Los Amigos
Encyclopedia
Los Amigos is a 1972
spaghetti western
film starring Anthony Quinn
and Franco Nero
in 1972. The film is loosely based on the life of Deaf Smith
, with direction of Paolo Cavara
.
has just gained its independence from Mexico
. However, President Sam Houston
fears the various rebels and interest groups that may take advantage of the Republic's newly won independence. He sends Erastus 'Deaf' Smith (Quinn) to put down one of the rebel groups led by Mexican general, Lucius Morton (Graziosi). Smith brings along his friend Johnny Ears (Nero) to help him. Ears must do his best to hide Smith's handicap, and to prevent their exposure when the rebel groups learns that a deaf-mute spy is among them.
insisted on the set of Los Amigos, or, as it may be called, Deaf Smith and Johhny Ears, or perhaps Two men. The two men are Anthony Quinn
and Franco Nero
– and the girl, Pamela Tiffin, by the way… «I’m not one of those western directors,» Cavara adds. «The day of those blood–and–guts oaters made over here is over. They have to something else–and this one is a “psychological western.”» (…) «The Italians prefer their U.S. pictures dubbed,» director Cavara confirmed. Three of the four theatres SRO–showing The Godfather here show dubbed versions, one with subtitles. «We have been dubbing here for 25 years and do it perfectly,» he said. He was shooting most of this film with sound, rare for these h’yar parts. And was using a very lightweight, easily portable 35m Arriflex camera. Director Cavara had filmed many Mondo Cane
scenes in the US, and ironically, last year was about to shoot a film, "Getting Off", in N.Y.. with a promising stage actor – Al Pacino
. But after four months’ preparation, the film deal fell through. He hopes to be able to nab Pacino for a future project. One coming up is "Men A" to film in N.Y., Africa and Orient. It’s a story about man and pollution, a subject which now seems to be as universal as westerns, spaghetti or otherwise. «But, – Cavara smiles – whatever the film I make, it is always the same – about human relationship.» He wants Nero to star again for him…
(Excerpt from Variety Wed, October 18, 1972)
1972 in film
The year 1972 in film involved some significant events.-Top grossing films :- Awards :Academy Awards:*Avanti!, directed by Billy Wilder, starring Jack Lemmon and Juliet MillsB...
spaghetti western
Spaghetti Western
Spaghetti Western, also known as Italo-Western, is a nickname for a broad sub-genre of Western films that emerged in the mid-1960s in the wake of Sergio Leone's unique and much copied film-making style and international box-office success, so named by American critics because most were produced and...
film starring Anthony Quinn
Anthony Quinn
Antonio Rodolfo Quinn-Oaxaca , more commonly known as Anthony Quinn, was a Mexican American actor, as well as a painter and writer...
and Franco Nero
Franco Nero
Franco Nero is an Italian actor.-Early life:Nero was born Francesco Sparanero in San Prospero Parmense , the son of a sergeant in the...
in 1972. The film is loosely based on the life of Deaf Smith
Deaf Smith
Erastus "Deaf" Smith was an American frontiersman noted for his part in the Texas Revolution and the army of the Republic of Texas. He fought at the Grass Fight and the Battle of San Jacinto. After the war, Deaf Smith led a company of Texas Rangers.-Biography:Smith was born in Dutchess County, New...
, with direction of Paolo Cavara
Paolo Cavara
Paolo Cavara has been a screenwriter and a movie director. He was born in Bolognain 1926.-Biography:During the Fifties, he studied architecture in Florence University, then he realized documentaries for scientific trips, and emerged as a pioneer of the underwater cinematography Paolo Cavara has...
.
Plot
The Republic of TexasRepublic of Texas
The Republic of Texas was an independent nation in North America, bordering the United States and Mexico, that existed from 1836 to 1846.Formed as a break-away republic from Mexico by the Texas Revolution, the state claimed borders that encompassed an area that included all of the present U.S...
has just gained its independence from Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. However, President Sam Houston
Sam Houston
Samuel Houston, known as Sam Houston , was a 19th-century American statesman, politician, and soldier. He was born in Timber Ridge in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, of Scots-Irish descent. Houston became a key figure in the history of Texas and was elected as the first and third President of...
fears the various rebels and interest groups that may take advantage of the Republic's newly won independence. He sends Erastus 'Deaf' Smith (Quinn) to put down one of the rebel groups led by Mexican general, Lucius Morton (Graziosi). Smith brings along his friend Johnny Ears (Nero) to help him. Ears must do his best to hide Smith's handicap, and to prevent their exposure when the rebel groups learns that a deaf-mute spy is among them.
Cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Anthony Quinn Anthony Quinn Antonio Rodolfo Quinn-Oaxaca , more commonly known as Anthony Quinn, was a Mexican American actor, as well as a painter and writer... |
Deaf Smith Deaf Smith Erastus "Deaf" Smith was an American frontiersman noted for his part in the Texas Revolution and the army of the Republic of Texas. He fought at the Grass Fight and the Battle of San Jacinto. After the war, Deaf Smith led a company of Texas Rangers.-Biography:Smith was born in Dutchess County, New... |
| Franco Nero Franco Nero Franco Nero is an Italian actor.-Early life:Nero was born Francesco Sparanero in San Prospero Parmense , the son of a sergeant in the... |
Johnny Ears |
| Pamela Tiffin | Susie, the Hooker |
| Franco Graziosi Franco Graziosi Franco Graziosi is a retired Italian actorEntering film in 1960 he has some 27 Italian film and TV appearances between then and 2004... |
Gen. Lucius Morton |
| Tom Felleghy | Von Mittler |
| Renato Romano | J.M. Hoffman |
About the director
Good morning from Rome: «This is not a spaghetti western,» director Paolo CavaraPaolo Cavara
Paolo Cavara has been a screenwriter and a movie director. He was born in Bolognain 1926.-Biography:During the Fifties, he studied architecture in Florence University, then he realized documentaries for scientific trips, and emerged as a pioneer of the underwater cinematography Paolo Cavara has...
insisted on the set of Los Amigos, or, as it may be called, Deaf Smith and Johhny Ears, or perhaps Two men. The two men are Anthony Quinn
Anthony Quinn
Antonio Rodolfo Quinn-Oaxaca , more commonly known as Anthony Quinn, was a Mexican American actor, as well as a painter and writer...
and Franco Nero
Franco Nero
Franco Nero is an Italian actor.-Early life:Nero was born Francesco Sparanero in San Prospero Parmense , the son of a sergeant in the...
– and the girl, Pamela Tiffin, by the way… «I’m not one of those western directors,» Cavara adds. «The day of those blood–and–guts oaters made over here is over. They have to something else–and this one is a “psychological western.”» (…) «The Italians prefer their U.S. pictures dubbed,» director Cavara confirmed. Three of the four theatres SRO–showing The Godfather here show dubbed versions, one with subtitles. «We have been dubbing here for 25 years and do it perfectly,» he said. He was shooting most of this film with sound, rare for these h’yar parts. And was using a very lightweight, easily portable 35m Arriflex camera. Director Cavara had filmed many Mondo Cane
Mondo cane
Mondo cane is a documentary written and directed by Italian filmmakers Paolo Cavara, Franco Prosperi and Gualtiero Jacopetti. The film consists of a series of travelogue vignettes that provide glimpses into cultural practices around the world with the intention to shock or surprise Western film...
scenes in the US, and ironically, last year was about to shoot a film, "Getting Off", in N.Y.. with a promising stage actor – Al Pacino
Al Pacino
Alfredo James "Al" Pacino is an American film and stage actor and director. He is famous for playing mobsters, including Michael Corleone in The Godfather trilogy, Tony Montana in Scarface, Alphonse "Big Boy" Caprice in Dick Tracy and Carlito Brigante in Carlito's Way, though he has also appeared...
. But after four months’ preparation, the film deal fell through. He hopes to be able to nab Pacino for a future project. One coming up is "Men A" to film in N.Y., Africa and Orient. It’s a story about man and pollution, a subject which now seems to be as universal as westerns, spaghetti or otherwise. «But, – Cavara smiles – whatever the film I make, it is always the same – about human relationship.» He wants Nero to star again for him…
(Excerpt from Variety Wed, October 18, 1972)
Trivia
- Some parts of the soundtrack, composed by Daniele Patucchi, are featured in the videogame Red Dead RevolverRed Dead RevolverRed Dead Revolver is a western third-person shooter video game published by Rockstar Games and developed by Rockstar San Diego. It was released in North America on May 4, 2004, for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox....
.