Unknown and violent thriller with a lot of twists, turns and evil characters , being professionally directed by Jose Maesso . A curious and little-known Spanish/Italian co-production with awesome cast and acceptable filmmaking . A very violent feature film dealing with an engaging story concerning a mob family , headed by gambling czar (Kevin McCarthy) whose main enemy is a police chief Reed (Jose Ferrer) . When one of family's hit men named Clyde Hart (Helmut Berger) fails to come up to expectations , Reed orders the man's execution. Along the way , Clyde's got a beautiful but unsettling , drunk woman , who subsequently happens to be the possession of his arch rival (Juan Luis Galiardo) . She was forced to love the man she hated...or the man she loved would die!
This Spain-Italy co-production displays action enough , plot twists , and several villain roles ; being pretty entertaining from start to finish . It has rhythm , violence with tremendous sequence of murders , the action never falters , the performances are quite good, the issues raised are interesting , the direction is compelling , along with an attractive musical score from composer Adolfo Waitzman , as well as colorful outdoors showing spectacular beaches and atmospheric cinematography shot in Santo Domingo island . Stars Helmut Berger giving a nice acting as a hit man who's assigned a dangerous mission joining three brave men to participate in an deadly assault at an enemy fortress , being filmed in Macaroni Combat sub-genre style . His female partner results to be the really gorgeous Sydne Rome who surprisingly provides the best acting as an emotionally messed up woman . Helmut Berger and Sydne Rome are nicely accompanied by a national and international cast , as the Americans Jose Ferrer , Kevin McCarthy and fine Spanish/Italian support actors very reminiscent of a certain Spanish genre films : Terror , Euro-spy , Paella Western from the 1970s , with names like Juan Luis Galiardo , Howard Ross , Jose Maria Caffarel, Romano Puppo , Manuel Zarzo, Álvaro de Luna and Frank Braña.
It displays a moving musical score in the Seventies style by Adolfo Waitzman . As well as evocative cinematography by cameraman Alace Parolin shot on location in Santo Domingo , Dominican Republic and Estudios Roma, Madrid, Spain . This Spanish "thriller" to rediscover and claim was compellingly directed and in his own personal style by José Gutiérrez Maesso . He was an important writer , producer and director . He made a few films as Sucedio en Sevilla , El gran crucero and Clan de inmorales. His essential labour was as a producer and writer . He created a powerful production company : Tecisa . As he made several coproductions as Scherezade, America rugiente , El diablo se lleva muertos , Sumario sangriento para Estefania , Coartada en disco rojo , Mayra and notorious Spaghetti Westerns as Django, Minessota Clay Tierra Brutal , los despiadados , El precio de un hombre , Zarabanda, and Pistoleros de casa grande . This action movie is titled : El clan de los inmorales (1975) or Orden de matar (Spain) or La testa del serpente (Italy) or Order to Kill rating : 6.5/10 . Well worth watching , specially appointed to Spain/Italian coproductions enthusiasts .
