Armed and Very Dangerous

Вооружён и очень опасен – Russian title
Vooruzhyon i ochen opasen – Russian title
Durch den wilden Westen – German title
Armed and Dangerous: Time and Heroes of Bret Harte – English title
Armed and Very Dangerous – English title

A 1977 U.S.S.R., Czechoslovakian, Romanian co-production [Gorki-Studio (Moscow),
Filmstudio Barrandov, Filmstudio Bucuresti (Bucharest)]
Producers: Vladimir Vajnshtok, Pavel Finn (Pavel Finn-Khalfin)
Director: Vladimir Vajnshtok
Story: “Gabriel Conroy” by Bret Harte
Screenplay: Vladimir Vladimirov (Valdimir Vajnshtok), Pavel Finn (Pavel Finn-Khalfin)
Cinematography: Konstantin Ryzhov [color]
Music: G. Firtich (Georgi Firtich)
Songs: “Pesnya o chudesnom kraye”, “Poprobuyte zabytsya”, “Vooruzhyon I ochen
opasen” sung by Ludmila Senchina
Running time: 150 minutes

Cast:
Gabriel Conroy - Donatas Banionis
Jack Hamlin - Mircea Veroiu
Julie Prudomme - Ludmila Senchina
Dolores Damphy - Maria Ploae
Peter Damphy - Leonid Bronevoy
Lucky Charlie - Lev Durov
Henry York - Vsevolod Abdulov
Mister Trot - Sergei Martinson
seller of secrets - Grigori Lyampe
Lawyer Starbottle - Algis Masiulis (Algimantas Masiulis)
Indian Joe - Talgat Nigmatulin
Judge Zhakov - Oleg Zhakov
Shot Harry - Ferenc Bencze
Julian Barreto - Jan Schánilec
Groom Bill - Dmitry Krichun (Dumitru Craciun)


Based on the stories of author Bret Harte, the film takes place in America’s Wild West of the last third of the 19th century. Thousands of people rushed to the California gold fields in pursuit of enrichment. Among them was Gabriel Conroy, a man absolutely helpless in the world of business. When fountains of oil started gushing on his plot of land, the local moneybags Peter Damphy decided to appropriate the land, and succeeded in it by blackmailing Conroy’s wife and his former mistress Julie.

Remembering Jacques Brel

Jacques Brel was born on May 8, 1929 in Schaarbeek, Belgium and is remembered as a Belgian singer and songwriter. He is little known in the English speaking world as his songs were covered and interpreted by singers such as Scott Walker, Judy Collins, David Bowie, Dusty Springfield, Ray Charles and many others. In French speaking countries he’s also remembered as an actor and director. He sold over 12 million albums and singles in France and Belgium. Brel, directed the modern day French western “Far West” in 1972. Jacques Brel died Bobigny, France on October 10, 1978. We remember him today on what would have been his 80th birthday.

Remembering Lex Barker

Born Alexander Crichlow Barker Jr. on May 8, 1919 in Rye, New York, Barker was a direct descendent of Roger Williams the founder of the state of Rhode Island. He replaced Johnny Weissmuller as the 10th Tarzan in 1949. During this time he also played the lead in several western films. When his Hollywood career came to a standstill in the late ‘50s he decided to move to Europe where he was still a big star. Being athletic and being able to speak French, Italian and Spanish he was very adept in playing leading roles in the adventure films which were very popular at the time. He met producer Artur Brauner and director Horst Wendlandt who immediately cast him in their new Karl May film series as Old Shatterhand. As a result he became one of Europe’s biggest box office stars, appearing in 11 Euro-westerns. He returned to the U.SA. in the early ‘70s and tried to revive his American career, but died on May 11, 1973 in New York City of a heart attack. We remember Lex Barker today on what would have been his 90th birthday.

Happy 70th Birthday Ruggero Deodato

Born on May 7,1939 in Potenza, Italy, Ruggero Deodato started his film career as an actor in the mid-1950s. In 1959 he became an assistant director under Roberto Rosselini through his childhood friendship with Rosselini’s son Renzo. Deodato would go on to work with other great Italian directors such as Sergio Corbucci, Antonio Margheriti and Riccardo Freda. Deodato directed his first film “Donne… botte e bersaglieri” in 1968. Deodato experimented by making films in several genres including the Spaghetti westerns with “In the Name of the Father” (1969). Finally he hit his high point with 1980’s “Cannibal Holocaust” but has not reached the same success since. He continues to make genre films and episodic television. Today we wish him a happy 70th birthday.

Remembering Albert Band

Albert Band was born in Paris on May 7, 1924, the son of painter Max Band; his first movie job was as a film cutter at Pathe Studios. Relocating to Hollywood in the late 1940s, Band was employed as a combination production assistant and "fall guy" for maverick director John Huston, gleaning valuable experience on the set of The Asphalt Jungle (1950) and Red Badge of Courage (1951), even while being subjected to Huston's sadistic practical jokes. Band's own directorial bow was the 1956 oater The Young Guns; his best Hollywood film was the low-key 1958 shocker I Bury the Living. In the 1960s, Band kept busy as producer, director, and/or screenwriter on a variety of internationally financed productions, including Spaghetti westerns “Massacre at the Grand Canyon” (1963) and “The Tramplers” 1966 also the better-than-you'd think Dracula's Dog. Among his later efforts as producer were Honey, I Blew Up the Kid (1992) and Dragon World (1993). Albert Band is the father of director Charles Band, composer Richard Band and grandfather of actors Alex and Taryn Band. Alfredo Antonini was a pseudonym he employed but mistakenly taken to be his real name. Albert Band died on June 14, 2002 in Los Angeles, California. We remember him today on what would have been his 85th birthday.

New Spagetti Western CD

Lo chiamavano Mezzogiorno
(The Man Called Noon)
VERITA NOTE (Japan) #VQCD-10073
A reissue of Luis Bacalov’s 1973 Spaghetti Western soundtrack. Clear sound digitally remastered

Track listing:
1. The Man Called Noon 3:27
2. Prologue 2:50
3. Highlands 2:42
4. Mr. Rubble Noon 1:36
5. Quietness 3:24
6. In the Fortress 1:50
7. Rimes 1:59
8. Following the Horse 2:03
9. Fan 2:48
10. Discovering 2:03
11. Fire and Guns 2:29
12. Warning 2:03
13. The Man Called Noon 2 1:55
Total 31:09

ARIZONA ROAD

Arizona violenta – Italian title
Fuga da Kayenta – Spanish title
Arizona Road - German title
Arizona Road – Heiß und gefährlich – German TV title
Tortilla Road – French title
Arizona Road – Escape from Kayenta – English title
Arizona Road – English title

A 1990 Italian production [Arizona Film, Trinidad Film (Rome)]
Producer: Ezzio Palaggi
Director: Larry Ludman (Fabrizio De Angelis)
Screenplay: Vincenzo Mannino, Fabrizio De Angeles
Cinematography: Federico Del Zoppo [Eastmancolor]
Music: Francesco De Masi
Running time: 115 minutes

Cast:
Emilio/Emiliano - Antonio Sabàto Jr.
Aurora - Therry Turner (Teresa Leopardi)
Macedonio/McDonaldson - Lou Castel (Ulv Quarzell)
Morris - Donald Hodson
Vito Franco - Raul Julia-Levy
Sheriff Baker - Frank Diogene (Concetto Diogene)
FBI Agent - David Warbeck (David Mitchell)
McDonaldson henchman - Bruno di Luia
pool hustler - Matt Hefter
refree - Gilberto Galimberti
children - Paolo D’Urso, Fabio Damiani Palumbo, Esmeralda Risolo, Daniel Stipcevich, Alessandro Vita
with: Valentino Davio, Maria Grazia Nazzari, David Salvatori (Davide Salvatori), Alessandro Maria Amen, Ennio Brizzolari, Valerio Bucciarelli, Öle Jorgensen, Renato Pacifico, Ottorino Poletini, Bruna Rossi, Sergio Silveri, Aldo Stella, Settimio Scacco, Maurizio Streccioni, Angelo Susani, Marcello Verziera


By the same director who brought us the “Thunder Warrior” series, this modern day western was filmed in Monument Valley. Emiliano's battles old enemy, rich, town boss McDonaldson. When Emiliano's partner Morris is found dead after discovering a goldmine, the corrupt sheriff teams up with McDonaldson while Emilian enlists the help of a no-nonsense FBI agent. Guess who ends up with the gold mine and the girl.