If you grew up watching dusty re-runs on a Saturday afternoon, you know the vibe. There is a specific kind of magic that happens when a movie doesn't take itself too seriously but still manages to define a whole genre. That’s basically what happened in 1971. When people talk about the Trinity Is Still My Name cast, they aren't just talking about actors; they’re talking about a duo that basically saved the Italian Western by making it hilarious.
The movie, originally titled ...continuavano a chiamarlo Trinità, was a massive swing. It wasn't just a sequel; it became one of the highest-grossing Italian films ever. It’s wild to think about now, but at the time, the "Spaghetti Western" was getting a bit stale and overly violent. Then comes along Terence Hill and Bud Spencer. They traded the grimacing, squinty-eyed stoicism of Clint Eastwood for slapstick, bean-eating, and the most satisfying sound effects in cinema history.
The Unstoppable Duo: Hill and Spencer
You can't mention the Trinity Is Still My Name cast without starting at the very top. Terence Hill (born Mario Girotti) played Trinity, the "Right Hand of the Devil." He was lean, blue-eyed, and had this effortless cool that made you think he was barely trying. He was the "lazy" one, yet he could outdraw anyone in the room without looking up from his plate of beans. Hill brought a physical grace to the role that felt almost like a dance.
Then you had Bud Spencer (Carlo Pedersoli). He was the "Left Hand of the Devil," Bambino. He was the muscle. A former Olympic swimmer in real life—fun fact, he was the first Italian to swim the 100m freestyle in under a minute—Spencer was a giant of a man. His chemistry with Hill was lightning in a bottle. They were the original "buddy cop" archetype before that was even a solidified thing in Hollywood.
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Bambino was always grumpy. He just wanted to be a successful horse thief. Trinity, his younger brother, was the constant thorn in his side, dragging him into "good deeds" that Bambino hated but secretly went along with. It’s that fraternal friction that makes the movie work. Without their specific personalities, it would’ve been just another low-budget comedy. Instead, it’s a masterpiece of timing.
The Supporting Players Who Made the World Real
While Hill and Spencer took the spotlight, the rest of the Trinity Is Still My Name cast filled out a world that felt lived-in and ridiculous.
Harry Carey Jr. played their father. Now, if you’re a film nerd, that name should ring a bell. He was a staple in John Ford’s legendary Westerns. Bringing him into an Italian parody was a stroke of genius. It gave the film a weird sense of legitimacy. He played the "dying" father who gives his sons the "mission" to become successful outlaws, which sets the whole plot in motion.
Then there was Jessica Harper. Most people know her from Suspiria or Phantom of the Paradise, but she had an early role here as the young pioneer girl. It’s a bit of a departure from the horror icons she’d eventually become, but she added a necessary layer of sincerity to the chaos.
And we can't forget Yanti Somer. She played the beautiful pioneer girl Trinity falls for. Her presence allowed for some of the film's funniest moments of Trinity "acting" like a gentleman while actually just being a dirty drifter. The cast wasn't just there to stand around; they were the "straight men" to the brothers' antics.
Why This Specific Cast Worked Where Others Failed
Honestly? It was the slaps.
The fight choreography in Trinity Is Still My Name is legendary. It’s not about gore. It’s about the "clonk" on the head and the open-handed slap that sends a guy spinning across the room. The Trinity Is Still My Name cast had to be physically gifted to pull this off.
Enzo Barboni, the director (often credited as E.B. Clucher), knew exactly how to frame Bud Spencer’s massive hands. When Spencer delivers that signature hammer-fist to the top of a villain’s head, it’s pure catharsis. The actors playing the villains—guys like Riccardo Pizzuti—were essentially stuntmen who knew exactly how to sell a punch. Pizzuti appeared in almost all the Hill and Spencer movies. He was the ultimate punching bag. You’ve definitely seen his face even if you don't know his name; he’s the one usually losing teeth or flying over a table.
The movie isn't just a parody of Westerns; it’s a celebration of them. The cast treated the material with a level of dedication that made the comedy land. They didn't "wink" at the camera constantly. They played the absurdity straight. When the brothers are at the fancy restaurant trying to act like aristocrats—eating an ungodly amount of food with zero manners—they play it with such focus that it becomes one of the funniest scenes in cinema.
A Look at the Legacy
People still hunt for the locations where this was filmed. Most of it happened in Italy, specifically in the Campo Imperatore plains and around Rome. It’s funny because it looks more like the American West than some movies filmed in Nevada.
The Trinity Is Still My Name cast didn't just stop here. They went on to make a dozen more films together. Watch Out, We're Mad!, I'm for the Hippopotamus, Double Trouble. But the Trinity films remain the peak. They captured a moment where the world was tired of the "Man with No Name" being so dark and brooding. We needed a guy who was just as fast with a gun but cared more about his dinner.
It’s worth noting that the film's success actually caused a bit of a problem. Suddenly, every Italian producer wanted a "Trinity" clone. You’ll find dozens of knock-offs from the early 70s with titles like Two Sons of Trinity or Trinity and Sartana. But they all lacked the one thing that mattered: the actual cast. You can’t replicate the Bud Spencer and Terence Hill energy. It’s impossible.
Behind the Scenes Facts Most People Miss
- The Beans: Terence Hill reportedly fasted for 24 hours before the famous bean-eating scenes so he could actually shovel down the entire pan of food. That’s commitment.
- The Name: The movie is technically a sequel to They Call Me Trinity, but in many markets, it was marketed as a standalone because the brand was so strong.
- The Voice: If you’re watching the English dub, you aren't always hearing the actors' real voices. Like most Italian films of that era, it was shot silent or in Italian and dubbed later. However, Hill and Spencer often did their own English looping because their English was actually quite good.
The chemistry you see on screen wasn't faked. Hill and Spencer remained close friends until Spencer’s death in 2016. That’s probably why the movie still feels so warm. It’s not cynical. It’s two friends having a blast and inviting us along for the ride.
What to Do Next if You're a Fan
If you've just revisited the Trinity Is Still My Name cast and want more of that specific 70s energy, here is how you should dive back in.
First, track down the remastered Blu-ray versions. The original prints were often grainy and poorly cropped, but the newer restorations show off the cinematography (which was actually quite good, using a lot of natural light).
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Second, look into the filmography of Riccardo Pizzuti. If you want to appreciate the "art of the stunt," he is the man to watch. He’s the unsung hero of the Trinity universe.
Finally, check out the documentary They Called Him Spencer. It’s a deep dive into Carlo Pedersoli's life. He wasn't just an actor; he was an inventor, a pilot, a politician, and an elite athlete. Understanding the man behind Bambino makes his performance in Trinity Is Still My Name even more impressive. You realize you aren't just watching a "big guy"; you're watching a polymath who found his greatest joy in making people laugh by slapping stuntmen.
Don't just stop at the Trinity series. The Hill and Spencer "Universe" is vast, but it all started with that perfect alignment of actors in the early 70s. The movie remains a masterclass in how to subvert a genre without destroying it.