Spaghetti Western Directors, Screenwriters, Cinematographers

Spaghetti Western Director ~ Luigi Maggi

Luigi Maggi was an Italian actor and film director who played a significant role in the development of early silent cinema, particularly through his work with the Ambrosio Film company in Turin. Born in Turin on December 21, 1867, and educated as a typographer, Maggi began his film career as an amateur actor and recruiter for extras before transitioning to professional acting and directing around 1908

His directorial debut was the short film “Gli ultimi giorni di Pompei” (The Last Days of Pompeii, 1908), an adaptation of Edward Bulwer-Lytton's novel that showcased innovative special effects and spectacle for the time. Over the next two decades, Maggi directed approximately twenty films, many of which were historical epics or literary adaptations, including “Nerone” (Nero, or The Fall of Rome, 1909), “Il conte di Montecristo” (The Count of Monte Cristo, 1908), and “Maciste alpino” (1916, co-directed). He also appeared as an actor in numerous productions and was the father of actress Rina Maggi. Maggi's films contributed to Italy's reputation as a leader in early feature-length cinema, emphasizing grand narratives and visual storytelling during the pre-World War I era.1

Luigi Maggi was a director of one silent Euri-western, “Il bersaglio vivente” (The Human Target) in 1913.

MAGGI, Luigi [12/21/1867, Turin, Piedmont, Italy – 8/22/1946, Turin, Piedmont, Italy] – director, assistant director, writer, actor, married to ? father of actress Rina Maggi (Caterina Maggi).

The Human Target – 1913

Spaghetti Western Screenwriter ~ Marco Fenelli

Mario Fenelli is/was an Argentine writer, screenwriter, and director known for his novel Las Huellas, which was adapted into the cult classic film “Footprints on the Moon” (Le Orme, 1975), as well as his contributions to other Italian genre films and his personal connection to Argentine literature through his friendship with Manuel Puig.

Fenelli was born in Buenos Aires on July 16, 1925 and attended film school in Rome during the 1950s, where he met Manuel Puig and provided crucial encouragement for Puig's shift from aspiring film director to novelist. Their relationship endured for three decades, documented in 311 letters from Puig to Fenelli, culminating shortly before Puig's death in 1990, and included collaboration on two unproduced screenplays. Fenelli also worked on films such as “The Fifth Cord” (1971), showcasing his involvement in the Italian giallo genre.

Little public information is available about Mario Fenelli's life after his film work in the 1970s, with no date of death listed in major film databases such as IMDb.

As Marco Fenelli he was a co-screenwriter on one Spaghetti western, “Blu gang vissero per sempre felici e ammazzati” (Brothers Blue) in 1971.

FENELLI, Marco (Mario Ángelo Fenelli) [7/16/1925, Buenos Aires, Argentina -     ] – writer.

Brothers Blue – 1971 (co)

Spaghetti Western Cinematographer ~ Manuel Ruiz

Manuel Ruiz is/was a Spanish cinematographer and cameraman. He has one film credit to his name according to the IMDb and that was for his only Spaghetti western “…Altrimenti vi ammucchiamo” (Kung Fu Brothers in the Wild West) with Hsun Yang in 1973.

I can find no biographical information on him.

RUIZ, Manuel [Spanish] – cinematographer, cameraman.

Kung Fu Brothers in the Wild West – 1973(co)