Spaghetti Western Director, Screenwriter, Cinematographer

Spaghetti Western Director ~ Alfonso Brescia

Alfonso Brescia was born on January 6, 1930, in Rome and was a director, assistant director, writer and actor.

Brescia was best known for his prolific output in low-budget exploitation cinema, spanning genres such as peplum (sword-and-sandal), science fiction, spaghetti westerns, and gialli thrillers during the 1960s through the 1980s. He entered the film industry as an assistant director in the late 1950s, defying his family's expectations, and went on to helm over 50 feature films, often under the pseudonym Al Bradley for international distribution. His work frequently featured acrobatic action sequences, stock footage, and B-movie tropes, contributing to Italy's vibrant post-war genre film scene.

Brescia's early career focused on peplum films, a staple of Italian cinema in the 1960s, with notable entries like “The Magnificent Gladiator” (1964) and “The Conqueror of Atlantis” (1965), which capitalized on the era's fascination with mythological epics and muscle-bound heroes. He later diversified into Spaghetti westerns, directing titles such as “My Gun Is the Law” (1965) and “If One Is Born a Swine... Kill Him” (aka Cry of Death) (1968), blending gritty violence with operatic flair characteristic of the subgenre.

In the 1970s and 1980s, Brescia embraced science fiction amid the Star Wars boom, producing hasty, effects-light space operas like “Cosmos: War of the Planets” (1977), “Battle of the Stars” (1977), and “The Beast in Space” (1980), which repurposed props and footage for quick theatrical releases. He also ventured into erotic thrillers and comedies, including the giallo “Naked Girl Killed in the Park” (1972) and the comedy “Super Stooges vs. the Wonder Women” (1974), showcasing his versatility in catering to diverse audience tastes.

Throughout his career, Brescia collaborated with stars like Gordon Mitchell, Alan Steel, and the Italian Stooges trio, emphasizing fast-paced storytelling over high production values, which earned him a cult following among fans of Eurocult cinema. His final directorial efforts included action films like “Iron Warrior” (1987) and “Miami Cops” (1989), before he passed away in Rome on June 6, 2001 at the age of 71. Brescia's films, though critically overlooked in their time, exemplify the ingenuity and commercial drive of Italy's genre filmmaking golden age.

Alfosno Brescia directed eight Spaghetti westerns mostly using in the alias Al Bradley: “La Colt è la mia legge” (The Colt is My Law) in 1965, “I giorni della violenza” (Days of Vengeance), “Killer calibre .32” (Killer Caliber .32), “Voltati… ti uccido” (Turn I’ll Kill You) all in 1967, “Sei una carogna… e t’ammazzo! (Cry of Death) and “Carogne si nasce” (Lynching) in1968, “La Spacconata” (White Fang and the Gold Diggers) in 1974 and the sequel “Zanna Bianca e il cacciatore solitario” (White Fang and the Lone Hunter) in 1975.

 

BRESCIA, Alfonso (aka Al Bradey, Al Bradley, Al Bradly, Albert B. Leonard) [1/6/1930, Rome, Lazio, Italy – 6/6/2001, Rome, Lazio, Italy] – director, assistant director, writer, actor.

The Colt is My Law – 1965 [as Al Bradley]

Days of Vengeance – 1967 [as Al Bradley]

Killer Caliber .32 – 1967 [as Al Bradley]

Turn… I’ll Kill You – 1967 [as Al Bradley]

Cry of Death – 1968 [as Al Bradley]

Lynching – 1968 [as Al Bradley]

White Fang and the Gold Diggers – 1974

White Fang and the Lone Hunter – 1975

Spaghetti Western Screenwriter ~ Aldo Barni

Little is known about Italian writer Aldo Barni except that he wrote stories and screenplays for six films between 1954 and 1971. He wrote the stories for 1965’s Spaghetti western All’ombra di una colt” (In a Colt’s Shadow) and “Quelle sporche anime dannate” (Paid in Blood) in 1971.

The only Spaghetti western screenplay he wrote was for “Quelle sporche anime dannate” (Paid in Blood) in 1971.

BARNI, Aldo [Italian] – writer.

Paid in Blood – 1971

 

Spaghetti Western Cinematographer ~ Julio Burgos

Julio Burgos was born Julio Diaz and is/was a Spanish cinematographer, cameraman who worked on sixty-three films as a cameraman from 1966 to 1992 including two Euro-westerns “El lobo nefro” (The Black Wolf) and it’s sequel “Duelo a Muerte” (Revenge of the Black Wolf) both in 1981. He was a cinematographer on seventeen films from 1982 to 1992.

Julio Burgos was a co-cinematographer on “L’Apache Bianco” (White Apache) in 1985 with José María Cunillés and “Scalps” in 1986 with Luigi Ciccarese.

BURGOS, Julio (Julio Diaz) [Spanish] – cinematographer, cameraman.

White Apache – 1985 (co)

Scalps – 1986 (co)