RIP Lea Massari

 

Italian theater, film and TV actress Lea Massari died in Rome on June 23^rd. She was 91. Born Anna Maria Massata in on June 30, 1933, in Rome, she grew up between Rome, Switzerland, and France. She initially enrolled in an architecture school, but her interest in film soon took precedence. She chose the name Lea after the sudden death of her fiancé Leo, who was killed in a car accident just days before their wedding — a personal loss that remained private, but which left a lasting mark on the identity she would construct as an actress. She made her screen debut in 1954 with “Proibito”, directed by Mario Monicelli. He noticed her and cast her as Agnese, a rebellious young woman in a remote Sardinian village. From that moment on, Massari’s career followed a lateral path through Italian cinema — never quite absorbed into the mainstream, often selected precisely for the qualities that set her apart from dominant models of femininity. While she remained marginal in Italy compared to more conventional female stars, it was France that recognized her value with greater consistency. She worked with Claude Sautet, Louis Malle, René Clément, and Pierre Granier-Deferre. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, she moved between cinema and television. On stage, she played Rosetta in the first theatrical production of Rugantino, alongside Nino Manfredi. Lea starred in only one Spaghetti western along with American Craig Hill in 1968’s “I Want Him Dead” as Aloma

RIP Javier Franquelo

 

Veteran Spanish voice dubber and actor Javier Franquelo died in Madrid, Spain on June 24th. He was 91. Born Javier Franquelo Briales on February 14, 1934, in Malaga, Andalusia, Spain, he was best known as the Spanish voice of Mr. Burns on the TV series “The Simpsons”. He was also the voice of ' Professor Charles Xavier in the 'X-Men' saga, and Professor Hubert Farnsworth in 'Futurama.'. He retired from the world of dubbing in 2024. Franquelo dubbed a number of Spaghetti western films, videos and DVDs over the years. “Red Harvest” (1967) [Spanish voice of Antonio Molino Rojo), “Garden of Venus” (1979) [Spanish voice of Fernando Yapur], “30 Winchesters for El Diablo” (1984) [Spanish voice of unknown actors], “Fury of the Apaches” (1985) [Spanish voice of Niksa Stefanini], “Lucky Luke” (1985) [Spanish voice of unknown characters], “Viva Django1” (1985) [Spanish voice of George Eastman], “Wanted Johnny Texas” 1987 [Spanish voice of unknown actors], “Keoma” (1991) [Spanish voice of William Berger], “Posse” (1993) [Spanish voice of Woody Strode], “Zorro” (TV) (1998) [Spanish voice of Pat Fraley, Vinton Hayworth], “Outlaw Justice” (TV) (1999) [Spanish voice of Aldo Sambrell].

Little Known Spaghetti Western actors ~ Arturo Croce

[These daily posts will cover little known actors or people that have appeared in more recent films and TV series. Various degrees of information that I was able to find will be given and anything that you can add would be appreciated.]

Arturo Croce is/was an Italian character actor. He has only one film credit and that was for his only Spaghetti western appearance in 1968’s “Giurò... e li uccise ad unon ad uno” (Gun Shy Piluk).

CROCE, Arturo [Italian] – film actor.

Gun Shy Piluk – 1968

The Emigrants

Palace Films

August 26, 2022

WINNER - 2022 NORWEGIAN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (Best Film)

CENTREPIECE SELECTION - 2022 CARLSBERG SCANDINAVIAN FILM FESTIVAL

NOMINEE (x6) - 2022 SWEDISH ACADEMY AWARDS incl. Best Film, Best Actress (Carlehed) & Best Actor (Skarsgård)

From acclaimed director Erik Poppe (The King’s Choice, U-July 22), THE EMIGRANTS is a sweeping and evocative new adaptation of Vilhelm Moberg’s monumental series of novels about a family who migrate from poverty-stricken Sweden in the mid-19th century in the hope of a better life.

1849. Karl Oskar (Gustav Skarsgård, Kon-Tiki), his wife Kristina (a magnetic Lisa Carlehed) and their four young children are struggling to get by in the Swedish countryside, with crops scarce on their small farm. Determined to flee hardship, religious persecution and social oppression, they, along with many other Scandinavians, elect to make the epic journey across the Atlantic, enticed by the promise of free land in a booming Minnesota.

Reinterpreting this seminal story some fifty years after Max Von Sydow and Liv Ullmann starred in Jan Troell’s 1971 Oscar-nominated film, Poppe observes the events through the lens of today’s society, changing the perspective to that of Kristina, and the emotional turmoil of leaving a life behind.

With an ensemble cast featuring Tove Lo, The Bridge’s Sofia Helin and Lena Strömdahl, an exceptional original score by Johan Söderqvist and striking cinematography by John Christian Rosenlund that beautifully captures the danger and harshness of a divided, fledgling America, THE EMIGRANTS is a poignant and timeless story about belonging, and how much parents are willing to endure to improve their children’s lives and achieve their dreams.

The Emigrants

 

Utvandrarna – Swedish title

Utvandrarna - Sista brevet till Sverige – Swedish title

The Emigrants – New Zealand title

Udvandrerne – Danish title

Utvandrerne - Norwegian title

Los emigrantes – Argentinian title

Os Emigrantes – Brazilian title

Maastamuuttajat - Viimeinen kirje Ruotsiin – Finnish title

The Emigrants – French title

Utvandrarna – German title

Emigranci – Polish title

Эмигранты – Russian title

Los emigrantes – Spanish title

The Emigrants – U.S.A. title

 

A 2021 Swedish, New Zealand, Danish, Norwegian film co-production [Film i

     Västerbotten, Nordsvensk Filmunderhållning, Tre Vänner Produktion (Stockholm)]

Producers: Finn Gjerdrum, Michael Hjort, Tom King, Stein B. Kvae, Petter Skavlan,

     Fredrik Wikström Jenny Stjernströmer-Björk, Per Bouveng, Yaba Holst, Kate Myers,

     Peter Possne, Birgitte Skov, Martin Sundland, Brita Lundqvist, Victoria Holmbergh,

     Yaba Holst, Kate Myers, Peter Possne, Birgitte Skov, Martin Sundland

Director: Martin Sundland

Story: Utvandrarna and Invandrarna by Vilhelm Moberg

Screenplay: Erik Poppe, Siv Rajendram Eliassen

Cinematography: John Christian Rosenlund

Music: Johan Söderqvist

Running time: 148 minutes

 

Story: The struggles some Swedish farmers emigrating from Sweden to the United States in the 1840s and early 1850s.

 

Cast:

Kristina - Lisa Carlehed

Karl-Oskar - Gustaf Skarsgård

Ulrika – Tove Lo

Lill-Märta - Kerstin Linden

Judit - Sofia Helin

Petrus - Rasmus Lindgren

Tollef - Fredrik Hoyer

Mother Anna - Lena Strömdahl

Elin - Nova Salmi-Wikander

Mother Märta - Lena-Pia Bernhardsson

Nils - Kim Lantz

Pastor Jackson - Laurence Kinlan

Läkare - Stig Krogstad

Fina-Kajsa - Kicki Bramberg

Prosten Brusander - Jesper Arin

Anders Månsson – Eric stern

Wichahpi – Díana Bermudez

Samuel - Hannes Fohlin

Far Johan - Harald Knutsen-Öy

Länsmannen - Peter Järn

Pappa Johan - Clas Göran Söllgård

Ensam resenär - Goran Aliskanovic

Ung man - Feihong Basigu

Godisman - Iulian Burciu

Emigrant - Rebecca Runfors Carlzzon

Sioux - Jimmy Tripolitsiotis

Sioux-mannens - Tymon Carter, Owen Crow Shoe

Galen man - Paul Cimpoieru

Anna - Emma Comstedt

Smed - Stefan Cronwall

Bykvinna - Emelie Dahlskog

Johan 7 years-old - Hartvig Dimbodius

Båtpassagerare - Ellen Elvung

Kristinas vän - Kajsa Ericsson

Harald 1 år gammal - Vincent Folkesson

Harald 5 år gammal - Caspian Fornänger

Filip - Filip Krizmanic Gajski

Dirigent - Duncan Green

Lilla Ulrika 1 månad gammal - Ester Gunnarsson

Lilla Ulrika 8 månader gammal - Vidia Gustafsson

Ensam resenär - Pedram Hajigholi

Kapten Lorentz - Stig Henrik Hoff

Harald - Noah Härling

Lilla Ulrika 4 år gammal - Moa Johansson

Spanska emigranter - Eduard Jörgen

Pritzel-säljare - Christian Kinell

Kvinnan mellan tågvagnar - Lotti Klug

Harald 2 år gammal - Vidar Knutsen-Öy

Båtpassagerare - Mari Loewen

Saloonägare - James Longshore

Landsman - Ola Normelli

Ulrikas hembiträde - Iulia Poptean

Sjöman - Mikkel Bratt Silset

Hamnkoordinator - Alexandru Simion

Herr Abbot - Erwin Simsensohn

Indisk man - Adrian Taheri

Sjöman - Jacob Otterström

With: Florin Zhang

Stunt coordinators - Martin Zetterlund, Jonathan Wiberg

Stunts: Maria Rådman

Who Are Those Guys? ~ Arnaldo Fabrizio

 

Arnaldo Fabrizio was a dwarf actor born in Schiavi di Abruzzo, Chieti, Abruzzo, Italy on September 11, 1943. Sometimes billed as Fabrizio Arnaldo, Little Goliath, he left his home at a young age for Rome and found work as a garage mechanic. It was here he met the actor Vittorio Gassman. Vittorio helped him launch his career in films. Arnaldo appeared in seventeen films between his first appearance in 1961’s “Barabbas” and his final appearance in “Ginger & Fred” in 1984. After the turn of the century Fabrizio returned to Abruzzo dividing his time between Schiavi, his hometown, and his new residence in San Salvo. Here he lived a peaceful life until his death on August 12, 2021, at the age of 77.

Arnaldo appeared in three Spaghetti westerns: “Garter Colt” in 1968 as Lulu's 'Baby', “Boot Hill” in 1969 as Nano and in “God Will Forgive My Pistol” in 1969 as Burt.

FABRIZIO, Arnaldo (aka Fabrizio Arnaldo, Little Goliath) [9/11/1943, Schiavi di Abruzzo, Chieti, Abruzzo, Italy – 8/12/2021, Chieti, Abruzzo, Italy] – dwarf film actor.

Garter Colt – 1968 (Lulu's 'Baby') [as Fabrizio Arnaldo]

Boot Hill – 1969 (Nano)

God Will Forgive My Pistol - 1969 (Burt)

Special Birthdays

Erich Kestin [voice actor] would have been 130 today but died in 1969.

Peer Augustinski [voice actor] would have been 85 today but died 2014.

RIP Alvaro Vitali

 

Italian comic actor Alvaro Vitali died of bronchial pneumonia in Rome on June 24^th. He was 75. Born in Rome on February 3, 1950 he was discovered by Federico Fellini and played a small part in “Satyricon” (1969), which led, to other roles, notably in the movie “Amarcord” (1973). In the 1970s, Vitali became one of the most charismatic actors in the commedia erotica all'italiana (erotic comedy) genre. He was very popular in Spain and France as well. He recently worked for the satirical TV show ‘Striscia la notizia’ in a parody of Ferrari manager Jean Todt. Vitali was married to singer, songwriter Stefania Corona from 2006 until they divorced earlier this year. Alvaro appeared in one Spaghetti western in an uncredited role in “Partirono preti, tornarono... curati” (Halleluja to Vera Cruz) starring Lionel Stander.