Gian Maria Volonté

Gian Maria Volonté (9 April 1933 – 6 December 1994) was an Italian actor. He is perhaps most famous outside of Italy for his roles as the main villain in Sergio Leone's A Fistful of Dollars (credited in the USA as "Johnny Wels") and For a Few Dollars More. In Italy and much of Europe, he was notable for his roles in high-profile social dramas depicting the political and social stirrings of Italian and European society in the 1960s and 1970s, including four films directed by Elio Petri - We Still Kill the Old Way (1967), Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion (1971), The Working Class Goes to Heaven (1971) and Todo modo (1976). He is also recognized for his performances in Jean-Pierre Melville's Le Cercle Rouge (1970) and Giuliano Montaldo's Sacco & Vanzetti (1971). Description above from the Wikipedia article Gian Maria Volonté, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

1 2 4

Face to Face (1967)

History Professor Brad Fletcher heads west for his health, but falls in with Soloman Bennett's outlaw gang. Fascinated by their way of life, Fletcher finally takes over the gang, leading with a new 'efficient' ruthlessness.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Sergio Sollima
CAST:  Tomas Milian  •  Gian Maria Volonté  •  Jolanda Modio  •  Gianni Rizzo

History Professor Brad Fletcher heads west for his health, but falls in with Soloman Bennett's outlaw gang. Fascinated by their way of life, Fletcher finally takes over the gang, leading with a new 'efficient' ruthlessness.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Sergio Sollima
CAST:  Tomas Milian  •  Gian Maria Volonté  •  Jolanda Modio  •  Gianni Rizzo

Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion (1970)

Rome, Italy. After committing a heinous crime, a senior police officer exposes evidence incriminating him because his moral commitment prevents him from circumventing the law and the social order it protects.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Elio Petri
CAST:  Gian Maria Volonté  •  Florinda Bolkan  •  Gianni Santuccio  •  Salvo Randone

Rome, Italy. After committing a heinous crime, a senior police officer exposes evidence incriminating him because his moral commitment prevents him from circumventing the law and the social order it protects.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Elio Petri
CAST:  Gian Maria Volonté  •  Florinda Bolkan  •  Gianni Santuccio  •  Salvo Randone

Elio Petri: Notes About a Filmmaker (2005)

A documentary on the director’s career, featuring interviews with friends, collaborators, and filmmakers.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Federico Bacci  •  Nicola Guarneri  •  Stefano Leone
CAST:  Robert Altman  •  Ursula Andress  •  Bernardo Bertolucci  •  Florinda Bolkan

A documentary on the director’s career, featuring interviews with friends, collaborators, and filmmakers.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Federico Bacci  •  Nicola Guarneri  •  Stefano Leone
CAST:  Robert Altman  •  Ursula Andress  •  Bernardo Bertolucci  •  Florinda Bolkan

Journey Beneath the Desert (1961)

A helicopter crashes in the desert, and the crew winds up in the underground city of Atlantis and get mixed up in a slave revolt.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Frank Borzage  •  Edgar G. Ulmer
CAST:  Jean-Louis Trintignant  •  Haya Harareet  •  Georges Rivière  •  James Westmoreland

A helicopter crashes in the desert, and the crew winds up in the underground city of Atlantis and get mixed up in a slave revolt.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Frank Borzage  •  Edgar G. Ulmer
CAST:  Jean-Louis Trintignant  •  Haya Harareet  •  Georges Rivière  •  James Westmoreland

The Terrorist (1963)

In Venice in 1943, a group of partisans led by Renato Braschi organize a series of autonomous terrorist attacks against the fascists while the National Liberation Committee urges caution. Renato is determined to carry out his ideas, risking his own life, and not ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Gianfranco De Bosio
CAST:  Gian Maria Volonté  •  Philippe Leroy  •  Giulio Bosetti  •  Tino Carraro

In Venice in 1943, a group of partisans led by Renato Braschi organize a series of autonomous terrorist attacks against the fascists while the National Liberation Committee urges caution. Renato is determined to carry out his ideas, risking his own life, and not ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Gianfranco De Bosio
CAST:  Gian Maria Volonté  •  Philippe Leroy  •  Giulio Bosetti  •  Tino Carraro

The Seven Cervi Brothers (1968)

The story of the Cervi family. Rural farmers brought up to be idealogically opposed to fascism during the era of Mussolini's rule of Italy and World War 2.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Gianni Puccini
CAST:  Gian Maria Volonté  •  Lisa Gastoni  •  Carla Gravina  •  Riccardo Cucciolla

The story of the Cervi family. Rural farmers brought up to be idealogically opposed to fascism during the era of Mussolini's rule of Italy and World War 2.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Gianni Puccini
CAST:  Gian Maria Volonté  •  Lisa Gastoni  •  Carla Gravina  •  Riccardo Cucciolla

Spanish Western (2015)

A vindication of the role of the technicians and artists who made spaghetti western genre possible, and a walk through the landscapes that made it possible to recreate in Spain, mainly in the desert of Almería, hundreds of adventures set in the remote American Far West.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Alberto Esteban
CAST:  Ricardo Palacios  •  Francisco Arias  •  Placido Martínez  •  Paco Barrilado

A vindication of the role of the technicians and artists who made spaghetti western genre possible, and a walk through the landscapes that made it possible to recreate in Spain, mainly in the desert of Almería, hundreds of adventures set in the remote American Far West.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Alberto Esteban
CAST:  Ricardo Palacios  •  Francisco Arias  •  Placido Martínez  •  Paco Barrilado

On the Tiger's Back (1961)

Giacinto Rossi, a poor driver up to his neck in debt, is imprisoned for simulated crime. He finds himself in a cell with Tagliabue, an unscrupulous murderer; Sorcio, an elderly thief; and Papaleo, an honor-obsessed intellectual who murdered his fiancée's lover. ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Luigi Comencini
CAST:  Nino Manfredi  •  Mario Adorf  •  Valeria Moriconi  •  Gian Maria Volonté

Giacinto Rossi, a poor driver up to his neck in debt, is imprisoned for simulated crime. He finds himself in a cell with Tagliabue, an unscrupulous murderer; Sorcio, an elderly thief; and Papaleo, an honor-obsessed intellectual who murdered his fiancée's lover. ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Luigi Comencini
CAST:  Nino Manfredi  •  Mario Adorf  •  Valeria Moriconi  •  Gian Maria Volonté

Summer Night (1963)

Barcelona in the early sixties: black and white chronicle of the ups and downs in the relationship of several young couples of the Catalan bourgeoisie during the time between two Saint John's eve festivals.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jorge Grau
CAST:  Francisco Rabal  •  María Cuadra  •  Lidia Alfonsi  •  Umberto Orsini

Barcelona in the early sixties: black and white chronicle of the ups and downs in the relationship of several young couples of the Catalan bourgeoisie during the time between two Saint John's eve festivals.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jorge Grau
CAST:  Francisco Rabal  •  María Cuadra  •  Lidia Alfonsi  •  Umberto Orsini

The Four Days of Naples (1962)

September 1943. After Italy surrenders to the Allies, most people in Naples believe the war is finally over, but soon realize Germans are still in control—and as ruthless as ever. Armed with makeshift weapons, the Neapolitan civilians spontaneously rise up en masse ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Nanni Loy
CAST:  Gian Maria Volonté  •  Aldo Giuffrè  •  Jean Sorel  •  Lea Massari

September 1943. After Italy surrenders to the Allies, most people in Naples believe the war is finally over, but soon realize Germans are still in control—and as ruthless as ever. Armed with makeshift weapons, the Neapolitan civilians spontaneously rise up en masse ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Nanni Loy
CAST:  Gian Maria Volonté  •  Aldo Giuffrè  •  Jean Sorel  •  Lea Massari

Timber Cutting (1963)

With the participation of the inhabitants of Tirli (GR). RAI television film, based on a short story (1954) by Carlo Cassola and scripted by Marcello Fondato and Giuseppe Lazzari, filmed on location, aired on 19-9-1963. It is the simple story of a group of ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Vittorio Cottafavi
CAST:  Gian Maria Volonté

With the participation of the inhabitants of Tirli (GR). RAI television film, based on a short story (1954) by Carlo Cassola and scripted by Marcello Fondato and Giuseppe Lazzari, filmed on location, aired on 19-9-1963. It is the simple story of a group of ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Vittorio Cottafavi
CAST:  Gian Maria Volonté

Stark System (1980)

Armenia Balducci's film, featuring Gian Maria Volontè as Stark, a cop-movie actor that falls prey to paranoia because he fears his latest movie will be a failure.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Armenia Balducci
CAST:  Gian Maria Volonté  •  Dalila Di Lazzaro  •  Glauco Onorato  •  Pino Locchi

Armenia Balducci's film, featuring Gian Maria Volontè as Stark, a cop-movie actor that falls prey to paranoia because he fears his latest movie will be a failure.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Armenia Balducci
CAST:  Gian Maria Volonté  •  Dalila Di Lazzaro  •  Glauco Onorato  •  Pino Locchi

Open Doors (1990)

Tommaso Scalia is a man who commits three murders: he kills his superior who sacked him, the man who replaced him and his wife. He wants a quick trial and an early execution, but an earnest, principled assistant judge looks for a way to save the murderer from being ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Gianni Amelio
CAST:  Gian Maria Volonté  •  Ennio Fantastichini  •  Renzo Giovampietro  •  Renato Carpentieri

Tommaso Scalia is a man who commits three murders: he kills his superior who sacked him, the man who replaced him and his wife. He wants a quick trial and an early execution, but an earnest, principled assistant judge looks for a way to save the murderer from being ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Gianni Amelio
CAST:  Gian Maria Volonté  •  Ennio Fantastichini  •  Renzo Giovampietro  •  Renato Carpentieri

Funes, a Great Love (1993)

A group of musicians, prostitutes, gamblers, and laborers, react to the arrival of a tango pianist at a saloon.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Raúl de la Torre
CAST:  Graciela Borges  •  Gian Maria Volonté  •  Pepe Soriano  •  Moria Casán

A group of musicians, prostitutes, gamblers, and laborers, react to the arrival of a tango pianist at a saloon.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Raúl de la Torre
CAST:  Graciela Borges  •  Gian Maria Volonté  •  Pepe Soriano  •  Moria Casán

Investigation of a Citizen Named Volonté (2004)

Documentary on actor Gian Maria Volonté  (more)

DIRECTION:  Andrea Bettinetti
CAST:  Gian Maria Volonté  •  Ilaria Occhini  •  Giacomo Piperno  •  Giuliano Montaldo

Documentary on actor Gian Maria Volonté  (more)

DIRECTION:  Andrea Bettinetti
CAST:  Gian Maria Volonté  •  Ilaria Occhini  •  Giacomo Piperno  •  Giuliano Montaldo

Un attore contro - Gian Maria Volonté (2005)

A portrait of the famous italian actor and political activist Gian Maria Volonté.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ferruccio Marotti
CAST:  Gian Maria Volonté

A portrait of the famous italian actor and political activist Gian Maria Volonté.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ferruccio Marotti
CAST:  Gian Maria Volonté

Caravaggio (1967)

A miniseries about Caravaggio's life.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Silverio Blasi
CAST:  Gian Maria Volonté  •  Carla Gravina  •  Renzo Palmer  •  Glauco Onorato

A miniseries about Caravaggio's life.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Silverio Blasi
CAST:  Gian Maria Volonté  •  Carla Gravina  •  Renzo Palmer  •  Glauco Onorato

Summit (1968)

In the late 60s of the twentieth century, a wave of revolutionary sentiments spread across Europe. A newspaper correspondent tries to reflect what is happening in his notes, visiting summits in various countries, including the “iron curtain”.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Giorgio Bontempi
CAST:  Gian Maria Volonté  •  Mireille Darc  •  Olga Georges-Picot  •  Giampiero Albertini

In the late 60s of the twentieth century, a wave of revolutionary sentiments spread across Europe. A newspaper correspondent tries to reflect what is happening in his notes, visiting summits in various countries, including the “iron curtain”.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Giorgio Bontempi
CAST:  Gian Maria Volonté  •  Mireille Darc  •  Olga Georges-Picot  •  Giampiero Albertini

Apollon: una fabbrica occupata (1969)

The film documents the trade union battle of the workers of the Apollon printing house in Rome, occupied for a few months after the management decided to fire all the personnel and sell the land on which the factory was standing. In the form of a docu-fiction, the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ugo Gregoretti
CAST:  Gian Maria Volonté

The film documents the trade union battle of the workers of the Apollon printing house in Rome, occupied for a few months after the management decided to fire all the personnel and sell the land on which the factory was standing. In the form of a docu-fiction, the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ugo Gregoretti
CAST:  Gian Maria Volonté

Documenti su Giuseppe Pinelli (1970)

The film examines the death of the anarchist Giuseppe Pinelli, who fell from the fourth floor of the police headquarters in Milan December 15, 1969, after being stopped following the Piazza Fontana bombing.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Elio Petri  •  Nelo Risi
CAST:  Gian Maria Volonté  •  Renzo Montagnani  •  Licia Pinelli  •  Luigi Diberti

The film examines the death of the anarchist Giuseppe Pinelli, who fell from the fourth floor of the police headquarters in Milan December 15, 1969, after being stopped following the Piazza Fontana bombing.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Elio Petri  •  Nelo Risi
CAST:  Gian Maria Volonté  •  Renzo Montagnani  •  Licia Pinelli  •  Luigi Diberti
1 2 4