Adventurous Youth

Adventurous Youth – English title

A 1928 British production [Godal International Films (London)]
Producer: Edward Godal
Director: Edward Godal
Screenplay:
Cinematography: [black & white]
Running time: 4868 feet

Cast:
The Englishman - Derrick de Marney
Mary Ferguson - Renée Clama (Irene Clama)
Don Esteban - Dino Galvani (Dino Galvanoni)
The Vamp - Sybil Wise
Mr. Ferguson - Loftus Tottenham
Father O’Flannigan - Julius Kantorez
with: Harry Bagge, Harry Peterson, Lionel d’Aragon


During the 1910 Mexican Revolution a young British miner (de Marney) gives himself and his claim up to the revolutionaries in order to save the local village and church from being pillaged and destroyed. Because of this heroic act he wins the love of Mary Ferguson (Clama). This British film was released in the U.S. by Warner Brothers, who added a musical score and sound effects to this silent film. This was also Renée Clama’s first screen appearance.

The Essential European Western Library

Spaghetti Westerns: Cowboys and Europeans from Karl May to Sergio Leone
By Christopher Frayling
1998
I.B. Taurus (London)
320 pages

‘Spaghetti Westerns’ is a major critical exploration of the European western. Sir Christopher Frayling approaches the Westerns produced at Cinecitta Studios in Rome from a variety of perspectives, placing them in the Italian, social, political, industrial and cinematic contexts from which they evolved. Over 400 westerns were produced during the 1960s peak period and Frayling deals with the most interesting and well-known examples, giving special attention to the films of Sergio Leone and Clint Eastwood.

Long on scholarly analysis yet covering many of the major characters, directors and actors of the genre this book, although very dry, is a must have for your library. For one thing a British professor, now knighted can only give us justification to any of those who criticize us for enjoying this genre of films. Christopher Frayling was the inspiration and the reason I really became interested on a historical level to continue researching and developing my interest in not just Leone and his films but the entire genre. Yes Frayling made mistakes in the original book and corrected many in this reprint. We have to give him credit for accepting our criticisms and addressing them. I have been fortunate to have met Chris a number of times over the last decade and visit with him and talk about these films and their makers. He’s always come across as sincere and humorous about the genre. Thankfully we have someone like him and his book to counter the Thomas Weisser abomination.

The Adventures of Three Redskins in Paris

Les Aventures de trios peaux-rouges à Paris – French title
The Adventures of Three Redskins in Paris – English translated title

A 1911 French production [Gaumont Film (Paris)]
Director: Jean Durand
Screenplay:
Cinematography: [black & white]
Running time: 179 meters

Cast:
Joë Hamman (Jean Hamman), Gaston Modot


Another early western featuring Joë Hamman and directed by Jean Durand. Although the film is mentioned in several film books there is nothing regarding the story or screenplay. I’m guessing this film is about three Indians from Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show and there experiences in 1911 Paris.

Spaghetti Collectables

Who’s going to turn over and get an extra 40 winks when they see Sartana walking towards them from the face of this 10” wall clock. Looking as if he’s had the hardest day in his life I think most of us would jump out of bed and head for the shower as soon as our sleepy eyes gazed upon his. Selling on E-bay for $15.99 you sleepyheads better get one today.

Happy 75th Birthday Frank Braña

Born Francisco Braña Perez on February 24, 1934 in Pola de Allende, Asturias, Spain, Francisco first became a stuntman and then an actor. He was one of the mainstays in the Italian/Spanish co-productions of the 1960s and 1970s. Appearing under such pseudonyms as Frank Blank, Frank Branya, Francisco Braña, and Paco Braña he became one of the most recognized faces in the Spaghetti western genre. Appearing in Leone’s “Dollar Trilogy”, we soon recognized his graying hair and dark eyebrows which were unmistakable when we saw him in later films. Braña and Aldo Sambrell share the same agent, Aldo’s wife, so they appeared together regularly during the heyday of the Spaghetti Westerns. Braña has appeared in over 200 films and over 50 westerns. Still active today he recently received an award for Best Actor by the University of Navarre for his performance in “El viejo y el mar” (The Old Man and the Sea). An interview with this great character actor can be found in issue #73 of Westerns…All’Italiana. Happy 75th birthday Frank Braña.

Remembering Marisa Mell

Marisa Mell was born Marlies Theres Moitzi in Graz, Austria on February 24, 1939. She became a cult figure of 1960s Italian B-Movies. Then in 1963 she was involved in an automobile accident which left her unconscious. She almost lost her right eye and part of her lip. She spent two years undergoing plastic surgery and recovered with no visible damage to her beautiful face. She was offered a 7-year Hollywood contract but turned it down because she thought it was too controlling. She appeared along with Pernell Roberts in the musical “Mata Hari” but the production by David Merrick was full of technical problems and never made it to Broadway. Probably best known for her role in the 1968 film “Danger Diabolik”, Ms. Mell is remember by us for her roles in three European Westerns “The Last Ride to Santa Cruz” (1964), “Where the Bullets Fly” and “The Ballad of Ben and Charlie” both (1972). Marisa Mell died of throat cancer on May 16, 1992 in Vienna, Austria at the age of 53. We remember the gorgeous actress today on what would have been her 70th birthday.

Remembering Riccardo Freda

Riccardo Freda was born on February 24, 1909 in Alexandria, Egypt to Italian parents. He was a famous Italian film director best remembered for his horror and thriller films. He attended school in Milan and at Centro Sperimantale. He supported himself as a sculpture and art critic before entering films in 1937. Freda directed his first film “Don Cesare di Bazan” in 1942. Freda then made a series of big-budget historical spectacles such as “Les Miserables” (1947) and “Theodora Slave Empress” (1954). He then turned to peplum films including “The Giants of Thessaly” (1960). Often using such aliases as Robert Hampton, George Lincoln and Willy Pareto he made a number of horror films such as “Caltiki the Immortal Monster” (1959) and “The Horrible Dr. Hitchcock” (1962). We remember him for his only Spaghetti western (1967) “La morte non conta i dollari” (aka Death at Owell Rock). Riccardo Freda’s last film was “Daughter of Dartagnan” in 1994. Freda died in Rome on December 20, 1999 at the age of 90. We remember Ricardo Freda today on what would have been his 100th birthday.