Bartha, John


Less-known performers of the European Cult Movies
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Bartha, John

Post by PeplumParadise » 19/08/2021, 11:49

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John Bartha in I due maggiolini più matti del mondo (1970)

János Bartha, better known under the stage name John Bartha, was a Hungarian small-part actor active in Hungarian films from the start of the 1950’s and in Italian films from the early 1960’s until the early 1980’s.

Most sources report that he was born in Budapest, Hungary in 1920, date unknown (a certain website disputes this information, but offers no explanation why), and he was married to Romanian actress Erzsi Paál until her death in 1973.

He was reportedly best friends with similar-looking fellow Hungarian actor Tom Felleghy and they often appeared in the same films. According to the Westerns all’Italiana blog, they fell out after Bartha failed to invite Felleghy to his wedding. This presumably refers to a second wife, since they continued working together up to and beyond his first wife’s death.

Ignoring a dubious IMDb listing for an American film in 1950, Bartha’s known film career starts with a handful of Hungarian films between 1951-55. His activities in the late 50’s are unknown, though it would seem likely he was working as a generico in Hungary.

The Italian phase of his career began with an uncredited appearance in Il Re di Poggioreale in 1961, after which he quickly became an in-demand small-part actor across all genres. Over the next 2 decades he would appear in more than 100 films, mostly in bit parts, but occasionally scoring larger supporting roles. He was equally at home playing sheriffs, nazis or a straight foil to the comic antics of Franco & Ciccio, with whom he appeared many times.

Italian Wikipedia reports that Bartha married an American actress and retired, with a popular theory being that he relocated to the US - this would seem to tie-in with his last 2 known appearances, following a 4 year break, being in Italian productions shot in America. His career ends abruptly in 1981, after which nothing is known.

Until very recently all online sites were reporting John as still living, but an unconfirmed death date of March 7th 1991 in Budapest has recently appeared on various websites.

While Bartha’s film appearances have been well documented by a number of websites, it is still quite possible that there remain a few roles to be found that have gone under the radar and almost certainly some additional Hungarian productions from the 50’s to be discovered.

Filmography

1951
  1. Teljes gözzel …. Román (credited as "Bartha János")

    1955
  2. Gázolás …. Officer in the courtroom (credited as "Barta János")

    1961
  3. Il Re di Poggioreale …. Officer at the docks (uncredited)

    1962
  4. Il tiranno di Siracusa …. Officer with Cariso (uncredited)
  5. Nerone '71 …. Officer interrogating the girls (uncredited)

    1963
  6. Cleopatra …. Egyptian general (uncredited)
  7. El diablo también llora …. Doctor (uncredited)
  8. Gidget goes to Rome …. Police officer in the American embassy (uncredited)
  9. Il boia di Venezia …. Messere Leonardo (credited as "Gianni Barta")
  10. Il leone di San Marco …. Count Fieschi (credited as "Gianni Barta")
  11. Io Semiramide …. Althar (credited as "Gian Barta")
  12. Sansone contro i pirati …. Man of Samson's village (uncredited)
  13. The Pink Panther …. Police escort (uncredited)

    1964
  14. 002 agenti segretissimi …. Doctor (uncredited)
  15. Gli schiavi più forti del mondo …. Spectator at the arena (uncredited)
  16. I due pericoli pubblici …. Husband leaving the party (uncredited)
  17. I maniaci …. Literary critic (uncredited)
  18. L'uomo della valle maledetta …. Father Ryan (credited as "Jhon Barta")
  19. La vendetta di Spartacus …. Roman officer (uncredited)

    1965
  20. 002 operazione Luna …. Dr. Gadrinsky (uncredited)
  21. A 001: operazione Giamaica …. Alan (credited)
  22. Come inguaiammo l'esercito …. Officer presenting the medal (uncredited)
  23. I 4 inesorabili …. John (credited)
  24. Il gladiatore che sfidò l'impero …. Roman messenger (uncredited)
  25. Mani di pistolero …. Sheriff Fred (credited)
  26. Solo contro tutti …. Marshal (credited)

    1966
  27. 2 mafiosi contro Al Capone …. Police chief (uncredited)
  28. Arizona Colt …. Officer playing cards (uncredited)
  29. Come svaligiammo la banca d'Italia …. Bank of Italy employee (uncredited)
  30. Django spara per primo …. Thomas Garvin (uncredited)
  31. El Rojo …. Judge (credited)
  32. I diafanoidi vengono da Marte …. (credited - credit only)
  33. Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo …. Sheriff (credited)
  34. Il grande colpo dei 7 uomini d'oro …. English police chief (uncredited)
  35. Il pianeta errante …. Dr. Smith (credited)
  36. Johnny Oro …. Mayor Benal (uncredited)
  37. L'uomo che ride …. Giovanni (credited)
  38. Le colt cantarono la morte e fu... tempo di massacro …. Carradinel (uncredited)
  39. Luisa Sanfelice (TV mini-series) Ep. 7 …. English official (credited)
  40. Tiro a segno per uccidere …. Agent kidnapping Henry Perkins (uncredited)

    1967
  41. ...4 ..3 ..2 ..1 …morte …. General Roon (credited as "Janos Bartha")
  42. Colpo maestro al servizio di Sua Maestà britannica …. Film producer (uncredited)
  43. Dalle Ardenne all'inferno …. German captain (uncredited)
  44. El desperado …. Wallace (credited)
  45. Il figlio di Django …. Sheriff (credited)
  46. Il tempo degli avvoltoio …. Sheriff (uncredited)
  47. Il tigre …. Russian interpreter (uncredited)
  48. Killer calibro 32 …. Parker (credited)
  49. La morte viene dal pianeta Aytin …. Dr. Schmidt (uncredited)
  50. Operazione San Pietro …. Man in fantasy sequence (uncredited)
  51. Troppo per vivere... poco per morire …. Hotel detective (uncredited)

    1968
  52. Acid - Delirio dei sensi …. James Burton (no credit info)
  53. Ammazzali tutti e torna solo …. Prison camp captain (credited)
  54. Carogne si nasce …. Tex Thomas (credited as "Jhon Bartha")
  55. E per tetto un cielo di stelle …. Mr. Singleton (uncredited)
  56. I lunghi giorni dell'odio …. Sheriff (credited)
  57. L'oro di Londra …. Thomas (credited)
  58. La pecora nera …. German ambassador (uncredited)
  59. Quella sporca storia nel west …. Leader of the acting troupe (credited)
  60. Se vuoi vivere... spara! …. Store keeper (uncredited)
  61. Testa di sbarco per otto implacabili …. Ted Bancroft (uncredited)
  62. Tre croci per non morire …. Saloon keeper (uncredited)

    1969
  63. Beatrice Cenci …. First excellency (credited)
  64. Ehi amico... c'è Sabata. Hai chiuso! …. Daugherty sheriff (credited as "Janos Bartha")
  65. Indovina chi viene a merenda? …. German sergeant (uncredited)
  66. La battaglia del deserto …. German tank operator (uncredited)
  67. Sette volte sette …. Prisoner in the coal mine (uncredited)
  68. Sono Sartana, il vostro becchino …. Sheriff (uncredited)
  69. Uccidete Rommel …. Colonel Braddock (credited)

    1970
  70. C'è Sartana... vendi la pistola e comprati la bara! …. Sheriff (uncredited)
  71. Colpo rovente …. Committee member (uncredited)
  72. I due maggiolini più matti del mondo …. Judge (credited as "Janos Bartha")
  73. Il sasso in bocca …. Police sergeant (uncredited)
  74. Terzo canale - Avventura a Montecarlo …. Truck salesman (credited)
  75. The Adventures of Gerard …. Napoleon's aide (credited)

    1971
  76. È tornato Sabata... hai chiuso un'altra volta! …. Sheriff (credited as "Janos Bartha")
  77. Lo chiamavano King …. Sheriff Roberts (credited)
  78. Testa t'ammazzo, croce... sei morto - Mi chiamano Alleluja …. Man shot while searching the laundry (uncredited)

    1972
  79. Afyon oppio …. Crooked police inspector (credited)
  80. Continuavano a chiamarli... er più e er meno …. Stradivarius collector (credited as "John Janos Bartha")
  81. E poi lo chiamarono il magnifico …. Jeremiah (credited as "Janos Bartha")
  82. Il clan dei due Borsalini …. Prison warden (credited)
  83. Jesse & Lester - Due fratelli in un posto chiamato Trinità …. Carson (credited)
  84. La notte dei diavoli …. Sawmill owner (uncredited)
  85. Non si sevizia un paperino …. Tenant Carabiniere (uncredited)
  86. Nonostante le apparenze... e purchè la nazione non lo sappia... all'onorevole piacciono le donne …. Film editor (uncredited)
  87. Senza famiglia, nullatenenti cercano affetto …. Man who hires Agostino (uncredited)
  88. Sotto a chi tocca! …. Head of the mission (credited)
  89. Un uomo da rispettare …. Security guard (credited)

    1973
  90. Anna, quel particolare piacere …. Gerli (credited)
  91. Dio, sei proprio un padreterno! …. District attorney (uncredited)
  92. L'età di Cosimo de Medici (TV mini-series, Episode 3: "Leon Battista Alberti: l'Umanesimo") .... Pope Niccolo V. (probably credited)
  93. La polizia sta a guardare …. Policeman (uncredited)
  94. La schiava io ce l'ho e tu no …. Work colleague of Demetrio (uncredited)
  95. Los mil ojos del asesino …. Not found (credited)
  96. Lucky Luciano …. Agent on stakeout (uncredited)
  97. Tequila! …. Sheriff (credited as "John Barta")
  98. Zanna Bianca …. Mountie who frees Chester (credited)

    1974
  99. 4 marmittoni alle grandi manovre …. Commander of the German soldiers (uncredited)
  100. Daisy Miller …. Hotel receptionist in Rome (credited)
  101. Il ritorno di Zanna Bianca …. Mountie sergent (credited)
  102. Mosè (TV mini-series) Ep. 3 …. Scribe (uncredited)

    1975
  103. Gatti rossi in un labirinto di vetro …. Mr. Hamilton (credited)
  104. Il cav. Costante Nicosia demoniaco, ovvero: Dracula in Brianza …. Concierge (credited)
  105. Lo sgarbo …. Rival mobster killed at warehouse (uncredited)
  106. Noi non siamo angeli …. Sheriff (credited as "John Barta")
  107. Prima ti suono e poi ti sparo …. Town representative (credited)
  108. Roma violenta …. Junk yard worker (uncredited)

    1976
  109. Salon Kitty …. Gestapo agent (uncredited)

    1980
  110. Chissà perché... capitano tutte a me …. Police chief (credited)

    1981
  111. Cannibal ferox …. Mafioso (credited)

Filmography to check
  • Állami áruház (1953) This is one of 2 early 50's Hungarian productions where IMDb says he should be credited, but he isn't. I didn't spot him in the film, but it's possible I may have missed him.
  • Föltámadott a tenger (1953) Another Hungarian production where IMDb says he should be credited, but he isn't. Again I didn't spot him in the film, but it's possible I may have missed him.
  • Budapesti tavasz (1955) Euro-Bis. This title is listed with an image, however I was unable to find John in the film, so his appearance is uncertain.
  • Az élet hídja (1956) IMDb
  • Le calde notti del Decameron (1972) IMDb as Bishop
  • Dr. med. Mark Wedmann - Detektiv inbegriffen (1974 series) S.1, Ep. 13: "Therapie für Prominente", IMDb as Professor Tibiris

No John!
Titles where he is listed as appearing somewhere online, but cannot be found for some reason
  • Breakthrough (1950) IMDb as US soldier. John's appearance here would be highly unlikely since the film was shot entirely in California, and indeed he is nowhere to be found.
  • I sette del Texas (1964) Euro-Bis. Not found.
  • El Cisco (1966) IMDb. Not found.
  • Un minuto per pregare, un istante per morire (1967) IMDb as Townsman. I wasn't able to recognise him, neither was Carlos.
Last edited by PeplumParadise on 26/11/2023, 11:08, edited 42 times in total.

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Re: Bartha, John

Post by PeplumParadise » 19/08/2021, 11:59

Teljes gözzel (1951) credited as "Bartha János", as Román.

This is currently John's earliest known film role, though it's quite possible there could be earlier uncredited roles in Hungarian productions.
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Re: Bartha, John

Post by PeplumParadise » 19/08/2021, 12:32

Budapesti tavasz (1955)

This still shot comes from the Euro-Bis site. It is obviously John, however I have searched the film for this scene with no luck and failed to find John anywhere else, so it could be that either a. he does not appear, or b. I missed him, or c. the still is actually from a different film.
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Re: Bartha, John

Post by PeplumParadise » 19/08/2021, 12:36

Gázolás (1955) credited as "Barta János", as Officer in the courtroom.
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Re: Bartha, John

Post by PeplumParadise » 19/08/2021, 12:42

Il Re di Poggioreale (1961) as Officer at the docks.

Nothing is known of John's activities in the second half of the 50's, before his arrival in Italy at the start of the 60's, but it would seem highly likely he was working as a generico in Hungary during this time. This is John's earliest-known appearance in an Italian production.
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Re: Bartha, John

Post by PeplumParadise » 19/08/2021, 12:45

Il tiranno di Siracusa (1962) barely seen as an Officer with Cariso
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Re: Bartha, John

Post by PeplumParadise » 19/08/2021, 12:48

Nerone '71 (1962) as Officer interrogating the girls.
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Re: Bartha, John

Post by PeplumParadise » 19/08/2021, 12:50

Cleopatra (1963) as Egyptian general
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Re: Bartha, John

Post by PeplumParadise » 19/08/2021, 12:53

Il boia di Venezia (1963) credited as "Gianni Barta", as Messere Leonardo
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Re: Bartha, John

Post by PeplumParadise » 19/08/2021, 12:55

Il leone di San Marco (1963) credited as "Gianni Barta", as Count Fieschi.

Wearing the same costume as the film above, but playing a different character - the two films were shot back-to-back in Venice.
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