Sergio Corbucci
Encyclopedia
Sergio Corbucci was an Italian
film director
. He is best known for his very violent yet intelligent spaghetti western
s. He was for a long time considered an exploitation director, but has now attained a vast following and is easily compared to Sam Peckinpah
or Sergio Leone
.
He is the older brother of screenwriter and film director Bruno Corbucci
.
.
He started his career by directing mostly low-budget sword and sandal
movies. His first commercial success was with the cult spaghetti western Django
, starring Franco Nero
, the leading man in many of his movies.
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 directors. His most famous of these pictures was The Great Silence
, a dark and gruesome western starring a mute
action hero and a psychopathic bad guy. The film was banned in some countries for its excessive display of violence.
. Many of these comedies were huge successes at the Italian box-office, although they were barely released abroad. 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.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
film director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
. He is best known for his very violent yet intelligent 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...
s. He was for a long time considered an exploitation director, but has now attained a vast following and is easily compared to Sam Peckinpah
Sam Peckinpah
David Samuel "Sam" Peckinpah was an American filmmaker and screenwriter who achieved prominence following the release of the Western epic The Wild Bunch...
or Sergio Leone
Sergio Leone
Sergio Leone was an Italian film director, producer and screenwriter most associated with the "Spaghetti Western" genre.Leone's film-making style includes juxtaposing extreme close-up shots with lengthy long shots...
.
He is the older brother of screenwriter and film director Bruno Corbucci
Bruno Corbucci
Bruno Corbucci was an Italian screenwriter and film director. He was the younger brother of Sergio Corbucci, and wrote many of his films. He was born in Rome, where he also died....
.
Early career
Corbucci was born in RomeRome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
.
He started his career by directing mostly low-budget sword and sandal
Sword and sandal
The Peplum , also known as Sword-and-Sandal, is a genre of largely Italian-made Historical or Biblical Epics that dominated the Italian film industry from 1957 to 1965, eventually being replaced in 1965 by the "Spaghetti Western"...
movies. His first commercial success was with the cult spaghetti western Django
Django (film)
Django is a 1966 Italian spaghetti Western film directed by Sergio Corbucci and starring Franco Nero in the eponymous role. The film earned a reputation as being one of the most violent films ever made up to that point and was subsequently refused a certificate in Britain until 1993, when it was...
, starring 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...
, the leading man in many of his movies.
After Django, Corbucci made many other spaghetti westerns, which made him the most successful Italian western director after Sergio Leone
Sergio Leone
Sergio Leone was an Italian film director, producer and screenwriter most associated with the "Spaghetti Western" genre.Leone's film-making style includes juxtaposing extreme close-up shots with lengthy long shots...
and one of Italy's most productive directors. His most famous of these pictures was The Great Silence
The Great Silence
The Great Silence , or The Big Silence, is an Italian spaghetti western. It is widely considered by critics as the masterpiece of director Sergio Corbucci and is one of his better known movies, along with Django...
, a dark and gruesome western starring a mute
Speech disorder
Speech disorders or speech impediments are a type of communication disorders where 'normal' speech is disrupted. This can mean stuttering, lisps, etc. Someone who is unable to speak due to a speech disorder is considered mute.-Classification:...
action hero and a psychopathic bad guy. The film was banned in some countries for its excessive display of violence.
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 CelentanoAdriano Celentano
Adriano Celentano is an Italian singer, songwriter, comedian, actor, film director and TV host.-Biography:Celentano was born in Milan at 14 Via Gluck, about which he later wrote the famous song "Il ragazzo della via Gluck"...
. Many of these comedies were huge successes at the Italian box-office, although they were barely released abroad. 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.
Selected filmography
- Minnesota ClayMinnesota ClayMinnesota Clay is a 1965 spaghetti western directed by Sergio Corbucci.-Plot:1883. Clay, a gunfighter going blind, escapes from Drunner Labor Camp determined to prove his innocence - he has been framed by Fox, now his successor as sheriff of Mesa Encantada...
(1965) - DjangoDjango (film)Django is a 1966 Italian spaghetti Western film directed by Sergio Corbucci and starring Franco Nero in the eponymous role. The film earned a reputation as being one of the most violent films ever made up to that point and was subsequently refused a certificate in Britain until 1993, when it was...
(1966) - Ringo and his Golden PistolRingo and his Golden PistolJohnny Oro aka. Ringo and His Golden Pistol is a 1966 spaghetti western directed by Sergio Corbucci and starring Mark Damon.Renamed to cash in on the success of Duccio Tessari’s Ringo movies, Ringo and His Golden Pistol focuses on bounty hunter Johnny Oro/Ringo who sees killing as purely business,...
(1966) - Navajo JoeNavajo JoeNavajo Joe is a 1966 Italian/Spanish Spaghetti Western, directed by Sergio Corbucci. It was filmed in Spain.Navajo Joe stars Burt Reynolds in his second leading role in a feature film, as the titular character, a Navajo Indian opposing a group of bandits responsible for killing his tribe.The film's...
(1966) - The HellbendersThe HellbendersThe Hellbenders is a Spaghetti Western directed by Sergio Corbucci in 1966.-Plot:...
(1967) - The MercenaryThe Mercenary (film)The Mercenary , also known as A Professional Gun, is a 1968 spaghetti western film directed by Sergio Corbucci. The film stars Franco Nero, Jack Palance, Tony Musante and Giovanna Ralli, and features a musical score by Ennio Morricone and Bruno Nicolai...
(A Professional Gun, 1968) - Gli specialistiGli specialistiGli specialisti is a 1969 Italian Spaghetti western produced, written and directed by Sergio Corbucci. The title probably intended to partner the previos Corbucci's western, The Mercenary...
(Drop Them or I'll Shoot, 1969) - The Great SilenceThe Great SilenceThe Great Silence , or The Big Silence, is an Italian spaghetti western. It is widely considered by critics as the masterpiece of director Sergio Corbucci and is one of his better known movies, along with Django...
(1969) - CompañerosCompañerosCompañeros is an Italian Zapata-themed spaghetti western film directed by Sergio Corbucci in 1970. The film stars Franco Nero, Tomas Milian, Jack Palance and Fernando Rey...
(1970) - La Banda J.S.: Cronaca criminale del Far WestLa Banda J.S.: Cronaca criminale del Far WestLa Banda J.S.: Cronaca criminale del Far West is a 1972 Italian Spaghetti Western about a sheriff's relentless effort to stop a robber and his girlfriend...
(Sonny and Jed, 1972) - What Am I Doing in the Middle of the Revolution?What Am I Doing in the Middle of the Revolution?What Am I Doing in the Middle of the Revolution? is a 1972 Spaghetti Western comedy film.The title should be understood, according the director Sergio Corbucci, as "What Am I Doing in the Middle of the Western Cinema?". It is the final chapter of the Corbucci's trilogy about the Mexican...
(1972) - Il BestioneThe Beast (1975 film)The Beast is an Italian Drama film directed by Sergio Corbucci and stars Gabriella Giorgelli, Michel Constantin and Giancarlo Giannini.-Plot:...
(1974) - Di che segno sei?Di che segno sei?Di che segno sei? is a 1975 Italian comedy film directed by Sergio Corbucci.-Cast:*Mafalda Berri*Ugo Bologna ... Commendatore Bravetti*Gil Cagne ... Ballerino*Giuliana Calandra ... Maria Bompazzi*Lilli Carati...
(1975) - The White the Yellow and the Black (1975)
- The Con Artists (1976)
- Il signor Robinson (1975)
- Neapolitan MysteryNeapolitan Mystery-Cast:* Marcello Mastroianni - Raffaele Capece* Ornella Muti - Lucia Navarro* Renato Pozzetto - Police Inspector* Michel Piccoli - Conductor Navarro* Zeudi Araya - Elizabeth* Capucine - Sister Angela* Peppino De Filippo - Raffaele's father...
(1978) - Trinity: Gambling for High Stakes (1978)
- Super Fuzz (1980)
- A Friend Is a TreasureA Friend Is a TreasureA Friend Is a Treasure is an Italian adventure-comedy movie directed in 1981 by Sergio Corbucci. It was filmed at Key Biscayne, Florida.- Cast :*Terence Hill: Alan Lloyd*Bud Spencer: Charlie O'Brian*Sal Borgese: Anulu*John Fujoka: Kamasuka...
(1981)