Tag: Wild in the Streets

Cinema Smorgasbord – Wild in the Streets – Caliber 9 (1972)

WILD IN THE STREETS returns with the first entry in Fernando Di Leo’s Milieu Trilogy: the hard hitting 1972 classic CALIBER 9 (aka MILANO CALIBRO 9)! Featuring Gastone Moschin as Ugo Piazza, a small time gangster fresh out of jail being hunted down by his former associates for stealing $300,000 that he swears he doesn’t have, it’s tough as nails and features a memorable jazz-flute tinged score by Luis Enríquez Bacalov and the Italian progressive rock group Osanna. It also features the great Mario Adorf in a gloriously unhinged performance as Rocco. CHECK IT OUT!

Cinema Smorgasbord – Wild in the Streets – Le Marginal (1983)

We’re getting WILD IN THE STREETS with Jean-Paul Belmondo in the 1983 action film LE MARGINAL (aka THE OUTSIDER)! Featuring Belmondo as Commissioner Philippe Jordan, a tough as nails cop who – wait for it – plays by his own rules, and those rules involve running through traffic, jumping out of helicopters, and just straight up murdering dudes with his car! It’s good, clean, semi-fascistic fun and our hosts feel a bit guilty about how much fun it is. Oh well! Enjoy!

Cinema Smorgasbord – Wild in the Streets – Killer Cop (1975)

On this episode of WILD IN THE STREETS, oddball cop Rolandi (Claudio Cassinelli) is trying to track down those responsible for a fatal hotel bombing but finds himself in the midst of a conspiracy that goes all the way to the top. It’s the politically charged poliziottesco-crime film KILLER COP from 1975, directed by Luciano Ercoli (best known for his 1970s gialli like DEATH WALKS ON HIGH HEELS) and starring Cassinelli, Arthur Kennedy (as a well-meaning judge assigned to the case), Franco Fabrizi, and Bruno Zanin. While not as action packed as some of the Eurocrime classics we’ve covered thus far, it still has its share of gunplay and suspense – even if it doesn’t quite live up to its title. CHECK IT OUT!

Cinema Smorgasbord – Wild in the Streets – Syndicate Sadists (1975)

On this episode of WILD IN THE STREETS, Tomas Milian is RAMBO in Umberto Lenzi’s spaghetti-western influenced SYNDICATE SADISTS from 1975! After Rambo’s friend is brutally murdered, he takes it upon himself to go up against two criminal gangs (one led by Joseph Cotton’s Paternò), while also rescuing a young boy who has been kidnapped. Does he manage to embarrass them all while everyone gazes on him in total awe? Yep! Check it out!

Cinema Smorgasbord – Wild in the Streets – The Italian Connection (1972)

We’re getting WILD IN THE STREETS with Henry Silva and Woody Strode in Fernando Di Leo’s THE ITALIAN CONNECTION from 1972! Starring Mario Adorf as a Milanese pimp wanted by the mob for a crime he didn’t commit, it takes its time getting going, but eventually turns into a story of violent revenge, including one of the finest chase sequences you’re likely to ever see! We discuss some of our other favorite chase scenes, Liam’s crime connections and SO MUCH MORE. Check it out!

Cinema Smorgasbord – Wild in the Streets – Live Like a Cop, Die Like a Man (1976)

On this episode of WILD IN THE STREETS we’re going long with the late Ruggero Deodato’s one and only eurocrime film, the absolutely bizarre buddy-cop action classic LIVE LIKE A COP, DIE LIKE A MAN. Featuring plenty of homoeroticism, quarry target practice, straight up murder and EXPLOSIONS, it takes the template set by earlier European action films and goes completely overboard, with two lead characters who flaunt conventions (and legality) while mowing down anyone who gets in their way – sometimes before they even commit a crime. CHECK IT OUT!

Cinema Smorgasbord – Wild in the Streets – Madness (1980)

On a brand new episode of WILD IN THE STREETS, we’re going One Step Beyond with Warhol superstar Joe Dallesandro in the sleaze-filled home invasion thriller MADNESS from director Fernando Di Leo. Featuring plenty of uncomfortable nudity and most of the soundtrack to Caliber 9, MADNESS has hunky Joe terrorizing a married couple (along with the wife’s seductress sister) while trying to uncover some stolen riches stashed in their fireplace. All that, a giant poster of John Travolta that looms menacingly over the proceedings. Is it any good? Listen and find out!

Cinema Smorgasbord – Wild in the Streets – Violent City (1970)

We’re getting WILD IN THE STREETS with Charles Bronson and Telly Savalas in the New Orleans-set Eurocrime classic VIOLENT CITY from 1970. The plot involves Bronson’s retired assassin Jeff Heston getting revenge on those who left him for dead, including the woman he loves (played, naturally, by Jill Ireland). Sergio Sollima’s VIOLENT CITY features some dynamite action sequences, some terrific performances and some disturbing misogyny that left us – wait for it – conflicted. It also features a wonderful soundtrack from Ennio Morricone, that the movie takes great advantage of. CHECK IT OUT!

Cinema Smorgasbord – Wild in the Streets – Street Law (1974)

We’re getting Wild in the Streets with Franco Nero in Enzo G. Castellari’s 1975 Eurocrime revenge thriller STREET LAW! Starring Nero as an engineer who finds his safety (and masculinity) threatened by a post office robbery and decides to take the (street) law into his own hands. Badly! More nuanced than one might expect, and featuring a rocking soundtrack, there’s still plenty of action and – of course – explicit violence. Check it out!