Italian vigilante thriller starring Henry Silva and Luciana Paluzzi
A year after the sensational success of "Ein Mann schlägt zurück / A Man Strikes Back" (1974) with Franco Nero and Giancarlo Prete, successful director Umberto Lenzi brought this alternative to Enzo G. Castellari's film to Italian cinemas (May 8, 1975). Lenzi's film, which in English should actually be called "A man from the street ensures justice", is a tough vigilante police film that was shot in Milan and distributed by the renowned Titanus film distributor.
At the beginning it's pretty tough! During a robbery at a jewelry store, Vera (Luciana Paluzzi) and Davide Vannucchi's (Henry Silva) sweet little daughter (Susanna Melandri) is brutally shot. The completely desperate parents become more and more dissatisfied with the police investigation, so Vennucchi and his publisher friend (Silvano Tranquilli) do their own research. The architect increasingly develops vigilante intentions and comes into contact with a group of self-proclaimed crime fighters (Claudio Gora, Luciano Catenacci). His frightened wife and the level-headed police inspector (Raymond Pellegrin) try to stop Davide from the worst...
A very exciting film that doesn't skimp on the brutality you'd expect from Italian genre films and also offers a few other surprises. Umberto Lenzi, who has already appeared in many genres (historical film with Hildegard Knef in "Catherine of Russia" (1963) / adventure film with Steve Reeves as "Sandokan" (1963) and various gialli with the fabulous Carroll Baker (So sweet...so perverse , Knife of Ice)) was on the way,
Here too, he does a remarkable job. Above all, he knows how to direct his excellent cast.
Henry Silva, who also knew how to impress in the Mario Adorf classic "LA mala ordina / The Mafia Boss - They Kill Like Jackals", "Il Boss / Der Teufel führt Regie / The Devil Is Directing" and "Poliziotti violenti / Blutiger Schweiß / Bloody Sweat" with Antonio Sabato, is not quite as good as a grieving father, but He's fantastic as a killing vigilante.
The Roman Luciana Paluzzi, born in 1937, who was married to the American actor Brett Halsey before he married German EUROVISION star Heidi Brühl (1942-1991), is best known as the best and most beautiful Bond villain of all time in "Thunderball" (1965). She was also in "La mala ordina / The Mafia Boss - They Kill Like Jackals" and alongside Antonio Sabato in "Calling All Police Cars" (1975). Here she impresses as a grieving and desperate mother.
Luciano Catenacci (1933-1990), who was once "promoted" to an actor as director Mario Bava's production manager, is only represented in a small role, but his face has been known since his appearances as "Chefchen" in "Zwei außer Rand und Band / Two Out of Order " (1976) and "Zwei sind nicht zu bremsen / Two Can't Be Stopped" (1978), when he was so impressively beaten by Bud Spencer and Terence Hill, are unforgettable.
A typical poliziottesco! A typical 70s film! Definitely a must see for fans of the genre!
