Remembering Ramón Torrado

Ramón Torrado Estrada on April 5, 1905 in A Coruña, Galicia, Spain. He was the brother of playwright Adolfo Torrado. Ramón was a painter exhibiting his work in Spain and America before becoming interested in a film career. He began as a consultant and set designer. During his career he was an assistant director, screenwriter, composer, actor and director in over 50 films among them were four Euro-westerns: “Wlecome Padre Murray” (1962), “Relevo para un pistolero” (1963), “Shoot to Kill” (1963), and “Cavalry Charge” (1964). Torrado died in 1990 in Madrid, Spain. Today we remember Ramón Torrado on what would have been his 105th birthday.

Easter 2010

Spaghetti Western Hall of Fame

On April 2, 2010, I was honored by the Spaghetti Western Data Base being elected to the Spaghetti Western Hall of Fame, as a non-participant. This honor was bestowed upon me and others for my accomplishments and contributions to the Spaghetti Western industry. I was deeply moved and want to thank the Spaghetti Western Data Base and it's members for honoring me in the inaugural class of 2010.

The Spaghetti Western Data Base Hall of Fame: Each year, a panel of forum members casts votes for a select few individuals to be inducted into the following categories: lead actors, supporting actors, actresses, directors, composers, producers, cinematographers, writers, and non-participants (a category which may include website owners, authors, historians, fans/observers, and owners of DVD companies).

Spaghetti Western Data Base link: http://www.spaghetti-western.net/index.php/SWDB_Hall_of_Fame

Happy 65th Birthday Catherine Spaak

Catherine Spaak was born on March 3, 1945, in Boulogne-Billancourt, France. She is the daughter of critic and screenwriter Charles Spaak [1903-1975] and the younger sister of actress Agnès Spaak [1944- ]. She has been a star in Italy since her teenage years as both an actress and singer. Her first film appearance was in 1960's “Nightwatch”. She appeared in such classic Italian films as “La voglia matta” (1961), “The Girl from Parma” (1963), “Hotel” (1967) among others. She only appeared in one Euro-western “Take a Hard Ride” in 1975. She later became a star on RAI TV and has also published several books. Today we celebrate Catherine Spaak's 65th birthday.

Guess Who I Am

I am an Italian/American who appeared in only one Euro-western. Guess who I Am.

We have an winner. It's Alex Cord.

COMPAÑEROS

Vamos a matar, companeros! – Italian title
Los Compañeros – Spanish title
Laßt uns töten, Companeros – German title
Zwei Compañeros – German title
Vamos a matar compañeros! – Brazilian title
Petturit hirteen Companeros – Finnish title
Companeros – French title
Les compagnons de la gloire – French title
Petturit hirteen Companeros – French title
Companheiros – Portuguese title
Död åt Companeros – Swedish title
Companeros, ro hit med stadskassan – Swedish title
Companeros! – U.S.A. title

A 1970 Italian, Spanish, German co-production [Tritone Cinematografica (Rome), Atlántida Films S.A. (Spanish), Terra-Filmkunst (Berlin)]
Producer: Antonio Morelli
Director: Sergio Corbucci
Story: Sergio Corbucci
Screenplay: Sergio Corbucci, Massimo De Rita, Fritz Ebert, Dino Maiuri (Arduino Maiuri)
Dialogue: José Frade
Cinematography: Alessandro Ulloa (Alejandro Ulloa) [Technicolor, Techniscope]
Music: Ennio Morricone
Song: “Vamos a matar companeros” sung by I Cantori Moderni
Running time: 118 minutes

Cast:
Yodlaf “Penguin” Petersen - Franco Nero (Francesco Sparanero)
El Vasco - Tomás Milian (Tomás Rodriguez)
John Svedese - Jack Palance (Volodymyr Palahnyuk)
Zaira Harris - Karin Schubert
Professor Vitaliano Xantos - Fernando Rey (Fernando Vega)
colonel - Eduardo Fajardo
Lola - Iris Berben
Pepito Tigrero/Tiger - Tito García (Pablo Gonzalez)
Tournier - Luigi Pernice
General Mongo Alvarez - Francisco Bódalo (Francisco Zuffoli)
lieutenant - Gérard Tichy (Gérard Wondzinski)
Captain Jim - Lorenzo Robledo
Mongo’s henchmen - Simón Arriaga, Rafael Albaicin (Ignacio Escudero), José Canalejas
Rosenbloom henchmen - Victor Israel (José Vilanova),
John’s man - Álvaro De Luna (Álvaro Blanco)
corporals - José Marco (José Rosello), Vicente Roca (Vincente Roca)
with; Jesús Fernández (Jesús Martinez), Giovanni Petti (Giovanni Petrucci), Gianni Pulone (Giovanni Pulone), Claudio Scarchilli, Pablo González, Ramón Fernández Tejela (Jorge Tejela)


During the Mexican Revolution, a peasant named El Vasco starts a revolt in his village by killing the army colonel in charge. Rebel leader and self-appointed General Mongo soon arrives on the scene and hires El Vasco to his revolutionary gang. However, Mongo is more interested in gaining fortune for himself than for his country. Yodlaf Peterson, a Swedish mercenary arrives in Mexico to sell guns to General Mongo. The safe containing the money is locked and only Professor Xantos knows the combination. Xantos is the leader of a student counter-revolution that opposes violence, and is held in a prison by the U.S. army, after he tried to find funding from the U.S. and did not agree to give the monopoly of his country's entire oil wealth in return.

El Vasco dislikes the suit-wearing Peterson and calls him a "penguin", but at the suggestion of General Mongo, the two reluctantly join forces and set out to capture Xantos. Their task is made harder by the American army and a wooden-armed American named John, who wants to exact revenge on Peterson, his former business partner. Peterson had left John to die after he was crucified, and his pet hawk had to peck his right hand off in order to save him. In order to maximize their personal gain and to support Xantos' rebel fighters, El Vasco and Peterson have to double-cross Mongo. They receive help from Lola, the leader of Xantos' rebel group, to whom El Vasco develops a crush, and her group of young revolutionaries.


Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnKGpO16jR8&feature=related

Remembering Toshirō Mifune

Toshirō Mifune was born on April 1, 1920 in Qingdao, Shandong, China to Japanese parents. He worked in his father's photography shop as a youth until he was 19 and then was drafted into the Japanese Imperial Army Aviation where he served as an Aerial Photographer in World War II. He returned to Japan in 1946. He then took a job at Toho Studios. When many actors left Toho to start a new company (Shin Toho), A search was begun by Toho for new faces and friends of Toshirō submitted his photo and application. He along with 48 others were accepted and after a screen test was signed to a contract. His first film was “Shin Baka Jidai” (1947). His association with Akira Kurosawa made him an international star. In later life he opened an acting school but it failed after three years because of mismanagement of funds. Mifune died on December 24, 1997 of organ failure in Mitaka City, Japan. Mifune appeared in only one Euro-western 1971's “Red Sun” with Charles Bronson. Today we celebrate what would have been Toshirō Mifune's 90th birthday.