Who Are Those Gals - Vivi Bach

Vivienne Bach was born on September 3, 1939 in Copenhagen, Denmark. Vivi started her singing career as a child singing in a jazz cellar after school. This led to a tour and several appearances in some light and breezy Danish films before making it internationally. She signed a recording contract in Germany in 1960 and her biggest hit was a duet with Gerhard Wendland called “Hey Vivi - Hey Gerhard” which was a copy of the American hit “Hey Paula”. Vivi tried to start her own production company and produced the film “The Secret of the Red Tassel” with Dietmar Schönherr, whom she would marry in 1965. She appeared in a number of musicals, spy films and comedies such as “Ski Fever” (1966) which was nominated for a Golden Globe. During her film career Vivi appeared in two Euro-westerns “Bullets Don’t Argue” (1964) with Rod Cameron and Horst Frank along with a western musical “A Fistful of Songs” (196?). When her film and singing career faded she became a TV presenter. Bach is still married to singer, producer Dietmar Schönherr and is a painter and illustrator for children’s books. Bach and Schönherr live in Ibiza, Spain.

 

Update: Vivi Bach died on April 22, 2013 from an apparent heart attack at her home in Ibiza, Spain. She was found on a couch vy her husband Dietmar Schönherr who noticed she was not breathing. He summoned her doctor who pronounced her dead from an apparent heart attack. She was 73 years-old.

BACH, Vivi(aka Vivi Bak) (Vivienne Bach) [9/3/1939, Copenhagen, Denmark - 4/22/2013, Ibiza, Balearic Islands, Spain (heart attack)] - producer, singer, TV actress, artist, married to producer, actor Dietmar Schönherr [1926- ] (1965- ).
Bullets Don’t Argue - 1964 (Agnes Goddard)
A Fistful of Songs - 1966 (Betty Johnson)

RIP Alberto Lardani

You’ve probably never heard of Albert Lardani before but you’ve seen his and his father Iginio ‘Gigi’ Lardini’s work. Iginio created the opening credits for “Fistful of Dollars”, “The Good the Bad and the Ugly”, “Face to Face”, “Viva Django” and others and Alberto joined his father in 1974. When Iginio died in 1986 Alberto continued in his fathers footsteps and also made trailers and worked as a film editor. Alberto was the film editor and worked with his father on the opening credit sequence on Tomas Milian’s “Run, Man, Run” 1968. Alberto Lardani died in Italy on October 11, 2010. No age was given. More details will be added to this post as information becomes available.


Opening Credit for “Run, Man, Run” link: http://www.watchthetitles.com/articles/0043-Run_Man_Run

DROP THEM OR I'LL SHOOT

Gli specialisti - Italian title
Le spécialiste - French title
Die Spezialisten - German title
Fahrt zur Hölle, ihr Halunken - German title
Lännen spesialisti - Finnish titl
A szakérto - Hungarian title
El especialista - Spanish title
Drop Them or I’ll Shoot - English title

A 1968 Italian, French, German co-production [Adelphia Cinematografica (Rome), Les Films Marceau (Paris), Neue Emelka (Munich)]
Producer: Sergio Corbucci
Director: Sergio Corbucci
Story: Sabatino Ciuffini, Sergio Corbucci
Screenplay: Sabatino Ciuffini, Sergio Corbucci
Cinematography: Dario Di Palma [Technicolor, Techniscope]
Music: A.F. Lavagnino (Angelo Francesca Lavagnino)
Running time: 104 minutes

Cast:
Hud Dixon/Brett/Brad - Johnny Hallyday (Jean-Philippe Smet)
Francisco Rafael Fatorro/El Diablo - Mario Adorf
Virginia Pollicut - Françoise Fabian (Michele Fabianera)
Sheba - Sylvie Fennec
Valencia - Angela Luce (Angela Savino)
Boot - Serge Marquand
gambler - Gino Pernice (Luigi Pernice
Deputy Sheriff Gideon - Gaston Moschin (Gastone Moschine)
barman - Mimmo Poli (Domenico Poli)
Pedro - Pietro Ceccarelli
Judge Ham - Mario Castellari
Mac Lane - Riccardo Dominici
Rosencranz - Andrés José Cruz
Buddy - Christian Belegue
Mix - Stefano Cattarossi
Apache - Gabrielle Tavernese
Doctor Logan - Lucio Rosato
El Diable henchman - Riccardo Pizzuti
Lord/Oscar - Renato Pinciroli
townsman - Elio Angelucci, Ettore Arena
with: Brizio Montinaro, Franco Marletta (Francesco Marletta), Kim Dimon (Kiem Diemon)

A gunfighter named Hud Dixon arrives in Blackstone seeking revenge for his brother Charlie’s death. He discovers the truth behind the lost money of the Blackstone Bank for which Charlie was accused of stealing. Hud sets out to find the stolen money and find those responsible for the lynching of his brother. Hud finds the money which banker Virginia Pollicut decides to leave the territory with but outlaw El Diablo, a former friend of Hud’s decides would be better off in his hands. Hud faces El Daiblo and his gang, recovers the money after disposing of the outlaws and is told by a dying Virginia she is responsible for Charlie’s death.

RIP Angelo Infanti

Italian actor Angelo Infanti, 71, died Ocotber 12, 2010 in a hospital in Tivoli, of a heart attack. Infanti became sick at his home in Zagarolo, a small town near Rome, where he was born February 16, 1939.

Infanti was known for his roles in the first films of Carlo Verdone: “Borotalco” in 1981 and “White, Red and Verdone”, 1982. He also starred for Francis Ford Coppola's “The Godfather” as the killer Fabrizio, for Luchino Visconti “The Leopard” and Marco Ferreri “Story of Piera” he was also linked to the series “Black Emanuelle” by Joe D'Amato. With Bud Spencer he three films: “Big Foot”, “Big Foot in Egypt”, and “Soldier of Fortune”. Since the 90s he was primarily devoted to television drama, among others participating in Terence Hill’s “Don Matteo” and “Seafarers”. Among the recent film “Il seme della discordia” directed by Pappi Corsicato, ”Ex” by Fausto Britt and “Letters to Juliet” by Gary Winick.

Infante appeared in four Euro-westerns: "$4.00 for Vengeance" (1966), "Ballad of a Pistolero" (1967), "A Man Called Sledge" (1969), "Judge Roy Bean" (1971).

RIP Manuel Alexandre

Spanish actor Manuel Alexandre dead at 92

Spanish actor Manuel Alexandre, who appeared in over 300 movies in secondary roles in a career spanning over seven decades, died of cancer Tuesday at a Madrid hospital, his family said. He was 92.

Regarded as one of the last representatives of a golden age in Spanish cinema, he appeared in many famous comedies including "Bienvenido, Mr. Marshall" ("Welcome Mr. Marshall") in 1953 and "Amanece, Que no es poco" ("Dawn Breaks, Which Is A Lot") in 1988.

He also made a name for himself in theatre and television. His last major role was in the 2008 television mini-series "20-N" where he played Francisco Franco during the right-wing dictator's last days.

"I think that in this profession luck is decisive. It also plays a role in other areas of life," Alexandre said in an interview he granted in 2007.

The actor never married or had children. A wake will be held for him on Wednesday at Madrid's Teatro Espanol before he is cremated at the Spanish capital's Almudena cemetery.

Manuel Alexandre appeared in four Euro-westeerns: "Zorro the Avenger" (1962), "A Few Bullets More" (1967), "Trinity Sees Red" (1970), "Return of El Coyote" (1998).

New DVD Release

Eureka Entertainment has announced the UK DVD and Blu-ray Disc release of Faccia a Faccia (Face to Face) on November 15, 2010. One of the best films from Italian genre master Sergio Sollima (The Big Gundown), Faccia a Faccia (Face to Face ) is a gangbuster western saga and a gripping parable of the rise of fascism. Upstanding history professor Brad Fletcher (played by the incomparable Gian Maria Volonte) is forced into retirement by his poor health and moves west for the warmer climate. Almost as soon as he arrives, however, he is taken hostage by famed bandit Solomon Bennett (the great Tomas Milian) in an accidental confrontation, and by necessity is forced to take up with his cohorts. But the learned man's growing identification with the gang encourages him to stage a takeover from Bennett, and a new crueller system of leadership is put into place.
Produced by Sergio Leone's longtime partner Alberto Grimaldi, featuring stunning Techniscope cinematography, and a pounding score by il maestro Ennio Morricone, this long-requested Italian western makes its first appearance on Blu-ray anywhere in the world from a beautiful high-definition master, with both English and Italian soundtracks. Aspect ratio 2.35:1, Running time 92 minutes, No special features.

Happy 70th Birthday Daliah Lavi

Dalia Lewinbuch was born on Ocotber 12, 1930 in Shavei Zion, British Mandate of Palestine. After her primary education she went to Stockholm, Sweden to study ballet and where she appeared in her first film “ Hemsöborna” in 1955. She then returned to Israel and joined the Israeli army from 1957 to 1960. In the early 1960s she returned to film and made appearances in a number of European and American productions. Daliah is fluent in several languages and appeared in German, Italian, French, Spanish and English-language films. Some of her films include “Two Weeks in Another Town” (1962), “La frusta e il corpo” (1963), “Lord Jim” (19666) “The Silencers” (1966) , “Casino Royals” (1967) and “Catlow” (1971). Whe Lavi’s film career began to decline she launched a singing career in Germany with the hits Oh, wann kommst du?", "Willst du mit mir gehn?" and "C'est ça, la vie (So ist das Leben)". She also recorded a version of “Look What They’ve Done to My Song, Ma”. She currently lives in Asheville, North Carolina with her husband Charles Gans a businessman. Today we celebrate Daliah Lavi’s 70th birthday.