Massimo Dallamano (17 April 1917 – 4 November 1976) was an Italian cinematographer, film director, and screenwriter. He is best known for his work on Sergio Leone's Dollars Trilogy, and for directing several giallo and poliziotteschi films during the 1970s.
Life and career Born in Milan, Dallamano began in the 1940s as cameraman for documentaries and commercials, and after the war he became a cinematographer, specializing in adventure films.
In 1959, he co-directed the travel documentary Tierra mágica, which was nominated for the Golden Bear at the 9th Berlin International Film Festival. He was also active in Spanish cinema. He shot Francisco Rovira Beleta's film Los Tarantos, which was nominated for Best Foreign-Language Film at the 36th Academy Awards.
His best known work as a cinematographer were Sergio Leone's landmark Spaghetti Westerns A Fistful of Dollars (1964) and For a Few Dollars More (1965). Christopher Frayling notes Dallamano's contributions to those films' distinctive visual style, including the use of widescreen compositions and Renaissance-style lighting effects in close-ups.Sir Christopher Frayling, A Fistful of Dollars audio commentary (Blu-ray version). Retrieved on 15 September 2014.
In 1967, he made his narrative film directorial debut with another Spaghetti Western, Bandidos. He went on to direct a dozen more films, including poliziotteschi, giallo, horror, and erotic films. His films include A Black Veil for Lisa (1968) with Luciana Paluzzi and John Mills, Dorian Gray (1970) with Helmut Berger, What Have You Done to Solange? (1972), What Have They Done to Your Daughters? (1974), and The Cursed Medallion (1975).
Throughout his career, Dallamano was sometimes credited under the aliases Max Dillman (also spelled Dillmann) and Jack Dalmas.
Death Dallamano died at age 59 in a car accident, several months after the release of his film Colt 38 Special Squad (1976). His next film was intended to be Red Rings of Fear, which was ultimately directed by Alberto Negrin. Dallamano retained a posthumous screenwriting credit.
Select filmography Title Year Credited as Notes Director ScreenwriterCinematographerHerod the Great1959 1960 Love and LarcenyConstantine and the Cross1961 Queen of the NilePontius Pilate1962 Gunfight at Red Sands1963Los Tarantos1964 Bullets Don't Argue For a Few Dollars More1965 The Mona Lisa Has Been Stolen1966Bandidos1967 A Black Veil for Lisa1968 Venus in Furs1969 Dorian Gray1970 What Have You Done to Solange?1972 Super Bitch1973 What Have They Done to Your Daughters?1974 1975 Colt 38 Special Squad1976 Red Rings of Fear1978 Posthumous release
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