Spaghetti
Western Director ~ Martin Koolhoven
Martinus
Wouter "Martin" Koolhoven was born April 25, 1969 and is a Dutch film
director, screenwriter, and producer recognized for his versatile work across
genres, including drama, comedy, and Westerns, with films that have earned both
domestic box-office success and international acclaim. Born in The Hague,
Netherlands, Koolhoven graduated from the Nederlandse Filmacademie (Netherlands
Film Academy) in 1996 with degrees in direction, screenplay, and feature film
production.
His
career breakthrough arrived with the television film “Suzy Q” (1999), which
became the most awarded Dutch film of the year, followed by the commercial hit “Het
Schnitzelparadijs” (2005), the highest-grossing Dutch production that year and
sold to over 20 countries. Koolhoven achieved global recognition with “Brimstone”
(2016), a gritty psychological Western starring Dakota Fanning and Guy Pearce,
which premiered at the 73rd Venice International Film Festival and was
distributed in more than 80 countries.
His
debut, the low-budget television film “Duister Licht” (1997), received two
nominations at the Netherlands Film Festival, marking the start of a trajectory
that saw him become the first Dutch director to place two films, “Het
Schnitzelparadijs and Knetter” (2005), in the annual top 20 box office.
Subsequent
successes include 'n “Beetje Verliefd” (2006) and “Oorlogswinter” (Winter in
Wartime, 2008), the latter a World War II drama that outperformed major
Hollywood releases like “The Dark Knight” at the Dutch box office and was
shortlisted among nine films for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language
Film.
In
2010, Koolhoven co-founded the production company N279 Entertainment with Els
Vandervorst, which backed Brimstone, for which he won the Golden Calf for Best
Director among the film's six awards at the 2017 Netherlands Film Festival.
Beyond
filmmaking, he has hosted the VPRO television program ‘De Kijk van Koolhoven’,
discussing cinema history, and presents live theater events like De Keuze van
Koolhoven, focusing on film genres and directors.
In
recent years, Koolhoven mentored emerging talent in the 2024 television
mini-series ‘Koolhoven Presenteert’, guiding six young filmmakers in producing
mid-length genre films.
Martin
Koolhoven directed one Euro-western “Brimstone” in 2011.
KOOLHOVEN,
Martin (Martinus Wouter
Koolhoven) [4/25/1969, The Hague, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands - ] – producer, director, assistant
director, writer, actor, co-founded N279 Entertainment, awarded Rutger Hauer
Award [2022].
Ugly – 2009 [film was never made]
Brimstone – 2011
Spaghetti
Western Screenwriter ~ Claude DeSailly
Claude
Desailly was a French screenwriter, dialoguist, and occasional actor whose
career spanned over four decades, primarily focused on cinema and television
productions. Born in Cambrai, Nord, France on April 14, 1922, he became notable
for his scriptwriting contributions to adventure, crime, and historical genres,
often adapting literary works for the screen. Desailly's work emphasized
collaborative efforts in French filmmaking, particularly with director Robert
Hossein, and he also made minor acting appearances in projects he helped
develop.
Desailly's
screenwriting credits include key films such as “Les yeux cernés” (1964), a
psychological drama directed by Robert Hossein, and “Ce soir les jupons volent”
(1956), a comedy. He extended his influence into television, writing scenarios,
adaptations, and dialogues for long-running series like ‘Les brigades du Tigre’
(1974–1983), where he contributed to 36 episodes, and miniseries such as ‘Michel
Strogoff’ (1975–1977) and ‘Mathias Sandorf’ (1979–1980). His television work
often involved historical adventures and detective stories, reflecting a
commitment to narrative depth in popular French media.
Beyond
writing, Desailly appeared as an actor in select episodes of series he
scripted, including roles in ‘Les cinq dernières minutes’ (1989–1991) and ‘Les
brigades du Tigre’ (1978). He also contributed lyrics to soundtracks, such as
for the song "L'Homme à la Casquette" in ‘Les brigades du Tigre’
(1976). Desailly passed away in Gordes, Vaucluse, France on April 26, 2009 at
the age of 87, leaving a legacy of versatile contributions to mid-20th-century
French entertainment
Claude
DeSailly co-wrote screenplays for two Spaghetti westerns, “Le goût de la
violence” (The Taste of Violence) with Robert Hossein, Louis Martin, Jules Roy,
Hans Neubert and Dany Jacquet and “Une corde… un colt” (Cemetery Without
Crosses) with Dario Argento and Robert Hossein in 1968.
DeSAILLY, Claude [4/14/1922, Cambrai, Nord, France – 4/26/2009, Gordes,
Vaucluse, France] – writer, married to ? father of artist Kristian Desailly.
The Taste of Violence – 1960 (co)
Cemetery Without Crosses – 1968 (co)
Spaghetti
Western Cinematographer ~ Rafael Pacheco
Rafael
Pacheco de Usa was a Spanish cinematographer and cameraman the son of photographer
Juan Pacheco Vandel. Born in Madrid, Spain on August 31, 1921 he was the
brother of cameramen and cinematographers Mario and Godofredo Pacheco.
Little
is known about his life but he was one of the most well-known and frequently
called upon cinematographers and cameramen in all of Spain. He worked on
American and British productions filmed in Spain starting as a still
photographer on 1943's "Misterio en la marisma" and as
cinematographer on such productions as "Anthony and Cleopatra" (1972)
and "Curse of the Black Cat" (1977).
Rafael
Pacheco was a cinematographer on eleven Spaghetti westerns: “Cabalgando hacia
la Muerte” (Shadow of Zorro) with Enrico Betti Berutto in 1962, “El sabor de la
venganza” (Gunfight at High Noon) and “Tres hombres buenos” (The Implacable
Three) both in 1963, “Camino del sur” (Seven from Texas) with Fausto Zuccoli in
1964, “$100,000 par el Lassiter” (Dollars for a Fast Gun) with Fulvio Testi and
“Aventuras del Oeste” (7 Hours of Gunfire) both in 1965, “Per pochi dollari
ancora” (Fort Yuma Gold) in 1966, “Faccia a facia” (Face to Face) with Emilio
Foriscot in 1967, “Cuatro cabalgaron” (Four Rode Out) in 1968, “Hai sbagliato…
dovevi uccidermi subito!” (Kill the Poker Player) in 1972 and “Tutti per uno...
botte per tutti” (The Three Musketeers of the West) in 1973.
PACHECHO, Rafael (aka
Rafael Paceco, Raphael Pacheco, Raf Pacher)
(Rafael Pacheco de Usa)
[8/31/1921, Madrid, Madrid, Spain - ]
– cinematographer, cameraman, actor, son of photographer Juan Pacheco Vandel
[1884-1935], brother of cinematographer, cameraman Mario Pachecho (Mario Pacheco de Usa) [1923 – 1971], cinematographer,
cameraman Godofredo Pacheco (Godofredo
Pachecho de Usa).
Shadow of Zorro – 1962 (co)
Gunfight at High Noon – 1963
The Implacable Three – 1963
Seven from Texas – 1964 (co)
Dollars for a Fast Gun – 1965 (co)
7 Hours of Gunfire – 1965 [as Raf Pacher]
Fort Yuma Gold – 1966
Face to Face – 1967 (co)
Four Rode Out - 1968
Kill the Poker Player – 1972
The Three Musketeers of the West – 1973
