Memorial Day 2012

Primus - Lee Van Cleef video

Last year, bassist/vocalist Les Claypool, guitarist Larry "Ler" LaLonde and drummer Jay Lane released Green Naugahyde, the first Primus studio album in eleven years. Team Coco is proud to present the premiere of their current single "Lee Van Cleef".

This (re-)animated video was created by the award winning Mixtape Club - we hope you enjoy it as much as we do. - Primus

 Got a badge, a Red Rider at Rocket Camp out at (?Nohack?) Peak
Lookin' for jailbirds left and right tryin'a knock 'em up out the trees
Everybody I know's watchin' Clint, we all like watchin' Clint
Hi Hi Hi Hiii
All the li'l Snaps wanna be like Clint; they all wanna be like Clint
But I wanna be like Lee Van Cleef; ya know I wanna be like Lee
Whatever happened to Lee Van Cleef; whatever happened to Lee?
[ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsfreak.com/p/primus/lee+van+cleef_20975851.html ]
A yellow Studebaker with a 302, I see the GREEN NAUGAHYDE
He put a coupla dings in that pick-up truck, a few more dents in his pride
At Hilltop Drive-In they're watchin' Clint; they all like watchin' Clint
Hi Hi Hi Hiii
All the babies scream they wanna see ol' Clint; they all wanna see ol'
Clint
But I wanna see Lee Van Cleef; ya know I'd like to see ol' Lee
Whatever happened to Lee Van Cleef; whatever happened to Lee?

(Just a lil ol' tease o' Ler...)

Now the Studebaker's gone, Lee's passed on, Clint's still sharp as can be
Hilltop Drive-In is an Auto Mall, but no one's built over Lee
He'll get a kick outta watchin' Clint, we all get a kick outta Clint
Hi Hi Hi Hiii
But Lee never been none quite like Clint, there's really only one Clint
But I really did like Lee Van Cleef; I sure did really like Lee
Whatever happened to Lee Van Cleef; whatever happened to Lee?

(Now for the full Ler experience...)

We still get a kick outta watchin' Clint; we all get a kick outta Clint
Hi Hi Hi Hiii
There ain't never been one quite like Clint, there's really only one Clint
I always did like Lee Van Cleef; always did like Lee
Nobody's steely like Lee Van Cleef. Whatever happened to Lee?
Whatever happened to Lee Van Cleef? Don't forget about Lee

YouTube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cz8zICEafk8

Who Are Those Guys? - Milan Beli

Milan Beli was born on September 20 1932 in Konjane, Serbia, Yugoslavia. After his basic education, he began studies in Belgrade’s Sport University. During these studies he made his ​​first contact with film, it was during this time that Yugoslavia was the location where, many international adventure movies and westerns were filmed, the extras were mainly students from the university. In 1957 he acquired his first small film role in the French-Yugoslavian adventure film “Burlak”. Beli not only speaks his native language but also English, German and French, so in 1968 he accepted a film contract from DEFA. He appeared as a villain in three DEFA Indian films which made ​​him well known in East Germany. In addition, he also worked as a choreographer for the dance scenes in Konrad Wolf's 1971 film “Goya - oder Der arge Weg der Erkenntnis” an historical epic, as well as a performer in the DEFA science fiction film “Im Staub der Sterne” (1976). This film was a milestone as it was his 50th Film production. Beli’s last film appearance was in the 1983 DEFA western “The Scout” starring Gojko Mitic.

BELI, Milan [9/20/1932, Konjane, Serbia, Yugoslavia -     ] – choreographer.

Tecumseh – 1972 (Raffael)

Apaches - 1973 (Johnson)

The Scout – 1983 (Major Brannigan)

A MAN CALLED BLADE

Mannaja – Italian title

Cego por vinganca – Brazilian title

Mannaja – Um Homem Chamado Blade – Brazilian title

Um Homem Chamado Mannaja – Brazilian title

Mannaja - A Man Called Blade – Danish title

Mannaja – Finnish title

Mannaja, l'homme à la hache – French title

El valle de la muerte – Spanish title

Mannaja das Beil des todes – German title

Der letzte der Bounty Killer – German title

O kavallaris me to Tsekouri – Greek title

Me fonazan Tsekouri – Greek title

Blade menneskejegeren – Norwegian title
 Mannaja, O Cavaleiro Solitário - Portuguese title

Mannaja – mannen med kottyxan – Swedish title

A Man Called Blade – English title

A 1977 Italian production [Devon Film, Medusa Film (Rome)]

Producer: Luciano Martino

Director: Sergio Martino

Story: Sergio Martino

Screenplay: Sergio Martino, Sauro Scavolini

Cinematography: Federico Zanni [Eastmancolor]

Music: Guido & Maurizio De Angelis

Songs: ”Wolf”, “Snake” sung by Dandylion (Cesare De Natale)

Running time: 101 minutes

Cast:

Merton/’Mannaja”/Blade – Maurizio Merli

Theo Valler – John Steiner

Deborah McGowan – Sonya Jeannine (Sonja Jeannine)

Burt Craven – Donald O’Brien (Donal O’Brien)

Edward M. McGowan – Philippe Leroy (Philippe Leroy-Beaudieu)

Angela – Martine Brochard

Gerard Merton – Rik Battaglia (Caterino Battaglia)

Government Agent – Enzo Fiermonte (Vincenco Fiermonte)

Johnny Johnny – Salvatore Puntillo

Dahlman – Nino Casale (Antonio Casale)

Old Timer – Enzo Maggio (Vincenzo Maggio)

Bartender – Sergio Tardioli

Lucy Merton – Sophia Lombardo

Valler henchmen – Ted Carter (Giovanni Pazzafini), Riccardo Petrazi, Claudio Ruffini, Franco Ukmar, Domenico Cianfriglia, Alberto Dell'Acqua, José Yepes (José Yepes Cardo)

Miners - Ottaviano Dell'Acqua, Elio Angelucci

Stagecoach Guard - Bruno Di Luia

Passenger in stagecoach – Aldo Rendine

Merton, a bounty hunter nicknamed ‘Blade’ for his skill in using the ax, was shocked when, at an early age, he witnessed the murder of his father. Now an adult, he returns to his hometown to avenge his father's death. He finds the old murderer McGowan paralyzed and in a wheel chair and by his side Theo Valler an evil tyrant, who is his right-hand henchman. With the miners in revolt at McGowan’s mine, Merton is captured and tortured, but he is saved by the outlaw Burt Craven whom Blade had earlier released from his custody. Blade goes on the attack and disposes of Valler and his henchmen and sets the town free from tyranny. 

YouTube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCXUXxuffeM

Happy 90th Birthday Christopher Lee

Christopher Frank Carandini Lee was born in Belgravia, London, England on May 27, 1922. Lee attended Wellington College for three years, and then worked as an office clerk in a couple of London shipping companies. He subsequently enlisted in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War and, on finishing his army service, sought to become an actor. He struggled initially in his new career because he was discriminated as being taller than the leading male actors of his time and being too foreign-looking. However, it was when playing the monster in the Hammer film, “The Curse of Frankenstein” (1957) that proved to be a blessing in disguise, since the movie was successful, this lead to him being signed on for future roles in Hammer Film Productions. Lee's association with Hammer Film Productions brought him into contact with Peter Cushing and they became good friends. Lee and Cushing often than not played contrasting roles in Hammer films, where Cushing was the protagonist and Lee the villain. Lee went on to play Count Dracula in a number of Hammer sequels up until the early part of the 1970s, when he finally retired from Hammer Film Productions. This, of course, didn't mean that he was through with the film business. He continued to play roles, mostly as villains, in “The Man with the Golden Gun” (1974), opposite Roger Moore, “The Three Musketeers” (1973) and “The Four Musketeers: Milady's Revenge” (1974). The triumph of these movies prompted him to Hollywood, though he didn't fare well in the film business, culminating in his returning back to England. However, the beginning of the new millennium has re-launched his career to some degree, during which he has played Count Dooku in “Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones” (2002) and as Saruman the White in the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy. Lee played Count Dooku again in “Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith” (2005) and as Johnny Depp's character's father in the Tim Burton film, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” (2005). Lee is married to actress Birgit ‘Gitte’ Kroencke Lee [1935- ] since 1961 and is the father of actress Christina Erika Lee [1963- ]. Lee was awarded the CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2001. Christophe appeared in one Euro-western as Bailey the gunsmith in “Hannie Caulder” (1970) with Raquel Welch and Robert Culp. Today we celebrate Sir Christopher Lee’s 90^th birthday.  -  Sidhartha Shankar

Remembering Ermino Macario

Erminio Macario was born in Turin, Italy on May 27, 1902. He was a popular actor and comedian of Italian theater, film and television. He started his career very young, initially learning the art of mime, and after some years spent at the side of the soubrette Isa Bluette in 1930 started his first act, in which in 1937 received Wanda Osiris, with which it formed a duo of great success. Due to his significant visual qualities and mimicry, and thanks to the presence of Osiris, and always being supported a number of female dancers he quickly became known as just Macario. During the Second World War, Macario also began acting in films, with some success, which eventually lead to his wide popularity as a result of his participation in a film with Toto. His attempt to extend his activities in film success did not however follow. In 1951, a triumphant tour of France was sealed by the presence among the Parisian public of some of the best known personalities from across the Alps. It is said that President De Gaulle had ordered the Macario be escorted by cuirassiers in full uniform. Macario also proved popular on television, producing an excellent interpretation of “The Miseries of Monsù Travet”. Like Moliere, he died on March 25, 1980 in Turin, Italy virtually on stage during the performance of the play “Oplà” the results of a brain tumor. Macario appeared in one Euro-western “The Kid of the West” in 1942. Today we remember Erminio Macario on what would have been his 110^th birthday.

Remembering Walter Lendrich

Walter Lendrich was born on May 27, 1912 in Arnstadt, Thuringia, Germany. After attending drama school in Weimar, Erfurt and Leipzig, Lendrich first appeared on the stage in Erfurt in the theater casts of Braunschweig, Hannover and Göttingen before he was hired in the early 1950s at the German Theatre in Berlin. He was relegated to mainly supporting roles. Concurrently with his move to Berlin Lendrich worked in DEFA films and later productions of the East German television in which he was often seen in the role of a grumpy pensioner and also worked in radio dramas. Lendrich appeared in one Euro-western “Death for Zapata” (1979). In later life he lived in a nursing home in Köthen dying there on July 15, 1999. Today we remember Walter Lendrich on what would have been his 100^th birthday.