Mattei, Pino


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PeplumParadise
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Mattei, Pino

Post by PeplumParadise » 20/02/2020, 19:39

Pino Mattei 036.jpeg
Pino Mattei in the late sixties
Pino Mattei was a stuntman and actor who worked steadily, but not prolifically, in Italian films from the late '50's until the early '80's. He was also often credited as a Master of Arms.

Clearing up something that has caused some confusion and many mis-credits on various websites, he did use the pseudonym "Joseph Mathews" in a number of westerns, but he almost certainly does not appear in any films credited as "John Mathews", "John Mathios", "John Matheus" or "James Harris". He has also been confused on a number of occasions with similar-looking Franco Beltramme and there is a lot of confusion by there being another actor named Giuseppe Mattei.

Giuseppe Mattei, called "Pino" by all, was born in Rome on August 31, 1928, although the official documents show September 5.

He was 1.92 tall. Training as a boxer, diver and swimmer, he knew how to ride. He had a deep voice and at first glance he aroused awe and even a little fear, then to know him was a splendid, good, positive, serene, ironic person. He was ignorant of the meaning of the word stress, anxiety, worry. Always positive and proactive. He was also a good dancer, and a great "Don Giovanni": a hand like a shovel, but delicate as a feather.

He was the only child of Giulia Latini and Gioacchino Mattei, a worker at the Rome Opera House. Probably grown up in Tor Pignattara, a district of Rome, (he was very fond of his Roman origins). His parents had a restaurant, at least for a while. He probably does his military service in Puglia, in aeronautics.

It is not known how Pino came to work in the cinema, perhaps on the advice of his father.

In 1967 while filming a movie in the former Yugoslavia, he met his future wife, Nada de Syo, 18 years younger, who at the time was studying at the University of Dubrovnik and guiding the crew, probably at the Plitvice lakes. On January 28th 1968 they get married in Rome. He later hires his wife to work as a costume designer in a film, shot in Bangkok: I fantastici 3 Supermen.

Returning from Bangkok at the height of his career, Pino falls to the ground. He, who threw himself into the Mekong or from the seventh floor without getting upset, falls down the stairs of the home and breaks his left arm in three places. Hospitalised and subjected to various operations, he also risks losing his arm due to an infection due to metal plaques. Luckily he recovers, but it takes more than a year to get back into operation and in the meantime he is forgotten.

From there he works little or nothing. Always waiting for the phone to ring. Meanwhile, in 1974 his only daughter Ilaria was born.

He passed away after a year of hospitalisation on September 8th 2000.[1]

Pino Mattei 037.jpeg
Pino Mattei with his wife Nada de Syo
Filmography as actor

1957
  1. La venere di Cheronea .... Soldier in the tavern (uncredited)
  2. Serenate per 16 bionde .... Thug disrupting music show (uncredited)

    1959
  3. Il mondo dei miracoli .... Man in Cinecittà cafeteria (uncredited)
  4. La scimitarra del saraceno .... Pirate (uncredited)

    1960
  5. Il cavaliere dai cento volti .... Gypsy fighter (uncredited)
  6. Il terrore della maschera rossa .... Guard (uncredited)
  7. La vendetta dei barbari .... Soldier (uncredited)
  8. Noi duri .... Gangster in nightclub (uncredited)

    1961
  9. Goliath contro i giganti .... Ship crew member / Soldier of Bokan (uncredited)
  10. Maciste nella terra dei ciclopi .... Soldier of Capys (uncredited)
  11. Sansone .... Tribal champion challenging Samson (uncredited as actor)

    1962
  12. Anno 79 - La distruzione di Ercolano .... Draco (credited)
  13. I sette gladiatori .... Gladiator (uncredited)
  14. I tre nemici .... Thug on the train (uncredited)
  15. Il colpo segreto di d'Artagnan .... Conspirator (uncredited)
  16. La furia di Ercole .... Fighter (uncredited as actor)

    1963
  17. Goliath e la schiava ribelle .... Soldier with Goliath (uncredited)
  18. I dieci gladiatori .... Gladiator (credited)
  19. Il leone di San Marco .... Pirate (uncredited)
  20. Il vecchio testamento .... Jakar (credited)
  21. L'eroe di Babilonia .... Ciro's lieutenant (uncredited)
  22. Ursus nella terra di fuoco .... Strong man in the contest (uncredited)

    1964
  23. Bianco, rosso, giallo, rosa .... Soldier (uncredited)
  24. Gli invincibili tre .... Rakis (credited)
  25. I due gladiatori .... Prison guard (uncredited)
  26. Il Leone di Tebe .... Soldier (uncredited)
  27. Il trionfo dei gladiatori .... Soldier (uncredited)
  28. L'ultimo gladiatore .... Gladiator trainer (uncredited)
  29. La vendetta dei gladiatori .... Captain of the guards (uncredited)

    1965
  30. Johnny West il mancino .... Red (credited as "Joseph Mathews")
  31. Maciste il vendicatore dei Maya .... Man of Donar's tribe (uncredited)
  32. Uno straniero a Sacramento .... Mill Morgan (credited as "Big and Joseph Matthews")

    1966
  33. Kommissar X - In den Klauen des Goldenen Drachen (Agente Jo Walker: operazione Estremo Oriente) .... Benny (credited)
  34. Kommissar X - Jagd auf Unbekannt (12 donne d'oro) .... Kan) (credited)
  35. Tre notti violente .... Gardiello henchman (uncredited)

    1967
  36. I fantastici 3 Supermen .... Sarkis (credited as "Joseph Matthews")
  37. Mister Dynamit - Morgen küßt Euch der Tod (Muori lentamente... te la godi di più) .... Balbo (credited)

    1968
  38. Kommissar X - 3 blaue Panther (Gangsters per un massacro) .... Karate fighter (uncredited)

    1969
  39. Ehi amico... c'è Sabata, hai chiuso! .... Frankie (credited as "Joseph Mathews")
  40. Kommissar X - Drei goldene Schlangen (I tre serpenti d'ori) .... Curly (credited)
  41. Sono Sartana, il vostro becchino .... Bank robber (uncredited)

    1970
  42. E venne il giorno dei limoni neri (credit only)
  43. L'inafferrabile invincibile Mr. Invisibile .... One of Mamma's henchmen (credited)

    1971
  44. Se t'incontro t'ammazzo .... The husband (uncredited)

    1972
  45. Il magnifico west .... unknown role (credited - only credit info)

    1973
  46. Da Scaramouche or se vuoi l'assoluzione baciar devi sto... cordone! .... Sergeant of the guards (credited as "Giuseppe Mattei")
  47. Diario segreto da un carcere femminile .... Mafia boss (credited)
  48. ... E il terzo giorno arrivò il Corvo .... The husband (uncredited - re-used footage)
  49. Il fiore dai petali d'acciaio (credited as "Giuseppe Mattei", but not found)
  50. Il mio nome è Shangai Joe .... Racist (uncredited)
  51. Ku Fu? Dalla Sicilia con furore .... Kon Ki Lay henchman (uncredited)
  52. Li chiamavano i tre moschettieri... invece erano quattro .... Richard (credited as "Giuseppe Mattei")
  53. Senza ragione .... Jeweller (credited)
  54. Sette monache a Kansas City .... Steve, Bart henchman (credited)

    1974
  55. Amore amaro .... Guard at private beach (uncredited)
  56. Piedino il questurino .... Nightclub brawler (uncredited)
  57. Prostituzione .... Gangster boss (credited as "Giuseppe Mattei")

    1975
  58. I sette del gruppo selvaggio .... Foster (credited)
  59. L' Ambizioso .... Don Enrico's henchman (uncredited)
  60. La polizia interviene: ordine di uccidere! .... Gunman on firing range (uncredited)

    1976
  61. Il conto è chiuso .... Hitman (uncredited)
  62. Il grande racket .... Hood (uncredited)
  63. La lupa mannara .... Driver who picks up Daniela (credited?)
  64. Sangue di sbirro .... Mallory henchman (uncredited)
  65. Squadra antiscippo .... Thug (uncredited)

    1977
  66. La via della droga .... Drug squad officer (uncredited)
  67. Yeti: il gigante del XX secolo .... Korwasky (credited as "Giuseppe Mattei")

    1978
  68. Il commissario Verrazzano .... Bonci henchman in pool hall (uncredited)

    1980
  69. Fontamara .... State official (uncredited as actor)
  70. La cage au folles II / Il vizietto II .... One of Mangin's men (credited as "Giuseppe Mattei")
  71. Luca il contrabbandiere .... Il Marsigliese's henchman (credited as "Giuseppe Mattei", as acrobats)

    1981
  72. La nouvelle malle des Indes (TV mini series) .... Brawler (uncredited)

    1983
  73. 2019: dopo la caduta di New York .... Homeless victim of the flamethrower (uncredited)
  74. I sette magnifici gladiatori .... Dex (credited as "Phillip Bard")

    1984
  75. Razza violenta .... Hitman in hotel (uncredited)

More Mattei!
There are still a few movies where Pino is credited by various online sources that I have been unable to find, so if anybody has images of him in the films below you know what to do.
  • Mon fils (TV mini-series, 1971) - IMDb as L'intendant
  • Lo scoiattolo (1979) - IMDb
Production credits

1961
  1. Sansone .... Credited as Master of Arms

    1962
  2. Anno 79 - La distruzione di Ercolano .... Credited as Master of Arms (as "P. Mattei")
  3. La furia di Ercole .... Credited as Maestro d'armi

    1963
  4. I dieci gladiatori .... Credited as Master of Arms
  5. Il vecchio testamento .... Credited as Master of Arms

    1964
  6. Gli invincibili tre .... Credited as Master of Arms

    1965
  7. Johnny West il mancino .... Credited as Master of Arms

    1967
  8. I fantastici 3 Supermen .... Credited as Master of Arms

    1970
  9. E venne il giorno dei limoni neri .... Credited as Master of Arms
  10. Indio Black sai che ti dico: sei un gran figlio di... Credit as Fire-Arms, as "Giuseppe Mattei"

    1971
  11. È tornato Sabata... hai chiuso un'altra volta! .... Credited as Master of Arms, as "Giuseppe Mattei"

    1973
  12. Da Scaramouche or se vuoi l'assoluzione baciar devi sto... cordone! .... Credited as Master of Arms
  13. Li chiamavano i tre moschettieri... invece erano quattro .... Credited as Master of Arms
  14. Sette monache a Kansas City .... Credited, and as Master of Arms

    1980
  15. Fontamara .... Credited as Master of Arms

Pino non si trova!
It's Giuseppe, not Pino
  • I criminali della metropoli (1967) - it is the other Giuseppe Mattei who appears and is credited.
  • Les cracks / La corsa del secolo (1968) - it's Giuseppe, not Pino.
  • Confessioni segrete di un convento di clausura (1972) - Giuseppe Mattei is listed in the opening credits, and it's the other one.
  • La mano spietata della legge (1973) - Another credit that actually refers to "the other Giuseppe Mattei" a.k.a. "James Harris"
  • Nuda per Satana (1974) - "James Harris" credited - that's Giuseppe.
  • Zelda (1974) - "James Harris" credited - that's Giuseppe.
  • La calda bestia (1977) - "James Harris" credited - that's Giuseppe.
Titles where Pino is credited somewhere with appearing. I have looked through these titles, but have been unable to find him. Maybe someone else will have more luck?
  • Il magnifico gladiatore (1964) - Listed on IMDb as Gladiator
  • L'ultimo uomo della terra (1964) - Listed on ANICA as Leader of the survivors
  • Degueyo (1965) - Listed on IMDb as Henchman
  • Sotto a chi tocca! (1972) - Listed on ANICA
  • Jack London - la mia grande avventura (1973) - Listed on ANICA. Also not found by FatmanDan
Films where "John Mathews", or variations thereof, is credited
  • La jena di Londra (1964) - "John Mathews" is credited, but this pseudonym is actually for Gianni Medici. Pino does not appear
  • Jim il primo (1964) - "John Mathews" credited, Pino does not appear. It's probably Gino Marturano behind it, this time.
  • Tarzak contro gli uomini leopardo (1964) - "John Mathews" is credited, but this pseudonym is actually for Gianni Medici. Pino does not appear
  • Mark Donen - Agente Zeta 7 (Rembrandt 7 antwortet nicht...) (1966) - IMDb says "John Mathews" should be credited.
  • Per pochi dollari ancora (1966) - "John Matheus" credited, Pino does not appear.
  • L'ultimo killer (1967) - "John Mathios" credited, Pino does not appear.
Notes and sources
1. Mini-biography and photoes courtesy of Pino Mattei's daughter Ilaria, issued to Emiliano on November 13, 2021.
Last edited by mortimer on 06/01/2024, 8:23, edited 83 times in total.

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Re: Pino Mattei

Post by PeplumParadise » 20/02/2020, 19:43

La venere di Cheronea (1957) as Soldier in the tavern
mattei6.jpg
mattei5.jpg
mattei4.jpg
mattei3.jpg
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Re: Pino Mattei

Post by PeplumParadise » 20/02/2020, 19:53

Serenate per 16 bionde (1957) as Thug disrupting music show
Serenate Per 16 Bionde - Pino Mattei1.jpg
Serenate Per 16 Bionde - Pino Mattei2.jpg
Serenate Per 16 Bionde - Pino Mattei3.jpg
Thanks to Johan for the upgrades

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Re: Pino Mattei

Post by PeplumParadise » 20/02/2020, 19:55

Il mondo dei miracoli (1959) as Man in Cinecitta cafeteria
mattei.jpg
mattei2.jpg
mattei3.jpg
mattei4.jpg
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Last edited by PeplumParadise on 17/01/2024, 12:12, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: Pino Mattei

Post by PeplumParadise » 20/02/2020, 19:57

Il terrore della maschera rossa (1960) as Guard
mattei3.jpg
mattei4.jpg
mattei6.jpg

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Re: Pino Mattei

Post by PeplumParadise » 20/02/2020, 20:00

La vendetta dei barbari (1960) as Soldier
Snapshot-2019-05-14 at 12_15_50 PM-1971433485.png

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Re: Pino Mattei

Post by PeplumParadise » 20/02/2020, 20:02

Noi duri (1960) as Gangster in nightclub
vlcsnap-2020-02-13-16h13m48s988.jpg
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Re: Pino Mattei

Post by PeplumParadise » 20/02/2020, 20:06

Goliath contro i Giganti (1961) as Sailor with Goliath
mattei2.jpg
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Re: Pino Mattei

Post by PeplumParadise » 20/02/2020, 20:16

Anno 79 - La distruzione di Ercolano (1962) credited as actor and as Master of Arms, as Draco.

Pino must have caught the eye of either director Gianfranco Parolini or star Brad Harris in the previous year's Golia contro i giganti, since they took him with them to Yugoslavia and gave him his first substantial roles in 3 productions they shot there and a Master of Arms credit in 4.
mattei2.jpg
mattei3.jpg
mattei.jpg
mattei4.jpg
mattei5.jpg
79a2.jpg
79a3.jpg

The on-set shots below were kindly provided by Pino's daughter, Ilaria.
Pino Mattei 012.jpeg
Pino Mattei 013.jpeg
Pino Mattei 020.jpeg
Pino Mattei 023.jpeg
Pino Mattei 024.jpeg
Pino Mattei 028.jpeg
Pino Mattei 029.jpeg
Pino Mattei 031.jpeg
Pino Mattei 017.jpg
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Last edited by Emiliano on 14/11/2021, 13:05, edited 5 times in total.

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Re: Pino Mattei

Post by PeplumParadise » 20/02/2020, 20:22

Il colpo segreto di d'Artagnan (1962) as Conspirator
Snapshot-2019-05-31 at 08_16_35 PM-1535701154.png
Snapshot-2019-05-31 at 08_20_28 PM-880626039.png

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