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1-14 of 14
- Actress
- Soundtrack
Setsuko Hara became one of Japan's best-loved stars over her 30-year film career. Her signature character type, variations on a daughter devoted to her parents and home, inspired the nickname that stayed with her until retirement: the Eternal Virgin. To some extent, reality mirrored her roles in these films. In a society that considers marriage and parenting almost obligatory, she remained single and childless, something of a controversy in Japan in the 1950s. Fortunately she was popular enough to avoid criticism, but the 1950s were still a hard decade. She was plagued by ill health, missing out on several top roles as a result, and she witnessed the death of her camera-man brother in a freak train accident on set.
In 1963, shortly after the death of her mentor, director Yasujirô Ozu, she suddenly walked away from the film industry. At age 43, and at the height of her popularity, she bluntly refused to perform again, angering her fans, the industry, and the press. She implied acting had never been a pleasure and that she had only pursued a career in order to provide for her large family; this explanation is seen as the cause of her popularity backlash. She moved to a small house in picturesque Kamakura where she remained, living alone (though apparently sociable with friends), and refusing all roles offered.
She is undoubtedly known mostly for her work with Yasujiro Ozu, making six films with the great director, including the so-called Noriko trilogy, of which Tokyo Story (1953) is probably the best-known. She also worked with Akira Kurosawa, Mikio Naruse, Hiroshi Inagaki, and many others.- One of a load of ab-normal muscular men who stood on the Neopolitan pectoral pedestal during the sword-and-sandal craze of the early 1960s, Sergio Ciani was born in Italy and went by the aptly-named stage moniker "Alan Steel" while in the meat of his film career. Playing assorted mythological demigods in cheaply-made but highly popular spectacles of the early 1960s, the actor also occasionally went by his birth name. Riding on a cinematic tidal wave ignited by Montana-born bodybuilder and one-time "Mr Universe" Steve Reeves in the cult hit Hercules (1958) [aka Hercules], Steel was actually one of the very few native Italians to play these colossal he-men as most were transported from America or England.
Steel started off his beefcake run off as a body double for Reeves in both the "Hercules" sequel Hercules Unchained (1959) [Hercules Unchained] and in The Giant of Marathon (1959) [Giant of Marathon], in which he also had bit roles. Within a couple of years Steel was posing front-and-center as Herk himself in Sansone (1961) [Samson] opposite another physique-minded American import, Brad Harris in the title role. On numerous occasions Steel was asked to play the legendary Greek hero, as well as the equally well-built demigods Samson and Ursus, even though the film titles often fused (or confused) them in their titles. Steel starred as Hercules in Hercules Against Rome (1964) [Hercules Against Rome], Hercules Against the Moon Men (1964) [Hercules Against the Moon Men], Sansone contro il corsaro nero (1964) [Hercules and the Black Pirate], and Lost Treasure of the Incas (1964) [Hercules and the Treasure of the Incas], the second movie mentioned being one of the only spectacles to actually incorporate science fiction into the genre. In contrast, his Hercules serves as a mere sidekick in the Zorro-like spectacle Hercules and the Masked Rider (1963) [Hercules and the Masked Rider] starring Ettore Manni.
It was not surprising to find Steel cast as a heavy during his prime as well -- menacing the very heroes he was prone to playing -- such as his crazed emperor Commodus in Rebel Gladiators (1962) [Ursus, the Rebel Gladiator] opposite Dan Vadis. He also played the supporting role of Kaldos in The Fury of Hercules (1962) [The Fury of Hercules] when it was Brad Harris' turn to play the title role.
By mid-decade the Herculean phase had faded away and Steel went on, unlike others peplum stars, to other film styles -- dramas, thrillers, horror, oaters, even comedies. In the late 1960s he and fellow movie musclemen Kirk Morris and Gordon Mitchell served up a "spaghetti western" entitled Sapevano solo uccidere (1968) [Saguaro]. In 1976 Steel starred in and co-wrote a Robin Hood movie, and in 1979 ended his on-camera appearances with the Italian comedy Baby Love (1979).
As a footnote, in 1993 Australian filmmakers took Alan's film Samson and the Mighty Challenge (1964) [Samson and the Mighty Challenge] and did a total re-edit to create a brand new feature (an action comedy), with original scenes, Aussie actors and a new soundtrack. The film was entitled Hercules Returns (1993). - Actress
- Additional Crew
Penny Nickels was born on 27 December 1965 in Fort Wayne, Indiana, USA. She was an actress, known for California Dreams (1992), Saved by the Bell: The New Class (1993) and Rules of Engagement (2007). She died on 5 September 2015 in West Hollywood, California, USA.- Composer
- Music Department
- Actor
Aadesh Shrivastava was a composer and actor, known for Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... (2001), Refugee (2000) and Chalte Chalte (2003). He was married to Vijayata Pandit. He died on 5 September 2015 in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.- Frederick 'Dennis' Greene was born on 11 January 1949 in New York City, New York, USA. He was an actor, known for Greased Lightning (1977), Festival Express (2003) and Sha Na Na (1977). He died on 5 September 2015 in Columbus, Ohio, USA.
- Ivan Brkic was born on 15 January 1960 in Vinkovci, Yugoslavia [now Croatia]. He was an actor, known for Cijena zivota (1994), Red Dust (1999) and The Bridge at the End of the World (2014). He died on 5 September 2015 in Zagreb, Croatia.
- Writer
- Producer
- Set Decorator
Mike McCourt was born on 24 February 1936 in Limerick, Ireland. He was a writer and producer, known for Boxed In (2011), Big Wind on Campus (2000) and Supper's Ready (2007). He was married to Mary McCourt. He died on 5 September 2015 in San Francisco, California, USA.- Romeo Costeo was born on 14 January 1922 in Braila, Romania. He was an actor, known for Cuentos para mayores (1963), La gata borracha (1983) and La dama de rosa (1986). He died on 5 September 2015 in Caracas, Venezuela.
- Pat Todd was born on 22 July 1922 in San Francisco, California, USA. She was an actress, known for Queens of the Court (1946). She was married to Richard Bradburn Todd. She died on 5 September 2015 in Encinitas, California, USA.
- Editor
- Writer
- Director
Paulo Rebelo was born on 2 June 1969. He was an editor and writer, known for Efeitos Secundários (2011), O Fantasma (2000) and Two Drifters (2005). He died on 5 September 2015 in Lisbon, Portugal.- Gene Elston was born on 26 March 1922 in Fort Dodge, Iowa, USA. He died on 5 September 2015 in the USA.
- Colin Faver was born on 24 December 1951 in London, Greater London, England, UK. He died on 5 September 2015.
- Actor
- Composer
Graham Brazier was born on 6 May 1952 in Auckland, New Zealand. He was an actor and composer, known for Outrageous Fortune (2005), Queen City Rocker (1986) and Deadbeat (2011). He died on 5 September 2015 in Auckland, New Zealand.- Gustav Vondracek was born on 12 January 1925 in Kosice, Czechoslovakia [now Slovakia]. He was an actor, known for Who Wants to Kill Jessie? (1966), Kolonie Lanfieri (1969) and Na lane (1963). He died on 5 September 2015 in Prague, Czech Republic.