A fast-paced, action-fuelled Italian "polizia" movie which is certainly regarded to be one of Umberto Lenzi's best and almost up there with his own previous VIOLENT NAPLES. It's action from the word go with this film which never lets up, offering fist fights, shoot-outs and chases in equal measure right from the very beginning. Of course with movies of this variety, it's not really the plot (which is interchangeable with a dozen others) which is important but the way the film is made: with great, catchy and jazzy music, fine acting from three genre veterans, occasionally hilarious tough dialogue and more action than in any American equivalent, the story is not of importance, a simple retread of the plot of YOJIMBO but with a harder and more sadistic edge.
This film offers up the usual criminal activities, from protection rackets, robberies, prostitution rackets and murder; although not as gruesome as VIOLENT NAPLES, Lenzi gives us a hard-edged golf ball torture scene that isn't to be forgotten, and a scene where a man's leg is broken in excruciating detail. The fight scenes are well-staged and enjoyable to watch, the chases (including a rooftop battle) are exciting and well choreographed. None of the scenes drag at all, the pacing is spot on and the film is largely coherent.
Maurizio Merli returns to his (somewhat clichéd) role of the tough cop who doesn't take any grief from anybody. Also appearing are Tomas Milian as a slimy, long-haired gangster who double-crosses and tortures people, and John Saxon as a short-tempered rival gangster who spends most of his time swearing and shouting when things don't go according to plan. Glamour is lent by the beautiful Gabriella Lepori who spends most of her scenes getting beaten up! With a high death toll and lots of assorted bloodshed and violence, Lenzi's film is impossible not to like and oozes style in every scene. A highlight of the Italian genre that is highly recommended to all.
This film offers up the usual criminal activities, from protection rackets, robberies, prostitution rackets and murder; although not as gruesome as VIOLENT NAPLES, Lenzi gives us a hard-edged golf ball torture scene that isn't to be forgotten, and a scene where a man's leg is broken in excruciating detail. The fight scenes are well-staged and enjoyable to watch, the chases (including a rooftop battle) are exciting and well choreographed. None of the scenes drag at all, the pacing is spot on and the film is largely coherent.
Maurizio Merli returns to his (somewhat clichéd) role of the tough cop who doesn't take any grief from anybody. Also appearing are Tomas Milian as a slimy, long-haired gangster who double-crosses and tortures people, and John Saxon as a short-tempered rival gangster who spends most of his time swearing and shouting when things don't go according to plan. Glamour is lent by the beautiful Gabriella Lepori who spends most of her scenes getting beaten up! With a high death toll and lots of assorted bloodshed and violence, Lenzi's film is impossible not to like and oozes style in every scene. A highlight of the Italian genre that is highly recommended to all.