Spaghetti Western Directors, Screenwriters, Cinematographers

Spaghetti Western Director ~ Peter Collinson

Peter Collinson was a British film director known for his flair for action and suspense in 1960s and 1970s cinema, most notably helming the iconic heist caper “The Italian Job” (1969). Born into a theatrical family on April 1, 1936, in Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire, England, the son of an actress mother and a musician father. His parents separated when he was two years old. Following their separation, Collinson lived briefly with his grandmother before being sent to the Actors' Orphanage. He began his career directing for the stage and television before making his feature film debut with “The Penthouse” in 1967. His subsequent films included “Up the Junction”, “The Long Day's Dying”, “You Can't Win 'Em All”, “Fright”, “Straight on Till Morning”, “The Man Called Noon”, “Innocent Bystanders”, “Ten Little Indians”, and “The Spiral Staircase”, with some earning awards at festivals such as Berlin and San Sebastian.

Collinson's work often emphasized dynamic sequences and genre elements, as evidenced by the memorable car chases and cliffhanger conclusion in “The Italian Job”, which have contributed to the film's enduring popularity. His final film, “The Earthling”, was released posthumously in 1981. He died of cancer at his home in Los Angeles on December 16, 1980, at the age of 44, survived by his wife Hazel and their two children. [

Peter Collinson directed one Spaghetti western, “Lo chiamavano mezzogiorno” (The Man Called Noon) in 1973.

COLLINSON, Peter (Peter Kenneth Collinson) [4/1/1936, Lincolnshire, England, U.K. – 12/16/1980, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A. (lung cancer)] – producer, director, assistant director, writer, son of actress Lola Willard (Lola Eileen Willard) [1912–1997], married to actress, singer Lisa Shane (Hazel Collinson) [1937-    ] (1970-1980) father of Tara Collinsosn [1967-    ], Shane Collinson 1970-    ].

The Iron Outlaws – 1969 [film was never made.]

Tomorrow's Dawn - 1971 [ film was never made]

Jack the Ripper Goes West – 1973 [film was never made.]

The Man Called Noon – 1973

Spaghetti Western Screenwriter ~ Gunther Brandl

Günther Brandl is the oldest of Alois and Gisela Brandl’s children. He’s a producer, director, writer, cinematographer, film editor actor and founded Brandl Pictures. His brother is director, writer, cinematographer, film actor, Helmut Brandl born in Arnstorf in 1982 and his sister is director, writer, film actress Monika Brandl born in Arnstorf in 1984. Günther appeared in 48 films among which is four westerns: “Er kannte kein Erbarmen” in 2001 as Valdez, Sheriff Whitmore, Frank Anderson, Mr. Tunstall, saloon patron) also as co-director, co-writer, co-cinematographer, “Der stumme Schrei des Todes” in 2005 as Moses Cane/Colonel Sam Emerson also director, writer, co-cinematographer, “Und sie kehrten niemals wieder” in 2013 as Nameless also co-director, writer and “Im Tal von Achor” in 2022 as Reverend John Tanner also director, writer.

Gunther Brandl wrote the screenplays for four Euro-westerns, three of which he also directed; “Er kannte kein Erbarmen” in 2001 with Helmut Brandl, “Der stumme Schrei des Todes” in 2005, “Und sie kehrten niemals wieder” in 2013 with Helmut Brandl, Monika Brandl and “Im Tal von Achor – 2022. Th

BRANDL, Günther [6/17/1980, Arnstorf, Niederbayern, Germany -     ] – producer, director, writer, cinematographer, film editor actor, brother of actor Helmut Brandl, actress Monika Brandl, founded Brandl Pictures

Er kannte kein Erbarmen – 2001 (co)

Der stumme Schrei des Todes – 2005

Und sie kehrten niemals wieder – 2013 (co)

Im Tal von Achor – 2022

Spaghetti Western Cinematographer ~ Pasquale Fanetti

Pasquale Fanetti was born in Rome, Italy in 1937. He was primarily a cameraman and cinematographer although he also worked in the film industry as a director (eighteen films), writer (eight films) and producer (four films). Fanetti was a cinematographer on fifty-five films between 1971 and 1997 and as a cameraman on eighteen films from 1961-1987. Fanetti had been working as a camera assistant and operator since the early 1960s; from 1970 he was chief cameraman in several productions. At the dawn of the 1980s, he turned to the erotic film business and drove the camera in soft and hard films. As a director, he was responsible exclusively for hardcore films, often under the pseudonym Frank de Niro. Other noms-de-film Fanettis include “Emanuele Glisenti” and “Pascal Fany”.

Pasquale Fanetti was a co-cinematographer on one Spaghetti western “Allegri becchini... arriva Trinità” (They Called Him... Trinity: Himself – His Colt – His Revenge) in 1971 with Giorgio Montagnani

FANETTI, Pasquale (aka Frank De Niro, Pasqualino Fanetti, Robert Fani, Emanuele Glisenti, Frank de Niro) [1937, Rome, Lazio, Italy -    ] – producer, director, writer, cinematographer, cameraman.

They Called Him... Trinity: Himself – His Colt – His Revenge – 1971 (co)