For the first time in France, Bud Spencer’s autobiography entitled “My Thousand and One Lives” is released, prefaced by the man with whom he formed one of the most beloved duos in cinema, Terence Hill.
Do you remember Terence Hill and Bud Spencer? A comedy duo from the 70s and 80s, they made the heyday of cinemas, then video clubs and TV rebroadcasts with their always good-natured and family films.
And this year the autobiography of Bud Spencer, who died in 2016, was released for the first time in France. Fortunately, we still have his films and his strong, grumpy, bearded character, always ready to dish out a few slaps for a good cause!
A new edition with preface by Terence Hill
Tritone Cinematografica The Super Cops
Better yet, this French edition of the work includes a new preface signed by none other than Terence Hill, the other half of the duo, the bouncing and smiling handsome guy… also a distributor of slaps!
Titled My thousand and one lives, the book released by “L’Editeur à part” covers the entire career of Spencer, whose real name is Carlo Pedersoli. He discusses in particular the reasons for choosing this pseudonym, his meeting with Hill, their films together, their films separately and his career as an Olympic swimmer.
Among Bud Spencer’s films with Terence Hill, we think back to the two Trinita films, the two Super-cops, but also Hello Friend, Goodbye Treasure, God Forgive, Me Not or Ass and Shirt.
AMLF
Ass and shirt
Solo, Spencer will become the hero of the tetralogy of police comedies Piedone (literally “Flat Foot” in French). In France, we didn’t understand anything, and so their titles are An outlaw cop, The Bruiser, Flatfoot in Africa and Flatfoot on the Nile.
An anecdote from the book
Titanus
Flatfoot in Africa / Bulldozer Inspector
We learn in the book that Spencer was beardless until 1967, when he was asked to grow a beard for the western God Forgives, Me Not!, his first feature film co-starring Terence Hill. To comply with the request of the director who wanted unshaven heroes to surf Sergio Leone’s films, he complied… and the film was a hit that made him known internationally! He will then force himself to maintain this attribute throughout the rest of his career.