Spaghetti Western Directors, Screenwriters, Cinematographers

Spaghetti Western Director ~ Paul Flon

Paul Nicolas Flon is a Belgian cinematographer and director known for his contributions to Belgian cinema, beginning his career in 1914 and working through the silent and sound eras up to the 1970s. Born on October 6, 1898, in Brussels, Belgium., Flon started as a cinematographer before directing silent films and propaganda features in the 1920s, later focusing primarily on cinematography while sporadically directing.

He began his film career in 1914 as cinematographer on “Maudite soit la guerre” (War Is Hell), directed by Alfred Machin. He gained recognition for directing films that highlighted technical proficiency and patriotic themes, including the propaganda feature “Belgique” (1920), which was praised for its quality in acting, photography, and overall production values comparable to leading foreign works. Among his most notable directorial efforts is “Dans Bruges-la-morte” (1924), an adaptation set in Bruges and filmed with Belgian actors such as Francis Martin and Suzanne Christy. He also directed “In the Way of Zorro” (1926) and later returned to directing with “Fête de quartier” (1955) and several documentary shorts in the 1970s.

Throughout his career, Flon worked extensively as a cinematographer on Belgian productions spanning from 1914 to the late 1950s, notably as chief cinematographer for Gaston Schoukens from 1926 to 1959, contributing to films such as “Bossemans et Coppenolle” (1938), “Naissance d'une cite” (1944), and “Scandale à la Belgique Joyeuse” (1959). His multifaceted involvement in both directing and cinematography helped bridge the silent and sound eras in Belgian film history.

Paul Flon remained active in the film industry until at least the late 1950s for cinematography credits, with directing continuing into the 1970s. His last known cinematography credit was on “Scandale à la Belgique Joyeuse” (1959).

Flon died on August 10, 1981, in Jette, Belgium at the age of 82.

Paul Flon directed one silent Euro-western “À la manière de Zorro” (In the Way of Zorro) in 1926

FLON, Paul (Paul Nicolas Flon) [10/6/1898, Brussels, Belgium – 8/10/1981, Jette, Belgium] – producer, director, assistant director, writer, cinematographer, cameraman,

In the Way of Zorro – 1926

 

Spaghetti Western Screenwriter ~ Guido Celano

Guido Celano was born in Francavilla al Mare, Abruzzo, Italy on April 19, 1904. After his high school studies in Rome, he studied acting, devoting himself initially to a theatrical career. It was noted by Mario Camerini, that he wanted Guido in the silent film “Rotaie” 1929, where he appears in a very short sequence. The following year he appeared, next to Leda Gloria, in the film “Terra d'Incanti” by the director Nicola Fausto Neroni, which "was screened on the screens with sound disks" in mid-August 1931. Later, in 1931, he played a part in the film “The Devil's Lantern” directed by Carlo Campogalliani. In 1932, he played the lead role in the film “Palio”, directed by Alessandro Blasetti, in which Celano plays the part of a womanizer jockey, Zarre, with Leda Gloria.

From then on, he appeared in many films in the most diverse roles, working in the cinema until his death, often in secondary parts or as a character actor. In 1967 he made his directorial debut with two western films, taken from his original subjects, both signed under the pseudonym of William First and whose screenplay took advantage of the well-known writer Luigi Silori: “The Cold Killer” and “Gun Shy Piluk”. During his film career Celano also acted as a voice dubber.

Several times, in his long career, he played the part of a carabiniere, so as to be included in the special book that Arma dedicated to the Cinema of the sector. He also took part in numerous television dramas in the sixties and seventies, from ‘David Copperfield’ to ‘Treasure Island’, from ‘Buddenbrook’ to ‘Living Together’.

In 1974, together with Dino De Laurentiis, Franco Cristaldi, Silvio Clementelli and Monica Vitti, he received the Premio Medaglie d'oro, the life for Cinema.

Overall, Celano worked as an actor from 1929 (“Rotaie”) to 1988 (“Via Paradiso”), ie for 59 years, as long as Sir Laurence Olivier, who worked from 1930 to 1989, and that the American Film Institute considers the film actor more professionally long-lived.

Celano lived for almost sixty years beside his wife Ernesta Cucchiarelli, an actress of silent films, known by the stage name of Tina Xeo, with whom she had two children; the last of which, Ruggero, died in a plane crash in 1976 in Antalya, Turkey along with nearly two hundred other Italians. Guido Celano died of complications from acute peritonitis at age 83 on March 7, 1988 leaving four children and eight grandchildren.

Guido Celano co-wrote the screenplay for one Spaghetti western, “Giurò... e li uccise ad unon ad uno” (Gun Shy Piluk) with Luigi Silori in 1968. He also directed this film under the alias William First.

CELANO, Guido (aka Celano, Guy W. Ceylon, William First) [4/19/1904, Francavilla al Mare, Abruzzo, Italy – 3/7/1988, Rome, Lazio, Italy] – producer, director, writer, theater, film, TV, voice actor, married to Tina Xeo (Ernesta Cucchiarelli) [1902-1992] (1934-1988) father of Virginia Celano, Ruggero Celano [1942-1976], stepfather of Amalia Gargiulo, Luciana Gargiulo, Claudio Gargiulo, awarded the Premio Medaglie d'oro [1974].

Gun Shy Piluk – 1968 (co)

Spaghetti Western Animator ~ Zdeněk Hrabě

Zdeněk Hrabě is/was an animator on sixteen films between 1947 and 1955. I can find no biographical information on him.

Zdeněk Hrabě was an animator on one Euro-western, “Arie Prerie” (Song of the Prairie) with Břetislav Pojar, Bohuslav Šrámek, Stanislav Látal and Jan Karpaš.

HRABE, Zdeněk (Zdeněk Hrabě) – animator.

Song of the Prairie – 1949 (co)