Rosario Borelli, star of photo novels like the Tarzanish Antar (L) and director of Sadistik! The photo to the right is captioned "When he does not sing, when he does not direct, when he does not act,
Rosario Borelli dedicates his short hours of rest to his hobby: fishing."
Though it is a virtually unknown medium in America, photo novels enjoy
popularity in every other country around the world. And the stars of
these novels were often celebrities as fêted as TV soap and pop stars
in the USA. Rosario Borelli
was a major international star of photo novels and was able to parlay
his position into directing the photo novels and making film
appearances with major stars and directors. He was also a popular
singer who once recorded a pop song with Italian maestro Ennio Morricone.
Borelli directed each SADISTIK episode like a film production, using a regular repertoire of actors. With his film connections, he cast SADISTIK
with some of the most versatile European actors… and gorgeous women! He
also made many appearances as different characters in the series and
was rumored to be the man behind the deathly mask of the King of Crime!
In the following interview, however, he attempts to dispel that rumor.
The photos below and the interview were first published in Killing/Satanik No. 17, May 1967. The interviewer is unknown, but most likely SADISTIK creator Luigi Naviglio or even Borelli himself!
ROSARIO BORELLI: NOWADAYS DEDICATED TO THE MISE EN SCENE
Celebrated, high-speed locomotive of the photo novels… of film… and of
song! And now, the remarkable director of the passionate adventures of
the grand SADISTIK! Director only, let us repeat that, director only,
because it was believed for a long time that his face was the one under
the mysterious mask of our relentless and diabolic SADISTIK!
Hello, Rosario. Am I disturbing you?
No. You’re a friend. For you, I always have some free time.
How is it that you, an actor and singer, have dedicated yourself to directing?
Because I met a certain person named Sadistik. It is he who gave me this possibility.
It’s said that it is you under the mask of Sadistik? Is this true?
No. Nobody knows who Sadistik is. Not even me, who directs the stories. He arrives masked on the set.
Let’s talk a little about you. I know that you were one of the most famous actors in photo novels. How did you start?
I was walking around Rome one day, not knowing where my next meal was
coming from nor where I was going to sleep, when I met a strange
character giving me an insistent look. He finally addressed me. 'You
have a head which appeals to me,’ he says to me. I looked past him and
he explained,'I want to say that you are the type we need and that
you could have success in the photo novels. I am a producer and if
that interests you... '
And that interested you, no?
Yes! Although having other aspirations, I accepted, and I
rediscovered myself as an actor in photo novels. More important
for a twenty year old, I was finally able to eat everyday and sleep in
a decent bed.
Sales statistics say that you were the most popular actor of photo novels.
Modestly speaking, I was a good-looking youngster. I had immediate
success and tasted the joys of the celebrity. I liked being adulated by
the girls I passed in the street.
How did you make the step to film?
In a curious way. I was shooting the photo novel 'The Bay of Tears' and I
heard two people talking about me. ‘A beautiful boy,' said
one. ‘He could succeed in the cinema'.‘Hmm,' said the
other, ‘too beautiful. The beautiful ones lack personality,
talent…’
In general, isn't this true? You also say it, now that you are a director.
Yes. Yes, but I had talent and I showed it to them. There was a discussion and then a bet.
A bet?
Yes. The one that considered me talentless offered me a screen test on
a real set working with real actors. He was a producer and said I would
be a complete failure.
And what happened?
I became an actor and this producer saw my true worth and he is now one of my dear friends. Thank you!
One remembers Rosario Borelli best as the actor of popular photo
novels, but let’s not forget him as an actor of cinema... as a wonderful
performer in so many love and adventure stories. ‘I shot forty
films,' he says modestly in our interview, but it would take many pages
to list them all. Listing the most famous ones: Rocco and
His Brothers, Promesse di marinaio (A Sailor's Promises), and as we
see <top middle photo above> with Anna Maria Ferrero in Ragazze da marito (Girls to Marry), and
then with Rossana Podesta in The Golden Arrow <middle photo>, and with Virna Lisi in
Piccola santa (Little Saint) <bottom middle>. In the above left photo Rosario Borelli is amicably speaking with the famous actor and director Vittorio De Sica. And Rosario Borelli as songwriter?
A success from the point of view of the voice as poetic inspiration.
ROSARIO BORELLI FILMOGRAPHY
Note the gap in film roles between 1962
and 1971 when Borelli was at his busiest as a photo novel star and then
director of twice-monthy SADISTIK adventures!
courtesy imdb.com
15 December 1927
Cerignola, Puglia, Italy
- Died 2001
-
Sometimes Credited As:
- Rosario Borrelli / Richard Melvill / Richard Melville
Actor
- Insegnante viene a casa, L' (1979) (uncredited) .... Waiter
... aka Prof connaît la musique, La (France) - Banda del gobbo, La (1978)
... aka Brothers Till We Die (USA: video title) - Grande attacco, Il (1978)
... aka Battle Force
... aka Große Offensive, Die (West Germany)
... aka The Battle of the Mareth Line
... aka The Biggest Battle (USA)
... aka The Great Battle
... aka The Greatest Battle - Poliziotto sprint (1977)
... aka Highway Racer - Armaguedon (1977)
... aka Armageddon
... aka Quel giorno il mondo tremerà (Italy) - Cinico, l'infame, il violento, Il (1977) .... Di Maggio's Thug
... aka The Cynic, the Rat & the Fist - Avvocato della mala, L' (1977)
... aka Gangbuster (video title) - Banda del trucido, La (1977)
... aka Destruction Force (USA) - Padroni della città, I (1976) .... Office Manager
... aka Blood and Bullets
... aka Mister Scarface
... aka Rulers of the City
... aka The Big Boss
... aka Zwei Supertypen räumen auf (West Germany) - Trucido e lo sbirro, Il (1976) .... Brescianelli's Men
... aka Free Hand for a Tough Cop
... aka Tough Cop - Amici di Nick Hezard, Gli (1976)
... aka Nick the Sting (Europe: English title: informal title) - Con la rabbia agli occhi (1976)
... aka Anger in His Eyes (UK)
... aka Death Rage (USA)
... aka Indesiderabili, Gli (Italy: alternative title) - Paura in città (1976)
... aka Fear in the City (UK)
... aka Hot Stuff (USA)
... aka Street War - Poliziotti violenti (1976)
... aka Crimebusters (USA: video title) - Puttana galera - colpo grosso al penitenziario (1976)
... aka The Hokey-Pokey Gang! (International: English title) - Giustiziere sfida la città, Il (1975) .... One of Paterno's men
... aka Final Payment (Canada: English title: cut version)
... aka One Just Man (Europe: English title)
... aka Rambo's Revenge (USA: dubbed version)
... aka Syndicate Sadists (USA) - Uomo della strada fa giustizia, L' (1975)
... aka The Manhunt (USA)
... aka Un flic hors la loi (France) - Colpo in canna (1975)
... aka Loaded Guns
... aka Stick 'em Up, Darlings - Fermi tutti! È una rapina (1975)
- Poliziotto è marcio, Il (1974)
... aka Salut les pourris (France)
... aka Shoot First, Die Later (USA) - Testimone deve tacere, Il (1974)
... aka Silence the Witness - Uomo senza memoria, L' (1974) .... Policeman
... aka Man Without a Memory (Europe: dubbed version)
... aka Puzzle (USA: video title) - Ci risiamo, vero Provvidenza? (1973)
... aka Bruto, el listo y el capitán, El (Spain)
... aka Here We Go Again, Eh Providence? (USA) - Milano trema - la polizia vuole giustizia (1973) (as Rosario Borrelli)
... aka Violent Professionals (USA: video title) - ...E il terzo giorno arrivò il corvo (1973) (as Richard Melvill) .... Lawson
... aka Arriva! Il crow (Italy)
... aka On the Third Day Arrived the Crow - Brigadiere Pasquale Zagaria ama la mamma e la polizia, Il (1973)
- Mano spietata della legge, La (1973) .... Salvatore Perrone
... aka The Bloody Hands of the Law - Amore e morte nel giardino degli dei (1972) (as Richard Melville) .... Timothy
- Prima e dopo l'amore... un grido d'allarme (1972) (as Richard Melville)
- Posate le pistole, reverendo (1971) (as Richard Melvill)
... aka Pistol Packin' Preacher (USA)
- Freccia d'oro, La (1962) .... Prince of Aleppo
... aka Arciere delle mille e una notte, L'
... aka The Golden Arrow (USA) - Due della legione straniera, I (1962)
... aka Due della legione, I
... aka Those Two in the Legion (UK: literal English title) - Ladro di Bagdad, Il (1961)
... aka The Thief of Bagdad (USA)
... aka Voleur de Bagdad, Le (France) - Solitudine (1961)
- Rocco e i suoi fratelli (1960) .... Un biscazziere
... aka Rocco and His Brothers (USA)
... aka Rocco et ses frères (France)
- Gambe d'oro (1958) .... Franco Savelli
... aka Legs of Gold (International: English title) - Promesse di marinaio (1958)
... aka A Sailor's Promises (International: English title) - Classe di ferro (1957)
... aka Class of Iron (International: English title) - Presentimento (1957)
- Te sto aspettando (1957)
- Zia d'America va a sciare, La (1957)
- Cantando sotto le stelle (1956)
- Cantate con noi (1955) .... Roberto
- Giuramento d'amore (1955)
- Vetturale del Moncenisio, Il (1954)
- Maddalena (1954)
... aka Une fille nommée Madeleine (France) - Cento serenate (1954)
- Madonna delle rose (1954)
- Piccola santa (1954)
- Peccato di Anna, Il (1952)
- Vendetta di zingara (1950)
Rosario Borelli
1927-2001
More ACTOR GALLERIES:
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