Happy 70th Birthday Hannelore Elsner

Hannelore Elstner was born on July 26, 1942 in Burghausen, Bavaria. After finishing drama school she worked in theatres in Berlin and Münich. Later she starred in films and TV series such as Die Schwarzwaldklinik. She is known for her role as the lead character of Inspector Lea Sommer in the German detective series Die Kommissarin. Under the stage name Hannelore Elsner she appeared in one Euro-western “Challenge to White Fang” (1974) as Jane Leclerc. Today we celebrate Hannelore Elsner’s 70^th birthday.

Remembering Renato Terra

Renato Terra Caizi was born on July 26, 1922 in Naples, Italy. Coming from a poor family he developed an interest in acting and moved to Rome where he used to hang around Cinecitta Studios. Here he was often hired for odd jobs and eventually became an extra and then a character actor. He changed his name to Renato Terra and at the peak of his career during the making of a Euro-western he broke his nose in a fall from a horse. He convinced himself that the broken nose cost him a successful career in films. This did not stop him from working and he continued to appear with some of the biggest names in Italian cinema such as Toto. He continued his acting career until the late 1970s with over 80 films to his credit. He then retired to pursue his other passion, poetry. Terra even published a book of his poems entitled Che Strano Pases. Renato appeared in seven Euro-westerns during his acting career from "Massacre at Grande Canyon" (1964) to "Kill and Pray" (1967). Terra died in Rome on November 28, 2010. Today we remember Renato Terra on what would have been his 90th birthday.

Remembering Jason Robards Jr.

Jason Nelson Robards, Jr. was born on July 26, 1922 in Chicago, Illinois. The son of stage and film star Jason Robards Sr. [1892-1963], he was  raised mostly in Los Angeles. A star athlete at Hollywood High School, he served in the U.S. Navy in World War II, where he saw combat as a radioman. Returning to civilian life, he attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and struggled as a small-part actor in local New York theatre, TV and radio before skyrocketing to fame on the New York stage in Eugene O'Neill's "The Iceman Cometh" as Hickey. He followed that with another masterful O'Neill portrayal, as the alcoholic Jamie Tyrone in "Long Day's Journey Into Night" on Broadway. He entered feature films in “The Journey” (1959) and became an even greater film star. Robards won consecutive Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actor for “All the President's Men” (1976) and “Julia” (1977), in each case playing real-life people. He continued to work on the stage, winning continued acclaim in such O'Neill works as "Moon For the Misbegotten" and "Hughie." Jason appeared in only one Euro-western “Once Upon a Time in the West” (1968) as Cheyenne that most of us remember him by. Robards was married to actresses Rachel Taylor from 1959-1961, Lauren Bacall from ’61-’69, and production assistant Lois O’Connor 1970-2000. He is the father of actors Jason Robards III [1949- ] and Sam Robards [1961- ]. He died of lung cancer in 2000. Today we remember Jason Robards, Jr. on what would have been his 90^th birthday.

RIP Paco Moran

Francisco Moran Ruiz, better known as Paco Morán, died on Monday July 23, 2012 in Barcelona, Spain. He was 81 years old as reported by the Ministry of Culture of the Generalitat. Moran died from a pulmonary emphysema at the Clinica del Pilar of Barcelona.

Moran, was born in Almodóvar del Río, Cordoba, Andalucia, Spain on November 9, 1930. He ​​joined the Conservatory of Music and Declamation of Cordoba at the age of 17, where he studied drama , and later co-founded the Spanish Theatre University along with other peers, which performed works by renowned artists worldwide.

In 1957, he was a stage announcer at Radio Cordoba and then moved to Madrid and joined the players box National Radio of Spain and WIN Spanish Television, where he starred in more than 2,500 programs. But theater was his vocation and where he loved to perform.

In the 70′s he moved to Barcelona, ​​where he enjoyed great success in winning plays for the Catalan public with representation from 1994 to 1999 in "The Odd Couple," by Neil Simon, with the actress Joan Pera. He was also highlighted in other plays such as “Every Sheep with Their Partner” (1973), “Semicolon” (1987) and “The Cage of Flies” (2002).

Moran made over 75 film and TV appearances among them five Euro-westerns from “Torrejón City” in 1962 to “A Man, a Colt” in 1967. Paco was also a voice dubber and  was the Spanish voice of Aldo Sambrell in "A Train for Durango" (1969).

Midday Cowboy

Cowboy de mediodia – Spanish title

Midday Cowboy – English title

A 2002 Spanish production [Escandalo Films S.L. (Barcelona)]

Producer: Jofre Farre

Director: Alberto Blanco (Alberto Blanco Montes)

Story: Alberto Blanco (Alberto Blanco Montes)

Screenplay: Alberto Blanco (Alberto Blanco Montes)

Cinematography: Alberto Borque González [Kodakcolor]

Music: Javier Gimeno

Running time: 11 minutes

Cast:

Nicanor – Carlos Lucas (Carlos Ampuero)

Nicanor is a retired legendary cowboy. As we watch some of his usual daily activities such as trying to ride a horse or playing horseshoes, he recounts some of his alleged great deeds. Nicanor talks about what it was like to be in a place like the Old West as a respectable lawman, something that undoubtedly he has not achieved. The last representative of an endangered species, the old man recounts his adventures with an exaggerated bombast, shedding his narrative inconsistencies that make us suspect that he is not exactly who claims to be.

YouTube link: http://albertoborque.com/index.php?/films/cowboy-de-mediodia/

 

Remembering Todd Armstrong

John Harris Armstrong was born on July 25, 1937 in St. Louis, Missouri. He moved to California and studied acting at the Pasadena Playhouse College of Theatre Arts, where his classmates included Dustin Hoffman and Gene Hackman. His entry into films came when he was working as a landscape gardener for actress Gloria Henry, who played the mother on the Dennis the Menace television series. Henry learned of her gardener's acting aspirations and successfully arranged for Armstrong to get a screen test at Columbia.

Armstrong appeared in 13 episodes of the TV series “Manhunt” and had supporting roles in the 1962 films “Walk On The Wild Side” (where he was credited as Todd Anderson) and “Five Finger Exercise”. “Jason And The Argonauts” was his first starring role, although his voice was redubbed by an uncredited British actor, Tim Turner.

He had only one additional leading role, in Bryan Forbes' “King Rat” (1965); his later work consisted of supporting parts in films and guest work on television work including his only Euro-western “Thunder at the Border” (1966) with Rod Cameron. Todd died in Butte, California on November 17 1992 of a self-inflicted gunshot. Today we remember Todd Armstrong on what would have been his 75^th birthday.

Who Are Those Guys? - Poldo Bendandi

Leopoldo Bendandi was born in Ravenna, Italy on June 8, 1920. He operated a restaurant called “Wimpys Grill” in San Bartolo Fiorenzuoila until it closed in 1963. He then made his first film appearance in “I due evasi di Sing Sing” (1964). Because of his looks, big, bald, pock marked face, he is usually cast as a villain, blacksmith, townsman or henchman. He has appeared in films directed by Vittorio De Sica, Louis Malle, Carmello Bene and Sergio Leone. In his eight Euro-western appearances he’s billed as Poldo Bendandi. His last film appearance was in “I racconti di Viterbury - Le più allegre storie del '300” (1973).

BENDANDI, Poldo (Leopoldo Bendandi) [6/8/1920 Ravenna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy -     ] - TV actor.

Viva Maria! - 1965 (Werther)

The Fury of Johnny Kid- 1966 (Campos/Wolff henchman)

7 Magnificent Pistols - 1966

Pecos Cleans Up -1967

The Boldest Job in the West - 1967

Blazing Guns - 1971 (General Ubarte)

The Boldest Job in the West - 1971 (Deputy Ronny)

Duck You Sucker - 1971 (revolutionary)