Cobianchi, Franco

[PeplumParadise]

Franco Cobianchi in Le colt cantarono la morte e fu... tempo di massacro (1966)

Franco Cobianchi was a character actor, mostly in small parts, active in Italian films from at least the mid-1950's until the end of the 60's. He also has a number of credits as a screenwriter and one as an assistant director.

No biographical details are currently known.

He was credited on occasion under variations of his name such as "Franco D'Este", Franco Cobianchi D'Este" and "Lanfranco Cobianchi", so from that we can possibly surmise that his full name could be "Lanfranco Cobianchi D'Este". He was also credited in a number of films under the pseudonym "Peter White". In the later years of his career he played a surprisingly large number of Roman emperors in peplums and blue-eyed Mexicans in spaghetti westerns. His career mysteriously ends after 1969.

I have found a number of undocumented uncredited appearances by Franco, so I think it's highly likely that more will be found, maybe some earlier roles (he was obviously already in his late 30's or 40's when his known career begins) and some from the years 1962-1963? He has a distinctive large mole on his right cheek to help confirm identifications.

Filmography

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1956

1. Mio figlio Nerone …. Courtier (uncredited)
2. Moglie e buoi... ..... Audience member (credited)
3. Orlando e i paladini di Francia …. Zerbino (credited)
   
   1957
4. I misteri di Parigi …. role? (credited)
5. Il ricatto di un padre .... Salesman at funfair (uncredited)
6. La venere di Cheronea …. One of Armodio's men (credited)
7. Parola di ladro …. Saccoccione (credited as "Franco Cobianchi D'Este")
   
   1958
8. Amore e chiacchiere …. Minister Tonino Moriconi (credited)
9. I soliti ignoti …. Prisoner (uncredited)
10. Il pirata dello sparviero nero …. Elena's father (uncredited)
11. Ladro lui, ladra lei …. Man from the apartment (uncredited)
    
    1959
12. Giuditta e Oloferne …. Joachim (uncredited)
13. Guardatele ma non toccatele …. Edoardo's brother (uncredited)
14. I cavalieri del diavolo …. Armourer (uncredited)
15. Il magistrato …. Police marshal doing the questioning (uncredited)
16. Tutti innamorati …. Man at the opening ceremony (uncredited)
    
    1960
17. Il rossetto …. Reporter (uncredited)
18. Il vigile …. Bar owner (uncredited)
19. L'ultimo zar …. Tavern keeper (uncredited)
20. La contessa azzurra .... Peppiniello (credited as "Lanfranco Cobianchi" - role unconfirmed)
21. La lunga notte del '43 …. Fanelli (credited)
22. La strada dei giganti …. Train driver (credited as "Franco D'Este")
23. Mobby Jackson …. role? (credited)
24. Rapina al quartiere ovest .... role? (poster credit as "Franco D'Este")
    
    1961
25. Il giudizio universale …. Man in Switzerland (uncredited)
26. Il ladro di Bagdad …. Suitor for the hand of Amina (uncredited)
27. Le baccanti …. Citizen of Thebes (uncredited)
    
    1963
28. Ercole contro Moloch …. Man in the crowd (uncredited - re-used footage)
    
    1964
29. I due gladiatori …. Nunzio Pompeo Gracilano (credited as "Peter White")
30. I predoni della steppa …. Yesen Khan (credited as "Peter White")
31. Il ladro di Damasco …. Emperor (credited as "Peter White")
32. Il magnifico gladiatore …. Emperor Caesar Galienus (credited)
33. Maciste, gladiatore di Sparta …. Vitellius (credited as "Peter White")
    
    1965
34. Come inguaiammo l'esercito …. Does not appear (credited as story writer as "Franco D'Este")
35. Il conquistatore di Atlantide …. Does not appear (credited as story writer and screenwriter as "Franco D'Este")
36. La Colt è la mia legge …. Henry O'Brian (credited as "Franco D'Este")
    
    1966
37. Come svaligiammo la banca d'Italia …. Director of the Bank of Italy (uncredited)
38. Le colt cantarono la morte e fu... tempo di massacro …. Bartender (uncredited)
39. Per qualche dollaro in meno …. Mexican bandit (uncredited)
40. Tecnica di una spia …. Louis Kerez Fischer (credited as "Peter White")
    
    1967
41. I lunghi giorni della vendetta …. General Porfirio (credited as "Franco Cobianchi D'Este")
    
    1968
42. Commandos …. Abu Ali (credited)
43. Se vuoi vivere... spara! …. General Alvarez (credited as actor as "Peter White", as Assistant Director and as Screenwriter as "F. Cobianchi")
44. Tre croci per non morire …. Paco (credited as actor as "Peter White" and as Screenwriter)
    
    1969
45. Il dito nella piaga …. Mayor (credited as "Lanfranco Cobianchi")
46. La morte bussa due volte …. Dr. Vanzini (credited as "Lanfranco Cobianchi")
47. Lo stato d'assedio …. Trevisan (poster credit as "Lanfranco Cobianchi" - unconfirmed role)

Filmography to check

• La grande savana (1955) ANICA
• Un palco all'opera (1955) ANICA
• Moglie e buoi... (1955) ANICA
• Perfide... ma belle! (1958) ANICA
• Rapina al quartiere Ovest (1960) also listed on IMDb as Screenwriter

[PeplumParadise]

Mio figlio Nerone (1956) as Courtier

[PeplumParadise]

Orlando e i paladini di Francia (1956) credited, as Zerbino

[PeplumParadise]

I misteri di Parigi (1957) Credited, role uncertain

[PeplumParadise]

La venere di Cheronea (1957) Credited, as One of Armodio's men

[PeplumParadise]

Parola di ladro (1957) Credited as "Franco Cobianchi D'Este", as Saccoccione

[PeplumParadise]

Amore e chiacchiere (1958) Credited, as Minister Tonino Moriconi

[PeplumParadise]

I soliti ignoti (1958) as Prisoner

[PeplumParadise]

Il pirata dello sparviero nero (1958) as Elena's father

[PeplumParadise]

Ladro lui, ladra lei (1958) as Man from the apartment