Demofilo Fidani
Demofilo Fidani | |
---|---|
Born |
February 8, 1914 Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy |
Died |
March 1994 (aged 79–80) Italy |
Occupation | Film director |
Demofilo Fidani (born February 8, 1914, Rome, Lazio; d. March 1994) was a prolific Italian film director who specialized in spaghetti westerns and used many different pseudonyms such as Miles Deem.[1]
Fidani directed 20 films most under his most popular pseudonym Miles Deem, 13 of which were westerns. His style can only be described as "derivative" and he used the names of well-known characters (Butch Cassidy, Macho Callahan, Django and Sartana) and variations of titles (including numerous "Fistfuls" or "Barrelfulls") to disguise the fact that most of his efforts were routine at best. This derivativeness, combined with bizarre characters and complete inattention to continuity, has made many refer to him as the "Ed Wood of spaghetti westerns". Besides his infamous westerns, he directed crime films, sex comedies and a giallo. Fidani's regular actors include Hunt Powers (also known as Jack Betts), Gordon Mitchell, Jeff Cameron and Klaus Kinski.
Fidani was also a talented artist and author and in later years became a well known spiritual medium. He is listed in the credits of the film Life is Beautiful as an Auschwitz survivor.