Spaghetti Western Directors, Screenwriters, Cinematographers

Spaghetti Western Director ~ Wolfgang Liebeneiner

Wolfgang Georg Louis Liebeneiner was a German director, actor, screenwriter, and theatre practitioner whose career spanned the Weimar Republic, Nazi Germany, and post-war West Germany and Austria.

Born in Liebau, Silesia, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire on October 6, 1905, Liebeneiner began as a stage actor in Munich and Berlin during the late 1920s, debuting on film in 1931, before transitioning to directing with comedies in 1937. His prominence grew under the Nazi regime, where he held influential administrative roles, including dean of the artistic department at the Deutsche Filmakademie Babelsberg, head of the film department in the Reichsfilmkammer, and production chief at Ufa studios from 1942 to 1945; Goebbels appointed him a professor in 1943. He directed several propaganda features that aligned with regime ideology, such as the Bismarck biopics “Bismarck” (1940) and “Die Entlassung” (1942), which glorified Prussian militarism, and “Ich klage an” (1941), which portrayed euthanasia of the incurably ill as compassionate, echoing Nazi policies on racial hygiene and the T4 program.

After the war, Allied authorities permitted Liebeneiner to resume work without severe denazification penalties, allowing him to direct commercially successful films in the 1950s, including the family musical “Die Trapp-Familie” (1956), which inspired “The Sound of Music”, and historical dramas like “Königin Luise” (1957). Relocating to Vienna in 1954, he adapted plays for television, staged theatre productions, and contributed to opera and operetta, maintaining productivity into the 1960s and 1970s despite his prior regime ties. His oeuvre reflects both artistic versatility and pragmatic adaptation to authoritarian cultural controls, with over 30 directorial credits underscoring his enduring influence on German-speaking cinema.

Liebeneiner died in Mödling, Lower Austria, Austria on November 28, 1987, at the age of 82.

Wolfgang Liebeneiner co-directed on Euro-western, “Moartea lui Joe Indianul” (Death of Injun Joe) with Mihai Iacob in 1967.

LIEBENEINER, Wolfgang (Wolfgang Georg Louis Liebeneiner) [10/6/1905, Liebau, Silesia, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire – 11/28/1987, Mödling, Lower Austria, Austria] – director, writer, film editor, actor, married to actress Ruth Hellberg (Ruth Holl) [1906–2001] (1934-1943), married to actress, singer Hilde Krahl (Hildegard Kolacný) [1917–1999] (1944-1987) father of actress Johanna Liebeneiner [1945-     ].

Death of Injun Joe – 1967 (co)

Spaghetti Western Screenwriter ~ Bob Enescelle Jr.

Bob Enescelle Jr. was an alias for Roberto Infascelli was an Italian film producer, director, and screenwriter known for his influential work in the poliziottesco genre during the 1970s.

Born in Rome on December 11, 1938, he entered the film industry in the 1960s, initially producing spaghetti westerns such as ''The Stranger Returns'' (1967) and serving as executive producer on ''Blindman'' (1971). In the following decade, he became a prominent figure in Italian crime cinema, producing key titles including ''La polizia ringrazia'' (1972), ''La polizia chiede aiuto'' (1974), and ''Febbre da cavallo'' (1976), while also directing ''La polizia sta a guardare'' (1973) and contributing screenplays to films like ''L'ultimo treno della notte'' (1975). His productions helped shape the poliziottesco style, characterized by gritty urban crime stories and intense action sequences.

Infascelli's career ended abruptly with his death in a road accident in France on August 8, 1977. He was only 38.

AS Bob Enescelle Jr. he was a screenwriter on one Spaghetti western, “Un uomo, un cavallo, una pistola” (The Stranger Returns) with Giuseppe Mangione.

ENESCELLE Jr., Bob (aka Infascelli, Bob Raymond) (Roberto Infascelli) [12/11/1938, Rome, Lazio, Italy – 8/18/1977, France] – producer, production manager, director, writer, son of producer director, writer Carlo Infascelli [1913–1984], brother of producer, production manager Paolo Infascelli [19??-2008], director, assistant director, writer, actress Fiorella Infascelli [1952-    ], grandfather of actor and radio host Roberto Infascelli [1981-    ].

The Stranger Returns – 1967 (co)

Blindman - 1971 [executive producer]

Spaghetti Western Cinematographer ~ Roberto Reale

Roberto Reale was an Italian cameraman and cinematographer born in Rome on October 28, 1926. He was a cameraman on five films television series between 1952 and 1966. He worked further as a cinematographer eight films between 1954 and 1969.

Like most blue-collar workers in the film industry little is known about his biography. Reale died in San Cesareo a suburb of Rome on February 6, 2021 at the age of 94.

Roberto Reale was a co-cinematographer on one Spaghetti western, “Los pistoleros de Arizona” ($5,000 on One Ace) with Carlo Carlini and Christian Matras in 1964.

REALE, Roberto [10/28/1926, Rome, Lazio, Italy – 2/6/2021, San Cesareo, Rome, Lazio, Italy]– cinematographer, cameraman.

$5,000 on One Ace – 1964 (co)