A Cruz dos Executores

This film is not dissimilar to many cop-buddy films, except that the two central characters trying to track down the contraband are working for the mob. And, to-be-fair, it is far better than a hell of lot of cop-buddy films I have seen. It is let down in places though, not least the awful flashback scenes which are far too sappy.

Roger Moore and Stacey Keach star in this Italian-American co-production, and try to be the Martin and Lewis of 70's crime exploitation cinema. The rigor mortis of Roger Moore was never more noticeable as it is here, playing the straight man next to the Keach's easygoing rouge. It's a rather stale exploitation film, with the typical one liners, car chases, shoot outs, and gratuitously bad dubbing of the Italian actors. The film does have one great highlight when Keach takes a gangster's car for a test drive, and in hair-raising fashion, wrecks it through the streets of San Francisco. Unfortunately, it all doesn't work- the comedy isn't funny enough, neither Keach or Moore are particularly convincing (especially Moore, who is as dry as a desert), the violence and stuntwork is middling, the story isn't very engaging, and the ending is painfully banal. There may be just enough `so bad it's good' work that 70's exploitation fans may be entertained, but no one would call it great.

Just to give an idea what you're in for- in the finale, Keach (as Charlie) hides some dope in cans of powdered milk, stashed in the trunk of his car. Moore, to keep him out of trouble, pushes the car over a cliff and says, `It was only powdered milk, wasn't it Charlie? And, what's the use of crying over powdered milk?' You may now groan if you aren't already.

Aside from the novelty of seeing Roger Moore (as a half-Sicilian!) and Stacy Keach, there really isn't much of interest here. It's mostly people talking - all dubbed. Even Moore and Keach are dubbed! (Using their own voices, which leads to a weird effect) There are a few not-bad chase sequences, but there's a sloppiness to them, as there is to the entire production; this movie really screams, "Italians made this." Bobbing cameras, slightly blurred photography, uses of a zoom lens is more than enough evidence for that. Only for people into Italian cinema of this genre.

This is really a movie which has lost its interest by the time. The actors just seem to drive around like in a mediocre American police-serial. When people are shot, it is by a killer who appears and disappears and is everywhere. When there is a pursuit on the road, by accident three big trucks try to drive Stacey Keach from the road. I prefer Mannix or Kojak. The mafia is typical but described without any details or exactitude. The story has no point and nobody could believe it. Roger Moore is not only a lawyer, he must be also something as an SAS-agent capable of killing any professional killer. Who believes that?

Disjointed gangster film that specializes in pointless "destruction of property" scenes. Roger Moore is badly miscast; he clearly looks uncomfortable to be in an Italian crime movie, and he shows none of his usual flair. Don't go out of your way to see this one. (*1/2)