Remembering Van Heflin

Emmett Evan Heflin, Jr. was born on December 13, 1910 in Walters, Oklahoma. His father was a dentist and his sister Frances Heflin [1920-1994] became an accomplished actress. Emmett attended the University of Oklahoma and then began his acting career on Broadway in the early 1930s. He was signed by RKO Radio Pictures and made his film debut in “A Woman Rebels” (1936) with Katharine Hepburn. In 1940 he signed with M-G-M and appeared in “Santa Fe Trail” and in 1942 he won an Oscar for best supporting actor in “Johnny Eager”. He then became a leading man in B films and supporting roles in more prestigious films. One of his best roles was in “Tennessee Johnson” (1942) about the near impeachment of President Andrew Johnson with Lionel Barrymore. During World War II he served as a combat cameraman in the Ninth Air Force with the First Motion Picture Unit. After the war he returned to films and appeared in probably his most familiar role as Joe Starrett in “Shane” (1953) with Alan Ladd. In 1957 he appeared as Dan Evans in “3:10 to Yuma” with Glenn Ford. During his career Van also continued his stage career in such plays as “The Philadelphia Story” and “A View from the Bridge”. He appeared on radio as “Philip Marlowe” from 1947-1951. When his career started to fade in the 1960s he went to Europe and starred in his only Euro-western “The Ruthless Four” (1968) with Gilbert Roland, Klaus Kinski and George Hilton. His last film appearance was in 1970's “Airport”. Van suffered a heart attack on July 6, 1971 and died on July 23rd never re-gaining consciousness. Today we remember Van Heflin on what would have been his 100th birthday.

GBU Auction

Lot No: 7086

An Eli Wallach ring from "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" United Artists, 1967. A sterling silver men's ring designed with a image of a Roman soldier's profile in the center; worn by the actor on his ring finger throughout the entire film as he portrayed 'The Ugly' "Tuco." Included is a photocopy of an autograph from the actor reading "For Ricky / With fond memories of Almería / Eli Wallach."

Estimate: $800 - 1,200

*Footnote:

PROVENANCE:

Eli Wallach gifted this ring to the current owner's mother-in-law [Maria Gillinson] when he stayed at her house in Almeria, Spain while filming "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly." Clint Eastwood also stayed at this same house as did John Lennon a year later when he was filming his 1967 film, "How I Won the War;" all three men signed Baron Ricky Gillinson's [Maria's husband] autograph book which is being offered in LOT 7176.

Sold for $3,904 inclusive of Buyer's Premium

FAST-HAND IS STILL MY NAME

Mano rápida - Spanish title
Mi chimavano ‘Requiescat’... ma avevano sbagliato - Italian title
Mulligan - Fast Hand is Still My Name - Danish title
Minä olen nopein, Mulligan - Finnish title
Requiem pour un tueur - French title
Sing mir das Lied der Rache - German title
T'onoma mou einai Keravnos - Greek title
Fasthand - English title
Fast-Hand is Still My Name - English title

A 1973 Spanish, Italian co-production [Aldebaran Films (Madrid), New Films (Rome)]
Producer: John Wyler (Sergio Ciani)
Director: Frank Bronston (Mario Bianchi)
Story: Eduardo M. Brochero (Eduardo Manzanos Brochero)
Screenplay: Sergio Ciani, Vittorio Salerno, Alberto Cardone, Eduardo M. Brochero (Eduardo Manzanos Brochero)
Cinematography: Emilio Foriscot [Eastmancolor, Panavision]
Music: Gianni Ferrio
Song: “That Man” sung by Ann Collin
Running time: 92 minutes

Cast:
Captain Jeff Madison/Mulligan - Alan Steel (Sergio Ciani)
Muchedo/Macedo - William Berger (Wilhelm Berger)
Quincy/Quintano - Francisco Braña (Francisco Pérez)
Diego - Fernando Bilbao
Raul - Gill Roland (Gilberto Galimberti)
Swan - Celine Bessy
Joe Smart - Paco Sanz (Francisco Sanz)
Mary Ann Cruz - Karin Well (Wilma Truccolo)
Jack - Lorenzo Robledo
Pracownik - Francesco D’Adda (Francesco Salvaterra)
sheriff - Aldo Cecconi
deputy - Rodolfo Lodi
bank manager - Ettore Ribotta
mayor - Sergio Dolfin
Muchedo/Macedo henchman -Stefano Oppedisano
saloon patron - Duilio Olmi
with: Angelo Boscariol, Filippo Perego, Aldo Sisti

After the the end of the Civil War some of the rebels refuse to surrender: Their leader Machedo picks a fight with Yankee captain Jeff Madison. The Captain was jointly responsible for the hanging of Machedo’s brother. Machedo wants tp destroy our Madison’s military camp and kill the whole garrison. Madison himself is tortured, highlighted by the destruction of his gunhand. A group of Indians save Madison and tend to his wounds. The Captain returns two years later, seeking revenge. To lure Machedo for the final duel, Madison steals the gold from a successful bankrobbery by the bandits and hides himself in a ghost town.


YouTube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IqYV6z9DcY

Remembering Dietmar Richter-Reinick

Dietmar Richter-Reinick was born on December 12, 1935 in Berlin, Germany. The son of actor Walter Richter-Reinick [1911-1984] he worked as a waiter, stage director and a puppeteer. He debuted as a professional actor on German television after taking private acting lessons. This lead to stage engagements in Görlitz, Senftenberg, and Wittenberg. Since the early 1960s he has appeared in DEFA films on the big screen in such films as “Paul and Paula” (1973) as police officer Zamp in “Moritz in der Litfaßsäule” (1983) and Father Huflattich in “Das Schulgespenst” (1987). He would go on to appear many times on East German TV. He was also a voice and radio actor. During the mid-1960s he appeared in two DEFA Indian films “The Sons of Great Bear” (1966) and “The Falcon’s Trail” (1967). He was married to actress Hannelore Erle [1934-1996]. Dietmar died on September 14, 1997 in Berlin. Today we remember Dietmar Richter-Reinick on what would have been his 75th birthday.

RIP Pedro Vidal

Pedro Vidal dies, the assistant director of Hollywood favorite Orson Welles.

Pedro "Perico" Vidal, the assistant director's favorite Hollywood Joseph Mankiewicz and Orson Welles, has died at age 84 after a lifetime of "passion" to the movies, for which he made films like "Lawrence of Arabia" "Ryan's Daughter" or "Doctor Zhivago."

Alana, daughter of Vidal, stated that her father died, "of a heart attack while asleep" on Sunday, December 5, 2010 and his remains were cremated at the cemetery in Pozuelo de Alarcón (Madrid).

"He was passionate about life, funny, witty and delighted with what he had done, plus a taste for jazz and bossa nova. He came to this world as a gentleman and has been bein a gentleman," she stated.

Vidal, who was born in Paris in 1926, always lived in Madrid, was the first assistant director of big Hollywood names such as David Lean, Stanley Kramer, Nicholas Ray, Orson Welles and Joseph Mankiewicz.

Vidal worked on major Hollywood productions as "Mr. Arkadin" by Orson Welles, "Dr. Zhivago" by David Lean, and "The Pride and Passion" by Stanley Kramer. He was a friend of Ava Gardner, and an intimate of one of her husbands Frank Sinatra.

Despite his advanced age the late filmmaker was recently involved in Isaki Lacuesta’s documentary "The Night that Never Ends," a production of TCM based on the book of Mark Ordonez "Drink of Life: Ava Gardner in Spain" and presented last September at the Festival of San Sebastian. Lacuesta recalls in the film's production notes that Vidal, "a splendid type, extraordinary, writer of film and jazz", met at a Cannes Film Festival Welles, who shared the same zest for life. Welles said he was going to shoot a film in Spain, "Mr. Arkadin" and was seeking an assistant director, to which Vidal responded that he had no idea how a movie was filmed. "Cinema is learned in twenty minutes if you're an idiot. If you are normal, in ten and you know everything," replied the director.

The film was encouraged to be made in Spain, and so there the movie was made with Vidal as assistant director, from there, he was first assistant on "55 Days at Peking," "Lawrence of Arabia" and "Dr. Zhivago”.

The last movie he did, added his daughter was two years ago in the United States, where he shot "I Love Miami." Vidal worked on three Euro-westerns: assistant director on“The Desperados” with Jack Palance and Vince Edwards, “The Valley of Gwangi” both in 1969 and as producer on “Four Rode Out” (1970).

Remembering Ron Carey

Ronald Joseph Cicenia was born on December 11, 1935, in Newark, New Jersey to parents, John and Fanny Cicenia. He launched a stand-up comedy career in New York after earning a bachelor's degree in communications from Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey in 1956. Carey started doing standup comedy in New York. His big break came in 1966 when he made his first national TV appearance on "The Merv Griffin Show." He later made multiple successful appearances on "The Jackie Gleason Show," Johnny Carson's "Tonight Show" and Ed Sullivan's "Toast of the Town." Changing his name to Ron Carey he became a regular on the “Barney Miller” TV series as Officer Carl Levitt. The series ran from 1976-1982. He was a member of the Mel Brooks comedy troupe and appeared in such films as “Silent Movie” (1976) and “High Anxiety” (1977). He appeared as Joe Dalton in Terence Hills TV series “Lucky Luke” (1990-1991) and the film of the same name. He also appeared as Sheriff Fox in the Terence Hill, Bud Spencer film “Troublemakers” (1994). Ron was married to actress Sharon Carey from 1967-2007. Ron Carey died of a stroke on January 16, 2007. Today we remember Ron Carey on what would have been his 75th birthday.

Happy 80th Birthday Jean-Luis Trintignant

Jean-Luis Trintignant was born on December 11, 1930 in Piolenc, France. He was the son of a wealthy industrialist and went on to study law in Aix-en-Provence. Jean-Luis started his theatrical career in 1950 without much success until Roger Vadim discovered him and he became a film actor. He appeared with Brigitte Bardot in the 1956 film “...And God Created Woman” and when he was hounded by the press over rumors of an affair with Bardot he joined the French Army. Ten years late he had a huge success with “A Man and a Woman” (1966). Since then he has starred in over 100 films including his only Euro-western “The Great Silence” as the mute gunfighter. Most of his characters have been murderers and jealous husbands. He was married to actress Stéphane Audran [1932- ] and Nadine Marquand Trintignant [1934- ] from 1960-1976. His daughter, actress Marie Trintignant [1962-2003] was beaten to death during a quarrel with her boyfriend Bertran Cantat, lead singer of the group ‘Noir Désir’. Trintignant has just finished his latest film “Chez Gino” which will be released in 2011. Today we celebrate Jean-Luis Trintignant’s 80th birthday.