Three cheers for Franco Nero

I watched Sergio Corbucci's "Django" last night. It is one of the most entertaining films I know. Dark-clothed stranger ambles into war-struck town, dragging a coffin. That opening image is iconic in the history of Spaghetti Westerns and the influence of "Django" is everywhere -- just watch the ear-cutting scene in Quentin Tarantino's "Reservoir Dogs" for proof.
Following the film, I watched a DVD special feature -- a present-day interview with "Django" star Franco Nero.
In perfectly flawless English, he recalled shortening his name from Francesco Sparanero and the joy of making "Django" with Corbucci.
Nero is one of my favorite actors.
He played Lancelot in "Camelot" from 1967, where he met his longtime partner Vanessa Redgrave. Her father, Sir Michael Redgrave, convinced Nero to play as many different types of roles as possible. Redgrave told Nero he could lengthen his career by following that path.
Well, it's 2006 and Nero keeps making films (he has played about 200 roles), so the advice apparently took.
"Django" will be the opening movie in a three-film "festival" I am planning for this fall. I'm hoping some people can see it for the first time. The initial viewing of this film is always memorable.