Spaghetti Western Directors, Screenwriters, Cinematographers

Spaghetti Western Director ~ Francisco Celeiro

Francisco Martínez Celeiro was born on September 18, 1937, in Barcelona, Spain. He was a Spanish film actor, director, producer, and screenwriter, best known for his leading roles in European genre cinema, particularly spaghetti Westerns, during the 1960s and 1970s.

Born in Barcelona's Chinatown amid the Spanish Civil War, Martin grew up in the Las Ramblas area, where wartime violence shaped his early years. His childhood on a family farm in Galicia honed his horsemanship skills, while his gymnastics prowess—competing nationally under coach Joaquín Blume and later on the reformed Spanish team after a tragic 1959 plane crash—provided a foundation for his cinematic stunts. After military service in Ceuta, where he formed a championship gymnastics team despite a severe riding accident, Martin entered the film industry around 1964 as a stuntman, impressing an Italian director with acrobatic feats that led to acting opportunities. Adopting the stage name George Martin (initially Jorge Martín in Spanish productions), he quickly rose to prominence, starring in approximately 40 films across Westerns, spy thrillers, horror, adventure, and science fiction genres.

Martin's career peaked during the spaghetti Western boom, where he was one of the few Spanish actors to secure consistent lead roles, often coordinating action sequences due to directors' limited expertise. Notable performances include the sheriff in “A Pistol for Ringo” (1965) and the antagonist in “The Return of Ringo” (1965), both directed by Tessari and co-starring Giuliano Gemma; the titular loner in “Clint the Loner” (1967) and its 1972 sequel with Klaus Kinski; and roles in “Sonora” (1968) alongside Gilbert Roland and Jack Elam. He also headlined the acrobatic “Three Supermen” series (1968–1970), portraying the character George in films like “3 Supermen in Tokyo” with Salvatore Borgese and Brad Harris, and appeared in diverse projects such as the pirate adventure “The Black Corsair” (1971) with Bud Spencer and Terence Hill. By the mid-1970s, Martin transitioned to directing and producing, helming films like “Diabolic Chill” (1972) and “The Sons of Scaramouche” (1975), his final acting credit, amid the genre's decline and his growing family commitments.

In retirement, Martin relocated to Miami, Florida, where he built a successful career as a hotel entrepreneur, owning multiple properties, a private island, and a film studio used for productions like “Bad Boys” and “Miami Vice”. He received late-career honors, including a 2015 tribute in Esplugues de Llobregat for the 50th anniversary of a key Western set and the 2017 "Tabernas de Cine" award at the Almería Western Film Festival. Martin died at his Miami home on September 1, 2021 from kidney failure following a COVID-19 infection, at age 83; he was survived by his wife, Mercedes Piedra, and two children.

CELEIRO, Francisco (aka Anthony Blond, Martin Celler, George Martin, John Martin, Jorge Martin) (Francisco Martínez Celeiro) [9/18/1937, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain – 9/1/2021, Miami, Florida, U.S.A (kidney failure, COVID-19)] – acrobat, producer, director, writer, film actor, member of the 1950 Spanish National Olympic Team, married to Mitsuko Miyashiki de Martinez [1948-2012] (197?-2012) father of real estate public defender Francisco Maximiliano Martinez-Miyashiki [1980-    ] and one other child, married to Mercedes Piedra (Mercedes Piedra Rodriguez) (2018-2021), awarded Tabernas de Cine" award at the Almería Western Film Festival [2017]

Let’s Go and Kill Sartana – 1971 (co)

The Return of Clint the Stranger - 1972

Demasiados muertos para Tex – 1973 [as F. Martin Celler]

Three Supermen in the West – 1973 (co)

Spaghetti Western Screenwriter ~ Antonio Boccacci

Antonio Boccacci was an Italian screenwriter, four films between 1961 and 1967, a director and writer of one film “Tomb of Torture” in 1963 which he also wrote the original story and screenplay for.

He was also credited under the aliases William Gray, Anthony Kristye.

What happened to him after 1967 is unknown as I can find no biographical information on him.

Antonio Boccacci co-wrote the screenplay for one Spaghetti western 1967’s “Days of Vengeance” with Mario Amendola, Gian Luigi Buzzi, and Paolo Lombardo.

BOCCACCI, Antonio (aka William Gray, Anthony Kristye) [Italian] – director, writer, actor.

Days of Vengeance – 1967 (co)

 

Spaghetti Western Cinematographer ~ Franco Delli Colli

Franco Delli Colli was an Italian cinematographer known for his extensive work in Italian cinema, spanning from assistant roles in neorealist and auteur films to principal director of photography duties on genre productions. He was born in Rome on March 2, 1929, and entered the film industry in the late 1940s as a camera operator and assistant cinematographer, frequently collaborating with his cousin, the acclaimed cinematographer Tonino Delli Colli, on projects including Accattone (1961).

He advanced to director of photography starting in the early 1960s, eventually contributing to over fifty films as principal cinematographer while also serving in second-unit and camera department capacities on others. His credits include the cult science fiction horror film “The Last Man on Earth” (1964), the second-unit photography for Sergio Leone's “Duck, You Sucker!” (1971), and a series of Italian horror and exploitation titles during the 1980s, such as “Macabre” (1980), “Rats: Night of Terror” (1984), and “Ghosthouse” (1988). Delli Colli's career reflected the breadth of Italian genre filmmaking during the postwar era and beyond, bridging prestigious early collaborations with prolific output in commercial cinema.

Franco died in Rome on April 22, 2004.

Franco Delli Colli was a cinematographer on six Spaghetti westerns: “Se sei vivo spara!” (Django Kill) in 1966, “La vendetta è il mio perdono” (Shotgun) with Mario Mancini in 1967,

“El Zorro” (Zorro the Fox) and “I morti non si contano” (Dead Men Don’t Count) with Aldo Ricci both in 1968 “Giu la Testa” (Duck You Sucker) in 1971 and “Il figlio di Zorro” (The Son of Zorro) in 1973.

DELLI COLLI, Franco [3/2/1929, Rome, Lazio, Italy – 4/22/2004, Rome, Lazio, Italy] – cinematographer, cameraman, cousin of cinematographer, cameraman Tonino Delli Colli [1922-2005], uncle of writer Stefano Delli Colli [1952-    ].

Django Kill – 1966

Shotgun – 1967 (co)

Dead Men Don't Count – 1968 (co)

Zorro the Fox - 1968

Duck, You Sucker – 1971

The Son of Zorro – 1973

Colt (TV) – 1994 [TV series was never made]