FINGER ON THE TRIGGER

El dedo en el gatillo - Spanish title
Kultaiset luodit - Finnish title
Le chemin de l’or - French title
Me to dahtylo sti skandali - Greek title
Il sentiero dell’oro - Italian title
Fingret pa avtryckaren-jakten efter gulddollar - Swedish title
Blue Lightning - English title
Finger on the Trigger - U.S.A. title

A 1965 U.S.A. Spanish co-production [Comet Pictures (Hollywood), FISA (Madrid)]
Producer: Sidney W. Pink
Director: Sidney Pink
Story: Sidney Pink, Luis de los Arcos (Luis Elias)
Screenplay: Sidney Pink, Luis de los Arcos (Luis Elias)
Cinematography: Anthony Lawrence (Antonio Macasoli) [Technicolor, Techniscope]
Music: John Sol (José Solá)
Running time: 94 minutes

Cast:
Larry Winton - Rory Calhoun (Francis McCown)
Adam Hyde - James Philbrook
Hillstrom - Todd Martin (Todd Martens)
Benton - Jorge Rigaud (Pedro Delissetche)
Violet - Silvia Solar (Geneviève Couzain)
Fred - Brud Talbot (Joseph Talbot)
Ed Bannister - Leo Anchóriz (Leo Fustel)
McKay - Eric Chapman
O’Brien - Bernny Deus (Venancio Mejuto)
McNamara - Axel Anderson
Zubarri - Tito Garcia (Pablo Gonzalez)
Mike Daly - Willie P. Elie (Wilhelm P. Elie)
Numitah - John Clarke
Benham - Antonio Molino Rojo
Tom Sharpe - Juan Antonio Peral
Delmer - German Grech
Mayer - Fernando Bilbao
Slim - Sebastian Cavalieri
with: Iván Tubau, Aldo Sambrell (Alfredo Brell)

After the Civil War a group of ten Union soldiers travel to New Mexico to start a ranch. They keep in a military group to ward of hostile Indians. When they arrive at Ft. Grant, New Mexico they are unaware the fort has been taken over by a group of Confederate soldiers. The Confederates are waiting for a caravan which will lead them to a fortune of golden horseshoes. They hope to use the gold to replenish the coffers of the Confederacy and start anew in Mexico. The ten Union soldiers stay long enough to rest before moving on to the ghost town of Southernville. Here they discover the golden horseshoes painted over to look natural.

When they notice Indian smoke signals, eight of the men go back to the fort to help the Confederates while the other two decide to move on. The Indians attack and steal all the cannon balls. The soldiers are forced to melt the golden horseshoes down and make them into rifle balls. The soldiers fire them at the attacking Indians. When the Indians attack and try and burn down Southernville, the cannon is aimed at the Indian camp and succeeds in blowing up their ammunition wagons, and wiping out the Indians.

Happy 85th Birthday Riccardo Garrone

Riccardo Garrone was born on January 1, 1926 in Rome, Italy and is the brother of director Sergio Garrone. He was attending The National Academy of Dramatic Arts the same year he appeared in his first film”Adam and Eve” directed by Mario Mattioli. The good looking actor was perfect for elegant roles and his sense of humor allowed to play comedic roles. In 1950 he started appearing on stage in plays but his main area of work in the 1950s to 1970s was in B films of all genres. During this time he appeared in 11 Euro-westerns including “Two Sergeants of General Custer” (1965) with Franco and Ciccio, “Bang Bang Kid” (1967) with Guy Madison and Tom Bosley, “A Man Called Sledge” (1970) with James Garner, “What am I Doing in the Middle of a Revolution?” (1972) and “Sting of the West” (1973) with Jack Palance and Bud Spencer. During this period he also became a voice dubber and directed two films. Riccardo returned to the stage in the 1980s and 1990s and appeared as Nicola Solari in the “Dr. Who” TV series in 1998 and again in 2004. Still active Riccardo was the Italian voice of Evil Teddy in Disney’s “Toy Story 3 - The Great Escape”. Today we celebrate Riccardo Garrone’s 85th birthday.

New Year's Eve 2010

Who are Those Guys? - Ennio Balbo

Ennio Balbo was born on April 18, 1922 in Naples, Italy. He studied acting at the Sharoff Academy in Rome. After World War II he joined Paola Bourbons acting troop. It was here he met his wife actress Dora Calindri [1911-2002] who was the sister of actor Ernesto Calindri [1909-1999]. Balbo was almost 40 years-old before he began his full-time career as an actor. He would go on to appear in 45 films from 1958 until 1988. Balbo also appeared often on TV and was a film dubber voicing in Italian the voices of Norman Fell, George Kennedy and Sebastian Cabot. He was also heard in cartoons and television series. Ennio appeared in five Euro-westerns: “Day of Anger”, “Two Faces of the Dollar” both in 1967, “Gatling Gun” and “Two Pistols and a Coward” both 1968 and “The Stranger’s Gundown” (aka “Django the Bastard”) in 1969. Ennio Balbo died of a heart attack on June 18, 1989 in Rome. He was 67 years-old.

BALBO,Ennio (aka Enio Balbo Edward Bell, William Bosch) [4/18/1922, Naples, Compania, Italy - 7/18/1989, Rome, Lazio, Italy (hear tattack)] - married to actress Dora Calindri [1911-2002] (195?-1989).
Day of Anger - 1967 (Turner)
Two Faces of the Dollar - 1967 (gunsmith)
Gatling Gun- 1968 (Richard Gatling)
Two Pistols and a Coward - 1968 (townsman) [as Enio Balbo]
The Stranger’s Gundown - 1969 (storekeeper)

FINDER'S KILLERS

Se t’incontro, t’ammazzo - Italian title
Morder pa jagt - Danish title
Se je te recontre, je te tue - French title
Unerbittlich bits in Grab - German title
Hevn til siste kule - Norwegian title
Si te encuentro te mato - Spanish title
Finders Killers - English title

A 1971 Italian production [Minerva Film, Rieti Film (Rome)]
Producer: Fernando Morbis
Director: Gianni Crea
Story: Fabio Piccioni
Screenplay: Fabio Piccioni
Cinematography: Vitaliano Natalucci, Giovanni Variano [Eastmancolor, widescreen]
Music: Stelvio Cipriani
Running time: 93 minutes

Cast:
Jack Forrest/Dean - Donald O’Brien (Donal O’Brien)
Chris Forrest/Dean - Gordon Mitchell (Charles Pendleton)
saloon girl - Femi Benussi (Eufemia Benussi)
Grendel/Parker - Mario Brega
Dexter - Dean Stratford (Dino Stano)
Lisa - Pia Giancaro (Maria Giamporcaro)
Olsen - Gennarion Pappagalli (Primo Di Gennaro)
with: Emilio Messina, Alessandro Perella, Lorenzo Fineschi

After his farm is burned, and his parents killed by a gang of outlaws led by Grendel who is working for a man called Dexter. Jack Forrest/Dean goes in search of the murderers. Dexter gets hold of a gold shipment and kills the gang but ends up face to face with Jack who kills him. Continuing his search for Grendel he is almost seduced by the beautiful and charming Lisa who is the niece of a man named Parker who owns a bank with a man named Olsen, which is now in a state of crisis. Parker looks harmless and meek but ends up killing his partner Olsen with a pickaxe and it is revealed he is actually Grendel who now goes crazy to protect the stolen gold cargo. Grendel is finally killed by a mysterious character who turns out to be Jack’s brother Chris.

Happy 70th Birthday Bruno Corazzari

Bruno Corazzari was born on December 30, 1940 in Castellerano, Italy and became one of the most recognized Italian faces in the Spaghetti Western genre. Usually playing villains and henchmen he’s probably best remembered for his role as Hertz, the Austrian, in “Adios, Sabata” (1971) with Yul Brynner and the barman in “Death Rides a Horse” (1968) with Lee Van Cleef. In all he appeared in 17 Euro-westerns from 1967's “Vengeance is Mine” with Gianni Garko to 1983's “Thunder Warrior” with Mark Gregory. He’s still active in films and TV where he rose to starring and supporting roles in the 1970s. Today we celebrate Bruno Corazzari’s 70th birthday.

Whatever Happened to Kelo Henderson

Kelo Henderson - cowboy on screen and in life.

Fast-draw champ, known for TV Westerns calls Ridgecrest home

By SANDY AUBIN

Special to the Ridgecrest News Review
December 8 2010

One hundred years ago this month, after several attempts over a 30-year period to have a statehood bill approved, delegates to the Arizona Territory constitutional convention agreed on a final document and set the stage for Arizona to enter the U.S. as its 48th state.

This might appear to have nothing to do with Ridgecrest (California), but to the contrary, a local resident embodied Arizona’s path to statehood for two years on the TV Western “26 Men”.

Paul “Kelo” Henderson played Ranger Clint Travis from 1957 to 1959 in 78 episodes about the small handful of lawmen who protected the Arizona Territory.

“Once the rest of the country had come under U.S. jurisdiction, ruthless characters drifted toward Mexico and saw Arizona as a good way to get there,” said Henderson. If a ranger died or left they hired a new one. Yet they never went over 26. Our show was based on real history. “Those rangers were paid 50 dollars a month, and they had to provide their own horses, weapons and ammunition.

Now look how Arizona has grown. Today there are condominiums where one [we filmed ‘26 Men’]. The television series established Henderson as an expert gun showman. His skill caused the president of ABC to rework the ‘26 Men’ pilot to showcase Henderson’s agility and fast draw.

At one time, Henderson won the title of Fast Draw and Gun Dexterity Champion of the World. His fast draw was so fast that it was photographed with a missile camera.

His awards include the 2003 Golden Boot Award for his significant contributions to the Western genre of television and movies.

He generously supports the fans of the Old West and has made personal appearances at numeroue rodeos, fairs and film festivals.

As a cowboy, Henderson is the real deal. Born on a ranch in Pueblo, Colorado, ho honed his skills as a rider, a roper and an expert marksman.

Demonstrating his skills got him most jobs, and when he didn’t get roles, he was hired to train the other actors.

He once trained “Sugarfoot” star Will Hutchins on guns and roping.

“It was the heyday of Westerns. We used to joke, if the TV repairman wanted to repair your TV, he’d take the back off and empty out the dead cowboys and Indians.

Henderson’s other credits include “Wells Fargo”, “Cheyenne”, “Sergeant Preston” and numerous European “spaghetti westerns” (Treasure of the Aztecs” and “Pyramid of the Son Gods”).

Henderson, who traveled widely with the Merchant Marines during World War II has had homes in Torrance, Laguna Beach, Palm Springs and finally Ridgecrest, where his mother, father and aunt lived.

In 1962 then Arizona Governor Paul J. Fannin named Kelo Henderson an Honorary Citizen of Arizona. Then in 1963 the Old West Arizona Rangers Historical Society made him an honorary Arizona Ranger.

To catch a glimpse of Henderson and “26 Men” go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWE_Z6-TRi4