Spaghetti Western Directors, Screenwriters, Cinematographers

Spaghetti Western Director ~ John Baxter

John Philip Baxter was born in Foots Cray, Kent, England on December 31, 1896. He worked as a theatrical agent and theater manager, then became an assistant director in 1932. He formed his own production company with his friend John Barter and also acted in several films produced by Lance Comfort.

Baxter played a major role in the foundation of National Film Finance Corporation in 1948. He also directed and produced “Judgment Deferred” (1952) which was the first film of Group 3, a British government backed production venture. John produced, wrote and directed several films. He directed Deborah Kerr in her first leading role in “Love on the Dole” (1941), and was the producer-director for the musical-comedy films of Flanagan and Allen during World War II. He was one of the leading directors for British National Pictures.

His last film as a director was “Ramsbottom Rides Again” (1956) which featured Arthur Askey and was his only Euro-western/

Baxter died in London on February 15, 1975, at the age of 78.

BAXTER, John (John Philip Baxter) [12/31/1896, Foots Cray, Kent, England, U.K. – 2/15/1975, London, England, U.K.] – producer, director, assistant director, writer, co-founded ‘Group 3 Productions’.

Ramsbottom Rides Again – 1956

Spaghetti Western Screenwriter ~ Jack Ary

Jack Ary was born Jacques Armand on November 23, 1919, at Saint-Sulpice- Laurière Haute-Vienne. France. During his life he was a boxer, wrestler played saxophone with the Tony Proteayu Orchestra, wrote screenplays and was a film and TV actor. He led his own “High Society Orchestra” in the 1950s and 1960s and released a number of singles and LPs. His first screen appearance was in 1949's “La patronne”. Some of his more famous films are “Love in the Afternoon” (1957), “Gigi” (1958), “Fanny” (1961). His last role was in 1961's “Pourquoi?” (1977). Ary became good friends with French actor Fernandel, and they appeared in a number of films together. Ary appeared as John along with Fernandel in 1961's “Dynamite Jack” of which he also wrote the screenplay.

ARY, Jack (aka J. Ary, Jacques Ary) (Jacques Armand) [11/23/1919, Saint-Sulpice- Paris, Ile-de-France, France – 9/23/1974, Paris, Ile-de-France, France (myocardial infraction)] – boxer, wrestler, writer, TV actor, musician (saxophone) member of the “Tony Proteau Orchestra”, founded the “High Society Orchestra”.
Dynamite Jack - 1960 (co)

Spaghetti Western Cinematographer ~ Albert Benitz

Albert Benitz was born on November 17, 1904, in Freiburg, Breisgau, Germany. He was a German cinematographer who worked on more than ninety films. He also directed the 1949 film “Das Fräulein und der Vagabund”. During the 1940s, he was under contract to Terra Film and worked with Leni Riefenstahl during the era.

He was married to Elfriede and died on March 11, 1979 in Hamburg, Germany at the age of 74.

Benitz only Euro-western was “Der Kaiser von Kalifornien” (The Emperor of California) in 1936 as co-cinematographer with Heinz von Jaworsky.

BENITZ, Albert (aka Benitz, C.L. Benitz) [11/17/1904, Freiburg, Breisgau, Germany – 3/11/1979, Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany] – director, cinematographer, cameraman, actor, married to Elfriede (19??-1979).

The Emperor of California – 1936 (co)