Tangible Poliziottesco with GOLDEN GLOBE winner John Saxon and ACADEMY AWARD nominee Lee J. Cobb
This very watchable police and gangster film from Italy was only released on VHS in the old Federal Republic in 1983. The film was directed by Stelvio Massi (1929-2004), who primarily made Poliziottesci with Franco Gasparri and Maurizio Merli. The film was produced by P. A. C. (Produzioni Atlas Consorziate). Filming took place in the beautiful cities of Bari and Trani in beautiful Puglia.
The brother of top gangster Dante Ragusa (Lee J. Cobb in his last role) is released due to the assassination attempt on a prosecution witness. The exemplary motivated Inspector Jacovella (John Saxon) is anything but happy about this. In addition, he is also given hell by the journalist Maselli (Renzo Palmer), who does not appreciate the brutal methods of the daring inspector at all. So you can see the brawny Jacovella giving half a dozen strong whistles to a young bully who is about to pry open a cigarette machine and then - cheekily like Oskar - threaten the inspector with a knife, until it just bangs. A truly magical moment that reveals a lot about the tough character of the assertive law enforcement officer.
In a subplot, young Antonio Biasi (Lino Capolicchio) finally wants to move in with his pretty girlfriend Nadia (Rosanna Fratello). Since there is no money, Antonio is persuaded to take part in a robbery. This goes terribly wrong and after a few complications, the overwhelmed Antonio finds himself being attacked from three sides: the police, the sensationalist press and Don Dante Regusa's mafia henchmen.
This film offers somewhat more reserved acting than one is usually used to from Italian poliziottesci. But there are definitely car chases and shootouts. Spectacular killings are also part of it. However, the plot focuses more on the characters and the connections between the police, the press and the mafia in a small Italian town.
John Saxon (1936-2020) is convincing as an energetic police officer who pursues his goal using all means possible. The Golden Globe winner (1958 as Young Star of the Year) and later FalconCrest star (in the series he played Tony Cumson, the father of Lance (Lorenzo Lamas) / he had a continuous appearance in season 6 (1986/87). ) could be seen in some Poliziottesci in those years. He also had striking supporting roles in films such as "Enter The Dragon" (1973) with Bruce Lee, "From Dusk Till Dawn" (1996) with George Clooney and Quentin Tarantino and as Rashid Ahmed in the series "Dynasty / The Denver Clan".
Lee J. Cobb (1911-1976) shines as a blind mafia boss who everyone avoids. The actor is known from "The Exorcist" (1973) and as one of the "Brothers Karamazov" (1958).
As Anna Jacovella, the inspector's wife, Antonella Lualdi (born 1931), who appeared alongside Gerard Barray in "Thunder over the Indian Ocean" and alongside Giancarlo Prete in "Don't Shoot on Children", is there.
By the way, at the beginning of the film you see John Saxon's actual son playing with a car racing track. John Saxon also comes up with this scene in the documentary "Eurocrime!", which is well worth seeing. To talk about the worldwide success of the Italian Poliziottesci films in the 1970s.
A Poliziottesco worth seeing that tells a lot about the 1970s and has an unusual setting in the beautiful port city of Bari!
