Fresh spaghetti: restoring the dusty 700
Time for a bold leap in film restoration and European culture -restore a whole genre, the 700 spaghetti western films (1960–1980) sourced from Italy, Spain, and Germany.
An open goal for the Italian Culture Ministry, London and USA film industries and Spanish Tourism board.
Platform: Freeview, streaming player (BBC iPlayer, Tubi), and international syndication
Programming Mix:
Restored classics (e.g. Django, The Big Gundown)
Dubbed-only rarities enhanced by AI (e.g. Django the Condemned)
Fragment showcases with interviews and storyboard reconstructions
“Legend Talks”: profiles of surviving actors like Franco Nero and Terence Hill - even Clint
Total genre output: ~600–700 films (1960–1980)
Fully lost (~10) or missing master prints: ~20–50 films
Surviving only in dubbed versions (e.g. German, Spanish): ~50–70 films
Damaged or incomplete (missing scenes, degraded audio): ~100+ films
Restored or partially restored: ~200–250 films, mostly Leone, Corbucci, Sollima titles
That leaves 200–300 films in urgent need of archival attention, AI regeneration, or public heritage funding.
Restoration Core: 10 Priority Films
| Film Title | Status | Fix Strategy |
|---|---|---|
| Il terrore dell'Oklahoma (1959) | Partial VHS only | Scan, AI clean, dub recreation |
| La sceriffa (1959) | Fragmented | Merge reels, regenerate audio |
| Dollar of Fear (1960) | Dubbed German only | Use script for AI voice re-dub |
| Due mafiosi nel Far West (1964) | Comedy, no Italian | AI lip-sync; actor narration |
| Reverend Colt (1970) | Missing scenes | Script + b-roll recreation |
| Django the Condemned (1965) | No Italian print | German-to-English voice cloning |
| Battle of the Last Pancho (1969) | Final act missing | Storyboard + live action inserts |
| Johnny Hamlet (1968) | Lost English dub | Regenerate English with Nero |
| Fighting Fist of Shanghai Joe (1973) | No English master | Multilingual AI voice pool |
| Minnesota Clay (1964) | Alt endings lost | Fan cut + archival interview intro |
Restoration Toolkit
Voice Cloning: Use ElevenLabs or Respeecher to recreate missing English or Italian dubs using surviving actor samples
AI Image Upscaling: Revive VHS-quality or nitrate-degraded scenes with frame-by-frame enhancement
Script + Storyboard Recreation: Reconstruct missing acts using original scripts, production stills, and animation
B-Roll Interviews: Integrate actor commentary and genre historian interviews during gaps or reconstructions
2-Year Recovery Plan
| Phase | Timeline | Milestones |
|---|---|---|
| Phase 1: Audit & Licensing | Months 1–4 | Rights clearance, surviving reel scans |
| Phase 2: AI Regeneration Pilot | Months 5–10 | Test dubbed-only fix with 3 titles |
| Phase 3: Archive Broadcast Launch | Month 12 | Start weekly “Lost Westerns” showcase |
| Phase 4: BFI / EU Festival Circuit | Months 13–18 | Feature 5 restored titles with live narration |
| Phase 5: Full Channel Rollout | Month 24 | Launch “700 Westerns” Freeview slot and online archive |
Living Legends Involvement
Franco Nero, Gianni Garko, Terence Hill, Fabio Testi, Nieves Navarro, Marianne Koch
Guest narration, legacy interviews, and retrospective commentary
Outreach via genre podcasts, European film festivals, and public heritage spots
SDG & Civic Memory Impact
SDG Goal 11: Sustainable Cities & Communities Cultural heritage protection, rural broadcast access, civic memory trails (QR code-linked episodes)
Cultural Diplomacy Boost: Promotes linguistic exchange (Italian/German/Spanish/English versions), Europe-led restoration pride
Public AI Ethics: Transparent use of regeneration tools with archive disclaimers and educational segments
Scripts & Storyboards: What Survives
Definitive Scripts:
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, For a Few Dollars More, and Once Upon a Time in the West have published screenplays, often annotated by scholars.
Django (1966) and Keoma (1976) scripts exist in Italian archives and fan-translated versions.
Partial or Lost Scripts:
Il terrore dell'Oklahoma, Dollar of Fear, and Reverend Colt have fragmentary scripts or shooting outlines recovered from collectors and forums.
Storyboard Archives:
Cinecittà Studios holds Leone’s original storyboards, especially for Once Upon a Time in the West.
Some fan-restored boards exist for Minnesota Clay and Johnny Hamlet, often reconstructed from production stills.
AI Reconstruction Potential:
Use surviving dialogue, scene descriptions, and actor interviews to rebuild missing scenes.
Combine with b-roll and voice cloning for immersive restorations.
Filming Locations: Key Sites
| Region | Notable Locations | Films Shot There |
|---|---|---|
| Spain – Tabernas Desert | Mini Hollywood, Fort Bravo, Western Leone | Leone’s Dollars Trilogy, Blindman, Valdez Is Coming |
| Italy – Cinecittà Studios | Rome backlots, Valle del Treja, Camposecco | Django, Keoma, Texas, Adios |
| Sardinia | San Salvatore di Cabras, Valle della Luna | Garter Colt, Django the Last Killer |
| Madrid Region | Hoyo de Manzanares, Colmenar Viejo | A Fistful of Dollars, For a Few Dollars More |
| Burgos | Sad Hill Cemetery (restored) | The Good, the Bad and the Ugly |
Potential Sponsors & Heritage Partners
🇪🇸 Spain
Spain Screen Tourism – Promotes filming heritage across Almería, Madrid, and Burgos
Oasys Mini Hollywood – Theme park built on Leone’s original set
Tabernas Municipality – Active in restoration and tourism partnerships
Tuco Tours / Malcaminos – Local guides with film history expertise
🇮🇹 Italy
Cinecittà Studios – Holds archives, props, and restoration facilities
Spaghetti Western Database Forum – Fan-led recovery and location mapping
Sardinia Tourism Board – Promotes San Salvatore di Cabras and Valle della Luna as heritage sites
🇪🇺 EU & Cultural Bodies
Europa Cinemas – Supports digitisation and cross-border film heritage
BFI / European Film Gateway – Potential co-funders for archival access and restoration
Creative Europe MEDIA Programme – Grants for cultural preservation and AI-enhanced storytelling
Sponsor roster:
Tequila & Spirits Sponsors
Código 1530 Already launched a Spaghetti Western Margarita for National Margarita Day—ideal for themed events and cocktail tie-ins.
Don Julio Active across music and sports sponsorships; could co-brand screenings or restoration festivals with premium tequila lounges.
Hornitos Tequila Fastest-growing tequila sponsor across NFL, NBA, and MLS—great for cross-promoting with Western-themed sports nights.
El Jimador MLS Cup sponsor with digital media activations; ideal for youth engagement and streaming tie-ins.
Airline & Tourism Sponsors
ITA Airways (Italy) National carrier with cultural diplomacy goals—perfect for promoting Cinecittà heritage and film tourism.
Iberia (Spain) Strong links to Almería and Tabernas Desert—could sponsor location tours or restoration flights.
Air Europa / Vueling Budget-friendly carriers with reach across filming regions; ideal for fan travel packages and festival logistics.
Spain Tourism Board Already supports Tabernas and Mini Hollywood sets; potential co-funder for restoration and location mapping.
Film Studios & Media Partners
Paramount Pictures Co-produced Once Upon a Time in the West; owns extensive Western IP and streaming rights via Paramount+.
Cinecittà Studios (Rome) Holds Leone’s storyboards and props; ideal for archival access, exhibitions, and restoration support.
Europa Cinemas / Creative Europe MEDIA EU-backed funding for digitisation and cross-border heritage projects.
BFI (UK) Potential co-funder for restoration, public screenings, and archival digitisation.
Cultural & Lifestyle Brands
Borsalino Hats Iconic Italian hatmaker worn by Western stars—ideal for merchandise, costume showcases, and fashion tie-ins.
Mini Hollywood / Oasys Park (Spain) Built on Leone’s original set; could host live events, screenings, and restoration showcases.
Ennio Morricone Foundation For music rights, tribute concerts, and educational programming.
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