dust with a magnetic turn that tweaks the spaghetti western archetype, while Anthony Steffen keeps the moral compass spinning. For anyone plotting their next stream, this offbeat shootout proves the genre still hides real surprises.

A classic revisited: Blood at Sundown

When we think of spaghetti westerns, iconic titles like The Good, the Bad and the Ugly or Once Upon a Time in the West probably come to mind. But amidst the celebrated giants of the genre, there’s a hidden gem that deserves the spotlight: Blood at Sundown. Now streaming on Amazon Prime Video, this 1966 film offers a gripping blend of intense drama and raw emotion. With its plot unspooling like a Greek tragedy, it promises an engaging evening for fans of Westerns or anyone curious about uncovering a cinematic treasure.

A battle of brothers: the film’s powerful narrative

At the heart of the story is a confrontation between two brothers, Johnny and Sartana. Johnny, portrayed by Anthony Steffen, returns home after years of false imprisonment, only to find chaos awaiting him. His brother Sartana, played masterfully by Gianni Garko, stands as both his greatest foe and a deeply complex character. Themes of betrayal, loyalty, and vengeance weave through the film, elevating it beyond typical Western tropes. The frayed family ties and long-standing personal conflicts echo ancient Greek tragedies, which may surprise even seasoned Western fans.

Why Gianni Garko makes this a must-see

Gianni Garko’s performance as Sartana alone is reason enough to add this film to your queue. His gravitas and portrayal of a morally ambiguous character bring a depth that’s rare even in the richest of spaghetti westerns. Garko, already renowned for his roles in the Sartana series, delivers here with such conviction that it’s hard to look away. Paired with Anthony Steffen’s stoic Johnny, their dynamic creates a tension that carries the film from start to finish.

Alongside Garko’s mesmerizing performance, the contributions of director Alberto Cardone and writers Ernesto Gastaldi and Vittorio Salerno shouldn’t be overlooked. Together, they craft a narrative that feels fresh while staying true to the DNA of the genre. The result is an intriguing mixture of grit, drama, and humanity.

Availability and why it matters

In a world where streaming platforms often showcase more modern hits, the availability of Blood at Sundown on Amazon Prime Video gives viewers the chance to rediscover or discover for the first time a classic that might have slipped under the radar. For western fans, this is an opportunity to explore a film that strays from formulaic storytelling and dives into darker, more introspective territory.

A noteworthy pick for your watchlist

Whether you’re a die-hard fan of the genre or simply seeking a compelling story, Blood at Sundown offers much to savor. Gianni Garko’s unforgettable performance, the rich narrative, and its availability on a modern streaming service are all reasons to give this classic a chance. It might just become your next favorite spaghetti western.

Special Birthdays

William ‘Buffalo Bill’ Cody (actor) would have been 180 today but died in 1917.

Jean Lenoir (composer) would have been 135 today but died in 1976.

Una Tristram (actress) would have been 135 today but died in 1975.

José Orjas (actor) would have been 120 today but died in 1983.

Erykah Badu (actress) is 55 today.

Little Known Spaghetti Western actors ~ Mario De Rosa

[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.]

Mario De Rosa was an Italian actor and production manager known for his work in Italian genre cinema during the 1960s through the 1980s.

Born on February 4, 1920, in Rome, Italy, he began his career in film during the postwar era and contributed to various low-budget productions, often taking on both on-screen roles and key behind-the-scenes positions. He appeared as an actor in films spanning Spaghetti Westerns, erotic dramas, thrillers, and horror pictures, while also serving as production manager, writer, and producer on several projects. His acting credits include roles in “The Archangel” (1969), “Blood Relations” (1970), and “Paid in Blood” (1971), while he also worked as a writer and production manager on “Suggestionata” (1978). De Rosa's involvement in these films reflected the prolific output of Italian commercial cinema during that period, where he often handled multiple responsibilities on set. De Rosa continued working sporadically into the 1990s and died on May 6, 2006, in Rome.

Mario De Rosa appeared in ten films between 1968 and 1990; he also worked in production on seven films from 1971 to 1978 and was a writer on two films in 1971 and 1978.

Mario appeared in only one Spaghetti Western: “Anche per Django le carogne hanno un Prezzo” (Django’s Cut Rate Corpses) as (Ramon’s brother in 1971. He was a producer and production manager on another “Quelle sporche anime dannate” (Paid in Blood) in 1971 as a producer with Gino Turini.

De ROSA, Mario [2/4/1920, Rome, Lazio, Italy – 5/6/2006, Rome, Lazio, Italy] – production manager, writer, film actor.

Django’s Cut Rate Corpses – 1971 (3^rd Cortez brother) [writer]

Quelle sporche anime dannate – 1971 [producer, production manager]

Spaghetti Western Directors, Screenwriters, Cinematographers

Spaghetti Western Director ~ Giovanni Bufalini

Giovanni Bufalini is an Italian producer, director, assistant director, writer and film actor. He works for Insolita Film. He attended VIII° Corso RAI SCRIPT in Rome and graduated in 2004.

Giovanni has had an interest in film since the age of ten. He moved from his hometown to Milan in the early 1990s where he worked as a professional illustrator. He also took up singing and began his career as an actor appearing in local theater plays.

He then began experimenting making video films and released his first film “Marasma Milano” in 2001. He graduated from Civic School of Cinema, Television and New Media in Milan and then moved to Rome where he attended the above mentioned VIII° Corso RAI SCRIPT course.

His love of westerns comes from his father where they attended the cinema for Bud & Terence. The Dollar Trilogy was seen on TV every time Leone's films were played. Add to it that Orvieto, Tuscia in particular, is the Italian Louisiana as I always say. In my youth it was therefore easy to superimpose some vintage American atmospheres with what we lived on the sunny country roads. I grew up riding horses, because we had them available in the family. Then, in adulthood, I also began to get passionate about western shooting with real vintage weapons.

Since 2001 Bufalini has directed forty-four films, written for forty-five and acted in fourteen.

Giovanni’s directed two Spaghetti westerns: “Last Light Mile” in 2014 and “Never Dies” in 2020. He also directed the Birr Alfina beer western commercial ‘Birralfina Triello’ in 2024 a takeoff on “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” showdown.

BUFALINI, Giovanni [12/11/1973, Orvieto, Italy -     ] – producer; director, assistant director, writer, film actor, married to ? (2017-    ).

Last Light Mile - 2014

Never Dies – 2020

Spaghetti Western Screenwriters ~ J. Joachim Bartsch

Julius Joachim Bartsch was born on September 13, 1903, in Strasbourg, Bas-Rhin, France. Bartsch is a German screenwriter, director, and editor known for his contributions to mid-20th-century German genre cinema, particularly through screenplays for crime thrillers, adventure films, and Western adaptations in the 1950s and 1960s.

Bartsch began his career in the late 1930s and 1940s by directing short films before shifting his focus primarily to screenwriting for feature productions in post-war West Germany. He became a key figure in popular series based on English author Edgar Wallace, contributing scripts to films such as “Face of the Frog” (1959), “The Terrible People” (1960), and “The Sinister Monk” (1965), which helped establish the successful Rialto Film adaptations of Wallace's mystery novels. Bartsch also played a significant role in the Karl May Western cycle, co-writing screenplays for major entries including “The Desperado Trail” (1965) and “The Last Tomahawk” (1965), which featured international stars and contributed to the genre's popularity in Europe during that era.

His work extended to other genres, including war dramas like “U47 – Kapitänleutnant Prien” (1958) and various crime and adventure pictures, reflecting the diverse output of German commercial cinema in the Wirtschaftswunder period. Bartsch died on November 23, 1965, in Munich, leaving behind a legacy of prolific contributions to escapist entertainment films that achieved widespread audience appeal.

J. Joachim Bartsch as mentioned above co-wrote the screenplays for two German Karl May Winnetou films: “Der letzte Mohikaner” (The Last Tomahawk) in 1964 with Roberto Bianchi Montero, JoséAntonio de la Loma and Giovanni Simonelli and “Winnetou III” (The Desperado Trail) in 1965 with Harald G. Peterson.

BARTSCH, J. Joachim (aka H.J. Bartsch) (Julius Joachim Bartsch) [9/13/1903, Strasbourg, Bas-Rhin, France – 11/23/1965, Munich, Bavaria, Germany] – director, writer, film editor.

The Last Tomahawk – 1964 (co)

The Desperado Trail – 1965 (co)

Spaghetti Western Cinematographer ~ Federico Caddeo

Federico Caddeo was born in Rome on March 27^th and is a director who works in the field of documentary and social cinema. He is interested — among other things — in themes related to the cinematic past, genre, countercultures, and films considered "cult".

Among his most important works we remember here “Around the World in 16 Years” (2016), a docufilm on Gualtiero Jacopetti and Franco Prosperi, screened at the Lucca Film Festival.

In 2019 he shot the documentary “All the Colors of Giallo”, telling the story of the Italian thriller. “In the Name of Hate” (2025), written, produced and directed by him, is a tribute to the film “Shaved Heads” (1993, directed by Claudio Fragasso, scripted by Rossella Drudi), and is dedicated to Rossella Drudi herself. "Painted Screams" (2025) is a tribute to the film “The House with Laughing Windows” (1976) by Pupi Avati, which is considered a cult of Italian horror cinema. Among the testimonies in the documentary there is an unpublished interview with Lino Capolicchio, the lead actor of the original film, who worked with Avati.

Caddeo was a photographer on two short western related documentaries for Wild East “Vengeance Rides a Horse” in 2009 and “His Name Is Sabata” in 2013 with Francesco Biancu Biancone.

CADDEO, Federico [3/27/19??, Rome, Lazio, Italy –     ] – producer, director, writer, cinematographer, film editor, actor, founded ‘Freak-O-Rama’ [2006].

Vengeance Rides a Horse - 2009

His Name Is Sabata – 2013 (co)

“Dirty Hands”

 

Manos sucias – Spanish title

[Dirty Hands – English translated title]

 

A 2013 Spanish film production

Producers: José Aparicio, José Luis Aparicio, Javier Ramírez

Director: Eva G. Szigriszt (Eva Gonzalez Szigriszt), Javier Ramírez

Story: Eva G. Szigriszt (Eva Gonzalez Szigriszt), Javier Ramírez

Screenplay: Eva G. Szigriszt (Eva Gonzalez Szigriszt), Javier Ramírez

Cinematography Fernando J. Martínez [color]

Music: Luis Manuel García

Running time: 13 minutes

 

Cast:

Chano Rodríguez (Luciano Rodríguez), Javier Ramírez, Daniel Montes

 

When a man loses everything, he has only one thing left… revenge.

Who Are Those Guys? ~ Enzo Fiermonte

 

Vincenzo ‘Enzo’ Fiermonte was born in Bari, Puglia, Italy on July 17, 1908. He was a professional boxer from 1925 to 1934, achieving a record of 45 wins and 13 losses.

Following his boxing days, Fiermonte launched a prolific acting career starting in the early 1940s, debuting in Italian cinema with roles in films like “Merchant of Slaves” (1942) and “The Adventures of Fra Diavolo” (1942). He became a familiar face in peplum and sword-and-sandal epics, appearing in at least 45 such genre titles, as well as spaghetti westerns, with standout performances in William Wyler's “Ben-Hur” (1959) as a galley officer, Luchino Visconti's “Rocco and His Brothers” (1960), and Enzo Barboni's “Trinity Is Still My Name” (1971). His filmography also included literary adaptations like Renato Castellani's “Romeo and Juliet” (1954), where he portrayed Tybalt, showcasing his versatility in both antagonistic and supporting roles across more than 130 credits until the early 1980s. Fiermonte's later years were spent in Italy, where he passed away at age 84, leaving a legacy as a multifaceted figure in 20th-century Italian entertainment

Fiermonte was married twice: Tosca Manetti from 1929-1933 and then Madeleine Talmage Force Astor (1933-1938), the widow of John Jacob Astor IV. Notably, he was only four years older than his stepson, John Jacob Astor VI [1912-1992]. In 1937, he attempted to enter the Vanderbilt Cup auto race with his Maserati but was denied participation due to his lack of racing experience.

In total, Fiermonte took part in over 100 films, sometimes using pseudonyms, including William Stockridge and Glenn Foster. As a director Fiermonte used the pseudonym William Bird

Fiermonte's later years were spent in Italy, where he passed away at age 84 on March 22, 1993 in Mentana, Lazio, Italy, leaving a legacy as a multifaceted figure in 20th-century Italian entertainment.

FIERMONTE, Enzo (aka William Bird, Enzo Fiermann, Glen Fortel, Glenn Foster, William Stockridge) (Vincenzo Fiermonte) [7/17/1908, Bari, Puglia, Italy – 3/22/1993, Mentana, Lazio, Italy] – boxer, director, writer, film actor, married to married to Tosca Manetti [1907-deceased] (1929-1933) father of Giovanni ‘John’ Fiermonte [1930-    ], married to Madeleine Astor [1893-1940] (1933-1938), stepfather of John Jacob Astor VI [1912-1992].

Buffalo Bill in Rome – 1949 (Buffalo Bill)

The Greatest Robbery in the West – 1966 (Sheriff Martin Cooney) [as Glen Fortel]

The Ugly Ones – 1966 (Gage Novak) [as Glenn Foster]

Beyond the Law – 1967 (Sheriff John Ferguson)

A Minute to Pray, a Second to Die – 1967 (Doctor Chase)

A Long Ride from Hell – 1968 (Baldy Morris)

Two Pistols and a Coward – 1968 (man ate trading post)

Boot Hill – 1969 (Sharp)

The Forgotten Pistolero - 1969 (padre)

In the Name of the Father – 1969 (Sheriff Jones)

The Unholy Four – 1969 (Dodge City sheriff)

Trinity is STILL My Name – 1971 (Perla’s/Pearl’s father)

Vengeance Trail – 1971 (George Bridger)

Man of the East – 1972 (Frank Austin/Olsen)

They Call Him Veritas – 1972 (Confederate Captain)

Those Dirty Dogs – 1973 (Doctor Adams)

California – 1977 (father of Union soldier)

A Man Called Blade – 1977 (government agent)

Profession: Acrobat – a Afternoon with Riccardo Pizzuti – 2008 (Frank Austin) [archive

     footage]