Spaghetti Western Directors, Screenwriters, Cinematographers

Spaghetti Western Director ~ Peter Launders

Peter Launders was an alias used by Mario Pinzauti is an Italian film director and screenwriter known for his contributions to low-budget exploitation cinema during the 1970s.

Born on May 1, 1930, in Rome, Lazio, Italy, Pinzauti directed a series of micro-budget genre films that encompassed spaghetti westerns, crime thrillers, and erotic features, often characterized by their over-the-top style and modest production values. His notable works include “Wanted Ringo” (1970), “Let's Go and Kill Sartana” (1971), “Passion Plantation” (1976), “Mandinga” (1976), and “Clouzot & C. contro Borsalino & C.” (1977), with some credits appearing under the pseudonym Peter Launders. These productions have remained largely obscure, appreciated mainly within niche circles devoted to European exploitation films.

Pinzauti died sometime in 2010 in Italy at the age of 80.

Mario Pinzauti as Peter Launders directed two Spaghetti westerns: “Giunse Ringo e… fu tempo di massacre” (Ringo, It's Massacre Time) in 1966 and “Vamos a matar Sartana!” with George Martin in 1971.

LAUNDERS, Peter (aka Harry Small) (Mario Pinzauti) [5/1/1930, Rome, Lazio, Italy – 2010, Italy] – director, writer.

Ringo, It's Massacre Time - 1966

Let's Go and Kill Sartana – 1971 (co)

L’uomo dalla Colt Bianca – 1971 [film was never made]

Spaghetti Western Screenwriter ~ Mario di Nardo

Mario di Nardo was born in Rome, Italy in 1929. He is/was a producer, five films between 1973 and 1988, director of the 1967 film “Non sta bene rubare il Tesoro” but mostly a screenwriter who was involved in twenty-seven films between 1958 and 1997. He also appeared as an actor in one film 1997’s “Cwal” in the role of diplomat Wloski.

He began writing film screenplays in the 1950s and became a prolific writer in Italian genre films, collaborating with directors like Mauro Bolognini and Tonino Valerii. His first screenplay in 1953 with the film “The Drama of a Life” by Flavio Calzavara.

Mario di Nardo wrote and co-wrote screenplays for five Spaghetti westerns: “Tre dollari di Piombo” ($3.00 of Lead) with Silvio Siano and Nino Lillo in 1964, “Quindici forche per un assassin” (15 Scaffolds for a Killer) with Luis Bayonas in 1968, “Il pistolero dell’Ave Maria” (The Forgotten Pistolero) with Piero Anchisi, Ferdinando Baldi, Vincenco Cerami and Federico De Urrutia and “Ciakmull, l’uomo della vendetta” (The Unholy Four) with Franco Rossetti and Luca Montefiori in 1969 and “Roy Colt e Winchester Jack” (Roy Colt & Winchester Jack).

di NARDO, Mario [1929, Rome. Lazio, Italy -     ] – producer, production manager, director, writer, actor.

Three Dollars of Lead – 1964 (co)

15 Scaffolds for a Killer – 1968 (co)

The Forgotten Pistolero – 1969 (co)

The Unholy Four – 1969 (co)

Roy Colt & Winchester Jack - 1970

 

Spaghetti Western Cinematographer ~ Sergio Pesce

Sergio Pesce was an Italian photographer, cameraman and cinematographer. He was born in Naples, Italy on June 3, 1916. He was a stepbrother of the famous photographer brothers Aurelio, Ettore and Franco who became cameramen and Franco who became a famous actor.

Sergio worked as a cameraman on seven films between 1941 and 1958 and as a cinematographer on forty-two films from 1942 to 1975. He died in Rome on December 1, 1995 at the age of 79.

Sergio Pesce was a cinematographer on two Spaghetti westerns: “Il fanciullo del West” (The Kid of the West) in 1942 and “La sceriffa” (The Sheriff) with Elio Polacchi in 1959.

PESCE, Sergio [6/3/1916, Naples, Campania, Italy – 12/1/1995, Rome, Lazio, Italy] – cinematographer, cameraman, son of actor Ettore Pesce, stepbrother of photographer. Cameraman Aurelio Pesce [1885-19??], photographer, cameraman Ettore Pesce, photographer, cameraman, cinematographer, actor Franco Pesce [1890-1975].

The Kid of the West – 1942

The Sheriff – 1959 (co)