Remembering Paolo Moffa

Paolo Moffa was born on December 16, 1915 and entered films as a script supervisor in 1934. He became a director in directing only seven films between 1943 and 1982, and then finding his true calling as an assistant director and production manager in 1958, founding the production company Ambrosiana Cinematografica. During the ‘60s Moffa was involved in four Euro-westerns “Starblack” (aka “Johnny Colt”) 1966 and starring Robert Woods, “God Will Forgive My Pistol” starring Wayde Preston and Dan Vadis and “Sartana the Gravedigger” starring Gianni Garko with both made in 1969 with Moffa as the producer. As John Byrd he directed one western “Bury Them Deep” with Craig Hill. His last film was as a producer on 1983's “Le déchaînement pervers de Manuela” starring Laura Gemser. Moffa then retired and passed away in 2004 in Nice, France. Today we remember Paolo Moffa on what would have been his 95th birthday.

STRAIGHT TO HELL RETURNS

There was once a version of STRAIGHT TO HELL (1987) which was five or six minutes longer. At the eleventh hour, the producer, the editor and I (Alex Cox) cut out half a dozen scenes, in a misguided flight of cutting room madness, thinking that by making the film shorter we were making it better, by making it go a bit faster we were making it funnier...


We were wrong. Now, fortunately, the UCLA Film and TV Archive has rescued the original Interpositive of the uncut version, the missing scenes are restored, and a new HD master has been created, Dan Wool has recovered the missing audio, Richard Beggs has whipped the picture into aural shape, Tom Richmond and Beau Leon have created a new visual strategy - heavy on the yellows and deep blacks - and Webster Colcord has animated some additional skeletons.

All to be in theaters again in October and November 2010, and on DVD and download on December 14, 2010. This - along with Microcinema's release of Searchers 2.0 - must be the perfect stocking-filler. Oh! And did I mention all the digital violence by Collateral Image, and the dolly tracks, and the new shot of George's shoes?

The 7th

The Seventh - International title

A 2009 British production [Anti Type Films (London)]
Producer: Laurence Campbell, Lyle Jackson, Ruth Whittaker, B. Cook
Director: Laurence Campbell
Story: Laurence Campbell
Screenplay: Laurence Campbell
Cinematography: Lyle Jackson [color]
Music: Fever Blank
Running time: 21 mintes

Cast:
Old Man - Stephen Campbell
Young Man - Laurence Campbell

Deep into the rugged landscape two men fight for survival. One gets the upper hand and the journey begins. The earth and the soul become one as the fever takes hold. Hunted or feared, paranoia and confusion chase both men on their trip through the feral and ungoverned lands. The reality of death in times of no hope is a brutal realisation for the men and as young becomes old, and another cycle is complete, the old must find their new place.

Who Are Those Guys? - Stanley Baker

William Stanley Baker was born on February 8, 1928 in Ferndale, Rhondda Valley, Wales. He was a childhood friend of Richard Burton and made his first film appearance as a teenager in 1943's “Undercover”. He served in the Royal Army Service Corps. during World War II. After the war he picked up where he had left off appearing in 1949's “All Over the Moon”. At first Baker was cast in the roles of villains and he appeared in a number of top drawer films such as “Richard III” (1955), “Helen of Troy” (1956), “Hell Drivers” (1957). His most memorable role was as Lieutenant John Chard VC in “Zulu” (1964). Another fine performance was as Charlie in 1970's “Perfect Friday”. He formed his own production company “Diamond Films” in 1964 which produced such films as the afore mentioned “Zulu”, “Robbery” (1967) and “The Italian Job” (1968). Diamond Films was laced in consortium which bought Pinewood Studios. With the stock market crash of 1974 he declared the company bankrupt and went back to making films for television such as “Robinson Crusoe” and “The Changeling”. He was knighted in 1976. Baker appeared in two Euro-westerns “Campbell’s Kingdom” (1957) as Owen Morgan and “Zorro” in 1975 as Col. Huerta opposite Alain Delon, with whom he had one of the greatest sword fights in film history. A lifetime smoker he developed lung cancer and died in Malaga, Spain on June 28, 1976 at the young age of 48. Baker was married to actress Ellen Martin from 1950 until his death. He had three sons and one daughter.

BAKER, Stanley (William Stanley Baker) [2/8/1928, Ferndale, Rhndda Valley, Wales, U.K. - 6/28/1976, Málaga, Andalusia, Spain (lung, cancer, pneumonia)] - producer, director, TV actor, married, producer, director, TV actor, married to actress Ellen Martin (1950-1976), co-founded Cambria Films [1963], founded Diamond Films [1964], co-founded Oakhurst Productions [1968-1976].
Campbell’s Kingdon - 1957 (Owen Morgan)
Zorro - 1975 (Col. Huerta)

THE FAT BROTHERS OF TRINITY

Ninguno de los tres se llamaba Trinidad - Spanish title
Triniti's 3 fede brødre - Danish title
Trinityn hurjat veljet - Finnish title
I magnifici tre di trinità - Italian title
Trinitybrödernas stora kupp - Swedish title
None of the Three Were Called Trinity - English title
The Fat Brothers of Trinity - English title

A 1972 Spanish production [IFISA (Madrid)]
Producer: Ignacio F. Iquino (Ignacio Farres Iquino)
Director: Stan Parker (Pedro Ramirez)
Story: Ignacio F. Iquino (Ignacio Farres Iquino), Jackie Kelly (Juliana de la Fuente)
Screenplay: Ignacio F. Iquino (Ignacio Farres Iquino), Jackie Kelly (Juliana de la Fuente)
Cinematography: Antonio L. Ballesteros [Eastmancolor, Panavision]
Music: Enrique Escobar
Song: “But You Might Fall In Love”, “Can’t You Hear the Music Play” sung by John Campbell
Running time: 85 minutes

Cast:
Bryan/Jim - Danny Martin (Jose Martinez)
Bud Wesley - Christopher Harton (Crisanto Brieva)
Ray Wesley - Dick Castle (Ricardo Diez)
Doc Welsey - Paul Stewart (Pablo González)
Sheila - Margit Kocsis
Lisa - Fanny Grey
sheriff - Gustavo Re
with: Judy Collins, Manuel Barrios, George Brinchoud (Manuel Bronchud), Indio González (Gaspar González), Juan Torres, Miguel Muniesa, Jarque Zurbano (Francisco Zurbano), Jesús Fernández (Jesús Martinez)

Our hero Bryan/Jim Palmer is mistaken for the man who robbed the local bank. He must prove his innocence before he can pursue the real thieves, his three dishonest cousins.

Happy 70th Birthday Klaus-Peter Thiele

Klaus-Peter Thiele was born December 14, 1940 in Meiningen, Germany and is the son of actor Heino Thiele [1891-1964]. Klaus-Peter graduated from high school in Berlin-Tegel and startedappearing in stage engagements in Parchim and Potsdam, before appearing in DEFA films for nearly three decades. His first film role is a resounding, and international success playing the title role in the anti-war film "The Adventures of Werner Holt" (1964). Later we see him in playing many different characters, sometimes as a sympathetic figure, but also as a conceited, haughty and arrogant snob. Gladly, he would go back on this earlier character, when it comes to the Nazi occupation of roles. Thiele played this very often in Polish films, but also in the short TV series by Rudi, such as "Archiv des Todes" and "Front ohneGnade". After the political changes of 1989, the actor with the deep, warm voice appeared on stage in Hamburg and Munich, gaining experience, he also becomes a regular cast member of the Störtebeker Festival in Ralswiek. He remembers findly working with Bud Spencer in the movie "Condor Mission" that is released in the United States. Klaus-Peter Thiele has lived for many years with the painter Marie Rautenberg, the daughter of Valeska Rautenberg, which has also worked on several film and TV productions. His sister, Brigitte Thiele (1936-2006) also worked occasionally as an actress. Thiele appeared in one Euro-western “White Wolves” (1969) . Today we celebrate Klaus-Peter Thiele’s 70th birthday.

Remembering Don Taylor

Don Taylor was born December 13, 1920 in Freeport, Pennsylvania. Don studied law, then speech and drama at Penn State University, where as a freshman he began taking part in college stage productions. Hitchhiking to Hollywood in 1942, Taylor screen-tested at Warner Brothers but was rejected because of his draft status. M-G-M, not as fussy, signed him to a contract and immediately put him to work, assigning him the minuscule role of a soldier in director Clarence Brown’s sentimental slice of Americana, “The Human Comedy” (1943). More minor roles followed before Taylor enlisted in the army, but even there he continued to act: Playwright, screenwriter Moss Hart chose him to play one of the leads in the Army-Air Force production of Hart's play, "Winged Victory". Returning to civilian life, Taylor resumed his work in films with a top role in the trend-setting crime drama “The Naked City” (1948). He’s probably best remembered for his appearance in “Stalag 17" (1953) as Lieutenant Dunbar. Don appeared in one of the earliest Euro-Westerns “The Savage Guns” (1961) as Mike Summers. He also directed “The 5-Man Army (1969) although there is much debate over how much he was actually involved in the film. In later years Taylor became a film and TV director, being nominated for an Emmy for his direction of an episode of “Night Gallery” (1970). Don was married to actress Phyllis Avery [1924- ] from 1944-1955 and met his second wife Hazel Court [1926-2008] when he directed her in a 1958 episode of “Alfred Hitchcock Presents” (1955). They married in 1964 and remained so until his death from heart failure on December 29, 1998 in Los Angeles, California. Today we remember Don Taylor on what would have been his 90th birthday.