Remembering Viktoria von Ballasko

Viktoria Maria Franziska Ballasko was born on January 24, 1909 in Vienna, Austria-Hungary. The daughter of a government official she attended the Academy of Performing Arts in Vienna. Starting in 1929 she had stage engagements in Bern, Chemnitz and Breslau, and in 1935 she appeared in the Berlin theater on Schiffbauerdamm. Her first experience as a voice actress came in 1935/36 on a Luis Trenker the film. Her first starring role was in the 1936 film “Kinderarzt Dr. Engel” with Paul Hörbiger. She then appeared in her only Euro-western “The Emperor of California” (1936) as Anna Sutter, directed by Luis Trenker. More starring roles followed with such films as “Kennwort Machin” (1939), with Albert Hehn, “Die Geliebte” (1939), with Willy Fritsch, “Im Schatten des Berges” (1940), with Attila Hörbiger and “Der Majoratsherr” (1943/44), with Willy Birgel. The blonde, girlish and fragile-looking actress was type set to that of a low-key, self-sacrificing understanding woman.

 
After the end of World War II Viktoria for a time worked as a radio and voice actress. Then she co-wrote with Udo Vietz the screenplay for the short documentary “Anmut und Kraft”, before she received more offers for roles as an actress. In addition to two DEFA productions “Und wieder 48” (1948), by Gustav von Wangenheim and “Unser täglich Brot” (1949), by Slatan Dudow ). She still appeared in some West German films before she ended her career in the late 1950s.
 
As a voice actress she lent her voice to among others Annabella “Das Mädchen mit der Maske” and Joan Fontaine in “Oh, Susanne!”.
 
von Ballasko died on May 10, 1976 in West Berlin, Germany.
 
Today we remember Viktoria von Ballasko on what would have been her 105^th birthday.

RIP Riz Ortolani

Italian composer Riz Ortolani died today January 23, 2014 from bronchitis. He was 87. Ortolani was one of Italy’s most well-known composers on the world stage. He composed over 300 scores for films. Among which were scores for a dozen Euro-westerns including “Day of Anger” (1967) and “Madron” (1970) “The Hunting Party” (1971), and “Massacre at Fort Holman (1972).

 
Born in Pesaro, Italy on March 25, 1926, the youngest of six brothers, Rizziero Ortolani had graduated in flute at age 19 and in his early twenties had entered RAI as an arranger of radio orchestras. In 1954 he signed his first radio show, "Occhio Magico" as a conductor. His work for the cinema kicked off in the early 1960s with the soundtrack of the documentary, "Mondo Cane", whose main theme, "More," sung by his wife Katyna Ranieri, earned him an Oscar nomination for best score in 1964.
 
Riz Ortolani would go on to receive two Golden Globe awards, two Oscar nominations, one Grammy Award and five David di Donatello. A few months ago, in October 2013, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the World Festival.
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=petzEpX3_28

Who Are Those Guys? John Bindon

John Bindon was born in Fulham, London, England on October 4, 1943. The son of a London cab driver, Bindon was frequently in trouble as a youth for getting into fights, and spent two periods in Borstal. He was spotted in a London pub by Ken Loach who asked him to star in his film “Poor Cow” (1967). Other film and television productions followed, with Bindon being sought after to play gangsters or tough police detectives. He played a violent mobster alongside Mick Jagger in “Performance” (1970) and a London crime boss in “Get Carter” (1971). Bindon appeared as John Coulter alongside Richard Harris in the 1971 Euro-western “Man in the Wilderness. Bindon was described as "the archetypal actor-villain, and an all-round 'good geezer'".
 
He was also known for having many socialite girlfriends, such as Christine Keeler, the former Playboy "Bunny Girl" Serena Williams and Vicki Hodge, who had a 12-year abusive relationship with Bindon. Through Hodge, Bindon gained access to British aristocratic circles, which culminated with his meeting Princess Margaret in the late 1960s, at her home on Mustique in the Caribbean. Bindon claimed he had sex with the princess, whilst Margaret later denied the meeting ever took place despite photographic evidence.
 
Bindon lived his hard man persona on and off screen. He was believed to be running protection rackets in west London pubs and to have had alleged connections to the Kray twins and the Richardson Gang. In the late 1970s in addition to acting work he provided security for actors and musicians, most notoriously for Led Zeppelin on their 1977 U.S. tour, where he was sacked for brawling backstage. In 1978 Bindon was tried for the murder of London gangster Johnny Darke. Bindon pleaded self-defense and was acquitted, but the case damaged his reputation, and this coupled with being seen as difficult to work with by directors meant his acting career declined. In the 1980s Bindon became reclusive and died on October 10, 1993 from an AIDS related illness.


BINDON, John [10/4/1943, Fulham, London, England, U.K. – 10/10/1993, Belgravia, London, England, U.K. (AIDS)] – stage, TV actor.
Man in the Wilderness – 1971 (John Coulter)

RIP Fred Bertelmann

 

German pop singer and actor Fred Bertelman died at his home in Berg, Bavaria, Germany. He was 88. Bertelmann sold over 40 million records. His super hit was "Der lachende Vagabund" made in 1957. "The song made me rich and famous." Bertelman once said in an interview. The record sold five million copies. The song was an integral part of his stage performances and led to his making films, records and other musical performances in the United States possible. Other successful titles were "In Hamburg sind die Nächte lang", "Arrivederci Roma" und "Wenn es Nacht wird in Montana".

 

Bertelmann was one of the most successful German pop artist in the fifties and sixties. Born in Duisburg, the singer last lived in Berg am Starnberger See. He was married to the former television presenter and actress Ruth Kappelsberger since 1966. In the course of his career Bertelsmann sold more than 40 million records. Many of his tunes have become standards.

Decisive in his formative were his experiences as an American prisoner of war. There Bertelmann learned of the swing music of Glenn Miller. "The Americans have given us music and musical instruments. Imprisonment was forever the foundation of everything," Bertelmann once said .

After the return from captivity Bertelmann started a band and then performed as a singer with a Swedish orchestra. In order to finance his vocal studies, he played Dixie and Swing music in Nuremberg bars.

 

Fred appeared and performed in the 1966 Euro-western musical "A Fistful of Songs" and sang the song “Wenn ich dich anseh”.

RIP Stanford Tischler

December 25, 1921, Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania - January 15, 2014, Los Angeles, California. Stan Tischler passed away January 15, 2014 at the age of 92. An accomplished film editor and producer, Stan won an Emmy and an Eddie award for his work on the hit television series M*A*S*H. He was a loving husband, father and grandfather. Services will be held Sunday, January 19 at 3pm, Mt. Sinai Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the City of Hope. "Goodbye, Farewell and Amen.".

 

Stan was an associate producer on the 1972 Euro-western "The Proud and the Damned" starring Chuck Connors.

THE TERROR OF OKLAHOMA

Il terrore dell’Oklahoma – Italian title

La terreur de l’Oklahoma – French title
Terror in Oklahoma – German title
O tromokratis tis Oklahomas – Greek title
Terror in Oklahoma – English title
The Terror of Oklahoma – U.S.A. title
 
A 1959 Italian production [Betauno Film (Rome)]
Producer: Guido Paolucci
Director: Mario Amendola
Story: Mario Amendola
Screenplay: Mario Amendola
Cinematography: Adalberto Albertini [black & white, Ultrascope]
Music: Manuel Parada, Carlo Innocenzi
Song: "Favoloso Far West" sung by ?

Running time: 93 minutes

 
Cast:
Clay ‘Terror of Oklahoma’ Norton – Maurizio Arena (Maurizio Di Lorenzo)
Bethsabee/Betsabea – Delia Scala (Odette Bedogni)
Doctor Jeremiah McNamara – Mario Carotenuto
Duke Travis – Livio Lorenzon
Joe – Toni Ucci (Antonio Ucci)
Ali Martin – Nino Nini
Virginian – Alfredo Rizzo
Terry Sozzo – Tiberio Murgia
Sheriff Benny – Alberto Bonucci
Shirley – Valeria Moriconi
Bill Fuoricentro - Elio Crovetto (Valerio Abbozzeti)
Bogart – Alberto Farnese (Alberto Quaglini)
Member of the Bouganville family - Alberto Sorrentino
Miss Moorey - Pupella Maggio (Giustina Maggio)
saloon dancer - Helen Sedlack (Elena Sedlack)
With:  Elena Sedlack, Paolo Gozlino, Anita Todesco, Vittorio Mafrino, Paola Certini, Benito Stefanelli, Adalberto Albertini, Carlo Pisacane, Bruno Smith, Omberto Valmori, Bruno Ukmar, Goffredo Spinedi, Giuliano Mancini, Livio Ceserani, Gillian Horart, Emanuel Yan, Pauline Dowling, 

Rio Placido is a small town in the West, where life is lived peacefully. But this idyllic peace is compromised on a day when a gang of outlaws arrives in town. They’ve learned there is a gold mine in the vicinity of the town. By their violent ways they try and induce the inhabitants to abandon their homes and lands, leaving them the exclusive exploitation of the mine. The inhabitants of Rio Placido do not intend to suffer the arrogance of the bandits, and to be able to effectively oppose their claims, they hire a famous gunslinger, called “The Terror of Oklahoma”, who they entrust the job of ridding the country of the outlaws. The gunman however, whose courage is not equal to his fame, is very doubtful that the gunman, that he can satisfactorily fulfill the mandate entrusted to him, because the local sheriff, who is to support him and work with him, is a very timid man. The situation, which looks unpromising, changes as a result of a large family of Quakers, who so far have always been loyal to the doctrine of non-violence, have changed their religious beliefs, and this allows the various members of the families to take up their rifles and vanquish the villains, helping him "The Terror of Oklahoma" out of tight situation.

Remembering Telly Savalas

Aristotelis ‘Telly’ Savalas was born on January 21, 1924 in Garden City, New York. The son of Greek immigrants, Savalas and his brother George ‘Gus’ [1924-1985] who also became an actor, sold newspapers and shined shoes to help support the family. In 1941, he joined the army and served in World War II, from which he was discharged with a Purple Heart disability. After his release, Savalas attended the Armed Forces Institute where he studied radio and television production. He went on to enroll at Columbia University where he continued his studies in psychology. During the early 1950s In the 1950s, Savalas gained production experience on ABC radio’s ‘Voice of America’ and then became the executive producer of his own award-winning talk show, ‘Telly's Coffee House’. Often casted as a villain, in 1962 Savalas earned an Oscar nomination for “Birdman of Alcatraz”. One of his more popular roles was playing a New York City detective in the hit TV series ‘Kojak’ (1973-1978). After Kojak ended, Savalas embarked on a globe-trotting existence involving several forgettable European films and a decadent, self-indulgent lifestyle. Though he periodically revived the character of Kojak in a few 1980s TV movies, his new role as credit card spokesperson likely earned him more air time. Telly appeared in five Euro-westerns from “Land Raiders” (1969) as Vince Carden to “Sonny & Jed” (1972) as Sheriff Franciscus.  

 
He died on January 22, 1994, in Universal City, California where he owned and ran a bar.
 
Today we remember Telly Savalas on what would have been his 90^th birthday.