Sergio Corbucci (; 6 December 1926 – 1 December 1990) was an
Italian
Italian(s) may refer to:
* Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries
** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom
** Italian language, a Romance language
*** Regional Ita ...
film director
A film director controls a film's artistic and dramatic aspects and visualizes the screenplay (or script) while guiding the film crew and actors in the fulfilment of that vision. The director has a key role in choosing the cast members, p ...
,
screenwriter
A screenplay writer (also called screenwriter, scriptwriter, scribe or scenarist) is a writer who practices the craft of screenwriting, writing screenplays on which mass media, such as films, television programs and video games, are based.
...
and
producer. He directed both very violent
Spaghetti Westerns and bloodless
Bud Spencer
Carlo Pedersoli (31 October 1929 – 27 June 2016), known professionally as Bud Spencer, was an Italian actor, professional swimmer and water polo player. He was known for action-comedy and Spaghetti Western roles with his long-time film partn ...
and
Terence Hill
Terence Hill (born Mario Girotti; 29 March 1939) is an Italian actor, film director, screenwriter and producer. He began his career as a child actor and gained international fame for starring roles in action and comedy films, many with longtim ...
action comedies.
He is the older brother of screenwriter and film director
Bruno Corbucci.
Biography
Early career
Corbucci was born in
Rome
, established_title = Founded
, established_date = 753 BC
, founder = King Romulus (legendary)
, image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg
, map_caption ...
.
He started his career by directing mostly low-budget
sword and sandal
Sword-and-sandal, also known as peplum (pepla plural), is a subgenre of largely Italian-made historical, mythological, or Biblical epics mostly set in the Greco-Roman antiquity or the Middle Ages. These films attempted to emulate the big-budge ...
movies. Among his first Spaghetti Westerns were the films ''Grand Canyon Massacre'' (1964), which he co-directed (under the pseudonym, Stanley Corbett) with
Albert Band
Albert Band (May 7, 1924 – June 14, 2002) was a French-American film director and film producer. He was the son of artist Max Band, father of filmmaker Charles Band and of film composer Richard Band and the grandfather of Alex Band, Taryn Ba ...
, as well as ''
Minnesota Clay'' (1964), his first solo directed Spaghetti Western. Corbucci's first commercial success was with the cult Spaghetti Western ''
Django'', starring
Franco Nero
Francesco Clemente Giuseppe Sparanero (born 23 November 1941), known professionally as Franco Nero, is an Italian actor, producer, and director. His breakthrough role was as the title character in the Spaghetti Western film '' Django'' (1966), ...
, the leading man in many of his movies. He would later collaborate with
Franco Nero
Francesco Clemente Giuseppe Sparanero (born 23 November 1941), known professionally as Franco Nero, is an Italian actor, producer, and director. His breakthrough role was as the title character in the Spaghetti Western film '' Django'' (1966), ...
on two other Spaghetti Westerns, ''Il Mercenario'' or ''
The Mercenary'' (a.k.a. ''A Professional Gun'') (1968) - where Nero played Sergei Kowalski, a Polish mercenary and the film also starring
Tony Musante
Anthony Peter Musante Jr. (June 30, 1936 – November 26, 2013) was an American actor, best known for the TV series '' Toma'' as Detective David Toma, Nino Schibetta in '' Oz'' (1997), and Joe D'Angelo in ''As the World Turns'' (2000-2003). In mo ...
,
Jack Palance
Jack Palance ( ; born Volodymyr Palahniuk ( uk, Володимир Палагню́к); February 18, 1919 – November 10, 2006) was an American actor known for playing tough guys and villains. He was nominated for three Academy Awards, all fo ...
and
Giovanna Ralli
Giovanna Ralli, (born 2 January 1935), is an Italian stage, film and television actress.
Life and career
Born in Rome, Ralli debuted as a child actress at 7; at 13 she made her theatrical debut, entering the stage company of Peppino De Filip ...
- as well as ''
Compañeros'' (1970) a.k.a. ''Vamos a matar, Companeros'', which also starred
Tomas Milian
Tomas Milian (born Tomás Quintín Rodríguez-Varona Milián Salinas de la Fé y Álvarez de la Campa; 3 March 1933 – 22 March 2017) was a Cuban-born actor and singer with American and Italian citizenship, known for the emotional intensity and ...
and
Jack Palance
Jack Palance ( ; born Volodymyr Palahniuk ( uk, Володимир Палагню́к); February 18, 1919 – November 10, 2006) was an American actor known for playing tough guys and villains. He was nominated for three Academy Awards, all fo ...
. The last film of the "Mexican Revolution" trilogy - ''
The Mercenary'' and ''
Compañeros'' being the first two in the installment - was ''
What Am I Doing in the Middle of the Revolution?'' (1972).
After ''
Django'', Corbucci made many other Spaghetti Westerns, which made him the most successful Italian western director after
Sergio Leone and one of Italy's most productive and prolific directors. His most famous of these pictures was ''
The Great Silence
''The Great Silence'' ( it, Il grande silenzio) is a 1968 revisionist Spaghetti Western film directed and co-written by Sergio Corbucci. An Italian-French co-production, the film stars Jean-Louis Trintignant, Klaus Kinski, Vonetta McGee (in ...
'' (Il Grande Silenzio), a dark and gruesome western starring a
mute
Muteness is a speech disorder in which a person lacks the ability to speak.
Mute or the Mute may also refer to:
Arts and entertainment Film and television
* ''Mute'' (2005 film), a short film by Melissa Joan Hart
* ''Mute'' (2018 film), a scien ...
action hero and a
psychopathic
Psychopathy, sometimes considered synonymous with sociopathy, is characterized by persistent antisocial behavior, impaired empathy and remorse, and bold, disinhibited, and egotistical traits. Different conceptions of psychopathy have been u ...
bad guy. The film was banned in some countries for its excessive display of violence.
Corbucci also directed ''
Navajo Joe
''Navajo Joe'' is a 1966 Spaghetti Western film directed by Sergio Corbucci and starring Burt Reynolds as the titular Navajo Indian who opposes a group of bandits responsible for killing his tribe.
Plot
Having massacred an Indian village with h ...
'' (1966), starring
Burt Reynolds
Burton Leon Reynolds Jr. (February 11, 1936 – September 6, 2018) was an American actor, considered a sex symbol and icon of 1970s American popular culture.
Reynolds first rose to prominence when he starred in television series such as ' ...
as the title character, a Navajo Indian opposing a group of bandits that killed his tribe, as well as ''
The Hellbenders
''The Hellbenders'' ( it, I crudeli, lit=The Cruel Ones, link=no) is a 1967 Spaghetti Western directed by Sergio Corbucci.
Plot
Colonel Jonas is a fanatical and unrepentant Confederate who led a regiment called the Hellbenders in the recently ...
'' (1967), and ''
Johnny Oro
''Ringo and His Golden Pistol'' ( it, Johnny Oro) is a 1966 Italian Spaghetti Western film directed by Sergio Corbucci and starring Mark Damon.
Synopsis
Renamed to cash in on the success of Duccio Tessari’s Ringo movies, ''Ringo and His Golde ...
'' (1966) a.k.a. ''Ringo and his Golden Pistol'' starring
Mark Damon
Mark Damon (born April 22, 1933) is an American film actor and producer. He became noted for roles in films like Roger Corman's ''House of Usher'', before moving to Italy and becoming a notable Western star and member of the 1960s Dolce Vita ...
. Other Spaghetti Westerns he directed include ''
Gli specialisti
''The Specialists'' ( it, Gli specialisti, also known as ''Drop Them or I'll Shoot'') is a 1969 Spaghetti Western co-written and directed by Sergio Corbucci. It was an international co-production between Italy, France and West Germany.Cox, p. 267 ...
'' (''Drop Them or I'll Shoot'', 1969), ''
La Banda J.S.: Cronaca criminale del Far West'' (''Sonny and Jed'', 1972), with
Tomas Milian
Tomas Milian (born Tomás Quintín Rodríguez-Varona Milián Salinas de la Fé y Álvarez de la Campa; 3 March 1933 – 22 March 2017) was a Cuban-born actor and singer with American and Italian citizenship, known for the emotional intensity and ...
and ''
The White the Yellow and the Black'' (1975), with
Tomas Milian
Tomas Milian (born Tomás Quintín Rodríguez-Varona Milián Salinas de la Fé y Álvarez de la Campa; 3 March 1933 – 22 March 2017) was a Cuban-born actor and singer with American and Italian citizenship, known for the emotional intensity and ...
and
Eli Wallach
Eli Herschel Wallach (; December 7, 1915 – June 24, 2014) was an American film, television, and stage actor from New York City. From his 1945 Broadway debut to his last film appearance, Wallach's entertainment career spanned 65 years. Origina ...
.
Spaghetti Westerns
Corbucci's westerns were dark and brutal, with the characters portrayed as sadistic anti heroes. His films featured very high body counts and scenes of mutilation. ''Django'' especially is considered to have set a new level for violence in westerns.
Later career and legacy
In the 1970s and 1980s Corbucci mostly directed comedies, often starring
Adriano Celentano. Many of these comedies were huge successes at the Italian box-office and found wide distribution in European countries like Germany, France, Austria and Switzerland, but were barely released overseas.
His movies were rarely taken seriously by contemporary critics and he was considered an exploitation director, but Corbucci has managed to attain a cult reputation.
He died in Rome in 1990, five days before his 64th birthday, of a
heart attack
A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when blood flow decreases or stops to the coronary artery of the heart, causing damage to the heart muscle. The most common symptom is chest pain or discomfort which may tr ...
.
His nephew
Leonardo Corbucci continues the legacy of film directors in the family in Los Angeles.
Filmography
Director and writer
*''Salvate mia figlia'' (1951)
*''Foreign Earth'' (1954)
*''Island Sinner'' (1954)
*''Acque amare'' (1954)
*''Baracca e burattini'' (1954)
*''Carovana di canzoni'' (1955)
*''Suonno d'ammore'' (1955)
*''
Supreme Confession'' (1956)
*''Ángeles sin cielo'' (1957)
*''I ragazzi dei Parioli'' (1959)
*''
Who Hesitates is Lost
Who or WHO may refer to:
* Who (pronoun), an interrogative or relative pronoun
* Who?, one of the Five Ws in journalism
* World Health Organization
Arts and entertainment Fictional characters
* Who, a creature in the Dr. Seuss book ''Horton Hear ...
'' (1960)
*''
An American in Toledo
''An American in Toledo'' (Spanish: ''Un americano en Toledo'') is a 1960 Spanish comedy film directed by Carlos Arévalo and José Luis Monter and starring Silvia Morgan and Georges Rivière.Rodrigo p.223
Cast
In alphabetical order
* Ángel Ar ...
'' (1960) *Only writer.
*''Totò, Peppino e... la dolce vita'' (1961)
*''
Goliath and the Vampires
''Goliath and the Vampires'' ( it, Maciste contro il vampiro) is a 1961 Italian ''peplum'' film directed by Sergio Corbucci and Giacomo Gentilomo.
Plot
Set in the ancient world, this film follows a powerful muscular man out to battle a vampire a ...
'' (1961)
*''
Duel of the Titans
''Duel of the Titans'' ( it, Romolo e Remo, lit=Romulus and Remus) is a 1961 Italian / French film directed by Sergio Corbucci and starring Steve Reeves, Gordon Scott, and Virna Lisi. The film is about twin brothers revolt against tyranny in pr ...
'' (1961)
*''
The Two Marshals
''The Two Marshals'' ( it, I due marescialli) is a 1961 Italian comedy film written and directed by Sergio Corbucci. The film was a hit at the Italian box office, with 2.765.531 spectators and a total gross of 536.513.000 lire.Matilde Amorosi, ...
'' (1961)
*''
The Slave'' (''The Son of Spartacus'', 1962)
*''Lo smemorato di Collegno'' (1962)
*''
The Shortest Day
''The Shortest Day'' ( it, Il giorno più corto) is a 1963 Italian comedy film. It is a parody of the war movie '' The Longest Day'' and stars the popular duo Franco and Ciccio in the leading roles. Dozens of other well-known actors, from both Eu ...
'' (1963)
*''Il monaco di Monza'' (1963)
*''Gli onorevoli'' (1963)
*''
Grand Canyon Massacre
''Grand Canyon Massacre'' (Italian: ''Massacro al Grande Canyon'', lit. "Massacre at Grand Canyon") is a 1964 Italian Spaghetti Western filmed in Croatia starring James Mitchum, Milla Sannoner, and George Ardisson. It was directed by Sergio Co ...
'' (1964) (as Stanley Corbett)
*''
Castle of Blood
''Castle of Blood'' ( it, Danza Macabra, links=no) is a 1964 horror film directed by Antonio Margheriti and Sergio Corbucci. The film stars Barbara Steele, Arturo Dominici and Georges Rivière. The film was initially commissioned to director Ser ...
(1964) (uncredited)
*''
Minnesota Clay'' (1965)
*''
Sons of the Leopard'' (1965)
*''
The Man Who Laughs
''The Man Who Laughs'' (also published under the title ''By Order of the King'' from its subtitle in French) is a novel by Victor Hugo, originally published in April 1869 under the French title ''L'Homme qui rit''. It takes place in England beg ...
'' (1966)
*''
Django'' (1966)
*''
Ringo and his Golden Pistol
''Ringo and His Golden Pistol'' ( it, Johnny Oro) is a 1966 Italian Spaghetti Western film directed by Sergio Corbucci and starring Mark Damon.
Synopsis
Renamed to cash in on the success of Duccio Tessari’s Ringo movies, ''Ringo and His Gold ...
'' (''Johnny Oro'', 1966)
*''
Navajo Joe
''Navajo Joe'' is a 1966 Spaghetti Western film directed by Sergio Corbucci and starring Burt Reynolds as the titular Navajo Indian who opposes a group of bandits responsible for killing his tribe.
Plot
Having massacred an Indian village with h ...
'' (1966)
*''
The Cruel Ones
''The Hellbenders'' ( it, I crudeli, lit=The Cruel Ones, link=no) is a 1967 Spaghetti Western directed by Sergio Corbucci.
Plot
Colonel Jonas is a fanatical and unrepentant Confederate States of America, Confederate who led a regiment called th ...
'' (''The Hellbenders'', 1967)
*''
Death on the Run
''Death on the Run'' (Italian: ''Bersaglio mobile''), also known as ''Moving Target'', is a 1967 Italian Eurospy film directed by Sergio Corbucci. Filmed in Athens,''Films and Filming'', Volume 14, Hansom Books, 1968. it was referred as a film ...
'' (1967)
*''
The Mercenary'' (''A Professional Gun'', 1968)
*''
The Great Silence
''The Great Silence'' ( it, Il grande silenzio) is a 1968 revisionist Spaghetti Western film directed and co-written by Sergio Corbucci. An Italian-French co-production, the film stars Jean-Louis Trintignant, Klaus Kinski, Vonetta McGee (in ...
'' (1968)
*''
Zum zum zum'' (1969) Co-director
Bruno Corbucci.
*''
The Specialists'' (''Drop Them or I'll Shoot'', 1969)
*''
Compañeros'' (1970)
*''Er più: storia d'amore e di coltello'' (1971)
*''
La Banda J.S.: Cronaca criminale del Far West'' (''Sonny and Jed'', 1972)
*''
What Am I Doing in the Middle of the Revolution?'' (1972)
*''
The Beast'' (1974)
*''
Shoot First... Ask Questions Later'' (''The White the Yellow and the Black'', 1975)
*''
Di che segno sei?
''Di che segno sei?'' (translation: ''What's Your Sign?'') is a 1975 Italian comedy film directed by Sergio Corbucci, starring Alberto Sordi.
Plot
The film is divided into four episodes. In the first Paolo Villaggio plays the role of a sailor fr ...
'' (1975)
*''
The Con Artists'' (1976)
*''
Mr. Robinson'' (1975)
*''
Three Tigers Against Three Tigers
''Three Tigers Against Three Tigers'' ( it, Tre tigri contro tre tigri) is a 1977 comedy film directed by Sergio Corbucci and Steno. It consists of three segments.
Plot
Cast
; First Segment
** Renato Pozzetto as Don Cimbolano
** Cochi Pon ...
'' (1977)
*''
Ecco noi per esempio...'' (1977)
*''
The Payoff'' (1978)
*''
Odds and Evens'' (1978)
*''
Neapolitan Mystery
''Neapolitan Mystery'' ( it, Giallo napoletano) is a 1979 Italian mystery film directed by Sergio Corbucci. The film is also known as ''Atrocious Tales of Love and Death''.Luther-Smith, Adrian (1999). Blood and Black Lace: The Definitive Guide ...
'' (1979)
*''
Super Fuzz
''Super Fuzz'' ( it, Poliziotto superpiù), also known as ''Super Snooper'', is a 1980 superhero comedy film directed by Sergio Corbucci. The film stars Terence Hill and Ernest Borgnine. It is about Dave Speed, a bumbling Miami police officer w ...
'' (1980)
*''
I Don't Understand You Anymore'' (1980)
*''
I'm Getting a Yacht
''I'm Getting a Yacht'' ( it, Mi faccio la barca) is a 1980 Italian comedy film directed by Sergio Corbucci.
Plot
Piero is a dentist who lives apart from his wife Roberta. To spend the traditional two weeks of vacation with his children Fi ...
'' (1980)
*''
Who Finds a Friend Finds a Treasure
''Who Finds a Friend Finds a Treasure'' ( it, Chi trova un amico trova un tesoro also known as ''A Friend Is a Treasure'') is an Italian adventure- comedy movie directed in 1981 by Sergio Corbucci and starring the comedy team of Terence Hill an ...
'' (1981)
*''
My Darling, My Dearest
''My Darling, My Dearest'' ( it, Bello mio, bellezza mia) is a 1981 Italian comedy film directed by Sergio Corbucci.
Plot
Cast
* Giancarlo Giannini: Gennarino Laganà
* Mariangela Melato: Armida
* Stefania Sandrelli: Clarabella
* Massim ...
'' (1982)
*''Count Tacchia'' (1982)
*''Sing Sing'' (1983)
*''Questo e quello'' (1983)
*''A tu per tu'' (1984)
*''I Am an ESP'' (1985)
*''Rimini Rimini'' (1987)
*''Roba da ricchi'' (1987)
*''
Days of Inspector Ambrosio
''Days of Inspector Ambrosio'' (Italian: ''I giorni del commissario Ambrosio'') is a 1988 Italian crime film directed by Sergio Corbucci. It is loosely based on several novels written by Renato Olivieri.
Plot
A few days before Inspector Ambrosi ...
'' (1988)
*''
Night Club
A nightclub (music club, discothèque, disco club, or simply club) is an entertainment venue during nighttime comprising a dance floor, lightshow, and a stage for live music or a disc jockey (DJ) who plays recorded music.
Nightclubs gener ...
'' (1989)
*''
Women in Arms (1991)
Actor
*''Suonno d'ammore'' (1955) - Bank customer (uncredited)
*''
Who Hesitates Is Lost
Who or WHO may refer to:
* Who (pronoun), an interrogative or relative pronoun
* Who?, one of the Five Ws in journalism
* World Health Organization
Arts and entertainment Fictional characters
* Who, a creature in the Dr. Seuss book ''Horton Hear ...
'' (1960) - Billiard Player (uncredited)
*''
Totò, Peppino e... la dolce vita'' (1961) - Signore in coda al telefono (uncredited)
*''
Lo smemorato di Collegno
''Lo smemorato di Collegno'' (Italian for "The Collegno amnesiac") is a 1962 commedia all'italiana film directed by Sergio Corbucci. It is loosely based on the Bruneri-Canella case.
Plot
A man is hospitalized in a neurological clinic, due to a ...
'' (1962) - Man waiting for Minister (uncredited)
*''
Gli onorevoli
''Gli onorevoli'' is a 1963 Italian anthology comedy film directed by Sergio Corbucci.
Simple plot
The film is composed of several small stories that have to do with the votes of politicians in Italy in the sixties. A senior sharpshooter decide ...
'' (1963) - Albergatore di Roccasecca (uncredited) (final film role)
References
External links
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Corbucci, Sergio
1926 births
1990 deaths
Film directors from Rome
Giallo film directors
Comedy film directors
Parody film directors
Spaghetti Western directors
Italian parodists