Antonio Margheriti
Encyclopedia
Antonio Margheriti also known under the pseudonym
Anthony M. Dawson, was a prolific Italian
filmmaker. He was born in Rome
and died in 2002 from a heart attack in Monterosi
, Viterbo
, near Rome at the age of 72.
Margheriti started out in the Italian film industry in 1956 as a screenwriter. He started directing in 1960, his first film being "Assignment Outer Space". Margheriti is known for his science fiction
, horror
, spaghetti western
and action
movies. He was the director of such cult movies
as Cannibal Apocalypse
, Castle of Blood, The Virgin of Nuremberg, Assignment Outer Space, Wild Wild Planet, Naked You Die, Mr. Super Invisible, The Last Hunter, Battle of the Worlds
and numerous others. Most of his films were directed under the pseudonym of Anthony M. Dawson. He stopped using his real name in the USA early in his career, when he realized the English translation of the name "Antonio Margheriti" was "Anthony Daisies", and he thought it sounded too effeminate.
He was the only Italian director who worked directly for American production companies like MGM, United Artists
, 20th Century Fox
, Columbia Pictures
, etc. with films like: Yor, the Hunter from the Future
, Take a Hard Ride, Killer Fish, etc. Margheriti said his action/adventure films were his favorites, and his least favorite movies were the sword-and-sandal peplum
films he made in the early 1960s (such as "Devil of the Desert vs the Son of Hercules" and "Giants of Rome").
For years, director Richard Morrissey disputed Margheriti's claim that he had directed "Andy Warhol's Frankenstein" in the early 1970s, saying that Margheriti was mostly just a technical advisor on that film. Morrissey said Margheriti did however direct a very, very brief segment of the movie (mostly the scenes involving the two children roaming around in the lab).
Margheriti worked with many well-known genre actors such as Lee Van Cleef, John Saxon, Claude Rains, John Morghen, Klaus Kinski, Barbara Steele, Reb Brown, Donald Pleasence, Yul Brynner, David Warbeck, Luciano Pigozzi, Marvin Hagler, Terence Hill, Fred Williamson, Christopher Lee and many others. Most of his later films were shot in the Philippines (especially his war films). Margheriti also collaborated on the special effects in two Italian cult films which he did not direct, Sergio Leone's "Fistful of Dynamite" (1971) and Aldo Lado's "The Humanoid" (1979).
Margheriti retired from filmmaking in 1996 at age 66. He died in 2002 of natural causes. Margheriti's son Edoardo and daughter Antonella are both also involved in filmmaking. Eli Roth
's character in the 2009 Quentin Tarantino film Inglourious Bastards took Margheriti as his namesake.
(known as "The Planet of Extinct Men" in Italy).
In 1965, since he was considered an accomplished science-fiction film director who could work wonders with a very small budget, Margheriti was hired by MGM to direct a quadrilogy of Italian space movies that became known as the "Gamma-One" Space Quadrilogy. He finished all 4 films in three months. The films in the series were made to be distributed in the USA (sold directly to late-night television) under the following titles: Wild Wild Planet, War of the Planets, War Between the Planets and Snow Devils. A fifth film was later made in the "Gamma One" series in Japan in 1968 entitled The Green Slime
(aka "Gamma One: Operation Outer Space") which starred Robert Horton, but Margheriti was not involved with that one.
Note* - "Treasure Island in Space" (1987) was later remade by Disney as an animated film in 2002.
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
Anthony M. Dawson, was a prolific Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
filmmaker. He was born in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
and died in 2002 from a heart attack in Monterosi
Monterosi
Monterosi is a comune in the Province of Viterbo in the Italian region Lazio, located about 40 Km north of GRA , about 40 km south of Viterbo at an elevation of 276 m ....
, Viterbo
Viterbo
See also Viterbo, Texas and Viterbo UniversityViterbo is an ancient city and comune in the Lazio region of central Italy, the capital of the province of Viterbo. It is approximately 80 driving / 80 walking kilometers north of GRA on the Via Cassia, and it is surrounded by the Monti Cimini and...
, near Rome at the age of 72.
Margheriti started out in the Italian film industry in 1956 as a screenwriter. He started directing in 1960, his first film being "Assignment Outer Space". Margheriti is known for his science fiction
Science fiction film
Science fiction film is a film genre that uses science fiction: speculative, science-based depictions of phenomena that are not necessarily accepted by mainstream science, such as extraterrestrial life forms, alien worlds, extrasensory perception, and time travel, often along with futuristic...
, horror
Horror film
Horror films seek to elicit a negative emotional reaction from viewers by playing on the audience's most primal fears. They often feature scenes that startle the viewer through the means of macabre and the supernatural, thus frequently overlapping with the fantasy and science fiction genres...
, spaghetti western
Spaghetti Western
Spaghetti Western, also known as Italo-Western, is a nickname for a broad sub-genre of Western films that emerged in the mid-1960s in the wake of Sergio Leone's unique and much copied film-making style and international box-office success, so named by American critics because most were produced and...
and action
Action film
Action film is a film genre where one or more heroes is thrust into a series of challenges that require physical feats, extended fights and frenetic chases...
movies. He was the director of such cult movies
Cult film
A cult film, also commonly referred to as a cult classic, is a film that has acquired a highly devoted but specific group of fans. Often, cult movies have failed to achieve fame outside the small fanbases; however, there have been exceptions that have managed to gain fame among mainstream audiences...
as Cannibal Apocalypse
Cannibal Apocalypse
Cannibal Apocalypse is a 1980 horror film directed by Antonio Margheriti, written by Margheriti and Dardano Sacchetti, and starring John Saxon.-Plot:...
, Castle of Blood, The Virgin of Nuremberg, Assignment Outer Space, Wild Wild Planet, Naked You Die, Mr. Super Invisible, The Last Hunter, Battle of the Worlds
Battle of the Worlds
Battle of the Worlds is a 1961 Italian science fiction film directed by Antonio Margheriti, starring Claude Raines, Bill Carter and Maya Brent.-Plot:...
and numerous others. Most of his films were directed under the pseudonym of Anthony M. Dawson. He stopped using his real name in the USA early in his career, when he realized the English translation of the name "Antonio Margheriti" was "Anthony Daisies", and he thought it sounded too effeminate.
He was the only Italian director who worked directly for American production companies like MGM, United Artists
United Artists
United Artists Corporation is an American film studio. The original studio of that name was founded in 1919 by D. W. Griffith, Charles Chaplin, Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks....
, 20th Century Fox
20th Century Fox
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation — also known as 20th Century Fox, or simply 20th or Fox — is one of the six major American film studios...
, Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. is an American film production and distribution company. Columbia Pictures now forms part of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, a subsidiary of the Japanese conglomerate Sony. It is one of the leading film companies...
, etc. with films like: Yor, the Hunter from the Future
Yor, the Hunter from the Future
Yor, The Hunter From The Future is a film released in 1983. It was directed by the famous Italian B-movie director Antonio Margheriti Yor, The Hunter From The Future is a film released in 1983. It was directed by the famous Italian B-movie director Antonio Margheriti Yor, The Hunter From The Future...
, Take a Hard Ride, Killer Fish, etc. Margheriti said his action/adventure films were his favorites, and his least favorite movies were the sword-and-sandal peplum
Peplum
Peplum originates in the Greek word for 'tunic' and may refer to one of the following:*A genre of Italian films also known as 'Sword and Sandal'*Peplos, a kind of women's garment in ancient Greece*Veil...
films he made in the early 1960s (such as "Devil of the Desert vs the Son of Hercules" and "Giants of Rome").
For years, director Richard Morrissey disputed Margheriti's claim that he had directed "Andy Warhol's Frankenstein" in the early 1970s, saying that Margheriti was mostly just a technical advisor on that film. Morrissey said Margheriti did however direct a very, very brief segment of the movie (mostly the scenes involving the two children roaming around in the lab).
Margheriti worked with many well-known genre actors such as Lee Van Cleef, John Saxon, Claude Rains, John Morghen, Klaus Kinski, Barbara Steele, Reb Brown, Donald Pleasence, Yul Brynner, David Warbeck, Luciano Pigozzi, Marvin Hagler, Terence Hill, Fred Williamson, Christopher Lee and many others. Most of his later films were shot in the Philippines (especially his war films). Margheriti also collaborated on the special effects in two Italian cult films which he did not direct, Sergio Leone's "Fistful of Dynamite" (1971) and Aldo Lado's "The Humanoid" (1979).
Margheriti retired from filmmaking in 1996 at age 66. He died in 2002 of natural causes. Margheriti's son Edoardo and daughter Antonella are both also involved in filmmaking. Eli Roth
Eli Roth
Eli Raphael Roth is an American film director, producer, writer and actor. He is known for his role as Donny "The Bear Jew" Donowitz in Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds for which he won both a SAG Award and a BFCA Critic's Choice Award...
's character in the 2009 Quentin Tarantino film Inglourious Bastards took Margheriti as his namesake.
The Gamma-One Space Quadrilogy
Margheriti made two of the first ever Italian space movies in 1960 and 1961 respectively; Assignment Outer Space (known as "Space Men" in Italy) and Battle of the WorldsBattle of the Worlds
Battle of the Worlds is a 1961 Italian science fiction film directed by Antonio Margheriti, starring Claude Raines, Bill Carter and Maya Brent.-Plot:...
(known as "The Planet of Extinct Men" in Italy).
In 1965, since he was considered an accomplished science-fiction film director who could work wonders with a very small budget, Margheriti was hired by MGM to direct a quadrilogy of Italian space movies that became known as the "Gamma-One" Space Quadrilogy. He finished all 4 films in three months. The films in the series were made to be distributed in the USA (sold directly to late-night television) under the following titles: Wild Wild Planet, War of the Planets, War Between the Planets and Snow Devils. A fifth film was later made in the "Gamma One" series in Japan in 1968 entitled The Green Slime
The Green Slime
is a 1968 science-fiction film produced by MGM in the United States and shot in Japan at the studios of Toei Company by director Kinji Fukasaku. The film was spearheaded by the same creative team who produced similar Italian outings including Wild, Wild Planet, Ivan Reiner and Walter...
(aka "Gamma One: Operation Outer Space") which starred Robert Horton, but Margheriti was not involved with that one.
Filmography
- Assignment Outer Space (1960) aka Space Men (Margheriti's first film as director)
- Battle of the WorldsBattle of the WorldsBattle of the Worlds is a 1961 Italian science fiction film directed by Antonio Margheriti, starring Claude Raines, Bill Carter and Maya Brent.-Plot:...
(1961) aka The Planet of Extinct Men, starring Claude Rains - The Golden ArrowThe Golden ArrowThe Golden Arrow is a 1936 American comedy film directed by Alfred E. Green. The screenplay by Charles Kenyon is based on a story of the same title by Michael Arlen published in the September 14, 1935 issue of Liberty...
(1962) fantasy peplum starring Tab Hunter - Castle of Blood (1963) aka Danza Macabra starring Barbara Steele
- The Fall of Rome (1963)
- The Virgin of Nuremberg (1963) aka Horror Castle, starring Christopher Lee
- Devil of the Desert Against the Son of HerculesDevil of the Desert Against the Son of HerculesDevil of the Desert Against the Son of Hercules is a 1964 Italian film directed by Antonio Margheriti.- Cast :*Kirk Morris*Michèle Girardon*Renato Baldini*Mario Feliciani*José Jaspe*Manuel Gallardo*Nadine Verdier...
(1964) aka Anthar, the Invincible, aka The Slave Merchants - Hercules, Prisoner of Evil (1964) aka Ursus, Terror of the Kirghiz, co-directed by Ruggero Deodato
- Giants of Rome (1964) starring Richard Harrison
- The Long Hair of Death (1964) starring Barbara Steele
- Wild, Wild PlanetWild, Wild PlanetWild, Wild Planet is a 1965 Italian science fiction horror film directed by Antonio Margheriti and written by Renato Moretti and Ivan Reiner. Tony Russel stars as Commander Mike Halstead. Also featured are Lisa Gastoni, Franco Nero and Massimo Serato...
(1965) aka I Criminali della Galassia/ "Criminals of the Galaxy" (1st film in the "Gamma-One" quadrilogy) - War of the Planets (1965) aka I Diafanoidi Vengono da Marte/ "The Diaphanoids Come From Mars" (2nd film in the "Gamma-One" quadrilogy)
- War Between the Planets (1965) aka Il Pianeta Errante, aka "Planet on the Prowl" (the 3rd film in the "Gamma-One" quadrilogy)
- Snow Devils (1965) aka La Morte Viene dal Pianeta Aytin/ "Death Comes From The Planet Aytin", aka Space Devils (4th film in the "Gamma-One" quadrilogy)
- Lightning Bolt (1966) aka Operation Goldman
- Agent 077 Challenges the Killers (1966)
- Dynamite Joe (1967) spaghetti western
- Naked You Die (1968) aka The Young, the Evil and the Savage, aka The Schoolgirl Killer
- Vengeance (1968) aka Roko's Revenge (starring Richard Harrison)
- The Unnaturals (1969) aka Contronatura
- Mr. Super Invisible (1970)
- And God Called Cain (1970) spaghetti western starring Klaus Kinski
- Web of the Spider (1971) starring Klaus KinskiKlaus KinskiKlaus Kinski, born Klaus Günter Karl Nakszynski , was a German actor. He appeared in more than 130 films, and is perhaps best-remembered as a leading role actor in Werner Herzog films: Aguirre, the Wrath of God , Nosferatu the Vampyre , Woyzeck , Fitzcarraldo and Cobra Verde .-Early...
(this was a color remake of "Castle of Blood") - Fistful of Dynamite (1971) Margheriti only handled the Special Effects on this film, directed by Sergio Leone
- Treasure IslandTreasure IslandTreasure Island is an adventure novel by Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson, narrating a tale of "pirates and buried gold". First published as a book on May 23, 1883, it was originally serialized in the children's magazine Young Folks between 1881–82 under the title Treasure Island; or, the...
(1972) starring Orson Welles (Margheriti co-directed this with John Hough and Andrea Bianchi) - Seven Dead in the Cat's Eye (1973) giallo co-starring Anton Diffring
- Hercules vs Karate (1973)
- Andy Warhol's Frankenstein (1973) aka Flesh For Frankenstein (Margheriti was 2nd unit director to Paul Morrissey) filmed in 3-D
- Andy Warhol's Dracula (1973) aka Blood for Dracula (Margheriti was 2nd unit director to Paul Morrissey)
- The Stranger and the Gunfighter (1974) starring Lee Van Cleef
- Take a Hard Ride (1975) spaghetti western starring Lee Van Cleef & Fred Williamson
- The Rip-off (1975) aka The Squeeze (starring Lee Van Cleef)
- Death RageDeath RageDeath Rage Death Rage Death Rage (Italian: Con la rabbia agli occhi is a 1976 Italian film directed by Antonio Margheriti.The film is also known as Anger in His Eyes in the United Kingdom, Blood Reckoning in the USA (video title) and Shadow of the Killer in the Philippines (English title)- Cast...
(1976) aka Blood Reckoning (starring Yul Brynner) - Killer FishKiller FishKiller Fish is an Italian horror movie directed by Antonio Margheriti in 1979. The film, like many monster movies of the 1970s and 1980s, is very similar to Jaws.-Plot:...
(1977) aka Treasure of the Piranha, starring Lee Majors & James Franciscus - The Humanoid (1979) Margheriti only handled the Special Effects on this film, directed by Aldo Lado
- Cannibal ApocalypseCannibal ApocalypseCannibal Apocalypse is a 1980 horror film directed by Antonio Margheriti, written by Margheriti and Dardano Sacchetti, and starring John Saxon.-Plot:...
(1980) aka Invasion of the Flesh Hunters, aka Apocalypse Tomorrow, starring John Saxon - Car Crash (1981) starring Joey Travolta
- The Last HunterThe Last HunterThe Last Hunter is a 1980 Italian "macaroni combat" war film directed by Antonio Margheriti and starring David Warbeck.-Plot:Following the suicide of his best friend, Captain Harry Morris accepts a final deadly mission to go behind enemy lines to destroy a radio tower that is broadcasting...
(1982) starring David Warbeck - Hunters of the Golden CobraHunters of the Golden CobraHunters of the Golden Cobra is an Italian 1982 action film starring David Warbeck. It was directed by Antonio Margheriti....
(1982) starring David Warbeck - Tiger Joe (1982) starring David Warbeck
- Ark of the Sun God (1983) starring David Warbeck
- Yor, the Hunter from the FutureYor, the Hunter from the FutureYor, The Hunter From The Future is a film released in 1983. It was directed by the famous Italian B-movie director Antonio Margheriti Yor, The Hunter From The Future is a film released in 1983. It was directed by the famous Italian B-movie director Antonio Margheriti Yor, The Hunter From The Future...
(1983) aka The World of Yor, starring Reb Brown - Last BloodLast BloodLast Blood is a webcomic published by Blatant Comics created by Bobby Crosby and Chris Crosby. It is written by Bobby Crosby and illustrated by Owen Gieni....
(1983) aka Tornado - Code Name Wild Geese (1984) starring Lee Van Cleef & Klaus KInski
- Jungle RaidersJungle Raiders (1985 film)Jungle Raiders, also known as Captain Yankee is a 1985 Cannon Film. This film by Antonio Margheriti stars Christopher Connelly and Lee Van Cleef...
(1985) aka Captain Yankee, starring Lee Van Cleef - Commando LeopardCommando LeopardCommando Leopard is a 1985 Italian war film directed by Antonio Margheriti and starring Lewis Collins. It's the second film in the Margheriti/Collins trilogy, that started with Codename: Wildgeese and concluded with The Commander....
(1985) starring Klaus Kinski - Treasure Island in Outer SpaceTreasure Island in Outer SpaceTreasure Island in Outer Space is a 1987 science fiction italian television miniseries, produced by RAI Radiotelevisione Italiana in co-production with West Germany and France, and directed by Anthony M. Dawson . It is the biggest sci-fi production of italian television...
(1987) made for Italian TV, starring Anthony Quinn, David Warbeck & John Morghen - The Commander (1988) aka "Triangle of Fear", starring Lee Van Cleef & Donald Pleasence
- Alien From the Deep (1989) aka Alien From The Abyss, starring Charles Napier
- Indio (1989) starring Marvin Hagler & Brian Dennehy
- Indio 2: The Revolt (1991) starring Marvin Hagler
- Genghis Khan: The Story of a Lifetime (1993) starring Charlton Heston & John Saxon (this film was only released many years later in 2004)
- Virtual Weapon (1997) aka Cyberflic, starring Marvin Hagler & Terence Hill
Note* - "Treasure Island in Space" (1987) was later remade by Disney as an animated film in 2002.