AN ANIMAL CALLED MAN

Un animale chiamato uomo – Italian title
Bill oc John vaelter byen – Danish title
Bill & John - Lännenveijarit vauhdissa - Finnish title
Cei homme est un animal – French title
Les 2 pistoleros de Sylver City – French title
Violence dans la valle – French title
Enas Satanas pou ton legane anthropo – Greek title
El cadaver nuestro de cada dia – Spanish title
Bill & John – westerns storsta oljud – Swedish title
Dom kallar mig odjuret - Swedish title
El cadaver nuestra de cada dia – Venzuelan title
An Animal Called Man – English title

A 1972 Italian production [Lattes Cinematografica, Virginia Cinematografica (Rome)]
Producer: Mano Vincenzo (Romano Vincenzo)
Director: Roberto Mauri
Story: Roberto Mauri
Screenplay: Roberto Mauri
Cinematography: Luigi Ciccarese [Eastmancolor]
Music: Carlo Savina
Running time: 102 minutes

Cast:
Bill “Manolesta” Matson - Vassili Karis (Vassilli Karamesinis)
Dr. Yvette - Lillian Bray (Gillian Bray)
Mark Forester/Foster - Craig Hill (Craig Fowler)
Johnny “Lingua Veloce” Matson - Omero Capanna
Sheriff - Paolo Magalotti
Joe - Gilberto Galimberti
Blond brawler - Roberto dell’Acqua
With: Sergio Serafin (Sergio Serafini), Carla Mancini, Giuseppe Carbone, Aristide Caporale


This comedy western is one of the worst of the genre, which is really saying something. It’s another Trinity rip-off, where two drifters Bill and Johnny, arrive in the town of Silver City, which is run by Mark Forrester and his gangsters. Our heroes try and compete with Forrester and Bill even beats him in a shooting contest, winning $500 and the admiration of Yvette, a doctor from Paris. Bill and Johnny then pose as tax collectors and try and con the townspeople out of their hard earned money. They end up getting rid of Forrester and his gang and are given a huge reward by the town but being the con-men they are they decide to move on with Yvette. This film is so bad that Craig Hill left in the middle of it so Mauri cover’s it up by having the screenplay make that he was assassinated. You’ll also want to stop watching and leave this mess about 15 minutes into the film.


Trailer link: http://www.listal.com/video/5779451

New Spaghetti Western DVD

A LONG RIDE FROM HELL

Released March 17, 2009

For the first time available on DVD in the U.S.A

A Long Ride From Hell theatrical version in its original aspect ratio: Region 1, 1:85. English language, 92 minutes

Extras include an interview with Mimmo Palmero aka Dick Palmer, and at home with Steve Reeves.

LONG RIDE FROM HELL (1968) – Director: Camillo Bazzoni, Story: “Judas Gun” by Gordon D. Shireffs, Screenplay: Roberto Natale, Steve Reeves, Cinematography: Enzo Barboni [Eastmancolor], Music: Carlo Savina, Cast: Steve Reeves, Dick Palmer (Mimmo Palmara), Wayde Preston, Lee Burton (Guido Lollobrigida), Silvana Venturelli.

This is Steve Reeves only Spaghetti Western and it’s better than average for the genre. Made in 1968 under the Italian title “Vivo per la tua morte” and based on the novel the “Judas Gun” by Gordon D. Shireffs, it tells the story of a man and his brother who are falsely accused and imprisoned for a crime they didn’t commit. After his brother’s death in the harsh confines of Yuma Prison, Reeves escapes to wreak vengeance on the man he holds responsible. Steve was a natural westerner being born in Montana. He was still in great shape at 42 and appears shirtless several times to show off his Herculean physique. Steve co-wrote the screenplay and calls in several experts (Enzo Barboni on camera and Carlo Savina scoring) to help make the film a classic little gem of the genre. Filmed in Spain it gives the feeling of the Southwest as depicted in the story. Wayde Preston is outstanding as the main villain and a good supporting cast also helps. Too bad Steve didn’t make more westerns as he sure knew how to get the job done.

Wild East has done another remarkable job of releasing a good western in a great presentation. The extras have become a real bonus for Ally and Eric as the interview with Dick Palmer (Mimmo Palmara) is right up there with the ones done with Ken Wood and Edd Byrnes. Thanks gentlemen another job well done.

RIP Maurice Jarre

French born film composer Maurice Jarre died of cancer in Los Angeles today at the age of 84. Jarre was born in Lyon, Rhône, Rhône-Alpes, France on September 13, 1924. He is the father of electronic composer Jean-Michel Jarre. He rose to prominence late in his life with a breakthrough score for “Lawrence of Arabia” in 1962 for which he received an Academy Award for Best Score. He won two more Oscars for “Doctor Zhivago” and “A Passage to India”. In all he scored more than 150 films scoring for such directors as David Lean, Alfred Hitchcock, John Huston and Luchino Visconti. Jarre also wrote symphonic music for theater, ballet and television. Maurice moved to the United States in the 1960s, was married four times. In February he received a lifetime achievement award at the Berlin International Film Festival. Director Dieter Kosslick summed up Jarre’s music to a tee by saying, “Film composers often are left in the shadows of great directors and acting stars. It’s different with Maurice Jarre – the music of Doctor Zhivago, like much of his work is world-famous and remains unforgettable in cinema history.”

Maurice Jarre composed the music for four Euro-westerns: “Villa Rides!” (1968), “El Condor” (1970), “Red Sun” (1971) and “Shadow of the Wolf” (1992).

An Adventurer's Love

Amore di Apache – Italian title
Amour d’Apaches – French title
Amor de Apache – Spanish title
An Adventurer’s Love – English title

A 1906 Italian title [Cines Film (Rome)]
Producer: Filoteo Alberini, Dante Santoni
Director: ?
Screenplay: ?
Cinematography: ? [black & white]
Running time: 728 feet

Story: ?

Cast:


Made in Italy in 1906 but not released in France, Spain or England until 1912.

Happy 70th Birthday Terence Hill

He was born Mario Girotti on March 29, 1939 in Venice Italy. As a child he lived in the small town of Lommatzsch, Germany from 1943-1945, during World War II, surviving the Dresden Bombing. His mother was German and his father an Italian chemist. He was discovered at the age of 12 by Dino Risi and appeared in the 1951 film “Vacanze col Gangster”. He returned to Germany in 1956 and appeared in several films including a few Winnetou films. Returning to Italy in 1967 and was offered a part in “God Forgives I Don’t” replacing Peter Martell who had broken his foot. He changed his name to the American sounding Terence Hill. Teaming with Bud Spencer (Carlo Pedersoli) the two have become a comedy legend in Italy and around the world. He is still working today and appears in his highly successful TV series Don Matteo. He recently made a new western called “Doc West” filmed in Santa Fe, New Mexico last fall and which will be shown on Italian TV in April of this year. This is a pilot for hopefully a new TV series. Happy 70th birthday Terence Hill.

Spaghetti Collectables

The Man with No Name poncho

No respected Spaghetti Western fan would not want a replica Man with No Name poncho. Get yours for only $399.99 at Larry Green Productions.

Website link: http://hollywoodprop.com/spaghettiponchos.htm

Amitie the Cowboy

Amitié de cow-boy – French title
Amitie the Cowboy – English title

A 1910 French production [Lux (Paris)]
Director: Jean Durand
Screenplay:
Cinematography: [black & white]
Running time:

Cast:
Joë Hamman, Gaston Modot


Another silent film adventure starring Joë Hamman.