More sad news… Italian actor Pietro Martellanza, aka Peter Martell, died on the 4th February. Born in 1938 in Bolzano, the dark and handsome Martellanza starred in over 40 films between 1960 and 2009, and at one point in the late sixties looked like becoming a bonafide movie star. He found his biggest success in westerns, playing both heroes and villains in the likes of 100,000 dollair per Lassiter (66), Il pistolero dell’Ave Maria (69) and Ciakmull – l’uomo della vendetta (70). By the beginning of the seventies, though, as the genre entered a period of decline, his screen appearences became less regular as the productions he was involved with decreased in quality and the parts he played became less substantial. After a brief period working on a handful of Peter Steiner comedies in Germany (Die Stoßburg (73), Laß jucken, Kumpel 3: Maloche, Bier und Bett, Liebesgrüße aus der Lederhose 2: Zwei Kumpel auf der Alm (both 74) and a supporting role in the Roger Moore crime film, Gli esecutori (76) he disappeared for a long period. In the 2000s, though, he was rediscovered living in a Volkswagon bus in the Alps in Bolzano, and appeared in a handful of low budget productions including Jesus Franco’s Killer Barbys vs Dracula (2002).
Perhaps, though, Martellanza was best known for the film he didn’t appear in. In 1970, he was hired as the star of Enzo Barboni’s comedy western Lo chiamavano Trinità…, but was forced to drop out of the production after a bizarre accident – following a quarrel with his girlfriend – in which he broke his leg. He was replaced at the last minute by Mario Girotti, aka Terence Hill, the film went on to become a huge success and Hill went on to become one of the biggest Italian stars of the seventies.
A short documentary was made in 1997 about his career and the difficulties he’d faced after his brief period in the limelight, called Starring Peter Martell and featuring contributions from Maurizio Lucidi and Manolo Bolognini. Coincidentally, there was also a character in David Lynch’s Twin Peaks, played by Jack Nance, who’s name was ‘Peter Martell’.
I had the privilege of spending the afternoon with Dan van Husen white he was visiting his sister in Los Angeles last weekend. We talked about Peter Martell. Peter was so down and out for awhile that he lived in a Volkswagen van near the Alps. At one time he was so despondent he tried to commit suicide Eventually his homwtown of Bolzano subsidized an apartment for him to live in. Finally in the last few years he was hired to appear in several films and get back on his feet again. The documentary “Starring Peter Martell” was made about his rise and fall. He was a very good actor who for whatever reason, as Matt said, never became a true star. I enjoyed his appearance in many of the films he appeared in and feel very sad that he has left us. RIP.