Page 132 - Alternative Europe Eurotrash and Exploitation Cinema Since 1945

unpleasant Mike in Cannibal Ferox. This may explain why he is not happy about being remembered
purely for his horror career. The marked juxtaposition of Radice the horror star and the person may
testify to his acting ability in the films. However he is a very genial person who does not refuse his
horror career even though he does not like it, and I thank him for allowing me once again into his
home to conduct this interview.

Patricia MacCormack: You have said in interviews that you don't like all these horror films you have
appeared in — why did you do them?
Giovanni Lombardo Radice: It's very simple, because of the money. It just happened by chance.
In a moment when I was very young, 24 or 25, and I was passing a major economic crisis, and my
first movie was offered to me, and I didn't really care what it was. I said yes of course and as a matter
of fact it was not a horror because House at the Edge of the Park is not a horror, it was more a thriller,
but it could have been whatever, I would have done it. So then after that first one I was very happy,
I learned a lot and I always like acting. If instead it would have been musicals or romantic stories it
would have been the same to me.
What were you doing when Ruggero Deodato's mother-in-law discovered you?
She started everything. Ruggero was married to an actress, Silvia Dionisio [Pearla in Antonio
Margheriti's Dracula Cerca Sangue], and that lady was Silvias mother, she was working as an agent. I
had done a theatre production in the famous Spoleto festival. I was working in a little theatre which
had just reopened, measuring the stage to see if the production could fit there. There were a few
people there and this lady watched me from the seats...
She watched you measure?
Yes she watched me measure, not acting. I was there in a pair of blue jeans, just saying '8 metres
by9...'
So it was just the way you looked?
Yes, because in Italy acting didn't used to be considered a profession. She knew I was an actor, she
asked, 'have you ever been in a movie?' I said, 'Lady for some money I would walk on my hands with a
red nose on, so sure why not.' Surely, she saw what she thought was a classic 'movie face', strong cheek
bones and blue eyes. In addition I didn't look Italian, I spoke good English and had stage experience. I
don't think she saw something special connected to the horror genre, she was just casting for Deodato
and suggested me. Ruggero was casting and she proposed me for a role that had already been cast, and
Michele Soavi was cast to do it. Michele was an actor, he had a great face and was a good actor. Then
Ruggero changed his mind.
Was that the beginning of your relationship with the actor-turned-director Michele Soavi?
Yes, Michele, poor guy, we became great friends, but I stole a role twice. But we didn't know each
other then. I stole Ricky and I stole Bob from Paura [City of the Living Dead). Michele had been cast
for Bob. But Michele wasn't really interested in acting, he knew he wanted to direct. He was acting
in that little role in Paura as the guy in the car with a girl, and he was also volunteering as assistant
director. He is not credited but he was. So acting was a pastime and a way to be in the movies. So the
first time we met during Paura he made a joke, he said 'Fuck, you just stole two roles from me.' And
then we became great friends.
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