Sahara Cross
Sahara Cross is a 1977 Italian action film directed by Tonino Valerii. It is the first Italian film to use steadicam.[2][3]
| Sahara Cross | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Tonino Valerii |
| Produced by |
|
| Screenplay by |
|
| Story by | Adriano Belli[1] |
| Starring | |
| Music by | Riz Ortolani[1] |
| Cinematography | Franco Di Giacomo |
| Edited by | Mario Siciliano[1] |
Production companies | Cine Vera s.p.a.[1] |
| Distributed by | F.A.R |
Release date |
|
Running time | 105 minutes[1] |
| Country | Italy[1] |
| Box office | ₤706.96 million |
Plot
Cast
- Franco Nero as Jean Bellard
- Michel Constantin as Carl Mank
- Pamela Villoresi as Nicole
- Mauro Barabani as Hamid
- Antonio Cantafora as Georges (as Michael Coby)
- Nazzareno Zamperla as Captain Zaft
Production
The film was originally very different than the completed film.[4] Valerii stated that the film was originally titled Arissa Ballerina and written by Adriano Belli.[4] Valerii commented that "In short, everything was the opposite of what Hitchcock recommended, that is, that characters must ignore what the viewer knows. I told the producers I would make a film out of that script, because it just made no sense!"[4] Gastaldi and Valerii re-wrote the script, but struggled as the Tunisian co-production signed on to Belli's script. Gastaldi's contribution added new motivations for characters and included a few new scenes such as the battle between two bulldozers.[4] Valerii wasn't initially happy with casting Pamela Villoresi, stating that "Sometimes you have to make do with compromises or economical limitations, Villoresi is a very good actress, but I wouldn't cast her as a terrorist, if it weren't for a pre-signed agreement."[4]
The film was shot in nine weeks.[4] It was shot at Cinecitta with exteriors shot in Tunisia.[1] Valerii used a steadicam for the desert shots.[4] As it was a very first model, director of photography Franco Di Giacomo and cameraman Gianfranco Transunto were sent for special training in Vienna to use it.[4]
Release
Sahara Cross was released in Italy on September 7, 1977 where it was distributed by F.A.R.[1] The film grossed a total of 706,960,000 Italian lira on its theatrical run.[1]
Footnotes
- Curti 2013, p. 230.
- Roberto Curti, Il mio nome è Nessuno. Lo spaghetti western secondo Tonino Valerii, Unmondoaparte, Roma 2008, p. 77. ISBN 978-88-89481-17-2
- David Ballerini, Steadicam. Una rivoluzione nel modo di fare cinema, Falsopiano, Alessandria 1999, p. 70.
- Curti 2013, p. 231.
References
- Curti, Roberto (2013). Italian Crime Filmography, 1968-1980. McFarland. ISBN 0786469765.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)