Today - 1st Los Angeles Spaghetti Western Festival



Come join us today for some excellent films, trailers, actors and other personalities all associated with the Spaghetti Western genre. The fun kicks off at 10 a.m. at the El Portal Theater, at 5269 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood, CA. 91601. Free parking is provided at the Lankershim Elementary School behind the theater on Bakman Ave.

SCHEDULE
10:00AM – Festival Opens
10:30AM-12:30PM – Gatling Gun, starring Robert Woods, plus Q & A with the film’s star, Robert Woods.
1:15-2:45PM – Dead Men Don’t Count, starring Mark Damon & Anthony Steffen,
plus Q & A with the film’s co-star Mark Damon.
3:15-5:15PM – A Fistful of Dollars, starring Clint Eastwood. Introduction by David Frangioni, author of “Clint Eastwood Icon: The Essential Film Art Collection.”
5:30-6:30PM – Special Guest Panel (Robert Woods, Michael Forest, Brett Halsey, Dan van Husen, Richard Harrison, Jack Betts, Mark Damon, Edd Byrnes)
6:30-7:15PM – Book Signing with David Frangioni. Mixer (Cash Bar, Beer & Wine)
7:15-8:00PM – Ennio Morricone Tribute by Insect Surfers performing instrumental versions of the maestro’s spaghetti western themes.

New DVD Release

Dead Men Don’t Count
Kill and Pray

Directors: R. Romero Marchent
                Carlo Lizzani
Starring Mark Damon, Anthony Steffen,
            Mark Damon, Lou Castel
Label: Wild East Productions
Volume 34
Aspect Ratio: 16x9 anamorphic, widescreen NTSC
Language: English
Subtitles: ?
Sound: Stereo
Running time: ?, 114 minutes
Extras: Mark Damon interview, trailers, photo galleries
Release date: April 5, 2011

Happy 75th Birthday Ursula Andress

Ursula Andress was born on March 19, 1936 in Ostermundigen, Bern, Switzerland and has four sisters. Her mother was Swiss and her father a German diplomat who disappeared during World War II. Ursula’s first film was “An American in Rome” (1954). In 1957 she married actor director John Derek [1926-1998] and they remained married until 1966. Ursula became one of the biggest sex symbols of the ‘60s she appeared in such films as “Fun in Acapulco” with Elvis, “4 For Texas” with Frank Sinatra and won a Golden Globe award for her performance in 1964 for new star of the year in Bond film “Dr. No”. In 1965 she posed for Playboy. She continued to appear in films until her last appearance in 2005's “The Bird Preachers”. Ursula is the mother of actor Dimitri Hamlin [1980- ]. Andress appeared in only one Euro-western “Red Sun” (1971) with Charles Bornson and Toshiro Mifune. Today we celebrate Ursula Andress’ 75th birthday.

Tomorrow - 1st Los Angeles Spaghetti Western Festival

THE FIRST LOS ANGELES SPAGHETTI WESTERN FESTIVAL
A three-coarse feast in North Hollywood

LA Weekly Film + TV

By David Cotner Thursday, Mar 17 2011

Amazingly the first film festival devoted to the popular cult genre, the Los Angeles Spaghetti Western Festival premieres as a 10-hour extravaganza "created for fans of spaghetti Westerns by fans of spaghetti Westerns," according to event producer John Antoniou. That target audience includes keepers of the flame such as archivist Tom Betts of the acclaimed Westerns ... All'Italiana blog, and Bill Connolly, publisher of the Spaghetti Cinema 'zine since 1984, both based in Southern California. The festival's triple bill kicks off with the world premiere of the newly remastered Dead Men Don't Count (¿Quién grita venganza?, 1968), starring Mark Damon as an orphaned bounty hunter fighting deadly land speculators. There's also one of Tarantino's favorite Westerns, Quel caldo maledetto giorno di fuoco (titled Gatling Gun by the time it got to American audiences in 1969), in which Robert Woods battles John Ireland for a Gatling gun that might turn the tide of the Civil War if it reaches the Confederacy. And a festival of spaghetti Westerns wouldn't be nearly so complete without something from Sergio Leone: In this case, it's A Fistful of Dollars (1964). A panel discussion happens between the movies, with genre actors Richard Harrison, Woods, Michael Forest, Brett Halsey and others. Also, there will be ultrascarce spaghetti Western trailers and riffs on Morricone courtesy of venerable instrumental surf band Insect Surfers. No actual spaghetti will be served. (Sat., March 19, 10 a.m., El Portal Theatre, N. Hlywd., spaghettiwesternfestival.com.)

THE FURY OF JOHNNY KID

Dove si spara di piu - Italian title
La furia de Johnny Kid - Spanish title
Hirttäjäiset - Finnish title
Un doigt sur la gachette - French title
Glut der Sonne - German title
A furia de Johnny Kid - Portuguese title
Ride for a Massacre (Where They Shoot the Most) - English title
Love, Hate and Vengeance - English title
The Ultimate Gunfighter - English title
The Fury of Johnny Kid - English title

A 1966 Italian, Spanish, co-production [Framer Films (Rome), Hispamer Films P.C. (Madrid)]
Producer: Francesco Merli
Director: Gianni Puccini
Story: María del Carmen Martínez Román based on ‘Romeo and Juliet’ by William Shakespeare
Screenplay: María del Carmen Martínez Román
Cinematography: Mario Montuori [Technicolor, Techniscope]
Music: Gino Peguri
Running time: 89 minutes

Cast:
Johnny Monter/Mounter - Arthur Grant (Karl Hirenbach)
Giulietta Campos/Juliette Wolff - Cristina Galbó (Cristina Sánchez)
Roselyn/Lezerinf - Maria Cuadra (María Perez)
Lefty - Andrés Mejuto (Severino Mejuto)
Sheriff Cooper - Piero Lulli (Giusva Lulli)
Rodrigo Campos/Wolff - Peter Martell (Pietro Martellanza)
Blackie - Jacinto Molina (Jacinto Alvarez)
Campos’ son - José Rubio (José Urrea)
Senor Campos/Wolff - Rufino Inglés (Rufino Garcia)
Bill Monter/Mounter - Luis Induni (Luigi Radici)
Mrs. Monter/Mounter - Ana María Noé
priest - Ãngel Ãlvarez (Ãngel Fernández)
Steve - Paolo Magalotti
Campos/Wollf henchmen - Poldo Bendandi, Lewis Lawrence (Luciano Catenaci)
Giulietta’s/Juliette’s maid - Eulalia Tenorio

Romeo and Juliet out west, with the Mexican and Gringo families of the Monters and Campos filling in for the Montagues and Capulets of the original Shakespearean play. The two families hatred and antagonism for each other manifests itself in murder and ambush during which both sides show themselves as not having any sense of restraint or mercy. The Campos, and in particular the eldest son Rodrigo are shown to be particularly ruthless in their endeavors and they are also aided by the assistance of Sheriff Cooper. Meanwhile Johnny Monter, meets Giulietta Campos while robbing a stagecoach with his one handed friend Lefty and takes a liking to her. They are expecting the coach to be carrying a treasure belonging to the Camposes and while they don't find it, the beautiful young maid more then makes up for it as far as Johnny is concerned. The pair meet up again during a raid Johnny makes on the Campos' ranch during which Senor Campos announces his daughter's engagment to Sheriff Cooper. Giulietta is not at all pleased with this arrangement and once an opportune and secret meeting takes place with Johnny the couples' mutual infatuation is complete and their minds are made up to be together. On learning of this the local saloon girl Roselyn, who held the previous affections of Johnny, tells their story to Rodrigo in a fit of jealousy. Johnny is subsequently captured and jailed but Roselyn takes pity and helps him escape, losing her own life in the process. The stage is now set for a final showdown as Johnny attempts to free Giulietta from her father's house and the Mounter’s embark on an all out assault on their enemy's stronghold. The ending differs as to which version of the film you see. One they all die, the other the young couple escapes the slaughter and ride off.

YouTube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFjJx6Wp660

Remembering Peter Graves

Peter Duesler Aurness was born on March 18, 1926 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Peter was the younger brother of actor James Arness. While growing up in Minnesota, Peter Graves excelled at sports and music (as a saxophonist), and by age 16 he was a radio announcer at WMIN in Minneapolis. After two years in the U.S. Air Force, he studied drama at the University of Minnesota and then headed to Hollywood, where he first appeared on television in series such as "Fury" (1955-1960), "Whiplash" (1961) and later "Mission Impossible" (1967-1973). made his film debut in "Rogue River" (1951). Numerous film appearances followed, especially in Westerns. Graves is probably best remembered for his role in "Airplane"In a Los Angeles Times story in 2009, Graves said he initially turned down the role for "Airplane!" because he thought it was in poor taste--until actors Robert Stack, Lloyd Bridges and Leslie Nielsen signed on to the cast. "They say you are supposed to stretch as an actor, so let's go stretch it," he told The Times' Susan King. Peter Graves starred in his only Euro-western as the Dutchman along with Bud Spencer in "The Five Man Army" (1969). Graves died of a heart attack on March 14, 2010 at his Pacific Palisades, California home. Today we remember Peter Graves on what would have been his 85^th birthday.

Breaking News!!!! Mark Damon & Edd Byrnes added to 1st Los Angeles Spahgetti Western Fiestival Panel

Mark Damon was born Alan Harris in Chicago, Illinois. He started his career in acting in TV’s “Meet Corliss Archer” (1954) and then began a long film career in such films as Roger Corman’s “House of Usher” (1960). He relocated to Rome and appeared in a number of Italian and Spanish productions including ten Spaghetti westerns: “Johnny Yuma”, “Death at Owell Rock”, “Kill and Pray”, “Ringo and His Golden Pistol” all in 1967, “All Out”, “Dead Men Don’t Caste Shadows”, “A Train for Durango” all in 1968, “Pistol Packin’ Preacher” (1971), “The Great Treasure Hunt” and “They Called Him Verity” both in 1972. Mark then left acting in the mid-1970s and became a world renowned film producer. We are proud that Mark will be a member of our distinguished panel of Spaghetti Western participants at the 1st Los Angeles Spaghetti Western Festival on March 19th.

Edd Byrnes was born Edward Byrne Breitenberger in New York City. Edd who was a skilled acrobat made numerous guest appearances on 1950s TV and then became a teen idol as Kookie on the hit TV series “77 Sunset Strip” from 1958-1963. After a few more years in the U.S. Edd ventured to Rome and starred in three Spaghetti westerns: “Any Gun Can Play”, “Payment in Blood” and “Professionals for a Massacre”. Returning to the U.S. Edd continued to appear in films and television series until the turn of the century. We are proud that Edd will be a member of our distinguished panel of Spaghetti Western participants at the 1st Los Angeles Spaghetti Western Festival on March 19th.


Take a trip down memory lane and come join us and the Spaghetti Western royalty that has been assembled for one fun filled day. March 19th from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m.