Thrilling forum

Giovanni Vari was a tall, usually-bearded actor, working in Italian films from the early 50's until the mid 60's, including 4 with Lex Barker during 1959-60. His signature role was playing pirates.

In 1965, just when he was starting to score larger credited roles, he retired from acting and changed careers, becoming a producer, with production credits on 8 westerns between 1965-75. No further biographical details are known.

Given that there are large gaps between his credited roles in the 50's I would expect that there are more uncredited 50's roles to be found. He may not be so easy to recognise in roles where he is clean shaven.

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1952

1. La cieca di Sorrento .... Basileo's henchman (credited)
   
   1959
2. Cartagine in fiamme .... One of Sidone's followers (uncredited)
3. I Reali di Francia .... Angry villager (uncredited)
4. Il cavaliere del castello maledetto .... Farmer (credited)
5. Il mondo dei miracoli .... Tall man who doesn't speak lines (uncredited)
6. L'arciere Nero .... Fighter (uncredited)
7. La scimitarra del saraceno .... Pirate (credited)
8. Nel segno di Roma .... Temple guard (uncredited)
   
   1960
9. Fra Manisco cerca guai... .... Monk (credited)
10. I baccanali di Tiberio .... Ursus (credited)
11. I pirati della costa .... Pirate (credited)
12. Il cavaliere dai cento volti .... Quinto (credited)
13. Il conquistatore d'Oriente .... One of Nadir's men (uncredited)
14. La strada dei giganti .... Miner (uncredited)
15. La vendetta dei barbari .... Susin (credited?)
16. Messalina, Venere imperatrice .... Viking (uncredited)
17. Robin Hood e i pirati .... Sospiri (credited)
18. Un dollaro di fifa .... O'Brien (credited)
    
    1961
19. Barabba .... Worker in sulphur mines (uncredited)
20. Il conquistatore di Corinto .... Torturer (uncredited)
21. La guerra di Troia .... Achillas (uncredited)
22. Rosmunda e Alboino .... One of Delfo's men (credited)
    
    1962
23. Arrivano i titani .... Titan (uncredited)
    
    1963
24. Il Duca nero .... Morialdo (credited)
25. La cieca di Sorrento .... Dr. Welby's patient (credited as "John Warrel")
    
    1964
26. Due mafiosi nel Far West .... Prison warden (credited)
27. Gli invincibili dieci gladiatori .... Typho (credited as "John Warrell")
28. L'uomo mascherato contro i pirati .... Captain Pedro Ramon Francisco Garcia (credited as "John Vari")
29. La guerra dei topless .... role? (credited)
    
    1965
30. La meravigliosa Angelica .... Caller in the market (uncredited)
    
    1972
31. L'uomo mascherato contro il Corsaro Nero (filmed in 1964) .... The Black Pirate (credited as "John Warren")

1965

1. 30 Winchester per El Diablo (credited as writer and producer, as "John Warrel")
   
   1967
2. Giarrettiera Colt (credited as Director of production)
   
   1972
3. La lunga cavalcata della vendetta (credited as Producer)
   
   1973
4. Il figlio di Zorro (credited as Producer)
5. Il giustiziere di Dio (credited as Producer)
6. Sei Bounty Killers per una strage (credited as Production manager)
7. Una colt in mano al diavolo (credited as Producer)
   
   1975
8. Fermi tutti! è una rapina (credited as Producer)

There are still a few more titles I have not yet been able to find in which Giovanni may appear, so if you have images of him in any of these you know what to do.

• La leggenda del piave (1952) (ANICA)
• Mai ti scorderò (1956) (ANICA) as Vettori

There are 2 titles where Giovanni has been previously mis-identified. There is an actor in both these films who bears some resemblance to Giovanni, but it is not him

• Salambo (1960)
• L'ammutinamento (1961)

La cieca di Sorrento (1952) credited, as Basileo's henchman (mis-credited on other sites as playing Pietro, the driver)

I Reali di Francia (1959) as Angry villager

Il cavaliere del castello maledetto (1959) credited, as Farmer Images upgraded from B&W to colour

L'arciere Nero (1959) as Fighter

La scimitarra del Saraceno (1959) credited, as Pirate

Nel segno di Roma (1959) as Temple guard

La strada dei giganti (1960) as Miner

Fra Manisco cerca guai... (1960) credited, as Monk

I baccanali di Tiberio (1960) credited, as Ursus