Christmas 2019

Spaghetti Western Locations ~ Flagstone (La Calahorra)

For the realization of the great set of Flagstone the town of “Once Upon a Time in the West” (1968) the area immediately north of La Calahorra station was chosen, an open and very photogenic area thanks to the magnificent background (towards the north) constituted from the Sierra de Gor-Baza. The land was owned by the Garcia Ruiz family and was rented for ten years, where there was a farmhouse that is integrated into the complex designed by Carlo Simi, with the collaboration of Carlo Leva. Famous for the appearance of the city of Flagstone in “Once Upon a Time in the West”, where Jill (Claudia Cardinale), leaves the station building and starts towards the main road. The camera lift rises above the wooden tiles of the roof of the building to reveal the city, while the voice of Edda de Orso launches into a crescendo. In a subsequent sequence we then see Jill in Sam's buggy (Paolo Stoppa) crossing the main street of the city, which is similar to a construction site: a swarm of men on foot and on horseback, wagons, a horse-drawn tram loaded with passengers, workers. The town of Flagstone is a very expensive set, which included about thirty buildings located on the main road south-north: the station; the large barn where carts and buggies are also rented: the large hotel-saloon; the bank; shops; the new theater (under construction); the Chinese laundry; the blacksmith workshop; the barber's shop; warehouses and, at the end of the built-up area (to the north), the sawmill. While some buildings of the set consist only of the façade, others are complete, therefore suitable for internal filming, such as the railway station, the large barn, the hotel-saloon, and the barber's shop. The hotel-saloon, the bank and the theater, which have considerable dimensions are of a solid brick structure, and still survive, even if reduced to skeletons. There is also some walls of the building of the large stable, built in adobe, characterized by a high pyramid-shaped chimney, also in adobe and with wooden armor. The remains of this building was subsequently incorporated into a structure that includes a complex of sheds that host flocks of sheep and goats. Today, the former hotel-saloon is part of this structure, which was originally enriched with a wooden portico on the front and on the west side and a covered terrace (also in wood) on the first floor. On the brick wall on the front side and on the west side was the inscription "The Gold Coin Palace Hotel" and on a wooden sign on the front "Flagstone Saloon". The great set of the city of Flagstone, with some changes and enlargements, was then used in the film "The Price of Power" (1969) by Tonino Valerii, in which it represents the city of Dallas (Texas), and then in two western co-productions from Rafran, the movie house created by Sergio Leone. In the first – “My Name Is Nobody” (1973), directed by Tonino Valerii - it represents two distinct cities: the one in which Nobody (Terenece Hill) happens upon during a fair and where he demonstrates his ability to use the gun to Jack Beauregard (Henry Fonda) and where, subsequently, the two witness the arrival of the knights of the Wild Bunch. The last part of this film also uses the nearby station: La Calahorra: and the set for the sequence in which Terence Hill steals the train on which the soldiers have loaded gold bars; to the east a warehouse appears (with a curved roof made of sheet metal) on which there is the inscription "Magazine Golden Plume Limited", which can still be seen. Also in part of this sequence is the "Public Urinal" scene shot by Sergio Leone. The successive sequence of the battle between Henry Fonda and the knights of the wild and filmed along the railway linking the station of La Calahorra with the mines of Alquife (it is framed on both towards the Sierra Nevada and towards the Sierra de Gor-Baza) and takes advantage of the splendid and ample scenery of the Llanos of the Marquesado of the Cenete.

In the second western by Rafran – “The Genius” (1975), directed by Damiano Damiani - the set of the city built for “Once Upon a Time in the West” represents Tucumcari (New Mexico) in the second sequence (which also includes the opening credits) in which we see the protagonist arrive, Joe Thanks (Terence Hill), with the diligence and then challenge the gunslinger Doc (Klaus Kinski) on the "Main Street". For this western, the saloon building is renovated, with large terraces on the front side, where the sign "Chaco Canyon Saloon" appears. And the set then represents Phoenix (Arizona) in another sequence. After this film the set built at the La Calahorra station is no longer used by the cinema and falls into disrepair. All the useful material is taken by the inhabitants of neighboring ranches and homes. But a few years ago its surreal atmosphere, as a phantom city, was rediscovered and enhanced for commercials: as an example the brick skeletons of the surviving edifice appear in a commercial for the country music CD "On the Road", in which you can also see the road that, going through the buildings themselves, goes towards Churches and the wide surrounding scenery.

 

“Once Upon a Time in the West” (1968)

“The Price of Power” (1969)

“My Name is Nobody” 1973

“The Genius”

Special Birthdays

Armando Calvo (actor) would have been 100 today, he died in 1996.

50th Anniversary of “Night of the Serpent”

Yesterday December 24th marked the 50^th anniversary of the Rome premier of “Night of the Serpent” directed by Giulio Petroni and starring Luke Askew, Luigi Pistilli, Chelo Alonso and Luciano Casamonica. This was Askews only Euro-western film.   

Don Venustiano, the mayor of a small Mexican village, with the innkeeper Ignacio, and a prostitute named Jesus Maria Dolores, have joined forces to get the little orphan Manuel, hoping to collect, the ten thousand dollars that his father left him for an inheritance. Lieutenant Hernandez, the local police chief, however, discovers their plan - which is to kill the child - and has asked for and received by threatening their lives, a part in the deal. Hernandez convinces the bandit Antonio Pancaldo to hire him in exchange for five hundred pesos; a hit man who once has performed the task should be hanged, not to arouse suspicion. The hit man is a gringo named Luke, who has been reduced to an abject drunk for killing his son during a stupid challenge. Arriving at the village, Luke, rejected by all, is befriended by Manuel, who lives with a woman, Mary, who has always cared for him. Gradually Luke takes a liking to Manuel and when he discovers that he is the person he’s been hired to kill, not only refuses to commit the crime, but assumes the protection of the child. Don Venustiano is found dead - hanged by the Hernandez - Dolores is found murdered. Luke manages to rescue Manuel from the hands of Ignacio and finally faces Lieutenant Hernandez, killing him.

La notte dei serpenti – Italian title

Ringo uccidi – Italian title

Gringo uccidi e’… la note dei serpenti – Italian title

Un tueur nommé Luke – French title

Nacht der Schlange – German title

I polis tis orgis – Greek title

La noche de los serpientes – Spanish title

Ringo Kill – English title

Nest of Vipers – English title

Night of the Serpent – English title

A 1969 Italian production [Ascot, Cineraid, Madison Cinematografica (Rome)]

Producer: Gianni Minervini

Director: Giulio Petroni

Story: Fulvia Gicca (Fulvia Palli)

Screenplay: Fulvia Gicca (Fulvia Palli), Enzo Gica Palli (Lorenzo Palli), Giulio Petroni

Cinematography: Mario Vulpiani, Silvio Fraschetti [Technicolor, Techniscope]

Music: Riz Ortolani (Riziero Ortolani)

Running time: 108 minutes

Cast:

Luke – Luke Askew (Francis Askew)

Lieutenant Hernandez – Luigi Pistilli

Dolores – Chelo Alonzo (Alicia Garcia)

Manuel – Luciano Casamonica

Pancho – Benito Stefanelli

Ignacio – Giancarlo Badessi

Maria – Magda Konopka

Antonio Pancaldo – William Bogart (Guglielmo Spoletini)

Luciano – Franco Balducci

Ignazio’s wife – Monica Miguel

Sacristan – Franco Valobra

Barman – Alfonso Giganti

With: Liliana Pavlovic (Liliana Pavlo), Bruno Boschetti, Paola Natale, Clara Colosimo (Alessandro Panaro)

Limosna de amores

Limosna de amores – Spanish title

Tu y las nubes – Mexican title

Você e as Nuvens – Brazilian title

[You and the Clouds – English translated title]

[Alms of Love – English translated title]

A 1955 Spanish, Mexican co-productiuon [Suevia Films, Diana Film]

Producer: Cesar Gonzales, Fernando de Fuentes Jr.

Director: Miguel Morayta

Story: Maria Luisa Algarra, Vicente J. Fayos

Screenplay: Miguel Morayta, Carlos Sampelayo

Cinematography: Víctor Herrera [black & white]

Music:

Running time: 93 minutes

Cast:

Dolores Montero – Lola Flores

Mariachi – Vargas de Tecalitrán

Miguel - Miguel Aceves Mejía

With Carlos Bravo y Fernández, Florencio Castelló, José Chávez, Carmen Flores , Enrique García Álvarez, Elmo Michel, Carlos Orellana, Antonio Padilla 'Pícoro', Raúl Ramírez, Fernando Soto

On a highway from Mexico they drive to the capital, Dolores Montero, Andalusian singer and dancer, with her folklore company. Within walking distance of the city, when passing through a wooded area, three individuals, gun in hand, seize the car and the luggage of the artists. Luckily, Miguel, owner of the Castillejo farm, invites her to his home. Over time, Dolores discovers that the robbery has been the revenge of a bullfighter stripped by the rebuffs she made in Spain. And at the same time, he begins to feel an attraction for Miguel, who admires him for his manhood and his nobility.

[Thanks to Biltmore for finding and submitting this film for inclusion.]

Special Birthdays

Herbert Reinecker (aka Alex Berg) (screenwriter) would have been 105 today, he died in 2007.

David F. Friedman (screenwriter, actor) would have been 95 today, he died in 2011.

Mircea Diaconu (actor) is 70 today.

Raphael Boshart (actor) is 25 today.

50th Anniversary of El Puro

Today marks the 50^th anniversary of the Rome premier of “El Puro” directed by Edoardo Mulargia and starring Robert Woods. Mario Brega Aldo Berti, Maurizio Bonuglia and Rosalba Neri.

El Puro, a once feared gunfighter, is living in a border town. The famous gunman is now an alcoholic and is abused by the populace at every turn. His only friend is a saloon girl named Rosie. She takes care of him and hopes to save enough money for the two of them to go away together. Meanwhile, and escaped convict name Gypsy Boots arrives in town with his gang of killers. Gypsy is looking for El Puro to settle an old score and collect the $10,000 bounty on his head. Gypsy is a pathetic character himself who is haunted by his former reputation which he can no longer live up to. Rosie protects El Puro at the cost of her life which finally brings the man to his senses and he faces the gang to avenge her death.

Over the years this small gem developed into a cult classic, so much so, that in 2014 plans were drawn up to make a sequel that never materialized.

La taglia è tua... l'uomo l'ammazzo io - Italian title
El Puro se sienta, espera y dispara - Spanish title
El Puro - O Procurado - Brazilian title
El Puro, la rancon est pour toi - French title
The Rewards Yours... The Man’s Mine - English title
El Puro - English title

A 1969 Italian, Spanish co-production [Filmar C.C. (Rome), IFI Espana (Madrid)]
Producer: Gino Rossi
Director: Edward G. Muller (Edoardo Mulargia)
Story: Fabrizio Gianni, Fabio Piccioni
Screenplay: Ignacio F. Iquino, Fabrizio Gianni, Fabio Piccioni, Edoardo Mulargia
Cinematography: Antonio L. Ballesteros (Antonio Lopez Ballesteros), Edoardo Mulargia [Ferraniacolor, Cromoscope]
Music: Alessandro Alessandroni
Running time: 121 minutes

Cast:
Joe Bishop/’El Puro’ - Robert Woods
Dolph - Maurizio Bonuglia
Tim - Mario Brega
Rosie - Rosalba Neri
Cassidy - Aldo Berti
Fernando - Fabrizio Gianni
Babe - Mariangela Giordana (Maria Giordana)
Gypsy Boots - Ashborn Hamilton Jr. (Marco Fiorini)
Specs - Gustavo Re
Charlie - Angelo Desi (Angelo Desideri)
Antonio - Giusva Fioravanti (Giuseppe Fioravanti)
Saloon owner - Lisa Seagram