Il cinico, l'infame, il violento (1977)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Umberto Lenzi

Writers:

Ernesto Gastaldi (writer)
Umberto Lenzi (writer)

Release Date:

3 February 1977 (Italy)

Genre:

Thriller

Plot Keywords:

Poliziottesco

Cast

Maurizio Merli	...	Leonardo Tanzi
John Saxon	...	Frank Di Maggio
Tomas Milian	...	Luigi 'Er Cinese' Maietto
Renzo Palmer	...	Commissioner Astalli
Gabriella Lepori	...	Nadia
Claudio Undari	...	Dario (as Robert Hundar)
Bruno Corazzari	...	Cesare Ettore
Marco Guglielmi	...	Marchetti, Di Maggio's lawyer
Gabriella Giorgelli	...	Maria Balzano
Guido Alberti	...	Tanzi's uncle
Aldo Massasso	...	Magistrate
Brigitte Petronio	...	Hooker at Fazi's
Gianni Musi	...	Nicola Proietti
Gianfilippo Carcano	...	The Professor
Dante Cleri	...	Ragioniere

Also Known As:

The Cynic, the Rat & the Fist

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Filming Locations:

Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company:

Dania Film

Movie Connections:

Follows Roma a mano armata (1976)

a typical, yet excessively fun Italian police movie

This is probably the best example of a 70's Italian crime movie, though not the "best" movie of the genre (does that make sense?). It has, besides Saxon, an entirely Italian cast but most of them are pretty recognizable regulars in very amusing roles. Maurizio Merli is best as the role he was born to play, that of yet another ticked off Police commissioner. His very charismatic, yet level-headed performance is the one thing that keeps this movie moving along so well, and it is notable that of Lenzi's crime movies, this is probably the one that entrusts Merli with the most screentime (besides FROM CORLEONE TO BROOKLYN - though that is not so much a crime movie).

It's a pretty sloppily-shot, and haphazardly edited film (probably because most of Lenzi's films from this time were made with little money and over the span of 2-3 weeks), but has some very memorable shots (Merli charging across the foot-bridge, Merli pulling a bandage off of his newly healed arm, etc.) and a killer soundtrack by Franco Micalizzi (probably his best one). What's not to like about poorly-dubbed Italians smacking each other, breaking chairs over each-other's heads, shooting people in hospital beds, and stealing women's cars? The only weaknesses in this film are the fact that the heist sequence is far too long and drawn out, and the ending shootout is too quick and confusing (centering only on Milian vs. Merli when there is a whole gang war going on). Otherwise, a solid and action-packed film. It should also be noted that this probably has the most swearing of any 70's Italian movie, at least in the English version, making it the polar opposite of THE BIG RACKET.