Spaghetti Western Directors, Screenwriters, Cinematographers

Spaghetti Western Director ~ Christian-Jacque

Christian Albert François Maudet was born on September 4, 1904, in Paris, France and was a French film director and screenwriter renowned for his prolific output of over 50 feature films spanning comedy, drama, and period pieces, establishing him as one of the most commercially successful filmmakers in post-war French cinema.

Educated in architecture Maudet began his career in the 1920s as a film poster designer and journalist before transitioning to set design and assistant directing. He adopted the professional pseudonym Christian-Jaque from a collaboration and made his directorial debut in 1932 with the short film “Le Bidon d'or”, quickly gaining recognition with early comedies featuring Fernandel, such as “Un de la légion” (1936) and “François Ier” (1937). During the 1940s, amid World War II—in which he served in the French Forces of the Interior—he directed notable works including the mystery “Les Disparus de Saint-Agil” (1938), the biopic “La Symphonie fantastique” (1942) on composer Hector Berlioz, and adaptations like “Carmen” (1945) and “Boule de suif” (1945), often collaborating with stars such as Jean Marais, Micheline Presle, and Louis Jouvet.

His international breakthrough came in the 1950s with swashbuckling adventures and lavish productions, highlighted by “Fanfan la tulipe” (1952), starring Gérard Philipe, which won the Director's Prize at the Cannes Film Festival. Other acclaimed films from this era include “Si tous les gars du monde” (1956), a drama about international cooperation, and “La Tulipe noire” (1964) with Alain Delon. Later in his career, he shifted to television, directing adaptations like ‘L'Homme de Suez’ (1983), before receiving an honorary César Award in 1985 for his lifetime contributions to French cinema.

He died in Boulogne-Billancourt, France from a heart attack on July 8, 1994. He was a month shy of turning 90.

Christian-Jacque co-directed one Spaghetti wsetsrn, “Les Pétroleuses” (The Legend of Frenchie King) with Guy Casaril in 1971.

CHRISTIAN-JACQUE (aka Christian Jacque, Christian Jaque) (Christian Maudet)  [8/4/1904, Paris, Île-de-France, France – 7/8/1994, Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, France (heart attack)] – director, journalist, writer, actor, married to Germaine Berthe Adèle Marie Spy [1912-1990] (1931-1938), married to Simone Renant (Georgette Simone Alexine Buigny) [1911-2004] (1940-1944), married to actress Renée Faure (Renée Paule Nanine Faure) [1918–2005] (1947-1953), married to actress Martine Carol (Maryse Louise Mourer) [1920–1967] (1954-1959), married to Laurence Christol (1961-1983), married to assistant director Denise Morlot [1928-    ] (1992-1994), awarded lifetime achievement César Award [1985].

The Legend of Frenchie King – 1971 (co)

Spaghetti Western Screenwriter ~ Diego Bonuccelli

Diego Bonuccelli is an Italian film director known for his independent short films, documentaries, and commercials, in which he frequently serves as writer, editor, and cinematographer. Born on November 11, 1993, in Viareggio, Tuscany, he studied cinema at the University of Pisa and began directing in 2013. Diego has directed over a dozen projects, often handling multiple creative roles on low-budget productions that explore themes of history, solitude, and regional culture. Notable works include the short films “Il triciclo”, “Liguri Apuani”, “Torve fantasie”, “XII844” (addressing the Sant'Anna di Stazzema Massacre), and “Più accecante della notte” (featuring comedian Giorgio Panariello), as well as the video “Maria Says No”. His work has appeared in international contexts, including France, and he has received several awards and nominations for his contributions to independent cinema.

Bonuccelli has been a screenwriter for two Euro-westerns which he also has directed, “The Green Furies” in 2012 and “Welcome to Elderstorm” in 2014.

BONUCCELLI, Diego [11/11/1993, Viareggio, Tuscany, Italy -     ] – producer, director, writer, cinematographer, film editor actor.

The Green Furies – 2012 

Welcome to Elderstorm – 2014

Spaghetti Western Cinematographer ~ Jaime Deu Casas

Jaime Deu Casas was a Spanish actor, cameraman and cinematographer. He was a cameraman on twenty-two films between 1960 and 1977. He worked on sixty-three films as a cinematographer between 1963 and 1981.

For such a prolific cinematographer there is virtually no biographical information on him other than his filmography, and I cannot even find a photograph of the man.

Deu Casas was a cinematographer on ten Spaghetti westerns; “La venganza de Clark Harrison” (The Ruthless Colt of the Gringo) with Marcello Gatti in 1965, “Sartana no perdone” (Sonora) in 1968, “Legge della violenza – tutti o nessuno” (The Law of Vilence) with Oberdan Troiani in 1969, “Vamos a matar Sartana!” (Let's Go and Kill Sartana) with Giovanni Raffaldi in 1971, “Hijos de pobres, pero deshonestos padres… le llamaban Calamidad” (Now They Call Him Sacramento), “El retorno de Clint el solitario” (The Return of Clint the Stranger) and “Judas... ¡toma tus monedas!” (Watch Out Gringo! Sabata Will Return) all in 1972, “Demasiados muertos para Tex”, “Storia di karatè, pugni e fagioli” (Karate, Fists and Beans) and “… e cosi divennero i 3 supermen del West” (Three Supermen of the West) all in 1973.

DEU CASAS, Jaime (aka Jaime Del Casas, Jaime Deu Dasas) [Spanish] – cinematographer, cameraman, actor

The Ruthless Colt of the Gringo – 1965 (co)

Sonora – 1968

The Law of Violence – 1969 (co)

Let's Go and Kill Sartana – 1971 (co)

Now They Call Him Sacramento – 1972

The Return of Clint the Stranger – 1972

Watch Out Gringo! Sabata Will Return - 1972

Demasiados muertos para Tex – 1973

Karate, Fists and Beans - 1973

Three Supermen of the West – 1973