Spaghetti Western Directors, Screenwriters, Cinematographers

Spaghetti Western Director ~ Irving Lerner

Irving Lerner was an American filmmaker who directed, edited, and produced documentaries and low-budget feature films, often focusing on social issues and gritty crime narratives.

Born in New York City on March 7, 1909, Lerner began his career in the 1930s as a member of radical film groups like the Workers Film and Photo League and Frontier Films, creating anthropological and socially conscious shorts for institutions such as Columbia University.

Transitioning to Hollywood in the late 1940s, he helmed independent features including the stark crime thriller “Murder by Contract” (1958) and “City of Fear” (1959), while contributing uncredited editing to major productions like “Spartacus” (1960).

His documentaries, such as “One Third of a Nation” (1939), “Valley Town” (1940), and “A Place to Live”, addressed urban poverty and labor struggles, with several preserved by the Academy Film Archive for their historical significance.

Irving Lerner co-directed one Spaghetti western, “Una ciudad llamada bastarda” (A Town Called Hell) with Robert Parrish in 1971.

LERNER, Irving [3/7/1909, New York City, New York, U.S.A. – 12/25/1976, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.] – producer, production manager, director, assistant director, cameraman, film editor

A Town Called Hell – 1971 (co)

Spaghetti Western Screenwriter ~ Guy Elmes

Guy Elmes was a British screenwriter renowned for adapting Italian screenplays for English audiences in the mid-20th century and contributing to numerous international film co-productions during the 1960s and 1970s.

Born in London, England on July 22, 1920, Elmes began his career in the post-World War II era, focusing initially on dialogue and screenplay adaptations for films such as “La mano dello straniero” (1954), where he served as both writer and dialogue coach, and “Across the Bridge” (1957). His work expanded into original screenplays and stories for adventure and thriller genres, including “The Invincible Six” (1970), “Submarine X-1” (1968), and “Stranglehold” (1963), often involving historical or action-oriented narratives.

In the later phase of his career, Elmes gained recognition for high-profile adaptations like”White Fang” (1973), based on Jack London's novel and directed by Lucio Fulci, and “The Night Visitor” (1971), a psychological thriller starring Max von Sydow. He also penned the original story and screenplay for “A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square” (1980), a comedy featuring Elaine Stritch and Tom Courtenay. Over his lifetime, Elmes credited with 27 writing roles across film and television, including episodes of the children's series “The Red Hand Gang” (1977), cementing his legacy in mid-century British and European cinema.

Elmes died in West Berkshire, England in December of 1998 at the age of 78.

Guy Elmes co-wrote one Euro-western, “Zanna Bianca” (Zanna Bianca) with Roberto Gianviti, Thom Keyes and Piero Regnoli in 1973

ELMES, Guy [7/22/1920, London, England, U.K. – 12/?/1998, West Berkshire, England, U.K.]

White Fang – 1973 (co)

 

Spaghetti Western Cinematographer ~ S. Procházková

S. Procházková is/was a Czechoslovakian animator of which nothing is known.

S. Procházková was a co-animator on one Euro-western, “Úkryt cerného Billa” with in 1965.

PROCHAZKOVA, S. (S. Procházková) [Czechoslovakian] – production designer, animator.

Úkryt cerného Billa – 1965 (co) [animator]