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.

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A Fistful of Dollars (1964)

SuspensefulCharmingClassicAdventurous

The Man With No Name enters the Mexican village of San Miguel in the midst of a power struggle among the three Rojo brothers and sheriff John Baxter. When a regiment of Mexican soldiers bearing gold intended to pay for new weapons is waylaid by the Rojo brothers, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Sergio Leone
CAST:  Clint Eastwood  •  Marianne Koch  •  Wolfgang Lukschy  •  José Calvo

The Man With No Name enters the Mexican village of San Miguel in the midst of a power struggle among the three Rojo brothers and sheriff John Baxter. When a regiment of Mexican soldiers bearing gold intended to pay for new weapons is waylaid by the Rojo brothers, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Sergio Leone
CAST:  Clint Eastwood  •  Marianne Koch  •  Wolfgang Lukschy  •  José Calvo

For a Few Dollars More (1965)

ClassicEnjoyableAdventurousAction-packed

Two bounty hunters are in pursuit of "El Indio," one of the most wanted fugitives in the western territories, and his gang.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Sergio Leone
CAST:  Clint Eastwood  •  Lee Van Cleef  •  Gian Maria Volonté  •  Klaus Kinski

Two bounty hunters are in pursuit of "El Indio," one of the most wanted fugitives in the western territories, and his gang.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Sergio Leone
CAST:  Clint Eastwood  •  Lee Van Cleef  •  Gian Maria Volonté  •  Klaus Kinski

For Love and Gold (1966)

A group of rogues steal a scroll granting its bearer the property of the land of Aurocastro in Apulia, a province in the south of Italy. They elect a shaggy knight, Brancaleone from Norcia, as their leader, and decide to get possession of this supposedly wealthy ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mario Monicelli
CAST:  Vittorio Gassman  •  Gian Maria Volonté  •  Catherine Spaak  •  Enrico Maria Salerno

A group of rogues steal a scroll granting its bearer the property of the land of Aurocastro in Apulia, a province in the south of Italy. They elect a shaggy knight, Brancaleone from Norcia, as their leader, and decide to get possession of this supposedly wealthy ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mario Monicelli
CAST:  Vittorio Gassman  •  Gian Maria Volonté  •  Catherine Spaak  •  Enrico Maria Salerno

Le Cercle Rouge (1970)

When French criminal Corey gets released from prison, he resolves to never return. He is quickly pulled back into the underworld, however, after a chance encounter with escaped murderer Vogel. Along with former policeman and current alcoholic Jansen, they plot an ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jean-Pierre Melville
CAST:  Alain Delon  •  Bourvil  •  Gian Maria Volonté  •  Yves Montand

When French criminal Corey gets released from prison, he resolves to never return. He is quickly pulled back into the underworld, however, after a chance encounter with escaped murderer Vogel. Along with former policeman and current alcoholic Jansen, they plot an ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jean-Pierre Melville
CAST:  Alain Delon  •  Bourvil  •  Gian Maria Volonté  •  Yves Montand

Under Ten Flags (1960)

"Under Ten Flags" is a WWII movie loosely based on the true story of the German navy commerce raider Atlantis, a converted Auxilliary Cruiser, and her Captain Bernhard Rogge. Atlantis, camouflaged as a merchant ship, cruised the South Seas ( Atlantic, Indian ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Duilio Coletti
CAST:  Van Heflin  •  Charles Laughton  •  Mylène Demongeot  •  John Ericson

"Under Ten Flags" is a WWII movie loosely based on the true story of the German navy commerce raider Atlantis, a converted Auxilliary Cruiser, and her Captain Bernhard Rogge. Atlantis, camouflaged as a merchant ship, cruised the South Seas ( Atlantic, Indian ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Duilio Coletti
CAST:  Van Heflin  •  Charles Laughton  •  Mylène Demongeot  •  John Ericson

The Bandit (1969)

Sicily, 1865. Two peasants, Gramigna and his father are tricked by Baron Nardò and robbed of their field, which then the baron lets to Assunta, her daughter Gemma and her fiancé Ramarro. Determined to take revenge, Gramigna begins to hunt down Nardò's complicit ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Carlo Lizzani
CAST:  Gian Maria Volonté  •  Stefania Sandrelli  •  Luigi Pistilli  •  Ivo Garrani

Sicily, 1865. Two peasants, Gramigna and his father are tricked by Baron Nardò and robbed of their field, which then the baron lets to Assunta, her daughter Gemma and her fiancé Ramarro. Determined to take revenge, Gramigna begins to hunt down Nardò's complicit ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Carlo Lizzani
CAST:  Gian Maria Volonté  •  Stefania Sandrelli  •  Luigi Pistilli  •  Ivo Garrani

Lucky Luciano (1973)

Lucky Luciano is one of the bosses of the Mafia. He orders the slaughter of 40 other responsibles, therefore becoming the only boss. But a few years later he is put into jail. In 1946, he got a pardon and is sent back to Sicilia. There, he begins becoming one of ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Francesco Rosi
CAST:  Gian Maria Volonté  •  Edmond O'Brien  •  Rod Steiger  •  Vincent Gardenia

Lucky Luciano is one of the bosses of the Mafia. He orders the slaughter of 40 other responsibles, therefore becoming the only boss. But a few years later he is put into jail. In 1946, he got a pardon and is sent back to Sicilia. There, he begins becoming one of ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Francesco Rosi
CAST:  Gian Maria Volonté  •  Edmond O'Brien  •  Rod Steiger  •  Vincent Gardenia

Many Wars Ago (1970)

Time after time, soldiers of the Italian Army are forced to leave their mountain trenches in attempts to storm an enemy fortress, always with the same disastrous results. As casualties mount, indignation spreads among the rank and file. Disturbed by his superiors' ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Francesco Rosi
CAST:  Alain Cuny  •  Gian Maria Volonté  •  Mark Frechette  •  Giampiero Albertini

Time after time, soldiers of the Italian Army are forced to leave their mountain trenches in attempts to storm an enemy fortress, always with the same disastrous results. As casualties mount, indignation spreads among the rank and file. Disturbed by his superiors' ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Francesco Rosi
CAST:  Alain Cuny  •  Gian Maria Volonté  •  Mark Frechette  •  Giampiero Albertini

Giordano Bruno (1973)

Fleeing from his enemies in the Catholic Church, the free thinking philosopher, poet and scientist Giordano Bruno has found some protection in Venice. But the Roman Inquisition, fearing his influence in Europe, wants to bring him on trial for 'heresy'.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Giuliano Montaldo
CAST:  Gian Maria Volonté  •  Hans Christian Blech  •  Mathieu Carrière  •  Renato Scarpa

Fleeing from his enemies in the Catholic Church, the free thinking philosopher, poet and scientist Giordano Bruno has found some protection in Venice. But the Roman Inquisition, fearing his influence in Europe, wants to bring him on trial for 'heresy'.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Giuliano Montaldo
CAST:  Gian Maria Volonté  •  Hans Christian Blech  •  Mathieu Carrière  •  Renato Scarpa

Pestalozzi's Mountain (1989)

In the 1770s, Swiss farmer Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi established a school for poor orphaned children in the Aargau. Up to total exhaustion he sacrificed himself for his pedagogical theories. Five years later, the project of the idealistic educator failed after ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Peter von Gunten
CAST:  Gian Maria Volonté  •  Rolf Hoppe  •  Michael Gwisdek  •  Corinna Harfouch

In the 1770s, Swiss farmer Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi established a school for poor orphaned children in the Aargau. Up to total exhaustion he sacrificed himself for his pedagogical theories. Five years later, the project of the idealistic educator failed after ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Peter von Gunten
CAST:  Gian Maria Volonté  •  Rolf Hoppe  •  Michael Gwisdek  •  Corinna Harfouch

Wind from the East (1970)

A politically oriented film in which images suggestive of a mock western are accompanied by an attack on all cinematic conventions to date and a debate on the nature and possibility of revolutionary cinema.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jean-Luc Godard  •  Jean-Pierre Gorin  •  Gérard Martin
CAST:  Gian Maria Volonté  •  Anne Wiazemsky  •  Cristiana Tullio-Altan  •  Allen Midgette

A politically oriented film in which images suggestive of a mock western are accompanied by an attack on all cinematic conventions to date and a debate on the nature and possibility of revolutionary cinema.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jean-Luc Godard  •  Jean-Pierre Gorin  •  Gérard Martin
CAST:  Gian Maria Volonté  •  Anne Wiazemsky  •  Cristiana Tullio-Altan  •  Allen Midgette

A Man for Burning (1962)

Political activist Salvatore returns to his native Sicily and stirs up trouble among the peasants, urging them to confront the Mafia and demand the right to plough their own fields. The peasants refuse to help him, and Salvatore is marked by the Mafia as a troublemaker.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Paolo Taviani  •  Vittorio Taviani  •  Valentino Orsini
CAST:  Gian Maria Volonté  •  Didi Perego  •  Spiros Focás  •  Turi Ferro

Political activist Salvatore returns to his native Sicily and stirs up trouble among the peasants, urging them to confront the Mafia and demand the right to plough their own fields. The peasants refuse to help him, and Salvatore is marked by the Mafia as a troublemaker.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Paolo Taviani  •  Vittorio Taviani  •  Valentino Orsini
CAST:  Gian Maria Volonté  •  Didi Perego  •  Spiros Focás  •  Turi Ferro

Il caso Moro (1986)

On March 16, 1978, far-left terrorists of the Red Brigades kidnap Aldo Moro, leader of the Christian Democracy, the ruling party in Italy since the end of WWII. 55 days later, his body will be found in the trunk of a car. This is a neutral and factual account of ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Giuseppe Ferrara
CAST:  Gian Maria Volonté  •  Mattia Sbragia  •  Margarita Lozano  •  Bruno Zanin

On March 16, 1978, far-left terrorists of the Red Brigades kidnap Aldo Moro, leader of the Christian Democracy, the ruling party in Italy since the end of WWII. 55 days later, his body will be found in the trunk of a car. This is a neutral and factual account of ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Giuseppe Ferrara
CAST:  Gian Maria Volonté  •  Mattia Sbragia  •  Margarita Lozano  •  Bruno Zanin

A Boy from Calabria (1987)

Set in 1960, the year of the Rome Olympics, a 13 year-old boy with aspirations to become an athlete befriends an ageing, disabled bus driver who understands his ambitions.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Luigi Comencini
CAST:  Gian Maria Volonté  •  Diego Abatantuono  •  Thérèse Liotard  •  Santo Polimeno

Set in 1960, the year of the Rome Olympics, a 13 year-old boy with aspirations to become an athlete befriends an ageing, disabled bus driver who understands his ambitions.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Luigi Comencini
CAST:  Gian Maria Volonté  •  Diego Abatantuono  •  Thérèse Liotard  •  Santo Polimeno

I Am Afraid (1977)

During a wave of political violence in Italy, a policeman who's already survived an assassination is assigned to act as a bodyguard to a morally upright judge. He feels increasingly fearful as the links of the upper echelons of police and government to the violence ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Damiano Damiani
CAST:  Gian Maria Volonté  •  Erland Josephson  •  Mario Adorf  •  Angelica Ippolito

During a wave of political violence in Italy, a policeman who's already survived an assassination is assigned to act as a bodyguard to a morally upright judge. He feels increasingly fearful as the links of the upper echelons of police and government to the violence ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Damiano Damiani
CAST:  Gian Maria Volonté  •  Erland Josephson  •  Mario Adorf  •  Angelica Ippolito

A Simple Story (1991)

After many years, a retired diplomat returns to his native Sicily to visit an abandoned property and delve into family correspondence. But is it worth bringing up the past? A difficult Sicilian history against the backdrop of the mafia and drugs.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Emidio Greco
CAST:  Gian Maria Volonté  •  Ennio Fantastichini  •  Ricky Tognazzi  •  Massimo Dapporto

After many years, a retired diplomat returns to his native Sicily to visit an abandoned property and delve into family correspondence. But is it worth bringing up the past? A difficult Sicilian history against the backdrop of the mafia and drugs.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Emidio Greco
CAST:  Gian Maria Volonté  •  Ennio Fantastichini  •  Ricky Tognazzi  •  Massimo Dapporto

The Assassination (1972)

Darien, a left-wing police informant, is forced to lure his old friend Sadiel to Paris, allegedly to film a television special about the Third World. Sadiel, the exiled leader of a North African state, is being hunted by the ruthless Colonel Kassar, who will stop ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Yves Boisset
CAST:  Jean-Louis Trintignant  •  Michel Piccoli  •  Jean Seberg  •  Gian Maria Volonté

Darien, a left-wing police informant, is forced to lure his old friend Sadiel to Paris, allegedly to film a television special about the Third World. Sadiel, the exiled leader of a North African state, is being hunted by the ruthless Colonel Kassar, who will stop ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Yves Boisset
CAST:  Jean-Louis Trintignant  •  Michel Piccoli  •  Jean Seberg  •  Gian Maria Volonté

Under the Sign of Scorpio (1969)

An island has been decimated by a volcanic eruption and the few survivors escape to a nearby island. Led by Rutolo, they know that their new home is equally susceptible to such a catastrophe via its own volcano, but they are unable to convince the current ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Paolo Taviani  •  Vittorio Taviani
CAST:  Gian Maria Volonté  •  Lucía Bosè  •  Giulio Brogi  •  Samy Pavel

An island has been decimated by a volcanic eruption and the few survivors escape to a nearby island. Led by Rutolo, they know that their new home is equally susceptible to such a catastrophe via its own volcano, but they are unable to convince the current ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Paolo Taviani  •  Vittorio Taviani
CAST:  Gian Maria Volonté  •  Lucía Bosè  •  Giulio Brogi  •  Samy Pavel

Wake Up and Die (1966)

A petty hoodlum pulls jewellery store heists in broad daylight. The cop on his tail knows he has accomplices and focuses on the gangster's girl friend is his attempt to catch him.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Carlo Lizzani
CAST:  Robert Hoffmann  •  Gian Maria Volonté  •  Claudio Camaso  •  Renato Niccolai

A petty hoodlum pulls jewellery store heists in broad daylight. The cop on his tail knows he has accomplices and focuses on the gangster's girl friend is his attempt to catch him.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Carlo Lizzani
CAST:  Robert Hoffmann  •  Gian Maria Volonté  •  Claudio Camaso  •  Renato Niccolai

Banderas, the Tyrant (1993)

In Santa Fe de Tierra Firme, an imaginary Latin American country, the indigenous dictator Santos Banderas rules with an iron fist. A group of rebels trying to seize power by force while some liberals try a change of government legally.  (more)

DIRECTION:  José Luis García Sánchez
CAST:  Gian Maria Volonté  •  Ana Belén  •  Juan Diego  •  Fernando Guillén

In Santa Fe de Tierra Firme, an imaginary Latin American country, the indigenous dictator Santos Banderas rules with an iron fist. A group of rebels trying to seize power by force while some liberals try a change of government legally.  (more)

DIRECTION:  José Luis García Sánchez
CAST:  Gian Maria Volonté  •  Ana Belén  •  Juan Diego  •  Fernando Guillén
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