Spaghetti Western Directors, Screenwriters, Cinematographers

Spaghetti Western Director ~ Gottfried Kolditz

Gottfried Kolditz is a German film director and screenwriter known for his prolific career at the DEFA studios in East Germany, where he directed numerous feature films across various genres during the 1960s and 1970s. He specialized in fairy-tale adaptations, musicals, comedies, westerns (particularly the Indianerfilme featuring Gojko Mitić), and science fiction, making him one of the most productive DEFA directors of his era.

Born on December 14, 1922, in Saxony, Kolditz studied German philology and theater in Leipzig before working as an actor and theater director. He entered the film industry in 1955 and became a feature film director in 1958, producing notable works such as fairy-tale films like ''Schneewittchen'', the science-fiction film ''Signale – Ein Weltraumabenteuer'', and westerns including ''Spur des Falken'', ''Apachen'', and ''Ulzana''. His career also included screenplay writing, sometimes under a pseudonym, and he published science-fiction short stories. Kolditz died in 1982 while on location for a new project.

His son Stefan Kolditz later became a successful screenwriter.

Gottfried Kolditz died in Ljubljana, Slovenia on June 15, 1982, at the age of 59.

Gottfried Lolditz directed three Euro-westerns: “Spur des Falken” (The Falcon’s Trail) in 1967, “Apaches das Gesetz heisst Rache” (Apaches) and “Ulzana) both in 1973.

KOLDITZ, Gottfried (aka Dr. Gottfried Kolditz) [12/14/1922, Goldbach-Altenbach, Haut-Rhin, Germany – 6/15/1982, Ljubljana, Slovenia] – director, writer, actor, married to Erika Koch [1926-2004] (19??-1982) father of playwright Stefan Kolditz [1956-    ], Susanne Kolditz [1960-    ].

The Falcon’s Trail - 1967

Apaches – 1973 [as Dr. Gottfired Kolditz]

Ulzana – 1973

Spaghetti Western Screenwriter ~ Dino de Rugieriis

Dino de Rugieriis was and Italian screenwriter. According to the IMDb he wrote screenplays for only two films, both in 1969. No other biographical information is available on him.

Dino de Rugieriis wrote a screenplay for one Spaghetti western. “Quinto: non ammazzare” (Quinto: Fighting Proud) with Manuel Martínez Remís in 1969.

de RUGIERIIS, Dino (aka Dino De Rugeriis) [Italian] – writer.

Quinto: Fighting Proud – 1969 (co)

 

Spaghetti Western Cinematographer ~ Mario Pacheco

Mario Pacheco de Usa was born in Madrid, Spain in 1923 and was a Spanish cinematographer. Mario was the son of photographer and filmmaker Juan Pacheco "Vandel" and Amparo de Usa, also dedicated to film photography. He collaborated in the incipient Spanish film industry together with his brothers Godofredo Pacheco and Rafael Pacheco. He made his debut as a camera operator in 1948 with Mariano Pombo's “Mañana como hoy” and as a cinematographer in 1952 with Antonio de Obregón's “Hace cien años”. He made a name for himself in the profession by appearing as a camera operator in “Jeromín by Luis Lucia Mingarro” in 1952 and in “Calle mayor” by Juan Antonio Bardem in 1956. He died prematurely at the age of 48. His son, Mario Pacheco (1950-2010), has been a photographer and record director.

Mario Pacheco was a cinematographer on five Spaghetti westerns: “Per mille dollari al Giorno” (Renegade Gunfighter) in 1965, “Requiem per un Gringo” (Duel in the Eclipse), “Uno dopo l’altro” (One After the Other), “L’ira di Dio” (One After the Other) all in 1968 and “Kidnapping: paga o uccidiamo tuo Figlio” ($20,000 for Seven) in 1969.

PACHECO, Mario (Mario Pacheco de Usa) [1923, Madrid, Madrid, Spain – 1971, Madrid, Madrid, Spain] – cinematographer, cameraman, son of photographer Juan Pacheco Vandel [1884-1935], brother of cinematographer, cameraman, actor Rafael Pachecho (Rafael Pacheco de Usa) [1921-    ], cinematographer, cameraman Godofredo Pacheco (Godofredo Pachecho de Usa), uncle of photographer Mario Pacheco [1950-2010].

Renegade Gunfighter – 1965

Duel in the Eclipse – 1968

One After the Other - 1968

Wrath of God – 1968

$20,000 for Seven – 1969