Category Archives: Performers & directors

Jerry Ross, aka Gerardo Rossi

Jerry Ross, aka Gerardo Rossi, was another Italian actor who was more famous for his career in fotoromanzi than cinema. He appeared in just six films between 1967 and 1973… Continue reading

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Pier Paolo Capponi

Considering that he was in some of the most important genre films of the 1970s, amazingly little is known about the actor Pier Paolo Capponi. He appeared or starred in numerous giallos and poliziotteschi, usually playing committed cops or rather dour and humourless characters… Continue reading

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Kirk Morris, aka Adriano Bellini

Kirk Morris was one of the gang of actors who found a certain degree of fame as stars of the Italian cycle of peplum films during the early 1960s Continue reading

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Bruno Smith

Here’s a curious one… I can’t find a single shred of information about Bruno Smith, an actor who – judging by his name – must have been either English or American Continue reading

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Bruno Minniti – Obscure Italian Leading Men #2

Bruno Minniti, aka Conrad Nichols, was born Luigi Mezzanotte on December 5th, 1954 in Rome. Continue reading

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Stan Cooper (aka Stelvio Rosi), Obscure Italian leading men #1

Stan Cooper, aka Stelvio Rosi was born in 1938 in Rome, and appeared in a surprising amount of films over the course of his film career. He actually started off as a child actor, appearing in Ferdinando Maria Poggioli’s Sissignora at the age of four in 1942 Continue reading

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Who was… Bill Vanders

Bill Vanders was one of the most prolific of the American actors who worked in Rome during the golden age of Italian exploitation cinema, yet almost nothing is known about him. Continue reading

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Who was… Kitty Swan

Just who the hell was Kitty Swan? The simple answer to this, as far as I can figure, is that nobody seems to know all that much. Continue reading

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Who was… Krista Nell

Considering that she appeared in over 35 films between 1965 and 1975 – many of which have gone on to become firm cult favourites over the years – it’s amazing that so little is known about Austrian actress Krista Nell. Continue reading

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Interview with Guido Lollobrigida

Here’s the translation of a brief interview I found with familiar Italian character actor Guido Lollobrigida – a regular in Spaghetti Westerns, Spy and Crime films. Continue reading

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Who was… Frank Colson

Here’s another in our list of American actors who ended up making films in Italy. Now, I’m guessing you’ve never heard of Frank Colson? Continue reading

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Ruggero Deodato on Sergio Corbucci

[Corbucci] called me for whatever reason… one day I he called me from Ischia, where he was on holiday… Continue reading

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Who was… Roland Carey

I’ve seen a couple of films recently featuring actor Roland Carey, a curious figure who was active in the Italian film industry for over twenty years, and though it was about time to do a little extended research into him. Continue reading

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Piero Vivarelli

Just read a fascinating interview with Piero Vivarelli in an issue of Nocturno from last year. Vivarelli, who died in September 2010, was a truly colourful character… Continue reading

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Peter Dane

I’ve noticed the name Peter Dane crop up in a couple of Italian films that I’ve watched now, so it seems like a good opportunity to revive my ‘Americans in Cinecitta’ posts. Continue reading

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The Curious Filmography of Gianfranco Parolini

Considering that he’s responsible for some of the most succesful Italian popular films, Gianfranco Parolini’s filmography is full of weird entries and misaccreditations Continue reading

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Stars of Cinecitta: Franco Diogene

Franco Diogene was born in Catania in 1947 and moved at a young age to Genoa. From the age of six years old he was involved with the performing arts Continue reading

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Stars of Cinecitta: Luisella Boni

Luisella Boni, who was also known as Brigitte Corey, Isabelle Corey, Luisa Boni and – to her mum and dad – Luisa Angela Bozzo, was born in Como on the 24th July 1935 Continue reading

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R.I.P Vittorio De Seta

The director Vittorio De Seta, celebrated creator of award winning documentaries and films, has died aged 88 Continue reading

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Giorgio Simonelli

Just finished watching two silly but moderately entertaining films with Franco & Ciccio: I due mafiosi (63) and I due mafiosi contro Al Capone (65)… Continue reading

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