Spaghetti Western Directors, Screenwriters, Cinematographers

 Spaghetti Western Director ~ Enzo Matassi

Enzo Matassi was born Francesco Degli Espinosa an Italian – production manager, director, assistant director, writer, film editor. Born in Rome on December 19, 1933, Matassi worked in the development and press departments of various film production companies from 1949; over time, he specialized in color development at Vincenzo Genesis' company "Technospes" and was technical director of "Staco Film". After a stint as an assistant director in 1969, he produced and organized various genre films from 1970 onwards and directed a comedic Italo Western that was classified by critics as devastatingly bad. In the 1980s, several sex films followed in this function.

Enzo died in Rome in June of 2006 at the age of 72.

Enzo Matassi directed one Spaghetti western, “C’era una volta questo pazzo pazzo west” (Once Upon a Time in the Wild Wild West) in 1973.

MATASSI, Enzo (aka Francesco Degli Espinoza, Vincenzo Matassi) (Francesco Degli Espinosa) [12/19/1933, Rome, Lazio, Italy – 6/?/2006, Rome, Lazio, Italy] – production manager, director, assistant director, writer, film editor.

The Crucified Girls of San Ramon – 1971 [film was never made.]

The Braggart – 1973 [film was never made]

Once Upon a Time in the Wild Wild West – 1973

 

Spaghetti Western Screenwriter ~ Aldo Florio

Aldo Florio was an Italian film director, screenwriter, and assistant director known for his work in Italian genre cinema, particularly spaghetti westerns, crime, and action films during the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s.

Born on January 3, 1925, in Sora, Italy, Florio entered the film industry in the early 1950s as an assistant director and second unit director, contributing to a wide range of productions through the late 1980s. He later shifted focus to directing and screenwriting, debuting in these roles with films such as “Five for Revenge” (1966) and “L'uomo del colpo Perfetto” (1967), followed by notable works including “Tutto sul rosso” (1968), “Dead Men Ride” (1971), and “Una vita venduta” (1976). His screenwriting credits extended into the 1980s with projects like “2020 Texas Gladiators” (1983) and “Endgame - Bronx lotta finale” (1983).

Florio's career spanned several decades within the prolific Italian B-movie and exploitation film sectors, where he collaborated on low-budget productions that characterized mid-century European genre filmmaking. He died in December 2016 in Rome, Italy.

Aldo Florio wrote and co-wrote screenplays for two Spaghetti westerns: “Anda muchacho, spara!” (Dead Men Ride) with E.M. Brochero (Eduardo Manzanos Brochero), Bruno di Geronimo and “Anno 2020 – I gladiatori de futoro” (2020 Texas Gladiators) with Luigi Montefiore in 1982.

Florio died in Rome on December 20, 2016, at the age of 91.

FLORIO, Aldo [1/3/1925, Sora, Lazio, Italy - 12/20/2016, Rome, Lazio, Italy] – director, screenwriter.

Tutto sul rosso – 1967 (co) [film was never made]

Dead Men Ride – 1971 (co)

2020 Texas Gladiators – 1982 (co)

Spaghetti Western Cinematographer ~ Toni Secchi

Antonio ‘Toni’ Secchi was an Italian cinematographer known for his contributions to 1960s and 1970s Italian genre cinema, particularly as director of photography on numerous Spaghetti Westerns and other action-oriented films. Born on February 26, 1924, in Genoa, Liguria, Italy, he was active primarily during the peak of Italy's commercial film industry, capturing the visual style of low-budget but popular productions that gained international cult followings.

Secchi's cinematography credits include key Spaghetti Western titles such as “Blood for a Silver Dollar” (1965), “The Hills Run Red” (1966), “A Bullet for the General” (1967), and “Death Sentence” (1968), where his work helped define the gritty aesthetic of the genre. He also served as cinematographer on other notable films, including “A Man for Burning” (1962), “Mare matto” (1963), and the TV miniseries ‘The Life of Leonardo Da Vinci’ (1971). Beyond cinematography, he directed and co-wrote one feature film, the crime-action picture “Panhandle 38” (1972).

His career reflects the vibrant era of Italian B-movies and international co-productions, where he collaborated with directors in the western and crime genres before stepping away from filmmaking in the mid-1970s. Secchi's visual contributions remain associated with the distinctive look of mid-century Italian exploitation cinema.

Secchi died in Zoanno Ponte di Legno, Brescia, Italy on June 7, 2013 at the age of 89.

Toni Secchi was a cinematographer on five Spaghetti westerns: “Un dollaro bucato” (Blood for a Silver Dollar) in 1965, “Quién sabe?” (A Bullet for the General) and “Un fiume di dollari” (The Hills Run Red) both in 1966, “Sentenza di morte” (Death Sentence) and “Wanted” both in 1967.

SECCHI, Toni (aka Tony Dry, Tony Secchi, Tony Secchy) (Antonio Secchi) [2/26/1924, Sampierdarena Genoa, Liguria, Italy - 6/7/2013, Zoanno Ponte di Legno, Brescia, Italy] – director, writer, cinematographer.

Blood for a Silver Dollar – 1965 [a Tony Dry]

A Bullet for the General – 1966 [as Tony Secchi]

The Hills Runs Red - 1966

Death Sentence - 1967

Wanted - 1967