Spaghetti Western Directors, Screenwriters, Cinematographers

Spaghetti Western Director ~ Richard Harrison

Richard Harrison is an American actor, writer, director, and producer best known for his prolific work in low-budget European films, including peplum adventures, Eurospy thrillers, and spaghetti westerns, during the 1960s and 1970s. With over 100 film credits spanning four decades, Harrison capitalized on his muscular physique and rugged good looks to become a staple in Italian B-movies after limited success in Hollywood. His career highlights include starring roles in sword-and-sandal epics like “The Invincible Gladiator” (1961) and “Gladiators 7” (1962), as well as leading 17 spaghetti westerns such as “Vengeance” (1968) and “Between God, the Devil and a Winchester” (1968).

Born in Salt Lake City, Utah on May 26, 1935, Harrison relocated to Southern California in his late teens, where he pursued bodybuilding and physique modeling in the 1950s. He made his film debut as an extra and in small roles in Hollywood productions, including uncredited work in “South Pacific” (1958) and a supporting part in the science-fiction film “Kronos” (1957). By 1961, seeking greater opportunities, he moved to Rome, Italy, where he quickly gained prominence in the peplum genre, portraying heroic figures in films like “Medusa vs. the Son of Hercules” (1962).

Harrison's European phase expanded into spy films, such as “Secret Agent Fireball” (1965), before he fully embraced the spaghetti western boom, often playing tough, vengeful protagonists. He also ventured into writing, directing, and producing, notably under the pseudonym James London for “Two Brothers in a Place Called Trinity” (1972). Returning to the United States in the 1970s, his roles shifted to exploitation and action cinema, including martial arts features filmed in the Philippines like “Ninja Terminator” (1985). His final credited film appearance was in “Jerks” (2000), after which he retired from acting.

In later years, Harrison settled in Palm Springs, California, with his second wife, Francesca, and received a star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars for his contributions to film. He unsuccessfully ran for mayor of Palm Springs in 1995 and 1999, reflecting his interest in local politics.

As mentioned above Richard Harrison co-directed one Spaghetti western, “Jesse e Lester: due fratelli in un posto chiamoto Trinita” (Jesse and Lester, Two Brothers in a Place Called Trinity) with Renzo Genta in 1972.

HARRISON, Richard (aka Richard Harrison II, Richard Harrisson) (Richard S. Harrison Jr.) [5/26/1935, Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.A. -     ] – producer, director, writer, film, TV actor, married to actress Loretta Vee Nicholson [1943-    ] (1961–1970) father of Richard Elmer Harrison II, actor Robert Harrison, actor Sebastian Stewart Harrison [1965-    ], married to production manager, actress Daria Norman (Maria Francesca Pomentale) (1978-    ) father of a daughter, uncle of actress Joi Holmes [1961-    ].

Jesse and Lester, Two Brothers in a Place Called Trinity – 1972 (co)

Spaghetti Western Screenwriter ~ Armando Crispino

Armando Crispino was an Italian film director and screenwriter, best known for his contributions to the giallo and horror genres during the 1960s and 1970s. Born in Biella, Piedmont, Italy on October 18, 1924, he began his career as an assistant director before helming his first feature, “Le piacevoli notti” (1966), a comedic adaptation of Boccaccio's tales. Over the next decade, Crispino directed nine films, blending elements of suspense, supernatural themes, and social commentary, often collaborating with prominent Italian actors and writers.

Crispino's notable works include the war drama “Commandos” (1968), starring Lee Van Cleef and Jack Kelly, which depicted a fictional Allied commando mission in North Africa during World War II. He gained further recognition in the thriller genre with “The Dead Are Alive” (1972), a supernatural mystery involving Etruscan artifacts and ancient curses, featuring John Marley and Samantha Eggar. His most acclaimed film, “Autopsy” (1975), is a gritty giallo starring Mimsy Farmer as a coroner unraveling a series of bizarre murders linked to a religious sect; it exemplifies his style of psychological tension and macabre imagery. Later projects included the horror-comedy “Frankenstein: Italian Style” (1975) and the TV movie ‘Due donne’ (1981), after which he largely retired from directing.

Throughout his career, Crispino was married to producer Franca Lumachi from 1963 until his death, and they had two children, including director Francesco Crispino. He passed away in Rome at age 78 from an undisclosed cause, leaving a legacy of genre films that influenced Italian cinema's exploitation wave.

Armando Crispino wrote screenplays for two Spaghetti westerns: “John il Bastardo” (John the Bastard) with Lucio Manlio Battistrada and “Requiescant” (Kill and Pray) with Lucio Battistrada and Adriano Bolzoni both in 1967.

CRISPINO, Armando (Armando Raffaele Enrico Giuseppe Pio Crispino) [10/18/1924, Biella, Piedmont, Italy – 10/6/2003, Rome, Lazio, Italy] – production manager, director, assistant director, writer, married to actress Franca Lumachi [1932-2024] (1963-2003) father of producer, director, writer Francesco Crispino [1967-    ], actress Gilberta Crispino [1971-    ].

John the Bastard – 1967 (co)

Kill and Pray – 1967 (co)

Spaghetti Western Cinematographer ~ Mario Mancini

Mario Mancini is an Italian director, writer, cameraman and cinematographer. Born in Rome in 1935 Mancini using the alias Robert Oliver directed a film in 1972 and again in 1974. He was a cameraman on twenty-four films between 1955 and 1966. His main film career was spent working as a cinematographer on twenty-one films between 1968 and 1974.

I can find nothing about him passing away so today he’d be 91.

Mario Mancini was a cinematographer on seven Spaghetti westerns: “La vendetta è il mio perdono” (Shotgun) with Franco Delli Colli, “Chiedi perdono a Dio... non a me” (God May Forgive You, Not Me) in 1968, “Arriva Durango, paga o muori” (Durango is Coming, Pay or Die) and “Wanted Sabata) both in 1970, “...E lo chiamarono Spirito Santo” (He was Called the Holy Ghost) and “Il suo nome era Pot” (His Name Was Pot... They Called Him Allegria) both in 1971. He was best known for his work on “Frankenstein '80” (1972), “Blood and Black Lace” (1964) and “Kong Island” (1968) and “Frankenstein’s Castle of Freaks” (1974).

MANCINI, Mario (aka Robert Oliver) [1935, Rome, Lazio, Italy -     ] – director, writer, cinematographer, cameraman.

Shotgun – 1967 (co)

God May Forgive You, Not Me - 1968

Durango is Coming, Pay or Die – 1970

Wanted Sabata - 1970

Django…Adios! - 1971

He was Called the Holy Ghost – 1971

His Name Was Pot... They Called Him Allegria – 1971