Jump to content

Sabata (film series)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from The Sabata Trilogy)
Sabata
Cover of the 2005 The Sabata Trilogy box set by MGM/UA.
Original workSabata (1969)
Films and television
Film(s)

Sabata is a series of Spaghetti Western films released between 1969 and 1971, directed by Gianfranco Parolini, and starring Lee Van Cleef in the first, Sabata, Yul Brynner in the second, Adiós, Sabata, and Van Cleef returning for the third, Return of Sabata.

Overview

[edit]

Sabata (1969)

[edit]

Lee Van Cleef stars as a mostly silent lone gunman who foils a plan by some leaders of a small Texas town to rob their own bank and sell the town to the railroad.[1] William Berger co-stars as Banjo, an opposing gunman.[2]

Adiós, Sabata (1970)

[edit]

With Yul Brynner cast in the lead role, this film was originally going to be entitled Indio Black, but the title was changed after the first Sabata film proved successful and had inspired many imitators. Lee Van Cleef, star of the first Sabata film, had been offered the role, but had to decline because he was committed to The Magnificent Seven Ride! in the role of Chris Adams, which Brynner had made famous in The Magnificent Seven. Adiós, Sabata is set in Mexico under the rule of Emperor Maximilian I, and Sabata is hired to steal a wagonload of gold from the Austrian army.

Return of Sabata (1971)

[edit]

Lee Van Cleef returns to the role of Sabata, who goes to a small Texas town and seeks revenge on a robber baron, determined to steal back some money that the man has stolen from the towns people.[3]

Cast and characters

[edit]
List indicator

This section includes characters who will appear or have appeared in the Sabata franchise.

  • An empty grey cell indicates the character was not in the film, or that the character's official presence has not yet been confirmed.
Character Films
Sabata Adiós, Sabata Return of Sabata
1969 1970 1971
Sabata Lee Van Cleef Yul Brynner Lee Van Cleef
Indio Black Nick Jordan Nick Jordan
Alley Cat / Angel the Acrobat
Judge O'Hara / Folgen / Jeremy Sweeney Gianni Rizzo
Carrincha / Escudo / Bronco Ignazio Spalla
Señor Ocaño / Circus Owner Franco Fantasia

Crew

[edit]
Occupation Film Ref(s)
Sabata Adiós, Sabata Return of Sabata
1969 1970 1971
Director Gianfranco Parolini
(as Frank Kramer)
[4]
Producer(s) Alberto Grimaldi
Screenwriter(s) Renato Izzo
Gianfranco Parolini
Composer(s) Marcello Giombini Bruno Nicolai Marcello Giombini
Director of photography Sandro Mancori
Editor Edmond Lozzi Gianfranco Parolini

DVD release

[edit]

The Sabata Trilogy was released on DVD by MGM/UA in October 2005.

Other Sabata films

[edit]

As was common with successful Spaghetti Western franchises, such as the Dollars Trilogy, Django or Sartana series, several other Sabata imitators were released. None of these are considered part of the "official" series. They include:

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Hughes, Howard (31 March 2006). Once Upon A Time in the Italian West: The Filmgoers' Guide to Spaghetti Westerns. I.B.Tauris. p. 216. ISBN 9780857730459.
  2. ^ Weldon, Michael (1996). The Psychotronic Video Guide. Titan Books. p. 478. ISBN 9781852867706.
  3. ^ Hughes, Howard (30 April 2011). Cinema Italiano: The Complete Guide from Classics to Cult. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 160. ISBN 9780857719782.
  4. ^ "Cast and Crew". The Sabata Trilogy (Booklet). Eureka Entertainment. 2021. pp. 2, 3, 6. EKA70439.
  5. ^ Núñez Marqués, Anselmo (2006). Western a la europea--: un plato que se sirve frío. Entrelineas Editores. p. 274. ISBN 9788498024326.
  6. ^ Prickette, James (20 January 2012). McLendon, Charles Anthony (ed.). Actors of the Spaghetti Westerns. Xlibris Corporation. p. 214. ISBN 9781469144290.
  7. ^ Weisser, Thomas (22 August 2005). Spaghetti Westerns--the Good, the Bad and the Violent: A Comprehensive, Illustrated Filmography of 558 Eurowesterns and Their Personnel, 1961-1977. McFarland Publishing. p. 349. ISBN 9780786424429.
[edit]