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Messina, Emilio

Posted: 14/07/2019, 0:19
by PeplumParadise
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Emilio Messina in Una lunga fila di croci (1969)

Stuntman and actor Emilio A. Messina was born in Casablanca, Morocco on February 24th 1936. He died on April 21st 2007, aged 71. His wife was called Incontrata and he had a daughter, Stephanie, a son, Gabriele, a sister, Lidia and his stuntman/actor brother Roberto Messina, with whom he had a pretty much parallel career.[1]

Both Messina brothers began their film careers at the start of the 60's as stuntmen in peplum movies, often, but not always, working together. When those faded out they proved equally adept through the cycles of eurospies, spaghetti westerns and police buddy movies.

The brothers both moved to Miami, Florida in 1982, after which they only made a few more odd movies, most of which were Italian productions shot in Florida. They were still resident in Florida at the time of Emilio's death.[1]

Emilio always stood out from the pack of peplum stuntmen being the burliest and hairiest of the lot. With only two exceptions he had some sort of facial hair in all of his films, which helps as an aid to identifying him. I continue to find uncatalogued appearances from Emilio in all genres, so I am certain there will be additional titles being added to his filmography.

Filmography, as actor

1961
  1. Ursus e la ragazza tartara .... Battle victim (uncredited)

    1962
  2. Drammi marini (TV series, episode 1: La luna dei Caraibi) .... Sailor(credited)
  3. Il gladiatore di Roma .... Gladiator (uncredited)
  4. L'ira di Achille .... Greek soldier (uncredited)
  5. Maciste, il gladiatore più forte del mondo .... Gladiator / Tavern brawler (uncredited)
  6. Sodoma e Gomorra .... Hebrew(credited as "Emilio and Roberto Messina")
  7. Ursus gladiatore ribelle (uncredited) .... Gladiator

    1963
  8. Ercole contro Moloch .... Prison guard (uncredited)
  9. Goliath e la schiava ribelle .... Macedonian wrestler (uncredited)
  10. I dieci gladiatori .... Gladiator (credited)
  11. Il segno di Zorro .... Prisoner of Don Ramon / Street brawler (uncredited)
  12. Maciste, l'eroe più grande del mondo .... Prison guard (uncredited)

    1964
  13. Due mafiosi nel Far West .... Cowboy (uncredited)
  14. Ercole contro i tiranni di Babilonia .... Wrestler (uncredited)
  15. Ercole l'invincibile .... Liberated prisoner (uncredited)
  16. Gli invincibili dieci gladiatori .... Leptus (credited as "Don Emilio Messina")
  17. Golia alla conquista di Bagdad (uncredited) .... Wrestler
  18. I magnifici brutos del West .... One of Tom's men (uncredited)
  19. I tre centurioni .... Wrestler (uncredited)
  20. Il leone di Tebe .... Wrestler (credited as "Giovanni Messina")
  21. Il magnifico gladiatore .... Gladiator with Hercules (uncredited)
  22. Il trionfo dei dieci gladiatori .... Leptus (credited as "Don Emilio Messina")
  23. L'ultimo gladiatore .... Gladiator (uncredited)
  24. La spia che venne dall'ovest .... Thug (uncredited) (uncertain identification)
  25. Maciste gladiatore di Sparta .... Gladiator (uncredited)
  26. Queste pazze pazze donne .... Thug in disco brawl (uncredited)
  27. The Fall of the Roman Empire .... Gladiator (uncredited)

    1965
  28. Asso di picche - Operazione controspionaggio .... Frank (credited as "Emil D. Messina")
  29. I grandi condottieri .... Philistine soldier (uncredited)
  30. Il mistero dell'isola maledetta .... Man at the market (credited)
  31. La magnifica sfida .... Tavern brawler (uncredited)
  32. L'uomo che ride .... Borgia soldier (uncredited)
  33. Operazione poker .... Russian agent (uncredited)
  34. Superseven chiama Cairo .... Nikos (credited)

    1966
  35. Agente 070: Thunderbay missione Grasshopper .... Paco (credited as "Mills Mason")
  36. James Tont operazione D.U.E. .... Gorilla (uncredited)
  37. L'affare Beckett .... Major Blasco (uncredited)
  38. Perry Grant agente di ferro .... Albrecht (credited)
  39. Requiem per un agente segreto .... Henchman (uncredited)
  40. Superargo contro Diabolikus .... One of Diabolikus' men (credited)
  41. Tre notti violente .... Fasi henchman (credited)
  42. Un angelo per Satana .... Man attacking Vittorio in the town square (uncredited)

    1967
  43. Dick Smart 2.007 .... Attacker (uncredited)
  44. Flashman .... Kid's henchman (credited)
  45. Killer calibro 32 .... Sanchez/Freeman (uncredited)
  46. Qualcuno ha tradito .... Willy (credited as "Emil Messina")
  47. Un colpo da re .... Fighter testing The Swede's strength (uncredited)

    1968
  48. Angelica e il Gran Sultano .... Guard to Turkish Ambassador / Seaman (uncredited)
  49. Corri uomo corri .... Partner of Steve Wilkens (uncredited)
  50. Eva, la Venere selvaggia .... Mercenary shot by Albert (uncredited)
  51. Il circolo Pickwick (TV mini-series, ep. 1) .... Man at the street brawl (uncredited)
  52. Joe... cercati un posto per morire! .... Chato henchman (uncredited)
  53. L'invincibile Superman .... Wrestler (uncredited)
  54. Lucrezia .... Guard (uncredited)
  55. Niente rose per OSS 117 .... Assistant to OSS 117 (uncredited)
  56. Uno dopo l'altro .... Herb (uncredited)

    1969
  57. 5 per l'inferno .... American soldier / German soldier (uncredited)
  58. Django il bastardo .... Murdok hanchman (uncredited)
  59. Gli specialisti .... One of El Diablo's men (uncredited)
  60. I quattro del Pater Noster .... Casino brawler (uncredited)
  61. La morte sull'alta collina .... role? (uncredited)
  62. Sono Sartana, il vostro becchino .... Hitman (uncredited)
  63. Una lunga fila di croci .... Santana (uncredited)
  64. Zorro marchese di Navarra .... Soldier (uncredited)

    1970
  65. Ciakmull - L'uomo della vendetta .... Big John (uncredited)
  66. Le Mans - Scorciatoia per l'inferno .... Announcer (uncredited)
  67. Lo chiamavano Trinità... .... Brawler (uncredited)
  68. Wanted Sabata .... Bandit (uncredited)

    1971
  69. Il provinciale .... Thief (uncredited)
  70. Quel maledetto giorno della resa dei conti .... Barroom brawler (uncredited)
  71. Riuscirà il nostro eroe a ritrovare il più grande diamante del mondo? .... Nurse (uncredited)
  72. Se t'incontro t'ammazzo .... Dexter's henchman (credited)

    1972
  73. Anche gli angeli mangiano fagioli .... Tag wrestler (uncredited as actor)
  74. Arriva Durango... paga o muori .... Diego Avenaja (credited)
  75. ...e poi lo chiamarono il Magnifico .... Fighter in saloon (uncredited)
  76. Il magnifico west .... Henchman (credited)
  77. Il prode Anselmo e il suo scudiero .... One of Ottone's men (uncredited)
  78. Jesse & Lester due fratelli in un posto chiamato Trinità .... Grizzly Joe (credited)
  79. Man of La Mancha .... Patrol (uncredited)
  80. Poppea... una prostituta al servizio dell'impero .... Man in first tavern / Gladiator / Thermae brawler (uncredited)
  81. Seminò morte... lo chiamavano il Castigo di Dio! .... Pedro (credited)
  82. Sotto a chi tocca! .... Palace guard (uncredited)
  83. Un uomo dalla pelle dura .... Bookmaker (credited)

    1973
  84. Dagli archivi della polizia criminale .... Leader of attack force (uncredited)
  85. Diario di una vergine romana .... Fighter (uncredited) (re-used footage)
  86. E il terzo giorno arrivò il Corvo .... Gunman (uncredited)
  87. Elena sì, ma... di Troia .... Ajax 2 (uncredited)
  88. Piedone lo sbirro .... Ferramenti bodyguard (uncredited)
  89. Provaci anche tu, Lionel .... Goran henchman (uncredited)
  90. Società a responsabilità molto limitata .... Boxer (uncredited)

    1974
  91. Arrivano Joe e Margherito .... "Gorilla" Paco (credited)
  92. Les seins de glace / Esecutore oltre la legge .... Steig (credited)
  93. The arena / La rivolta delle gladiatrici .... Gladiator (uncredited)

    1975
  94. Carambola, filotto... tutti in buca .... Word (credited)
  95. Colpo in canna .... Police car driver (uncredited)
  96. Giubbe rosse .... Bank robber (uncredited)
  97. Noi non siamo angeli .... Shark henchman (credited)
  98. Simone e Matteo - Un gioco da ragazzi .... Jean (credited)

    1976
  99. Il grande racket .... Hood (uncredited)
  100. Il vangelo secondo Simone e Matteo .... Joe (credited)
  101. L'unica legge in cui credo .... Hitman (uncredited)
  102. Pronto ad uccidere .... Giovanni Caputo (credited)

    1977
  103. La malavita attacca. La polizia risponde .... Barman (uncredited)
  104. La polizia è sconfitta .... Bank robber (uncredited)

    1978
  105. Lo chiamavano Bulldozer .... Security in gambling den (uncredited)
  106. Piedone l'africano .... Wrestler in red (uncredited)
  107. Sam & Sally (TV series) Season 1, Ep. 6: "Laura" .... Henchman on the boat (uncredited)
  108. Squadra antimafia .... Prisoner on the roof (uncredited)
  109. Un Poliziotto Scomodo .... Killer (uncredited)

    1980
  110. S+H+E .... Zec (credited)

    1982
  111. Gunan il guerriero .... Nuriak (credited as "Emil Messina")

    1983
  112. Cane e gatto .... One of Don Salvatore's men (uncredited)
  113. I sette magnifici gladiatori .... Goliath (credited as "Ivan Beshears")

    1984
  114. Guerreros de la jungla / Jungle Warriors .... Mastranga's bodyguard (credited)

    1985
  115. Miami Supercops (I poliziotti dell'8ª strada) .... Duran henchman (uncredited)

    1989
  116. Bersaglio sull'autostrada .... Bodyguard (credited)

    1996
  117. Potenza virtuale .... Van Axel's man on the boat (uncredited)
Production credits

1964
  1. Gli invincibili dieci gladiatori .... credited as Master of arms
  2. Il trionfo dei dieci gladiatori .... credited as Master of arms

    1965
  3. Asso di picche - Operazione controspionaggio .... credited as Master of arms

    1971
  4. Se t'incontro t'ammazzo .... credited for Fight sequences

    1972
  5. Anche gli angeli mangiano fagioli .... credited as Master of Arms / Stunt co-ordinator
  6. Il magnifico west .... credited as Master of arms

    1977
  7. Orca .... credited as Underwater Stuntman

    1978
  8. Non sparate sui bambini .... credited as Assistant director

    1984
  9. Guerreros de la jungla / Jungle Warriors .... credited for Stunts

    1989
  10. Bersaglio sull'autostrada .... credited as Assistant director of 2nd unit

    1994
  11. Botte di Natale .... credited for Stunts

A little more Emilio!
There are still a few movies where Emilio is credited by various online sources that I have been unable to find, so if anybody has images of Emilio in the films below you know ahat to do.
  • Il pentito (1985)

Messina is missing!
As often seems to be the case we also have a selection of films where Emilio is credited by some online resource, but where I have been unable to find him. I may have missed him in some, while in others he has been misidentified, mistaken for his not-at-all-look-alike brother or simply mysteriously does not appear. In all these titles he is uncredited.
  • Se incontri Sartana prega per la tua morte (1968) credited on IMDb as playing a Tampico henchman. I've searched for him multiple times with no success so I'd say he almost certainly does not appear.
  • Spara, Gringo, spara (1968) IMDb says he is credited under the pseudonym of Van Lanen and plays Soldier in Doneghan's army. I haven't found him.
  • Il giorno del giudizio (1971) Does not appear.
  • La via della droga (1977) Listed on IMDb with no role given. I couldn't see Emilio, but there is a similar-looking unidentified actor who he may have been mistaken for.
  • Sangraal, la spada di fuoco (1982) Listed on IMDb as playing Nantuk's warrior, but while there are a number of roles that could fit this description, none of them vaguely resembles Emilio.
Notes and sources
1. Emilio Messina Memorial page in Tributes.com.

Re: Emilio Messina

Posted: 14/07/2019, 0:30
by PeplumParadise
Ursus e la ragazza tartara (1961), as Battle victim
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Re: Emilio Messina

Posted: 14/07/2019, 0:33
by PeplumParadise
Maciste, il gladiatore più forte del mondo (1962) as Gladiator and now added in a second role as a Tavern brawler
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Images upgraded, second role added

Re: Emilio Messina

Posted: 14/07/2019, 0:35
by PeplumParadise
L'ira di Achille (1962) as Greek soldier
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Additional images added

Re: Emilio Messina

Posted: 14/07/2019, 0:37
by PeplumParadise
Il gladiatore di Roma (1962) as Gladiator
messina2.jpg

Re: Emilio Messina

Posted: 14/07/2019, 0:40
by PeplumParadise
Ursus gladiatore ribelle (1962) as Gladiator
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Re: Emilio Messina

Posted: 14/07/2019, 0:44
by PeplumParadise
Sodoma e Gomorra (1962) credited as "Emilio & Roberto Messina", as Hebrew fighter.

Despite receiving their first credits here, neither brother appears on screen for more than a few seconds and then only in the background.
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Images upgraded

Re: Emilio Messina

Posted: 14/07/2019, 0:46
by PeplumParadise
Maciste, l'eroe più grande del mondo (1963) as Prison guard
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Images upgraded

Re: Emilio Messina

Posted: 14/07/2019, 0:48
by PeplumParadise
Ercole contro Moloch (1963) as Prison guard
emilio3.jpg
emilio2.jpg

Re: Emilio Messina

Posted: 14/07/2019, 0:53
by PeplumParadise
I dieci gladiatori (1963) credited, as Gladiator. One of the 10 and his biggest role so far - in the sequels he is called Leptus, but in this first in the series I believe he remains nameless.
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