RIP Daniel Martin

Spanish actor Daniel Martin died on September 28th in Zaragoza, Spain, he was 74 years-old. Born José Daniel Martinez Martinez on May 12, 1935 in Cartagena, Murcia, Spain he lived his life in Zaragoza. He entered films in 1962 with an appearance in “La spada del Cid” directed by Miguel Iglesias. He came to the attention of Spaghetti Western fans when he appeared as Julio/Julián in Leone's “A Fistful of Dollars” opposite Clint Eastwood and Gian Maria Volonte. He would go on to appear in over two dozen more Euro-westerns always in supporting roles such as Unkas in 1965's “Last of the Mohicans, Father Santana in 1967's “A Minute to Pray, a Second to Die” and even pop up in Emilio' Estevez's TV western “Dead for a Dollar” as Sterling. He would turn to television later in life in such series as “Medico de familia”, and “The Quijote de Miguel de Cervantes”.

Happy 75th Birthday Udo Jürgens

Composer and singer Udo Jürgens was born Udo Jürgen Bockelmann on September 30, 1934 in Schloß Ottmanach, Carinthia, Austria. He's written over 900 songs. He began his career when he won a composer contest sponsored by Austria's public broadcasting network in 1950. In 1961 he wrote the world famous hit “Reach for the Stars” sung by Shirley Bassey. In the following years, he wrote some of his most famous songs, like Griechischer Wein, Aber bitte mit Sahne, Mit 66 Jahren, and –one of his biggest successes– Buenos Días, Argentina, which he performed together with the German football team in 1978. Because Jürgens, who enjoyed a thorough musical education, always accompanies himself on the piano, he is sometimes compared to Billy Joel, but unlike him is backed not by a rock band, but by a full 18-piece orchestra. His career continues with near-annual tours. His 1992, his concert in Vienna was attended by 220,000 spectators; this is still one of the biggest concerts in Europe ever. He has a son John Jürgens who is a singer, actor and DJ. His daughter Jenny Jürgens is an actress. Udo Jürgens composed the music for the 1975 Euro-western “Montana Trap” starring Hardy Kruger and Stephen Boyd. Today we celebrate his 75th birthday.

BLUE HAWK

Blauvogel – German title
Prietenii mei, indienii – Romanian title
Porwany przez Indian – Polish title
Blue Hawk – English title

A 1979 East German, Romanian production [DEFA (East Berlin), Buftea-Studios (Bucharest)]
Producer: Hans-Erich Busch
Director: Ulrich Weiß
Story: Anna Jürgen (Anna Mujller-Tannewitz)
Screenplay: Ulrich Weiß, Gerd Gericke
Cinematography: Otto Hanish [color]
Music: Peter Rabenalt
Running time: 96 minutes

Cast:
George/Blue Hawk as a boy - Robin Jaeger
George/Blue Hawk as a man - Gabriel Oseciuc (Gabriel Marian)
Mildred Ruster - Jutta Hoffmann
John Ruster - Kurt Böwe
Andrew - Jan Spitzer
Mittagssonne - Ileana Mavrodineanu
Kleinbär - Gheorge Patru
Fuchs - Gheorge Haliu
Malia as a child - Niculina Ursaru
Malia - Anca Szonyi
White Hair - Petrut Traian
Rauchiger Day - Valentin Loghin
Kidnappers - Adrian Mihai, Vasile Popa
Bote - Alexandru Platon
Maler - George Catlin (Jörg Foth)
Archie - Egon Günther
with; Violeta Andrei, Gerd Nissler, Niculae Peniuc, Razvan Vasilescu, Ion Angelescu-Moreni, Anja Scheinert, Marina Krogull, Carl-Hermann Risse, Norbert Speer

Based on the Anna Jürgen novel, George, the ten year old son of English settlers living in Ohio, in midwestern America of 1850 after the conclusion of the French and Indian Wars, is kidnapped by a native tribe and taken to their village. He is raised by the Iriquois chief who has lost his own son. He is stripped, painted black and held under water, as part of his initiation into the tribe. Renamed "Blauvogel" (Blue Hawk), he spends the next several years being raised by the Indians, who prove to be kind and probably more virtuous than the Europeans from which he came. Eventually, he is returned to his English family, but finds the readjustment difficult, particularly as they do not have the same respect for nature as the American natives.

Youtube link: www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eAKLPS-VDc

Remembering Werner Pochath

Born Werner Pochlatko on September 29, 1939 in Vienna, Austria. Pochath was a former Austrian youth figure skating champion. He learned acting at the Max-Reinhardt-Seminat in Vienna. He made his acting debut in the stage play “The Courage” in 1959. He then became a screen actor under various pseudonyms such as Werner Pocath,Werner Pochlatka and Paul Werner. His first screen appearance was in a 1959 TV film “Der Besuch der alten Dame” He would go on to make over 70 films and TV appearances but continued returning to the stage. Werner moved to Rome in 1967. During his time in Rome he appeared in five Euro-westerns, “Vengeance”, “The Great Silence” both in 1967, “Sonny and Jed” (1972), “Challenge to White Fang” (1974), and “Thunder Warrior III” (1987). In 1990 he opened a film agency and casting office. He died on April 18, 1993 at the age of 51 from complications of AIDS. Today we remember Werner Pochath on what would have been his 70th birthday.

Remembering Marina Berti

Born Elena Maureen Bertolini on September 29, 1924, in London, England. Berti made her film debut in an uncredited role in 1941's “ La Fuggitiva”. Because of her bilingual abilities she appeared in films shown in the U.S. such as “Quo Vadis” (1951), “Ben Hur” (1959) and “Cleopatra” (1963), “If It's Tuesday, This Must be Belgium” (1969). She would go on to appear in over 100 films in character and lead roles. Her last screen appearance was in the Costa-Gavras film “Amen” (2002). Marina was married to actor Claudio Gorra from 1944 until his death in 1998. She was the mother of actor Andrea Giordana and actress Marina Giordana. Marina appeared in two Euro-westerns “The Stranger Returns” (1967) and “Hate is My God” (1969). Marina died on October 29, 2002. Today we celebrate what would have been her 85th birthday.

Happy 75th Birthday Brigitte Bardot

She was born Brigitte Anne-Marie Bardot on September 28, 1934 in Paris, France. Miss Bardot started out as an aspiring ballet dancer but was soon modeling and appeared on the cover of ELLE magazine and was noticed by director Roger Vadim. Soon she was acting and made her first film “Le Trou Normand” in 1952 after 16 films she became a star after her appearance in “And God Created Woman” in 1952. Bardot would become and international sex symbol and rival Marilyn Monroe and Sophia Loren. She would go one to appear in 48 films and musical theater. She also recorded 80 songs during this time. Brigitte Bardot retired from show business in 1973 and has dedicated her life to animal rights. She has taken the soap box against such subjects as immigration, race-mixing aspects of homosexuality and Islam in France. Her sister of actress Mijanou Bardot is also an actress and Brigitte has been married to director Roger Vadim (1952-1957), actor Jacques Charrier (1959-1962), director Gunter Sachs (1966-1969). During her film career Brigitte appeared in three Euro-westerns, “Viva Maria!” (1965) with Jeanne Moreau, “Shalako” (1968) with Sean Connery and “The Legend of Frenchie King” (1971) with Claudia Cardinale. Today we celebrate Brigitte Bardot's 75th birthday.

Remembering Marcello Mastroianni

Born Marcello Vincenzo Domenico Mastroianni in Fontana Liri, Italy on September 28, 1924. The son of a carpenter he was raised in Turin and Rome. He was captured during World War II and interned in a Nazi prison camp. He was able to escape and hid out in Venice. In 1945 he began working for a film company and took acting lessons. His first film role was in “I Miserabili” (1948). Eventually by the end of the 1950s he was an International star appearing in such films as “La dolce vita” (1960) and “8 ½” both directed by Federico Fellini. Marcello was married to actress Flora Carabella (1948-1996) and they had one child Barbara. Mastroianni fathered a child with actress Catherine Deneuve they named Chiara Mastrianni who was born in 1972 and she became an actress. Mastroianni's brother Ruggero was also in the film industry as a well respected film editor. Mastroianni died on December 19, 1996 in Paris, France from pancreatic cancer. Marcello made only one Euro-western “Don't Touch the White Woman!” (1973) where he played General George Armstrong Custer. Today we remember Marcello Mastroianni on what would have been his 85th birthday.