A Scaffold for Three Cowards / Una forca per 3 vigliacchi (Alessandro Santini, 1972/1979)

(django the bastard) #1

Im trying to find information about the movie FORCA PER TRE VIGLIACCHI AKA Una forca per 3 vigliacchi AKA SCAFFOLD FOR THREE COWARDS by Alessandro Santini. The only info so far is the Production start date 1972 (the same year he shot the western Beyond the frontiers of hate) and release date 20/06/1979.Havent found anything about genre or actors involved in this production but the title really sounds like it might be another low-budget western?

(tomobea) #2

This film probebly didn`t got made like many others (3 Sartana Films)etc, etc,

(Phil H) #3

It’s not listed in Giusti’s Dizzionario but it does get a mention in the entry for Santini’s other western, Al di la dell’odio (Beyond the Frontiers of Hate). Unfortunately, my Italian isn’t good enough to give even a remotely accurate translation. Perhaps one of our Italian speakers here can help. It’s on page 10 in the book.

(JonathanCorbett) #4

This really mysterious film - in all probability never released in theaters - was certainly completed, since it was submitted to the board of censors in June '79 (v.c. 73649). As regards the content… well, the director hasn’t a good record , so you can expect everything!

(Mickey13) #5

It even hasn’t got its page on SWDB, at least I cannot find one.

(JonathanCorbett) #6

Here are some pictures in black and white :o

http://www.photocinema.it/ctrlMainLst.cfm?where=Film&mode=Sch&idFilm=13809

(scherpschutter) #7

According to Giusti it was never finished. On page 10 (Review of Al di là dell’Odio) he says:

“Secondo film (su quattro) diretto da Santini (…) Ne avrebbe dovuto anche fare uno scritto addirittura da Renato Polessii, Una Forca per tre Vigliacchi”
(Second film (out of four) directed by Santini (…) He also should have done (was suppposed to do) a movie scripted by no other than Renato Polessi, Una Forca per tre Vigliacchi"

On page 664 it is listed among the unfinished (mai realizzati) westerns

Bizarre.

(JonathanCorbett) #8

At the time Giusti did not know about the censorship approval, he knew only the script kept at C.S.C.: how could an unfinished film be submitted to the board of censors?

Is it possible to move this thread in THE SPAGHETTI WESTERNS section of the forum?

(scherpschutter) #9

No idea, of course.

(curiousjoe) #10

Has anyone been able to track a copy of this film. I have been searching for years.

(Tom B.) #11

From Marco Giusti’s book page 10.

Ne avrebbe dovuto anche fare uno scritto addirittura da Renato Polselli, un forca per tre vigliacchi. Grande titolo. Il cosceneggiatore Bruno Vani passera poi al porno (soft e hard). Il nome da tenere d’occhio e quello di Giovanni Di Clemente alla produzione, poi attivissimo nel cinema cafone dei primi anni '80. Per Jean-Marie Sabatier non e male la sequenza della Valle dei Serpenti (dove uomini e animali sono decimati dai rettili (Saison '74)

Google translation:
It would also make an another written by Renato Polselli, a Gallows for Three Cowards. Great title. The co-writer Bruno Vani pussy then turned to porn (soft and hard). A name to watch is that of John Di Clemente production, then very active in ignorant films of the early '80s. Jean-Marie Sabatier not hurt in the sequence of the Valley of Snakes (where men and animals are decimated by reptiles (Season '74)

(JonathanCorbett) #12

[quote=“Tom B., post:11, topic:2434”]From Marco Giusti’s book page 10.

Ne avrebbe dovuto anche fare uno scritto addirittura da Renato Polselli, un forca per tre vigliacchi. Grande titolo. Il cosceneggiatore Bruno Vani passera poi al porno (soft e hard). Il nome da tenere d’occhio e quello di Giovanni Di Clemente alla produzione, poi attivissimo nel cinema cafone dei primi anni '80. Per Jean-Marie Sabatier non e male la sequenza della Valle dei Serpenti (dove uomini e animali sono decimati dai rettili (Saison '74)

Google translation:
It would also make an another written by Renato Polselli, a Gallows for Three Cowards. Great title. The co-writer Bruno Vani pussy then turned to porn (soft and hard). A name to watch is that of John Di Clemente production, then very active in ignorant films of the early '80s. Jean-Marie Sabatier not hurt in the sequence of the Valley of Snakes (where men and animals are decimated by reptiles (Season '74)[/quote]

The word is passerà (will move), not passera (hen-sparrow, pussy) :slight_smile:

The part relating to Jean-Marie Sabatier refers to the sequence that Santini ‘borrowed’ from a Winnetou film in Al di là dell’odio, see here

http://forum.spaghetti-western.net/index.php/topic,3372.0.html

(JonathanCorbett) #13

Filming locations: Calabria (Southern Italy)

Produced by Renato Talamo for Sila Film

(JonathanCorbett) #14

Two actors have finally come to light, Cameron Steel (Beyond the Frontiers of Hate) and July Russel.

Runtime: 85 minutes.

I renew the request.

#15

Some images on the website of the Archivio Storico del Cinema.

(JonathanCorbett) #16

Also with Ivan Greeve.

The movie is about three ruthless murderers and kidnappers: one of them, a woman named Luiselle, is also known as the Hyena. After various events involving women and children taken hostage the surviving bandit, chased by many bounty hunters, takes refuge in a convent and there’s some sort of crisis of conscience. Nevertheless, the film ends with the redeemed character sentenced to death by hanging.

This information comes from the June 1979 certificate.
Original rating: T (all ages admitted)