FRANK's GANG - ALL CHARACTERS AND ACTORS
Hi, my name is Mr. Fed.
I am admirer of Sergio Leone's film Once upon a time in the West (OUATITW).
This blog is dedicated to the gunfighters of hard-boiled assassin Frank, one of the principal heroes of OUATITW.
I suggest identifying all actors appeared in the film as the Frank's gunmen.
Let's start with the epic opening scene.
Three gunmen take over an isolated train depot and settle in to wait for a train. They are hired killers sent by Frank.
So the leading killer is Snaky (actor Jack Elam).
His partners are Stony (actor Woody Strode) and Knuckles (actor Al Mullock).
Click on the picture to see large size image.
Actor Jack Elam as Snaky.
Click on the picture to see large size image.
Actor Woody Strode as Stony.
Click on the picture to see large size image.
Actor Al Mullock as Knuckles.
No questions.
Well-well-well...
Next scene at McBain farm.
On a remote farm called Sweetwater, Brett McBain and his family are preparing an outdoor wedding feast. Suddenly shots rang out from the surrounding desert, and daughter Maureen, son Patrick, and McBain himself are slain. The youngest of the McBain, Timmy, run out of the house just to find his entire family destroyed. He is watching in terrified silence as a group of five gunmen in duster overcoats emerge from the scrub brush. When one of the men calls their leader Frank by name, asking what to do with the child, Frank draws his pistol and slowly takes aim at the last remaining witness. With a self-satisfied grin, he pulls the trigger.
Let's see.
5 gunfighters – 2 unidentified actors.
From left to right:
1.
Jim (in white hat) - actor John Frederick.
2.
A tall red-haired gunman with no name – unidentified actor.
3.
Frank himself – actor Henry Fonda.
4.
Frank’s principal lieutenant with black beard - actor Michael Harvey. He asks famous question: “What are we going to do with this one, Frank?”
5.
The blonde-haired gunfighter with no name – unidentified actor.
Click on the picture to see large size image.
From left to right (see picture above):
unidentified actor (a tall red-haired gunman), John Frederick (Jim), Henry Fonda (Frank).
Click on the picture to see large size image.
From left to right (see photo above):
unidentified actor (blonde-haired gunman) and Michael Harvey (as Frank's principal lieutenant).
Well, now we are going to next scene - at McBain farm again.
Jill takes up her traveling bags and goes out to the wagon. But Harmonica is there and demands that she stay. As he throws her down roughly and begins ripping at her clothes, Jill becomes alarmed. Instead of harming her, he simply removes the white trimmings from her black dress, leaving her in full mourning. They go to the well for a drink of water, only to be attacked by yet two more of Frank's men. Harmonica kills them off.
2 gunfighters.
We already saw one of them (Jim) among Frank's gunmen at McBain farm.
Another one is Logan. He had very short story. It was his first and last appearence on screen.
By the way, those two bandits were only members of the gang (except Frank himself) who were called by names.
Now Jim and Logan in close-up:
Click on the picture to see large size image.
Actor John Frederick as Jim.
Click on the picture to see large size image.
Unidentified actor as Logan.
Next scene – on the train when Frank captures Harmonica.
3 gunmen – 2 unidentified actors.
During the interrogation on the train there were three Frank’s gunmen.
It was the first appearance of the second Frank’s lieutenant (actor Benito Stefanelli), who lets Frank know that the two men he sent to kill Jill (Jim and Logan) are themselves dead.
Another gunfighter is grey-haired and grey-bearded man (actor Spartaco Conversi). The third one is gunman who has massive chin and picturesque (scenic) moustache.
Let's see.
Click on the picture to see large size image.
Frank (Henry Fonda, left) and his secondary lieutenant - actor Benito Stefanelli.
Click on the picture to see large size image.
Gunman with moustache (he standing left from Harmonica).
Unidentified actor.
And the third gunman with grey hair and grey beard - actor Spartaco Conversi.
Next scene – on the train when Cheyenne craftily disposes of the three gunmen one by one and sets Harmonica free.
After Morton interrupted the interrogation and reminded Frank that he has more urgent business - the woman - Frank gone away with three of his men. Nethertheless he leaves other three men behind on the train to guard Harmonica and keep an eye on Morton. One of those gunmen remained on train is heavyset guy with moustache. We saw him in previous scene.
3 gunmen – 1 unidentified actor.
Let's see.
Click on the picture to see large size image.
Actor Saturno Cerra as sleeping gunman shot by Cheyenne through window.
Click on the picture to see large size image.
Actor Spartaco Conversi as gunman who was shot through boot.
Actor Saturno Cerra as sleeping gunman shot by Cheyenne through window.
Actor Spartaco Conversi as grey-haired gunman who was shot through boot.
Third gunman (with moustache) was killed by Cheyenne in second turn.
Unidentified actor (probably it was Conrado San Martin, but I am not sure).
Sorry, no screenshot.
Now we are going to my favourite poker game scene.
Mr. Morton joins a poker game with four of Frank's men who now are his captors. Instead of dealing out cards, he deals out five hundred dollars to each of the men to buy their allegiance to him.
4 gunmen – 1 unidentified actor.
Click on the picture to see large size image.
Long shot of poker game.
From left to right:
Unidentified actor as blonde-haired gunman, Michael Harvey as Frank's principal lieutenant, Benito Stefanelli (full-back position) as secondary Frank's lieutenant, Aldo Berti as anonimous gunman playing poker.
Click on the picture to see large size image.
Actor Michael Harvey as principal Frank’s lieutenant.
Click on the picture to see large size image.
Actor Benito Stefanelli as secondary Frank’s lieutenant.
Click on the picture to see large size image.
Actor Michael Harvey as principal Frank’s lieutenant.
He asks Morton (after Morton passed out 500 dollars each to four of Frank's men):
"How do you, uh - how do you play this game, Mr. Morton?"
Click on the picture to see large size image.
Actor Aldo Berti as gunman playing poker.
Click on the picture to see large size image.
Unidentidied actor as blonde-haired gunman.
The only shot in this scene where we can see a face of blonde-haired gunman playing poker.
He already appeared before in McBain family massacre scene.
From left to right:
Aldo Berti, Michael Harvey (full-back position), Benito Stefanelli, Gabriele Ferzetti and unidentified actor.
Click on the picture to see large size image.
Actor Benito Stefanelli as secondary Frank’s lieutenant.
Click on the picture to see large size image.
Poker game.
From left to right:
Michael Harvey (as Frank's principal lieutenant), Aldo Berti (as anonymous gunman playing poker), Benito Stefanelli (as Frank's secondary lieutenant) and Gabriele Ferzetti (as railroad tycoon Mr. Morton).
Auction scene.
The Frank's men are ready to intimidate anyone who even starts to make a bid. It's Frank's way of getting the property for himself cheaply.
5 gunmen - 2 unidentified actors
Let's see.
Click on the picture to see large size image.
Actor Antonio Molino Rojo as leading gunman reclining on sofa at auction.
Click on the picture to see large size image.
Actor Frank Braña as gunman smoking pipe at auction.
Click on the picture to see large size image.
Actor Fabio Testi as gunman with black hat at auction.
Click on the picture to see large size image.
Gunman with heavy black beard (he standing close by Jill at auction).
Unidentified actor.
Click on the picture to see large size image.
Tall red-haired and red-bearded gunman who intimidated the old man (actor Renato Pinciroli) which bids $200 in the auction. We already saw him among Frank's gunmen at McBain farm.
Unidentified actor.
And finally the epic scene around arch (in Harmonica's flashback)
There were 4 gunfighters of young Frank’s gang.
4 gunmen – 3 unidentified actors:
Now all faces in close-up:
Click on the picture to see large size image.
Gunman leaning to the left support of the arch (in black hat)
Unidentified actor.
Click on the picture to see large size image.
Gunman leaning to the right support of the arch (in white hat).
Unidentified actor.
Click on the picture to see large size image.
Don Galloway as gunman smiling with rotten tooth.
Click on the picture to see large size image.
Lying gunman with tomato.
Unidentified actor.
So we have completed the list of Frank’s gang members.
There are 17 gunmen (except four gunfighters in flashback).
1.
Principal lieutenant – Michael Harvey (killed in a gun battle against Cheyenne’s men).
2.
Secondary lieutenant – Benito Stefanelli (killed in a gun battle against Cheyenne’s men).
3.
Blonde gunman playing poker - anonymous actor (killed in a gun battle against Cheyenne’s men)
4.
Gunman playing poker – Aldo Berti (killed in a gun against Cheyenne’s men).
5.
Snaky – Jack Elam (killed by Harmonica at a railroad station).
6.
Stoney – Woody Strode (killed by Harmonica at a railroad station).
7.
Knuckles – Al Mullock (killed by Harmonica at a railroad station).
8.
Leading gunman at auction – Antonio Molino Rojo (killed by Harmonica after auction).
9.
Dreamboat gunman at auction – Fabio Testi (killed by Frank after auction).
10.
Heavy bearded gunman at auction - anonimous actor (killed by Frank after auction).
11.
Gunman smoking pipe at auction – Frank Braña (killed in a gun battle against Cheyenne’s men).
12.
Red-haired tall gunman at auction - anonymous actor (killed by Frank after auction).
13.
Jim – John Frederick (killed by Harmonica near well).
14.
Logan - anonymous actor (killed by Harmonica near well).
15.
Grey-haired gunman on train shot through boot – Spartaco Conversi (killed by Cheyenne).
16.
Sleeping gunman on train shot through window – Saturno Cerra (killed by Cheyenne).
17.
Gunman with mustache on train - anonymous actor (killed by Cheyenne).
Who can help me to identify anonymous actors?
Hi, my name is Mr. Fed.
I am admirer of Sergio Leone's film Once upon a time in the West (OUATITW).
This blog is dedicated to the gunfighters of hard-boiled assassin Frank, one of the principal heroes of OUATITW.
I suggest identifying all actors appeared in the film as the Frank's gunmen.
Let's start with the epic opening scene.
Three gunmen take over an isolated train depot and settle in to wait for a train. They are hired killers sent by Frank.
So the leading killer is Snaky (actor Jack Elam).
His partners are Stony (actor Woody Strode) and Knuckles (actor Al Mullock).
Click on the picture to see large size image.
Actor Jack Elam as Snaky.
Click on the picture to see large size image.
Actor Woody Strode as Stony.
Click on the picture to see large size image.
Actor Al Mullock as Knuckles.
No questions.
Well-well-well...
Next scene at McBain farm.
On a remote farm called Sweetwater, Brett McBain and his family are preparing an outdoor wedding feast. Suddenly shots rang out from the surrounding desert, and daughter Maureen, son Patrick, and McBain himself are slain. The youngest of the McBain, Timmy, run out of the house just to find his entire family destroyed. He is watching in terrified silence as a group of five gunmen in duster overcoats emerge from the scrub brush. When one of the men calls their leader Frank by name, asking what to do with the child, Frank draws his pistol and slowly takes aim at the last remaining witness. With a self-satisfied grin, he pulls the trigger.
Let's see.
5 gunfighters – 2 unidentified actors.
From left to right:
1.
Jim (in white hat) - actor John Frederick.
2.
A tall red-haired gunman with no name – unidentified actor.
3.
Frank himself – actor Henry Fonda.
4.
Frank’s principal lieutenant with black beard - actor Michael Harvey. He asks famous question: “What are we going to do with this one, Frank?”
5.
The blonde-haired gunfighter with no name – unidentified actor.
Click on the picture to see large size image.
From left to right (see picture above):
unidentified actor (a tall red-haired gunman), John Frederick (Jim), Henry Fonda (Frank).
Click on the picture to see large size image.
From left to right (see photo above):
unidentified actor (blonde-haired gunman) and Michael Harvey (as Frank's principal lieutenant).
Well, now we are going to next scene - at McBain farm again.
Jill takes up her traveling bags and goes out to the wagon. But Harmonica is there and demands that she stay. As he throws her down roughly and begins ripping at her clothes, Jill becomes alarmed. Instead of harming her, he simply removes the white trimmings from her black dress, leaving her in full mourning. They go to the well for a drink of water, only to be attacked by yet two more of Frank's men. Harmonica kills them off.
2 gunfighters.
We already saw one of them (Jim) among Frank's gunmen at McBain farm.
Another one is Logan. He had very short story. It was his first and last appearence on screen.
By the way, those two bandits were only members of the gang (except Frank himself) who were called by names.
Now Jim and Logan in close-up:
Click on the picture to see large size image.
Actor John Frederick as Jim.
Click on the picture to see large size image.
Unidentified actor as Logan.
Next scene – on the train when Frank captures Harmonica.
3 gunmen – 2 unidentified actors.
During the interrogation on the train there were three Frank’s gunmen.
It was the first appearance of the second Frank’s lieutenant (actor Benito Stefanelli), who lets Frank know that the two men he sent to kill Jill (Jim and Logan) are themselves dead.
Another gunfighter is grey-haired and grey-bearded man (actor Spartaco Conversi). The third one is gunman who has massive chin and picturesque (scenic) moustache.
Let's see.
Click on the picture to see large size image.
Frank (Henry Fonda, left) and his secondary lieutenant - actor Benito Stefanelli.
Click on the picture to see large size image.
Gunman with moustache (he standing left from Harmonica).
Unidentified actor.
And the third gunman with grey hair and grey beard - actor Spartaco Conversi.
Next scene – on the train when Cheyenne craftily disposes of the three gunmen one by one and sets Harmonica free.
After Morton interrupted the interrogation and reminded Frank that he has more urgent business - the woman - Frank gone away with three of his men. Nethertheless he leaves other three men behind on the train to guard Harmonica and keep an eye on Morton. One of those gunmen remained on train is heavyset guy with moustache. We saw him in previous scene.
3 gunmen – 1 unidentified actor.
Let's see.
Click on the picture to see large size image.
Actor Saturno Cerra as sleeping gunman shot by Cheyenne through window.
Click on the picture to see large size image.
Actor Spartaco Conversi as gunman who was shot through boot.
Actor Saturno Cerra as sleeping gunman shot by Cheyenne through window.
Actor Spartaco Conversi as grey-haired gunman who was shot through boot.
Third gunman (with moustache) was killed by Cheyenne in second turn.
Unidentified actor (probably it was Conrado San Martin, but I am not sure).
Sorry, no screenshot.
Now we are going to my favourite poker game scene.
Mr. Morton joins a poker game with four of Frank's men who now are his captors. Instead of dealing out cards, he deals out five hundred dollars to each of the men to buy their allegiance to him.
4 gunmen – 1 unidentified actor.
Click on the picture to see large size image.
Long shot of poker game.
From left to right:
Unidentified actor as blonde-haired gunman, Michael Harvey as Frank's principal lieutenant, Benito Stefanelli (full-back position) as secondary Frank's lieutenant, Aldo Berti as anonimous gunman playing poker.
Click on the picture to see large size image.
Actor Michael Harvey as principal Frank’s lieutenant.
Click on the picture to see large size image.
Actor Benito Stefanelli as secondary Frank’s lieutenant.
Click on the picture to see large size image.
Actor Michael Harvey as principal Frank’s lieutenant.
He asks Morton (after Morton passed out 500 dollars each to four of Frank's men):
"How do you, uh - how do you play this game, Mr. Morton?"
Click on the picture to see large size image.
Actor Aldo Berti as gunman playing poker.
Click on the picture to see large size image.
Unidentidied actor as blonde-haired gunman.
The only shot in this scene where we can see a face of blonde-haired gunman playing poker.
He already appeared before in McBain family massacre scene.
From left to right:
Aldo Berti, Michael Harvey (full-back position), Benito Stefanelli, Gabriele Ferzetti and unidentified actor.
Click on the picture to see large size image.
Actor Benito Stefanelli as secondary Frank’s lieutenant.
Click on the picture to see large size image.
Poker game.
From left to right:
Michael Harvey (as Frank's principal lieutenant), Aldo Berti (as anonymous gunman playing poker), Benito Stefanelli (as Frank's secondary lieutenant) and Gabriele Ferzetti (as railroad tycoon Mr. Morton).
Auction scene.
The Frank's men are ready to intimidate anyone who even starts to make a bid. It's Frank's way of getting the property for himself cheaply.
5 gunmen - 2 unidentified actors
Let's see.
Click on the picture to see large size image.
Actor Antonio Molino Rojo as leading gunman reclining on sofa at auction.
Click on the picture to see large size image.
Actor Frank Braña as gunman smoking pipe at auction.
Click on the picture to see large size image.
Actor Fabio Testi as gunman with black hat at auction.
Click on the picture to see large size image.
Gunman with heavy black beard (he standing close by Jill at auction).
Unidentified actor.
Click on the picture to see large size image.
Tall red-haired and red-bearded gunman who intimidated the old man (actor Renato Pinciroli) which bids $200 in the auction. We already saw him among Frank's gunmen at McBain farm.
Unidentified actor.
And finally the epic scene around arch (in Harmonica's flashback)
There were 4 gunfighters of young Frank’s gang.
4 gunmen – 3 unidentified actors:
Now all faces in close-up:
Click on the picture to see large size image.
Gunman leaning to the left support of the arch (in black hat)
Unidentified actor.
Click on the picture to see large size image.
Gunman leaning to the right support of the arch (in white hat).
Unidentified actor.
Click on the picture to see large size image.
Don Galloway as gunman smiling with rotten tooth.
Click on the picture to see large size image.
Lying gunman with tomato.
Unidentified actor.
So we have completed the list of Frank’s gang members.
There are 17 gunmen (except four gunfighters in flashback).
1.
Principal lieutenant – Michael Harvey (killed in a gun battle against Cheyenne’s men).
2.
Secondary lieutenant – Benito Stefanelli (killed in a gun battle against Cheyenne’s men).
3.
Blonde gunman playing poker - anonymous actor (killed in a gun battle against Cheyenne’s men)
4.
Gunman playing poker – Aldo Berti (killed in a gun against Cheyenne’s men).
5.
Snaky – Jack Elam (killed by Harmonica at a railroad station).
6.
Stoney – Woody Strode (killed by Harmonica at a railroad station).
7.
Knuckles – Al Mullock (killed by Harmonica at a railroad station).
8.
Leading gunman at auction – Antonio Molino Rojo (killed by Harmonica after auction).
9.
Dreamboat gunman at auction – Fabio Testi (killed by Frank after auction).
10.
Heavy bearded gunman at auction - anonimous actor (killed by Frank after auction).
11.
Gunman smoking pipe at auction – Frank Braña (killed in a gun battle against Cheyenne’s men).
12.
Red-haired tall gunman at auction - anonymous actor (killed by Frank after auction).
13.
Jim – John Frederick (killed by Harmonica near well).
14.
Logan - anonymous actor (killed by Harmonica near well).
15.
Grey-haired gunman on train shot through boot – Spartaco Conversi (killed by Cheyenne).
16.
Sleeping gunman on train shot through window – Saturno Cerra (killed by Cheyenne).
17.
Gunman with mustache on train - anonymous actor (killed by Cheyenne).
Who can help me to identify anonymous actors?
