ITALIAN CRIME FILMS

[Guest venoms5]

Anyone here a fan of the POLIZIOTTESHI genre?

NAPOLI VIOLENTA (VIOLENT NAPLES) 1976

Maurizio Merli, John Saxon, Barry Sullivan

Merli plays Inspector Betti who has been assigned to the crime infested Naples where he brings his police brutality methods with him. At the opening he finds an old enemy of his The Commandante (Barry Sullivan) is around as well as another crime boss Capuono (john Saxon) who plans to do in the big boss Commandante and take over his various protection rackets and other assorted criminal activities. Betti, has no intention of allowing either one to go free much longer.

The film moves along at a brisk pace and is chock full of action and extreme violence that is inherent in this genre. There're bloody shootouts, murdered informants, rape, one helluva chase on motor bikes and one cool setpiece on top of a tram.

Betti's methods ultimately get him into trouble when many undercover officers are killed with one tied to the end of a bowling lane while the Commandante goes for a "strike".

Another striking scene of violence occurs during the tram scene. One of the villains has a female hostage and pushes her head out the window repeatedly bashing her face into the tram on the other side as it passes just before Betti takes him out.

At the finale, Betti uses probably the most unorthodox method imaginable to finally get rid of all the principle villains. Earlier he had turned in his resignation to be placed in his desk should his superior ask for it and Betti, after so many innocent people have been slain, decides to call it quits. As he's leaving he comes to a stop light and sees the little boy he had befriended earlier in the film, now a cripple, trying to cross the street (a trick the kid played at the films opening but was faking it then). Betti tells his friend to take him back to the station.

Director Umberto Lenzi who has directed his fair share of sleaze cinema appears more assured directing these kinds of movies as his direction is very slick compared to other films he has done. He is quite at home doing the action scenes and pulls off some exciting set pieces. He does, however, revel in several instances of extreme violence that was a staple of his films and this genre.

Merli who later appeared in MANNAJA, A MAN CALLED BLADE, is perfect for these kind of roles. Looking a bit like Franco Nero but more adept in the action scenes, he carries a mostly mean and mad look on his face the duration of the film and he's so good at it you can't help but cheer him on each time he nails one of the bad guys. If you've never seen one of these Italian Crime films this is a good place to start.

Merli died in 1989 when he apparently overexerted himself during a tennis match and collapsed. He was 49.

His son Maurizio Matteo Merli has taken up acting and stars in the new Italian cop film COP ON FIRE.

Next up is.....

MILANO ODIA: LA POLIZIA NON PUO SPARARE (ALMOST HUMAN) 1974

Tomas Milian, Henry Silva, Ray Lovelock, Anita Strindberg

Guilio Sacchi (Thomas Milian in his favorite role) at the opening of the film, is the driver for a bank robbery. When a police man approaches him to move his car he impulsively shoots the cop thus introducing us to one of the slimiest cinematic character portrayals in film ever. The crooks don't want Guilio around anymore so he shacks up with his girlfriend (Strindberg WHO SAW HER DIE?, LIZARD IN A WOMAN'S SKIN) and through her spies a very pretty girl from a rich family. Guilio plans to kidnap the girl and hold her for ransom killing her if the father doesn't pay up. Guilio eventually gets the girl but along the way commits some extremely distasteful acts such as when they trace the girl to a house in the woods where they torture and machine gun the inhabitants kids included. The group holes up in an abandoned boat while they wait for their money. Meanwhile, Inspector Grandi (Silva) tries to find them and convince the father they will not let his daughter go even if he pays them. It all ends badly for the principle cast members in one of the most violent films I've ever seen regardless of genre.

Milian owns this movie and turns in his best performance ever. On the 30 minute interview with him on the disc he says this is his favorite performance and initially, he was to play the cop role but opted for the sleazy villain instead as the film is surprisingly, built around the villain for the most part. You really grow to hate his character and want to see him get his in the end.

The angelic Ray Lovelock is suited at Milian's side as he is drawn into Guilio's world and becomes (although on a much smaller scale) a psychopath as well.

Henry Silva, veteran screen heavy is somewhat subdued here as Inspector Grandi and his stone faced, almost inhuman expressions suit the film well as he ultimately succumbs to unorthodox methods to bring Guilio down in a great final scene that is symbolic of the Guilio character.

Umberto Lenzi directs again and pulls off another great little film. There is only one car chase but what an exciting one it is. The remainder of the film is built around Guilio and the evil tactics he uses to survive caring nothing for anyone or anything. The film plays almost like a horror film and if I remember correctly this is how it was marketed on video here.

If you're a Milian fan this release is highly recommended to see him chew through so much scenery.

IL CINICO, L'INFAME IL VIOLENTO (THE CYNIC, THE RAT & THE FIST) 1977

Maurizio Merli, John Saxon, Tomas Milian

Leonardo Tanzi (Maurizio Merli) has a hit put on him by The Chinaman (Tomas Milian) recently released from prison. The hit isn't successful but Tanzi goes along with it faking his death and goes into hiding which lasts for maybe five minutes when he learns Chinaman is working with another mob boss Frank DiMaggio (John Saxon). Tanzi sets about avenging some relatives, busting some of their criminal activities and ruining some of their operations in secret eventually setting the two against each other culminating in a final confrontation between the combatants.

Merli again turns in another tough as nails performance and actually smiles a bit in this one displaying even more charisma. He gets a love interest this time out in the form of Gabriella Lapori.

John Saxon is surprisingly vicious as the NY mob Boss Dimaggio who in one scene does in a suspected informer using golf balls and two big hungry dogs. Saxon, as in the above VIOLENT NAPLES, dubs his own voice. He is equally at home playing nasty villains as he is portraying heroic roles (lots of cops) in his American films.

Milian is again, very, very nasty as the Chinaman although not quite as sleazy as his role in the above film ALMOST HUMAN. He is quite the patient smart-ass and evokes laughter in one scene (of many) where he gives a failed operative the choice of having his left leg or right leg broken in the calmest of voices.

Another fine action crime thriller from Lenzi this one however, has a smattering of humor (some of it black) amidst the many scenes of carnage and is recommended also.

[Guest Dion Brother]

I'm a big fan of the genre. I highly recommend the Media Blasters release of SYNDICATE SADISTS (aka RAMBO'S REVENGE) and Anchor Bay's release of VIOLENT CITY (aka THE FAMILY) that has one of my favorite Morricone scores. Also look for COP IN BLUE JEANS in you local $1 dvd bin. Hopefully some far-seeing dvd company will take a chance on Milian's "Nico Giraldi" movies. Also just got MR SCARFACE at a $1 bin.

[Guest venoms5]

COLT 38 SPECIAL SQUAD (1976)

Marcel Bozzuffi, Ivan Rassimov, cameo by Grace Jones(!)

The film begins with a blazing gun battle between Captain Vanni (Bozzuffi) and some crook with high powered artillery. Vanni and his men take out the bad guys one of them the brother of the Marseillaise (Ivan Rassimov) who goes by the name the Black Avenger. The Marseillaise then goes to Vanni's home and executes his wife phoning him afterwards and proclaiming "we're even". Vanni, ready to resign, is given the okay to form a squad of pseudo vigilantes armed with unregistered .38's and go about bringing down the bad guys including the Black Avenger who is wreaking havok blowing up buildings and markets with with illegal dynamite and it's up to Vanni and his group to put an end to the Marseillaise and his men for good.

This was the final film for director Massimo Dallamano who was a good hand at giallo's WHAT HAVE THEY DONE TO SOLANGE? and WHAT HAVE THEY DONE TO YOUR DAUGHTERS? the two that come to mind at the moment. Spaghetti Western fans will know him as he was the cinematographer for the DOLLARS films. His career was cut short after finishing this movie when he was killed in a car accident.

As for the movie itself, it is nothing special. However, it benefits from some beautiful Italian locations and the photography is noteworthy. The stunts are exceptional particularly the finale when Vanni must reach the airport before the villain and he pulls off some breathtaking moves in one of those small European cars on a treacherous dirt road and a train. There are the usual startling scenes of violence and bloodshed that Dallamano handles very well.

The downside and what hurts the film is the storyline and characters. The main thrust of Vanni getting his hands on the Marseillaise is handled rather limply and even the final confrontation is a bit disappointing particularly after the marvelous stunt display that precedes it. The characters are never properly fleshed out most particularly the squad of vigilantes. Amazingly, you never even learn their names save for one, Nico, and even he is underutilized in the characterization department.

Marcel Bozzuffi (THE FRENCH CONNECTION) is a fine actor and convincing in the role of the embittered policeman and he never resorts to the angry mugging that most other actors do in these movies (not a bad thing though).

Rassimov (MAN FROM DEEP RIVER) is suitably vicious as the Black Avenger and his almost satanic visage suits the vilain role well. He gets to do several nasty things to various cast members to make you hate him if only the final moments had been more dramatic it would have been a more satisfying experience.

Grace Jones has a cameo in the disco scene.

The score by Stelvio Cipriani is a fine piece of 70s funky phsychedelia and may in fact be better than the movie which has enough good moments as well as some really nice shots and cinematography to make for a decent timewaster.

LIVE LIKE A COP, DIE LIKE A MAN (1976)

Marc Porel, Ray Lovelock, Adolfo Celi

Fred (porel) and Tony (Lovelock) are two young undercover cops whose specialty is excessive force or more accurate, kill first and never have to ask questions later. They foil a robbery and piss off a crime lord, The Boss (Celi) who has their partner gunned down in front of the police station. The two rogue policemen then go about breaking up his operations as well as going to his home and setting ablaze his guests vehicles. The two cops eventually have a hit put out on them and get the chance to dispatch more of the Boss's gang until a somewhat weak but surprise finale involving the superior of the two vigilante cops.

Ruggero Deodato's warm up before his notorious cannibal flick THE LAST CANNIBAL WORLD which led to much publicized scandal with the subsequent classic CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST. Here Deodato, as usual, shows a keen eye for action and setting up shots. The many accusations that this is the nastiest of the POLIZIOTTESHI is a bit exagerrated. While there is numerous violent scenes and much nudity it seems a bit tame compared to Fulci's CONTRABAND with Fabio Testi. Possibly in lieu of the reception given CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST did this film garner its reputation.

One scene is, according to Deodato, lost forever where one of the failed minions of the Boss has his eye gouged out and is summarily squashed underfoot in close up. All you see is the bad guy digging into the socket as it cuts away but the way Deodato describes the scene it was apparently shot almost verbatim in Tarantino's KILL BILL 2.

The two leads are fine although they are completely unsympathetic as they at times are more sadistic than the villains themselves! They both are arrogant and charming but when the time comes to dispatch crooks they become just as murderous. Marc Porel, a french actor is a dead ringer for Michael Pare and co-star/singer Lovelock contributes a couple of songs to the soundtrack. One thing I noticed and it is confirmed in the 40 minute documentary is the similarities to Porel and Lovelock to the American show STARSKY & HUTCH. One is blonde and the other dark haired as well as wearing similar clothing although Porel-lovelock ride a motorcycle. Lovelock makes mention of this stating that the show had yet to premiere on Italian TV but wondered if the producer had already seen it and incorporated it into the script.

The film was written by Fernando Di Leo who was already a well known director of Italian crime cinema with his Milieu trilogy that featured Henry Silva and Woody Strode among others.

Deodato's then wife Sylvia Dionisio (as well as her sister; both very pretty) is on hand as well.

The movie is fine if a bit over-rated and has enough original elements to rise above other entries in this genre.

SYNDICATE SADISTS 1975

Tomas Milian, Joseph Cotten

Rambo (Tomas Milian) a motor cycle riding tough guy comes to town to visit an old friend of his, a cop who is working on busting up mafia activity in the city. His friend tries to get him to become a cop because of his skills but Rambo refuses. When Rambo's friend and girlfriend is killed by the mob, Rambo takes matters into his own hands and goes about setting the two crime families against each other one of which is holding a rich man's son (who is rescued not once, but twice!) for ransom.

One of the mob leaders, Paterno, (Joseph Cotten) knows Rambo and warns him "You should not have come back." (The real reason for his statement isn't revealed until the finale).

Milian is really good here as the gruff and bearded Rambo who is kind to children, even supporting his friend's family after he is murdered and a one man army when dealing with the mob during many action scenes and chases. Milian got the idea for the character when he picked up a copy of the novel FIRST BLOOD, seven years before Stallone would play the character.

Joseph Cotten is also good as the tragic crime boss who fears for his son played by Adolfo Lastretti. Cotten plays the villain a bit differently then the usual crime boss found in these movies.

Director Lenzi again shows much flair in the action department and again, seems to possess a more professional and polished hand doing these kinds of movies as opposed to his more well known giallo's and cannibal adventures.

This US release features a brief interview with Lenzi and an audio commentary by him as well.

ROMA A MANO ARMATA- ROME ARMED TO THE TEETH (1976) aka ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY WEAPON aka BRUTAL JUSTICE

Maurizio Merli, Tomas Milian, Arthur Kennedy, Ivan Rassimov, Maria Rosaria Ommagio

Inspector Tanzi (Maurizio Merli who played the same character in CYNIC, THE RAT & THE FIST) is driven over the edge by the rampant violence and bloodshed from the criminal elements in Rome. Crooks he catches are released for various reasons- lack of evidence, his soft hearted psychologist girl friend (Maria Rosaria Ommagio). Tanzi, meanwhile, has his hands full with The Hunchback (Tomas Milian) and a rapist kidnapper (Ivan Rassimov) both whom Tanzi has much trouble nailing for their crimes. It all comes to an incredibly violent finale when the Hunchback commandeers an Ambulance just moments after Tanzi has killed off crooks robbing a bank. An impressive chase sequence follows where the Hunchback goes about mindlessly shooting people in the streets to escape Tanzi's grasp.

One of the least subtle action films you'll ever see, Lenzi is in total over the top, take no prisoners mode with the violence so overdone it becomes comical. The film never slows down for a minute and is an adrenaline rush of bloody shootouts, car chases and grimy criminals having their way with society.

Merli, reprising his role of Leonardo Tanzi, is brimming with even more Machismo here than ever before as he goes about knocking off the bad guys by any means necessary. Particularly pissing off his boss in the process who's played by Arthur Kennedy (LAURENCE OF ARABIA) making for a couple of humorous bits betweent the two actors.

Milian again puts in another sinister villain role as the Hunckback, whose character, although not quite as viciously sadistic as his role in ALMOST HUMAN, is suitably nasty as are most of the cast on hand.

Arthur Kennedy, whose later years consisted of much European productions including the excellent horror picture LET SLEEPING CORPSES LIE and THE ANTICHRIST with Mel Ferrer is a long way from his Hollywood roles like THE MAN FROM LARAMIE and the aforementioned LAURENCE OF ARABIA. He did several of these cop thrillers among numerous Italian productions.

Released here as BRUTAL JUSTICE and ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY WEAPON on video as part of SYBIL DANNING'S ADVENTURE VIDEO. The film was senselessly cut and re-edited.

While not as polished or as sleek as VIOLENT NAPLES but definitely a high octane action film with numerous memorable moments and funny dialog exchanges.

PAURA IN CITTA'- FEAR IN THE CITY (1976)

Maurizio Merli, James Mason

Inspector Murri is removed from the police force because of his use of excessive force and when Lettieri, a mob boss, escapes from prison, crime escalates until the police force has no choice but to reinstate Murri much to the chagrin of his commissioner played by James Mason. At first Murri does fine but later in the picture he begins to go over board and in one cool scene three crooks kidnap a priest and Murri hides in the trunk of the getaway car. He later mows the villains down with machine gun fire and even guns one of them down execution style when the crook's gun is jammed. Murri just looks at him for a moment then kills him. The dialog exchange between Murri and the priest is priceless-

"May God forgive you my son, and may you live in peace with your conscious."

"I'm at peace with myself. Not so sure about these corpses. They're the ones who need to be forgiven. Go hit'em with a couple of 'hail mary's'."

Every so often you see a scene in slow motion depicting a beautiful woman and a little girl. It's not difficult to guess this is Murri's wife and daughter but you don't see what happens to them until the final moments in a damn fine finale between Murri and Lantierri.

One of my favorites so far and one of Merli's best. He's incredibly cold and vicious (when the need arises) here more so than the other films I've seen him in. (He was particularly brutal in ROME ARMED TO THE TEETH also). Merli gets to do more than rough up bad guys. He gets a love interest in the form of Silvia Dionisio, who I believe was married to Ruggero Deodato at the time.

James Mason is in several scenes but it seems his bits were probably done over the course of 2 days. His screen time is memorable especially when he stead fastly refuses to reinstate Murri only to receive a phone call from his boss mere seconds later demanding he put Murri on the Lantierri case.

Mason, who is probably best remembered from 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA also did IMO, the scariest vampire movie ever made, SALEMS LOT and starred alongside Perry King, Susan George and Ken Norton in the 1975 hit MANDINGO where Mason plays a slave trader who uses little black boys to relieve his rheumatism among other shocking scenes.

FEAR IN THE CITY boasts fine direction from Guiseppi Rosati who did several other poliziotteshi films and I believe directed the slightly disappointing THOSE DIRTY DOGS! A spaghetti western starring Gianni Garko.

[Guest venoms5]

MILANO TREMA: LA POLIZIA VUOLE GIUSTIZIA- THE VIOLENT PROFESSIONALS (1973)

Luc Merenda, Richard Conte

Former model Merenda plays another suspended detective (Lt. Giorga) whose boss and friend is killed so he goes undercover and infiltrates the mob taking matters in his own hands. He impresses one of the mob bosses (Conti) and is given a job as a driver for a bank heist. Things go wrong on the job and Giorga is forced to show his hand culminating in him bringing down the crime ring.

The first 10-15 minutes of this film are tense and very violent but the remainder of the film never quite reaches the level of the opening sequence although there is a very exciting car chase later in the film that seems to pop up in small bits in later poliziotteshi films.

Merenda is really good here more so than later roles, in this, his first stab at a DIRTY HARRY type character. Merenda would eventually tire of doing these kind of films and later opened up an antique shop in Italy. Merenda appeared in the spaghetti MAN CALLED AMEN and also RED SUN. He also did movies in nearly every italian genre including a nunsploitation picture!

Conti, perfectly cast here was also in THE GODFATHER, VIOLENT ROME and Fernando Di Leo's THE BOSS the third in his "Mileu" trilogy if I am not mistaken.

Written by spaghetti writer-director Ernesto Gastaldi (7 GUNS FOR MACGREGORS & 7 WOMEN...)

Sergio Martino turns in a fine directorial job showing how adept at action he can be. Martino would specialize in action pictures throughout his career directing MAN CALLED BLADE (1977) with Merli, 2019: AFTER THE FALL OF NEW YORK (1983), BIG ALLIGATOR RIVER (1979) and HANDS OF STEEL which was the last film of Italian actor Claudio Cassinelli who was killed in a helicopter crash during the filming.

SQUADRA VOLONTE- EMERGENCY SQUAD (1974)

Tomas Milian, Ray Lovelock, Gastone Moshin

Milian plays Inspector Ravelli, an interpol agent who stalks the gang responsible for the daylight shooting of his wife who got in the way of a robbery. When bullet casings taken from a heist match those from the scene of his wife's murder, Ravelli identifies the leader as the "Marseilles" (Moshin from GODFATHER 2). Ravelli throws away his badge and hunts down the Marseilles and his gang.

The film is more character driven than most in this genre and Milian is quite good as the dour and embittered police inspector. He seems closed off from everyone else save for his girlfriend and his son who survived the earlier shooting. Milian delivers a strong, albeit emotional and quiet performance with occassional burst of brutality and even a lighter more comical side when he visits a hippie commune and mingles with the pot heads until the police arrive. Also Milian sports a small cigar for the entire picture but never lights it until the end.

Gastone Moshin is very good as the villain who, unlike other villains in these movies is more humanistic than usual. There are even some subtle editing techniques from director Stelvio Massi that link the protagonist and antagonist in character traits. Also the Marseilles devotion to his girlfriend is unusual for the typically mysogynistic attitude the bad guys have in these movies. The finale is handled quite well and is similar to a showdown in a spaghetti western.

Milian needs no introduction as he became a staple of these films with his most popular role in Italy being the COP IN BLUE JEANS series which spans 11 films and all directed by Bruno Corbucci if I am not mistaken. Milian moved to America in 1985 after finishing the final BLUE JEANS COP film.

Director Stelvio Massi directed some fine examples of the genre and this is one of them. Different in some areas it appears fresh and there are some nice touches done with the cinematography that help the movie stand out. Not recommended for newbies however, but once you have seen some of the more known titles, this one is a nice change of pace.

This DVD, as are all of No Shame's releases, is packed with special features. Massi's final interview before his death contains several humorous bits one refers to an american director who sent him a letter saying what a big fan he was of his movies but Massi could not remember the name. His wife chimes in- "Tarantino".

Another interview with Milian, a still gallery and a generous Massi gallery, there usual informative booklets that accompany the releases, trailers and a director's intro.

NAPOLI SI REBELLA- MAN CALLED MAGNUM (1977)

Luc Merenda, Enzo Cannavale

Dario Mauri (Merenda) a Milanese cop transferred to Naples to bring down a crime boss named Laurenzi who is at war with a psychotic independent operator named Dogheart. Not to mention some of Laurenzi's own people are conspiring against him and the only clues for stopping the bad guys are some drawings from Laurenzi's daughter.

This is a decent if unspectacular entry in the genre but has enough good moments to recommend it. I really enjoyed Merenda's sidekick Capece (Cannavale) who provides comic relief which may seem out of place for this genre but I found it very welcome. The english dubbed voice for Capece reminded me a bit of Inspector Clouseau's sidekick Ju Ju from the INSPECTOR cartoons, spun off from the PINK PANTHER cartoons. His scenes are quite amusing and outside of a couple of well staged set pieces is the reason to watch.

Merenda is serviceable here but as he states in the interview on the disc he was becoming increasingly tired of doing these movies but he does show off in a couple of good action set pieces including a car-train chase.

Michele Massimo Tarantini is remembered to genre fans for the laughably so-bad-it's-good romp MASSACRE IN DINOSAUR VALLEY (1986) and his earlier LADY COP films.

REVOLVER- BLOOD IN THE STREETS (1973)

Oliver Reed, Fabio Testi

Vito Cipriani (Reed) is a violent prison warden whose wife is kidnapped. The abductors demand he release a prisoner, Milo Ruiz (Testi), if not, his wife dies. The big catch is that Milo has no idea who it is that wants him released from prison. Ultimately, a major conspiracy is revealed that reaches far beyond the criminal underworld. To say too much would reveal the many twists and turns the story takes not to mention a shocker of an ending.

Oliver Reed is in top form here displaying rage and at times emotionally drained in his attempts at getting his wife back. He goes a little overboard in some scenes but it fits within the parameters of his character. He, along with the finale, is easily the films most memorable aspect.

Fabio Testi turns in a fine performance as well, much better than usual. I find him to be an under-rated actor considering his good looks which seems to be the reason for his casting in other films but here, he gets to act and also displays some emotional moments particularly during the opening.

Director Sergio Sollima delivers probably his best film (of the few I've seen) aside from FACE TO FACE which this film shares the reversal of character motif from the western film. There are some intriguing cinematographical flourishes, wonderful twists (especially the finale) and a good rapport between the two central leads. Of his four directed films I've seen (not counting the peplums he did) this is the best.

The musical score by Morricone is wonderful. Very beautiful and poetic during the opening and closing moments.

Although this movie is an Italian Crime film, it doesn't fall completely in the same category as the above enties. This movie is more of a suspense thriller sprinkled with an occassional action scene. Well worth your time and I can't believe I had this film for as long as I did and never watched it until now. The highest recommendation even if you've not seen any of Sollima's westerns

[Guest venoms5]

UNA MAGNUM SPECIAL PER TONY SAITTA- BLAZING MAGNUM (1976)

Stuart Whitman, Martin Landau, John Saxon, Tisa Farrow

Detective Saitta (Whitman) along with Detective Matthews (John Saxon) investigates the murder of Saitta's sister who was poisoned on her college campus. The crime involves the theft of an expensive necklace from the Orient. At first evidence points to Doctor Tracer (Landau) but it's found through a long chain of events that the actual killer is close to home.

I've never been much of a Stuart Whitman fan but he's great here showing lots of spunk and energy in the action scenes doing most if not all of his own stunts. Saxon is also good as Whitman's partner but sadly, he doesn't get to do much during the action scenes. It's Whitman's showcase and he gives it his all especially in a showstopping 7 minute(!) bravura car chase sequence at the 57 minute mark. The movie opens with a bang when Saitta foils a robbery and putting down the crooks with his magnum, destroying several cars and businesses as a result.

Another highlight is a comical scene where Saitta must question a group of transvestites(!) and ends up duking it out with them destroying the apartment in the process and Saitta himself is tossed over the balcony(!) but climbs back up and continues fighting. The ending is a nice capper as the real killer tries to make an escape in a helicopter and Saitta puts his magnum to good use.

Tisa Farrow plays a blind girl who figures into the plot and even gets involved in a suspensful scene where the killer enters her apartment to kill one of her friends then goes after her. She makes her way into the street where cars zip past her nearly running her over. Farrow apparently did this dangerous piece of stunt work herself.

This is the first modern action film I've seen from Alberto De Martino (THE ANTICHRIST) and I'd like to see more. This is a Canadian-Italian co-production.

I must say "BLAZING" is amazing and contains all the elements that make these movies such fun to watch. There's lots of action, bloodshed, nudity, wild plot devices and the exhilarating 7 minute car chase is worth seeing the film on its own.

I VIOLENTI DI ROMA BENE- VIOLENCE FOR KICKS (1975)

Antonio Sabato

Inspector Gregorio is on assignment trying to capture a gang of thugs responsible for a spate of robberies, rapes and eventually murder. The main culprit is found to be a young man who comes from a wealthy family making it difficult for Gregorio to nail him. In fact, all members of the gang are young. As the violence escalates Gregorio gets the evidence he needs and goes after the gang.

One of the sleaziest and most mysogynistic and unsettling films I've seen. Not surprising coming from sleaze merchant, director Sergio Grieco (BEAST WITH A GUN). One scene has the gang repeatedly grate a woman's face across barb wire before raping her. Copious amounts of violence and nudity. For pure exploitation value the film excels, but none of the characters are developed very well.

Antonio Sabato isn't very memorable as Gregorio who also is a Karate black belt and gets to shows his stuff in a decent martial arts scene when crooks wearing hoods (the young gang) attack him and his girlfriend in a gym. One of the crooks even rips away Gregorio's girlfriends blouse revealing her breasts. All the women in the film end up defiled, raped or murdered often all three. Definitely a 42nd street item.

I don't recognize any of the other cast members and the soundtrack sounds like a porn flick of the time but one piece is very reminiscent of the Jimmy Page music he did for the memorable DEATH WISH 2 soundtrack.

MILANO VIOLENTA- BLOODY PAYROLL (1976)

Claudio Cassinelli, Sylvia Dionisio

Cassinelli is Raoul, nicknamed 'The Cat', a criminal who plans a robbery involving the payroll for a big company. The robbery, which opens the film, doesn't go completely as planned and the crooks are forced to split up. The two that get away with the loot decide to keep it all for themselves and go about offing the few others that were in on it. Raoul eventually catches up with them and is injured. He ends up with the hooker-girlfriend (Dionisio) of one the crooks' contacts who helps nurse him back to health. The police are are at a loss. Whenever they get a lead it's "disposed of". The cops have Raoul at a couple of occassions but prefer to wait for him to lead them to the remaining criminals and the money. It all ends badly for the bad guys as they end up killing each other off but Raoul gets away and is pursued by the police through the woods behind a large villa.

Cassinelli is excellent as the somewhat honorable leader of the criminals. During the opening robbery, he doesn't kill any hostages when the opportunity arises and even allows two females to be set free. He doesn't want to kill unless he is pushed into the situation. The same cannot be said for the other villains.

Dionisio is fine as the hooker who ultimately helps the police nab the crooks but falls in love with Raoul late in the game. She also shows some skin here as well.

Mario Caiano shows a more assured hand here than his spaghetti westerns delivering some fine action scenes.

Cassinelli is also good starring in two other genre films- Sergio Martino's MOUNTAIN OF THE CANNIBAL GOD (1978) with Ursula Andress and Stacey Keach, and Sergio Martino's BIG ALLIGATOR RIVER (1979) with Barbara Bach, Mel Ferrer and Richard Johnson. It was released here straight to TV after a limited spotty release as THE GREAT ALLIGATOR. Cassinelli would be killed in a helicopter crash during the filming of another Martino action film HANDS OF STEEL (1983).

DA CORLEONE A BROOKLYN- FROM CORLEONE TO BROOKLYN (1979)

Maurizio Merli, Van Johnson, Mario Merola, Biagio Pelligra, Venantino Venantini

A big time crime boss heads to NY after some of his goons assassinate his rival in the streets of Corleone. Lt. Berni finds out his whereabouts and when Beressi (Merola) learns the cops in NY are on to him as well he decides to put a hit on the two people left who can put him away for good- the man who carried out the assassination (Pelligra) and Beressi's girlfriend. Berni just misses saving the girlfriend but captures the hit man and plans to go to NY along with his prisoner to testify. Along the way Beressi's men try and take the two out and once they reach NY the obstacles become bigger. Berni just barely gets his witness to court in time (and alive) with the ending foreshadowing more trouble ahead.

Merli is in top form here and surprisingly subdued. He doesn't play his usual hard nosed, shoot first, ask questions later type bad ass but plays it by the rules in this one.

Frequent polizo actor Pelligra gets to play a different kind of bad guy here. One that eventually decides to help Berni nail Beressi. His part is meatier than he is usually offered.

Van Johnson is the American detective working with Berni on the case.

Venantino Venantini, a character actor who pops up in dozens of italian films of various genre gets a good supporting role during the Corleone sequences as Lt. Danova, working with Berni.

The soundtrack by Franco Micalizzi is quite good and contains a vocal track for the main theme that plays over the end credits.

This was apparently Umberto Lenzi's final cop action film and he himself is quite restrained compared with some of his other polizio thrillers like ROME ARMED TO THE TEETH, SYNDICATE SADISTS and ALMOST HUMAN. There is lots of violence here as well but not quite the levels of sadism and mysogynism found in most of his other films. Lenzi would go back to doing his graphic horror pictures like NIGHTMARE CITY, EATEN ALIVE! and the notorious CANNIBAL FEROX which became a grindhouse and drive-in staple under its US moniker MAKE THEM DIE SLOWLY.