Spaghetti Western Directors, Screenwriters, Cinematographers

Spaghetti Western Director ~ E. B. Clucher

Enzo Barboni was born in Rome on July 10, 1922. Although best known as the director of the Trinity films as E.B. Clucher, the surname of his grandmother, Enzo Barboni started out in the film business as a cameraman and cinematographer.

He began to work in film at a very young age, serving as a war correspondent on Eastern Front of World War II, and starting work as a camera operator in 1942. In 1961 he advanced to a career as cinematographer, working several times with director Sergio Corbucci and gaining a well-respected reputation.

He made his directorial debut in 1970 with the serious western “Chuck Moll” (The Unholy Four), which had little success. Undaunted, he decided to make his next film a slapstick parody of the Spaghetti Western phenomenon. The result, “They Call Me Trinity”, was an enormous hit and made superstars out of Bud Spencer and Terence Hill. The three reunited the next year for the even more successful sequel “Trinity Is STILL My Name!”, which became, up to that point, the highest grossing Italian movie ever.

Barboni never strayed from his successful formula; his subsequent films were all slapstick comedies and almost all featured either Hill or Spencer. This collaboration produced numerous hits, but when Hill and Spencer's careers started to wane, so did Barboni's. In 1994 he wanted to direct “Troublemakers”, which was to be the "swan song" of the duo, but Terence Hill insisted on directing instead. The next year Barboni tried to revive the formula with “Sons of Trinity”, which proved to be a disaster at the box-office.

After this disappointment, Barboni retired. He died in Rome, at age 79 on June 23, 2002.

As E.B Clucher, Enzo Barboni directed six Spaghetti westerns: “Ciakmull, l’uomo della vendetta” (The Unholy Four) in 1969, “Lo chiamavano Trinità...” in 1970, “...continuavano a chiamarlo Trinità” (Trinity Is STILL My Name!) in 1971, “E poi lo chiamarono il Magnifico” (Man of the East) in 1972, “Renegade, un osso troppo duro” (They Call Me Renegade) in 1987 and “Trinita & Bambino… e adesso tocca a noi” (Sons of Trinity) in 1994.

CLUCHER, E.B. (aka E.B. Clutcher) (Enzo Barboni) [7/10/1922, Rome, Lazio, Italy – 6/23/2002, Rome, Lazio, Italy] – boxer, stuntman, director, writer, cinematographer, cameraman, SFX, brother of cinematographer Leonida Barboni [1909-1970], married to Irma Gazzi (195?-2002) father of writer, Marco Barboni [1952-    ].

The Unholy Four - 1969

They Call Me Trinity - 1970

Trinity Is STILL My Name! – 1971

Man of the East - 1972

They Call Me Renegade – 1987

Sons of Trinity – 1994

Spaghetti Western Screenwriters ~ Daniel Boulanger

Daniel Michel Auguste Boulanger was a French novelist, playwright, poet, screenwriter, and actor known for his significant contributions to the French New Wave movement and his prolific career across literature and cinema. He was born on January 24, 1922, in Compiègne, France, Boulanger initially established himself as a writer of novels, short stories, plays, and poetry before transitioning into film. He gained prominence as an actor in memorable supporting roles in landmark New Wave films directed by Jean-Luc Godard and François Truffaut, including “Breathless” (1960) and “Shoot the Piano Player” (1960). As a screenwriter, he frequently collaborated with Philippe de Broca, penning scripts for films such as “That Man from Rio” (1964) and “The Joker” (1960), the former earning him an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay. Boulanger's versatile talents bridged literary and cinematic worlds, leaving a lasting impact on postwar French culture until his death on October 27, 2014, in Paris at the age of 92.

Daniel Boulanger co-wrote the screenplay for one Spaghetti western, “Les pétroleuses” (The Legend of Frenchie King) in 1971 with Marie-Ange Aniès, Guy Casaril, Jean Nemours, Clément Bywood

BOULANGER, Daniel (Daniel Michel Auguste Boulanger) [1/24/1922, Compiègne, Oise, France - 10/27, 2014, Paris, Île de France, France] – novelist, playwright, writer, married to ? father of seven children.

The Legend of Frenchie King – 1971 (co)

Spaghetti Western Cinematographer ~ Danilo Di Paoloantoni

Danilo Di Paoloantoni is an Italian director, writer and cinematographer. Born in Rome on July 23, 1976, he directed, wrote and was the cameraman on 2015’s short film “Tutto in una notte” a thriller starring Aldredo Angelini, Gabriele Ciarelli, and Ayda Dark. He also worked as a cameraman on Emiliano Ferrera’s 2019 western “The Dutchman”.

Danilo was the cinematographer on two Spaghetti westerns: “Twenty Dollars” in 2015 and the TV film ‘Blood from Hell’ in 2016.

Di PAOLOANTONI, Danilo [7/23/1976, Rome, Lazio, Italy -     ] – director, writer, cinematographer.

Twenty Dollars - 2015

Blood from Hell – 2016 (TV)

The Dutchman – 2019 [cameraman]