.Westerns...All'Italiana!

Thursday, October 29, 2026

29 Spaghetti Western Directors, Screenwriters, Cinematographers

Spaghetti Western Director ~ Gino Mangini

Luigi ‘Gino’ Mangini was born in Rome, Italy on August 14, 1921, and was a director, assistant director and writer. He was an assistant director on four films between 1958 and 1969, directed four films between 1963 and 1974, but for most of his time in the Italian film industry he was a writer composing stories and screenplays for twenty-one films between 1955 and 1988. He was sometimes under the alia Henry Wilson.

He was a cousin of actress Maria Luisa Mangini, aka Dorian Gray, who directed her in her last film "The Criminals of the Metropolis" (1965).

He began his career as an assistant to directors including Carlo Campogalliani and Giuseppe Colizzi, and later established himself as a screenwriter for films such as: "The Terror of the Barbarians", "Maciste in the Land of the Cyclops" and "The Legend of Aeneas". After making a few documentaries, in 1964 he directed his first film as a director, "La jena di Londra" and specialized in dramatic films, sometimes directed without being credited. Occasionally he has also worked as a film producer. He died in Rome on his birthday in 1991 at the age of 70.

Gino Mangini directed one Spaghetti western, “Bastardo…vamos a matar” (Bastard, Go and Kill) in 1971.

MANGINI, Gino (aka Mangini, Henry Wilson) (Luigi Mangini) [8/14/1921, Rome, Lazio, Italy – 8/14/1991, Rome, Lazio, Italy] – producer, director, assistant director, writer, cousin of actress Dorian Gray (Maria Luisa Mangini) [1931-2011].

Bastard, Go and Kill – 1971

Nevada Kid – 1973 [film was never made.]

Spaghetti Western Screenwriter ~ Emiliano Ferrera

Emiliano Ferrera was born in Rome on December 10, 1974. He is a film director, screenwriter, actor, producer and editor. In his work, he focuses exclusively on the western and its diverse genre combinations. In the westerns that he directs, He often creates the main roles, and in the external stylization of the heroes, often refers to the characters of the American actor Clint Eastwood in Sergio's films Leone. Emiliano is not only a successor and current representative of the Italian Western in its long-standing cultural tradition, but also a creator who revives this popular genre for today's audiences.

Emiliano Ferrera wrote and co-wrote screenplays for eight Euro-westerns: “Las Cruces: Silver Starr” (Shuna) with Igor Maltagliati, Alezzandro Parello, David Tettoni in 2009/2011, “Mesa Verde” in 2012, “Golden Pass” in 2016, “Oro e Piombo” (The Dutchman) with Yassmin Pucci, Tiziano Carnevale and “Resurrection” with Giovanni Bufalini both in 2017, “Redemption” in 2021, “Black Town” in 2022, “Oltre il confine” (Beyond the Border) in 2023 and “Topeka” in 2025 and one euro-western television film, “Blood from Hell” in 2016.

FERRERA, Emiliano [12/10/1974, Rome, Lazio, Italy - ] – producer, director, assistant director, writer, actor, married to ? father of Sofia Ferrera.

Shuna – 2009/2011 (co)

Mesa Verde – 2012

Blood from Hell (TV) – 2016

Golden Pass - 2016

The Dutchman – 2017 (co)

Resurrection – 2017 (co)

Redemption – 2021

Black Town – 2022

Oltre il confine - 2023

Topeka – 2025

Spaghetti Western Cinematographer ~ Billy Salzmann

Willy P.A. ‘Billy’ Salzmann was a German silent film art director, cameraman and cinematographer. As with most silent film people very little is known about the, records were seldom kept and so credits are incomplete and biographies are almost nonexistent. So is the case with Billy Salzman.

Billy Salzmann was a cinematographer on three silent Euro-westerns: “Bull Arizona – the Desert Eagle” and “Bull Arizona, the Legacy of the Prairie” both in 1919 and “Der kampf um den Goldfund” in1920

SALZMANN, Billy (Willy P.A. Salzmann) – art director, cinematographer, cameraman.

Bull Arizona – the Desert Eagle – 1919

Bull Arizona, the Legacy of the Prairie – 1919

Der kampf um den Goldfund - 1920

“Master Stroke” aka “The Great Diamond Robbery”

Review by B2's Movie Cave

Richard Harrison (in one of the most ironic roles ever) plays an actor in Spaghetti Westerns who is one day approached by a group of men offering him an acting job. He agrees to listen and discovers that this is no ordinary role. It seems that the actor bears a remarkable resemblance to Arthur Land, a top executive at the diamond exchange. These men want him to pose as Lang and help them steal a fortune in diamonds. “Master Stroke” features one of the most clever plots imaginable. There are more twists and turns, more red herrings, and more slight of hand than you'll see in a dozen other movies combined. Every time you think you've got things figured out, the plot throws you another curve. It's really an amazing piece of writing.

Beyond the plot, the cast is another big highlight. Richard Harrison was never better. I've seen him in Spaghetti Westerns, peplums, and other genre films, but I don't remember enjoying a performance from him as much as this one. Harrison is joined by a wonderful cast that includes genre regulars Adolfo Celi and Margaret Lee. Both are also excellent in their roles. Most of the rest of the cast, with the notable exception of Luciano Pigozzi, weren't as familiar to me, but all were very good. I have no complaints with the acting in The Great Diamond Robbery.