Remembering Anna Arena

Ada Anna Arena was born on June 21, 1919 in Quiliano, Savona, Liguria, Italy. Anna began, at a very young age, as a stage actress in local companies; in 1941 she made her entry into films, playing a small role in “C'è un fantasma nel castello”, by director Giorgio Simonelli, who specialized in this kind of film. While participating in a large number of films, Arena’s career was relegated to second tier films as a minor character actress.

 
The only exception is her participation, but still in a secondary role, was in “Il bell'Antonio”, the film was directed by Mauro Bolognini in 1960 and based on the novel by Vitaliano Brancati, whose screenplay was also worked on by Pierpaolo Pasolini.
 
As a side note; the well-known actor Maurizio Arena (born Maurizio Di Lorenzo) chose his pseudonym in tribute to the actress, who he was romantically linked for a few years, despite the strong difference in their age.
 
Anna appeared in only one Euro-western: “The Dream of Zorro” (1951) as a washer woman.
 
Arena died in Jesolo, Veneto, Italy on August 19, 1974.
 
Today we remember Anna Arena on what would have been her 95^th birthday.

Guess Who I Am

I’m an Italian actress born in Codroipo in 1931.

 
I’ve appeared in over 40 films from 1960-1990 including one Euor-western.4
 
Today I’m active in promoting my circus.
 
Guess who I am.

An annonimous reader guessed correctly that this week's photo is that of Moira Orfei.

Who Are Those Guys? - Tomás Blanco

 

Tomás Blanco Garcia was born in Bilbao, Biscay, Spain on November 19, 1910. At 18 he enlisted hoping to make a military career in the army in the Foreign Legion. Here he remained stationed in

Morocco until 1931.

 
After leaving the military, he moved to Madrid and made ​​his debut in the theater in 1933 with the Society of Josefina Diaz, to be followed by those of Maria Fernanda Ladron de Guevara, TARSILA Criado and Carmen Echevarria.
 
After the Civil War he made his debut in the cinema with “Un caballero fabuloso” ( 1942 ) directed by José Buchs and resumed his stage career with the Company Membrives Lola.
 
For four decade Tomás developed a film career almost always appearing in supporting roles, but fraught with prestigious titles that made him one of the most prolific actors in the Spanish cinema. During the 1960s he was also a regular in Euro-westerns appearing in 14 films.
 
Blanco also appeared on television since the very advent of the medium in Spain. He was one of the regular faces in the dramas of the time, participating in dozens of titles on Studio 1 or Novel.
 
Blanco died on July 16, 1990 in Madrid, Madrid, Spain. He was 79 years-old.
 

BLANCO, Tomás (Tomás Blanco Garcia) [11/10/1910, Bilbao, Biscay, Spain - 7/16/1990, Madrid,

Madrid, Spain] - TV actor.

Billy the Kid - 1963 (Tom Carter)
Heroes of the West - 1963 (Mayor Ortes)
Charge of the 7^th - 1964 (Confederate General)
The Secret of Captain O’Hara – 1964 (Colonel Robert Patterson)
Shoot to Kill – 1964 (Colonel)
Welcome Padre Murray - 1964 (Burton)
Charge of the Seventh - 1965 (general)
For a Few Dollars More - 1965 (Tucumcari Sheriff)
Shoot to Kill - 1965
A Few Bullets More - 1967 (Sheriff of Lincoln)
15 Scaffolds for a Killer - 1968 (Clark Bennett)
I Want Him Dead - 1968 (Mac)
The Secret of Captain O’Hara - 1968 (Colonel Robert Patterson)
Raise Your Hands, Dead Man, You’re Under Arrest – 1971 (Arthur Carson)

$20,000 ON NUMBER SEVEN

20.000 dollari sul 7 – Italian title
Ventimila Dollari Sul Sette – Italian title
20.000 dollars for 7 liv – Danish title
20.000 $ sur le 7 – French title
Rächer ohne Gnade – German title
Blutiger Staub – German title
Gringo, o tromokratis – Greek title
20.000 dolares al siete – Spanish title
$20,000 On # 7 – Englisht title
$20,000 On Number 7 – English title
 
A 1966 Italian production [I.E. Cine (Rome)]
Producer:
Director: Alberto Cardone (as Albert Cardiff)
Story: Roberto Miali, Gino Santini
Screenplay: Roberto Miali, Gino Santini
Cinematography: Gino Santini [Eastmancolor, widescreen]
Music: Franco Reitano, Gianni Sanjust
Running time: 91 minutes
 
Cast:
Jerry Kingio/Sterlin Ascot – Jerry Wilson (Roberto Miali)
Peggy - Aurora Batista
Jack Collins – Mike Anthony (Adriano Micantoni)
Ringo – Spean Convery (Spartaco Conversi)
Tyler Stiles – Doro Corrá (Teodoro Corrá)
Guy/Rod - Hector Boilleaux
With: Humbert Salom, Valentino Macchi, Roberto Danesi

Jerry King goes to Templeton in search of the murderer of his brother Regan. At Templeton discovers the existence of a gang led by two men, one of which is certainly who he’s looking for. After several mishaps and adventures, Rod, one of the leaders, it turns out to Jerry offering to make the game clock. At the time of final fight, while Rod is proving to Jerry who the murderess is, is killed by Gringo, the real leader who has been maneuvering the whole gang, and had killed Regan. In the duel with Jerry, Gringo gets the worst of it and the gang is broken up. The country returns to peaceful tranquility.

A Word on Western Spaghetti Western Luncheon

[Front Row Tom Betts, Bill Lustig. Back Row Marty Kove, Rob Word, Robert Woods, Brett Halsey]

A great lunch and presentation at the Autry Museum yesterday, Robert Woods, Brett Halsey discussed their careers in Italy and Spain making Spaghetti westerns, I was able to talk about Spaghetti westerns and the fanzine WAI!, producer Bill Lustig discussed his love of the genre and releasing some of the best like Django and an upcoming Blu-Ray release of Companeros. Marty Kove finished by telling of his meeting with Sergio Leone at Canne’s and then his audition for “Once Upon a Time in America”.

 
Thanks to Rob Word for another great MC job and a fun filled luncheon program where even had Spaghetti dinner.
 
You can catch A Word on Westerns every third Wednesday of the month at the Autry Museum free of charge at 12-2 p.m.

$20,000 ON SEVEN

20.000 dollari sul 7 – Italian title

Ventimila Dollari Sul Sette – Italian title
20.000 dollars for 7 liv – Danish title
20.000 $ sur le 7 – French title
Rächer ohne Gnade – German title
Blutiger Staub – German title
Gringo, o tromokratis – Greek title
20.000 dolares al siete – Spanish title
$20,000 on # 7 – Englisht title
$20,000 on Number 7 – English title
 
A 1966 Italian production [I.E. Cine (Rome)]
Producer:
Director: Alberto Cardone (as Albert Cardiff)
Story: Roberto Miali, Gino Santini
Screenplay: Roberto Miali, Gino Santini
Cinematography: Gino Santini [Eastmancolor, widescreen]
Music: Franco Reitano, Gianni Sanjust
Running time: 91 minutes
 
Cast:
Jerry Kingio/Sterlin Ascot – Jerry Wilson (Roberto Miali)
Peggy - Aurora Batista
Jack Collins – Mike Anthony (Adriano Micantoni)
Ringo – Spean Convery (Spartaco Conversi)
Tyler Stiles – Doro Corrá (Teodoro Corrá)
Guy/Rod - Hector Boilleaux
With: Humbert Salom, Valentino Macchi, Roberto Danesi

Jerry King goes to Templeton in search of the murderer of his brother Regan. At Templeton discovers the existence of a gang led by two men, one of which is certainly who he’s looking for. After several mishaps and adventures, Rod, one of the leaders, it turns out to Jerry offering to make the game clock. At the time of final fight, while Rod is proving to Jerry who the murderess is, is killed by Gringo, the real leader who has been maneuvering the whole gang, and had killed Regan. In the duel with Jerry, Gringo gets the worst of it and the gang is broken up. The country returns to peaceful tranquility.

Word on Westerns

Today, Wednesday, June 18th, as he does on the third Wednesday of every month, Western historian, filmmaker and raconteur Rob Word will be leading a lively discussion about Spaghetti Westerns, after a delicious lunch.  In addition to the previously announced Euro-western stars Brett Halsey and Robert Woods, also on the dais be Tom Betts, who writes the fascinating and informative blog Westerns… All’Italiana ; and Bill Lustig, director of MANIAC and VIGILANTE, and President of BLUE UNDERGROUND, a video company that restores and releases the crème de le crème of Spaghetti Westerns! – for proof, Courtney Joyner and I will be working for him later in the week, doing commentary for Sergio Corbucci’s COMPANEROS, starring Franco Nero, Tomas Milian and Jack Palance.  Lunch is at 12:30, the event is free, but you buy your own grub – and in honor of the special occasion, the menu will include spaghetti and buffalo meatballs in a garlic tomato sauce!  And get there early – at last month’s John Wayne salute, the restaurant was packed, and some attendees were in the courtyard, listening to the p.a. system.  ~ Henry’s Western Round-up