From the WAI! vault

 

Little Known Spaghetti Western Actors ~ Dorit Dom

[These daily posts will cover little known actors or people that have appeared in more recent films and TV series. Various degrees of information that I was able to find will be given and anything that you can add would be appreciated.]

Dorit Dom was a German model and film actress. Born in Cologne sometime in the 1940s she appeared in seven films between 1966 and 1969 and was sometimes credited as Maria Dom. She graced the cover of several magazines. Then she disappeared either changing her profession, getting married or some other reason. I can find no biographical information on her.

Dorit Dom appeared in one Spaghetti western, “Donne alla frontiera” (The Tall Women) in 1966.

DOM, Dorit (aka Maria Dom) [194?, Cologne, Germany -     ] – model, film actress.

The Tall Women – 1966

Spaghetti Western Directors, Screenwriters, Cinematographers

Spaghetti Western Director ~ Luke Gasser

Luke Gasser was born on April 8, 1966, in Lungern, Obwalden, Switzerland. From 1983-1987 he trained as a sculptor at the University in Lucerne of Applied Sciences and Arts. Since 1991 Luke Gasser has been an independent Sculptor, Painter and Musician and since 1999 he has become more and more interested in Film. At the moment, he lives in Kaegiswil, Obwalden.

Luke Gasser directed two Euro-westerns: “Fremds Land” (Foreign Land) in 2002 and “ Bodmers Reise” (Bodmers Journey) in 2010.

GASSER, Luke [4/8/1966, Lugem, Switzerland -     ] - producer, director, writer, composer, cinematographer, film editor, actor, artist, politician, grandson of politician Hans Gasser [1902-1985], son of politician Hans-Heini Gasser [1932-2022], founding president of the Film Central Switzerland association [2009-2015].

Foreign Land – 2002

Bodmers Journey – 2010

Spaghetti Western Screenwriter ~ Sabatino Ciuffini

Sabatino Ciuffini was an Italian screenwriter and assistant director known for his contributions to popular genre cinema from the 1960s through the 1980s, including action-comedies and Spaghetti westerns. Born on October 21, 1920, in L'Aquila, Abruzzo, he began his film career in the early 1950s primarily as an assistant director before shifting focus to screenwriting in the following decade. He is particularly recognized for his long-standing collaboration with director Sergio Corbucci, contributing to several commercially successful films starring Bud Spencer and Terence Hill, such as “Odds and Evens” (1978) and “Super Fuzz” (1980).

Ciuffini's work spanned various Italian genres, including writing credits for Spaghetti westerns like “The Specialists” (Drop Them or I’ll Shoot) (1969) and “Sonny & Jed” (1972), as well as other action and comedy projects. He also served as assistant director on notable productions, including “Compañeros” (1970), and occasionally took on directing duties. His screenplays helped define a distinctive style of lighthearted yet action-oriented Italian films during the peak of the genre's popularity. Ciuffini died in 2003 in Italy at the age of 83.

Sabatino Ciuffini co-wrote screenplays for three Spaghetti westerns: “Gli specialist” (Drop Them or I’ll Shoot) with Sergio Corbucci in 1968, “Che c’enteriamo noi con la rivoluzione?” (What Am I Doing in the Middle of the Revolution?) with Sergio Corbucci and Massimo Franciosa in 1971 and “J. and S. – storia criminale del far west” (Sonny & Jed in 1972 with Sergio Corbucci, Mario Amendola, Adriano Bolzoni, and José María Forqué

CIUFFINI, Sabatino [10/21/1920, L’Aquila, Abruzen, Italy – 2003, Italy] – director, assistant director, writer.

Drop Them or I’ll Shoot – 1968 (co)

What Am I Doing in the Middle of the Revolution? – 1971 (co)

Spaghetti Western Cinematographer ~ Chris Keller

Christopher Keller is a German filmmaker. He’s directed, written, been a cinematographer and cameraman and written the music for several films including four Euro-westerns. His latest His latest western “Revolver of Doom” was presented and in competition at the 2025 Almeria Western Film Festival. He sometimes uses the alias Kitosch Keller.

Chris Keller has been a cinematographer on three Euro-westerns: “…And Then the Vultures Feast” in 2014, “Azagaya” in 2022 and “Revólver de perdición” (Revolver of Doom) in 2023 all of which he directed and wrote the screenplays.

KELLER, Chris (aka Kitosch Keller) (Christopher Keller) [German] – producer, director, writer, cinematographer, composer, musician, actor, founded KelTer Productions.

4 Hyenas for Djamango – 2013 [film was never made]

…And Then the Vultures Feast - 2014

Azgaya – 2022

Revolver of Doom - 2023

 

Sonny & Jed – 1972 (co)

Jack Taylor, the "American from Chamberí" who found his Far West in Madrid

Europe Press

June 13, 2026

Jack Taylor, the "American from Chamberí" who found his Far West in Madrid

Jack Taylor was born in Oregon, passed through Marilyn Monroe's Hollywood and ended up finding his Wild West in Madrid. The American actor, who died last May at the age of 99, arrived in Spain in the 60s and ended up putting down roots in the capital, to the point of earning the nickname "the American of Chamberí".

Behind that decision to stay was the western. This is how film director Víctor Matellano, a friend of the interpreter for 30 years who vindicates a lesser-known facet of Taylor, usually associated with fantasy cinema, remembers it. "What really makes him stay here is the western," he explained in an interview with Europa Press.

Taylor landed in Spain in 1961 with a Broadway musical comedy in a Mexican version. He was living in Mexico at the time, but ended up settling in Madrid, although from the capital he worked with directors such as John Milius or Roman Polanski, and shared a cast with performers such as Johnny Depp in 'The Ninth Door'.

Before becoming one of the recognizable faces of genre cinema in Spain, Matellano recalls that Taylor had started in Hollywood at the time of the unrepeatable Marilyn Monroe. The filmmaker also points out that the actor lived closely the world of great stars and shootings such as 'A Star Is Born', with Judy Garland.

FROM OREGON TO MADRID

Born in Oregon in 1926, Jack Taylor came into the world on his grandparents' ranch, with a biography already linked to the imaginary of the West. His great-grandfather was one of the founders of Oregon City, a friend of the real Wyatt Earp, and he met Billy the Kid. In addition, Taylor was an honorary member of the Sioux tribe, renamed Wamblí Glishká, "Spotted Eagle".

His real name was George Brown Randall, but the cinema first baptized him as Greg Martin (Mexico) and ended up turning him into Jack Taylor when he settled in Spain. "George Brown in the United States is like Juan Pérez here," joked the filmmaker.

The new name was used to boost his career in westerns. Even, according to Matellano, he played with the idea that he was Robert Taylor's nephew, "which was absolutely a lie."

The actor participated in titles linked to westerns such as 'The Last Rebel', 'Outlaw', 'Tomb of the Gunslinger', 'Uncas, the End of a Race', 'General Custer's Last Adventure', 'Joe Christmas', 'Trinidad and Bambino, Like Which', 'The Valley of Concavenator' and 'Print the Legend'.

A 30-YEAR FRIENDSHIP

Matellano remembers the beginning of his friendship with Taylor, whom he met when he was very young, in the 90s, after locating his phone in the old white pages. “Back then it was very easy: you looked for whoever you wanted, you called and that’s it,” he recalled.

She went to visit him at his home, in the district of Chamberí, and found “a super friendly man”. From that first meeting a friendship was born that lasted for 30 years. “There was a kind of friendly crush right away,” he said.

Taylor agreed to participate shortly after in one of his first short films and, according to Matellano, he did not want a small role, but the protagonist. He was already about 70 years old and ended up running around the Plaza de Ópera in a low-budget shoot.

Taylor also worked with him in theater and film. His last major starring role was in ‘WAX’, alongside Geraldine Chaplin and Jimmy Shaw. In addition, he participated in ‘The Valley of Concavenator’, one of his last appearances linked to the imaginary of the West.

“I’m still grieving because we were very, very friends,” he confessed in his conversation with Europa Press. As he has related, in recent years it was usual to have breakfast or snack together once a week and call each other every two days.

Matellano assures that Taylor was a decisive figure in his career. “I owe him everything because he was super young and he is one of those who helped me,” he said, before describing the world of show business as “a jungle” in which the American actor reached out to him.

TRIBUTE THIS SATURDAY IN HOYO DE MANZANARES

Hoyo de Manzanares will pay tribute this Saturday to actor Jack Taylor with the screening of 'The Tomb of the Gunslinger' (1964), by Amando de Ossorio, shot in the Golden City sets of Hoyo de Manzanares, together with the short film 'Print the Legend' (2023), directed by Víctor Matellano, co-scripted and narrated by Taylor himself and filmed in the Sad Hill cemetery, in Burgos.

'The Tomb of the Gunman' occupies a special place in Matellano's memory. According to the filmmaker, it was "a very strange western" because it was born as a thriller about bullfighters, but finally the producers proposed to move it to the West taking advantage of the fever of the genre.

After the screenings, there will also be a colloquium and the presentation of 'My 100 years of cinema', the memoirs of the performer edited by Sial-Pygmalion.

Víctor Matellano explained that the "most important" thing about this tribute is that "he was prepared" before his death. "Nothing of what had been agreed with him is going to vary, except that he is not going to be there," he said during his conversation with Europa Press.

The event will be presented by Manolo Fernández, from Radio Nacional, and will be attended by actress Claudia Gravi, a friend of Taylor and also linked to the filming of the West.

Spaghetti Western Locations for “Companeros”.

After the meeting between the students and the Swede the scene shifts outside where El Vasco is told that two of his men Miguel and Carlos have been found dead at the train station.

This scene was filmed in El Argamasón, Carboneras, Spain.

For a more detailed view of this site and other Spaghetti Western locations please visit my friend Yoshi Yasuda’s location site: http://y-yasuda.net/film-location.htm and Captain Douglas Film Locations http://www.western-locations-spain.com/

Special Birthdays

Dan Greenberg (actor) would have been 90 today but died in 2023.

Philippe Boa (actor) is 65 today.

Spaghetti Western Trivia ~ “God Forgives… I Don’t”

 

Despite rumors to the contrary, the credited composer for this movie was a noted Spanish composer in his own right. Ángel Oliver Pina who was born in Moyuela, Zaragoza, Spain on January 2, 1937 and died in Madrid on April 25, 2005 and won numerous music awards including the Gran Premio di Roma in 1965. The notion that he was a pseudonym of veteran Italian composer Carlo Rustichelli is a misconception. Music publisher CAM's copyright catalog (entry #517) registers the score to two separate composers, namely Carlo Rustichelli and Ángel Oliver Pina.