Spaghetti Western Directors, Screenwriters, Cinematographers

Spaghetti Western Director ~ George Holloway

Giorgio Capitani was an Italian film and television director and screenwriter renowned for his contributions to both cinema and popular Italian broadcasting, particularly through comedic films and acclaimed TV miniseries. Born in Paris on December 29, 1927, to Italian parents, Capitani began his career in the film industry as an assistant director in 1946, collaborating on projects with directors like Vittorio Cottafavi, before making his directorial debut in 1954 with the Italian version of “Delirio”.

Over the course of his six-decade career, Capitani directed approximately 40 films, transitioning from early peplum adventures such as “Ercole, Sansone, Maciste” e “Ursus gli invincibili” (1964) to successful light-hearted comedies in the 1960s and 1970s, including “La notte è fatta per rubare” (1967), “L'arcangelo” (1969), “Aragosta a colazione” (1979), and “Vai avanti tu che mi vien da ridere” (1982). By the 1980s, he increasingly focused on television, producing and directing miniseries that garnered widespread acclaim, such as ‘...E non se ne vogliono andare!’ (1983) and its sequel ‘...e poi se ne vanno?’ (1984), as well as biographical dramas like ‘Papa Luciani: Il sorriso di Dio’ (2006), ‘Il generale Dalla Chiesa’ (2007), and ‘Puccini’ (2009).

Capitani's most enduring legacy lies in his creation of the iconic TV series ‘Il maresciallo Rocca’ (1996–2005), starring Gigi Proietti as the titular character, a principled carabinieri marshal in a small Tuscan town; the series, partially filmed in Capitani's adopted hometown of Viterbo, became a cornerstone of Italian television with its blend of crime drama and humor, spawning multiple seasons and specials. He also penned screenplays for notable works, including contributions to “Italian Restaurant” (1994), and continued directing into the 2010s with projects like the comedy series “Dove la trovi una come me?” (2011). Capitani passed away in Viterbo at the age of 89 on March 25, 2017, after a brief hospitalization, leaving behind a body of work that bridged generations of Italian entertainment.

Giorgio Capitani using the alias George Holloway directed on Spaghetti western, “Ognuno per sé” (The Ruthless Four) in 1967.

HOLLOWAY, George (aka Giorgio Capitini, George Holloway) (Giorgio Capitani) [12/29/1927, Paris, Île-de-France, France - 3/25/2017, Viterbo, Lazio, Italy] – director, assistant director, writer, actor.

The Ruthless Four – 1967

Spaghetti Western Screenwriter ~ Marino Dares

Marino Darés was born in Valencia, Spain on June 7, 1994. He is a Spanish screenwriter and director. At 21, he premiered his first feature film, “Red Clouds” (2016), a western shot in natural landscapes with a small independent crew. The film won the Audience Award at the Almería Western Film Festival in 2016. In 2018, he released “Blind Hawk”, a neo-noir thriller that premiered at the 33rd Valencia International Film Festival Cinema Jove. In recent years, he has directed several short films, including “Last Trial: A Star Wars Collateral Story” (2023), which was selected at festivals such as Cinema Jove, the Lanzarote International Film Festival, the Miami International Science Fiction Film Festival, FIFF London, and the Birmingham Film Festival. Recently, he directed “Rebel Storm: A Star Wars Collateral Story” (2025), selected and awarded internationally, including a premiere at LA Comic Con.

Marino Dares has written two screenplays for Spaghetti westerns: “Sin Sombra” in 2012 which he also directed and “Nubes rojas” (Red Clouds) along with Sergio Villanueva, Àlvar López and Kevin Castellano a film he also directed in 2016.

DARES, Marino (Marino Darés) [6/7/1994, Valencia, Valencia, Spain -     ] – director, assistant director, writer, film editor,

Sin Sombra – 2012

Nubes rojas – 2016 (co)

Spaghetti Western Cinematographer ~ Hanns Matula

Hanns Matula is an Austrian cinematographer known for his prolific contributions to post-World War II Austrian and German cinema as a director of photography on nearly fifty films and numerous television productions. Born on 6 December 1923 in Vienna, Austria, he began his career in the late 1940s, initially working as an editor on films such as ''Märchen vom Glück'' (1949) before transitioning into camera operating and cinematography roles.

Matula established himself as a reliable director of photography during the 1960s and 1970s, contributing to films including ''…und ewig knallen die Räuber'' (1962), often working in popular genres of the era. He frequently collaborated with director Franz Antel on light-hearted and comedic productions throughout the 1960s and 1970s, including titles such as ''Some Like It Cool'' (1976) and ''Johann Strauss: The King Without a Crown'' (1987), which marked one of his final projects.

His extensive body of work spanned feature films, television series, and various genres, reflecting the evolution of Austrian commercial cinema from the reconstruction period through the late twentieth century. Matula died on 8 July 1987 in Vienna at the age of 63.

Hanns Matula was a cinematographer on one Spaghetti western, “Heiß weht der Wind” (Legend of a Gunfighter) in 1964.

MATULA, Hanns [12/6/1923, Vienna, Austria – 7/8/1987, Vienna, Austria] – cinematographer, cameraman.

Legend of a Gunfighter – 1964