Los Amigos - About The Director

About The Director

Good morning from Rome: «This is not a spaghetti western,» director Paolo Cavara 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)