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Poliziotto Sprint
More than the proverbial "breath of air" we have to talk about a
mouthful of exhaust emissions, for the belovede "poliziottesco". A
change that comes from a fast movie since in the title and in which the
canons of the genre are replaced by those of "action movie."
Gino Capone screenwriter very active in genre cinema, writes a story
for Stelvio Massi with whom he works in other movies (not only
poliziottesco), inspired by the story of Armando Spatafora, Roman
policeman, former mechanic, who in the sixties gave thread twist to the
"bad" driving a Ferrari through the streets of the Rome. Ferrari, maybe
a gift to the police in those years and used (some in a good way, some
in a bad, says chronicles) in the fight against crime or, as the
version of the Police, requested by Spatafora during a visit of Prefect
at the central police stazion of Rome.
In any case the one used by Spatafora it is the protagonist of this
film, recovered from a police's warehouse and dusted off and driven by
Marco Palma, played by the usually monumental Maurizio Merli.
Unbalancing all on the action is simple to image that the main
characterists of the police and of the "bad" are less important and
here we see them more human, more nuanced, quite romantic. The
reference to a crime world with a honor code of the sixties, seems more
an excuse to justify a simpler structure, leaving the field open to
many scenes "on the road". Many, many, even too many scenes, but
undoubtedly very well done by the great stuntman Remy Julienne the best
of the period, that from France brings some Citroen affecting,
probably, the character of the bad, a french.
A long list of pursuits and great scenes, with so many police cars,
that seem diminish other movies with less cars. Two of these scenes
strike the audience: the one with a descent from the famous staircase
of "Campo Dei Fiori" in Rome, only for the rof ruining the staircase
and the various impossible jumps to 130 km/h.
"Poliziotto Sprint" is a challenge between two men, a duel of chivalry,
because unlike other poliziottesco, the two protagonists esteem each
others, they shoot little and that little is by men outline. Many times
there are paradoxical moments, ease in performing certain actions (such
as infiltrate the gang) all always secondary to the action desire of
Massi.
Marco Palma, Merli without his famous mustache, is a cop lover of cars
and great driver. Famous for his pursuits, not all successful, a day he
face the gang of "Nizzardo" or Jean Paul Dossena, who robs banks fled
then by car through the streets of Rome. Elengant criminal, absolutely
non-violent, is a familiar face to law enforcement and especially to
Marshal Tagliaferri with which in the past was already a battle to the
sound of rumble of the engine.
Tagliaferri no longer on patrol, a sort of Spatafora, sees in Palma a
talent man that can catch the "Nizzardo". Following long workouts,
tips, plans to enter into the gang of Dossena and finally an open
challenge between the two. To take more distances from the genre there
is a surprise ending.
Merli out of character of the iron Commissioner is good in the role of
Palma, a man of action which partly repeats in "Un Poliziotto Scomodo"
always by Massi. Tagliaferri played by Giancarlo Sbragia is for us not
credible in the role of wise and experienced police officer, especially
for its individual mask. Angelo Infanti tries to give depth to
"Nizzardo" and he succeeds quite well, just enough to create the
contrast with Palma. The cast is completed by the presence of good
Glauco Onorato, a great actor of genre cinema and the useless character
of Francesca Palma's girlfriend, played by Lilli Carati (in an
interview she said that wasn't good to work with Merli)whose the only
"merit" is to blow the cover of Palma.
Roaring engines, screeching, destroyed cars, with the soundtrack of the
ever valid Stelvio Cipriani in a film not to be missed for the genre
lovers and for Armando Spatafora was supposed to help, if done right,
to "overturn the current attitude among young people of coldness
towards of the competitions that invite you to join the police. "
Fact Sheet
Original Title: Policeman Sprint
Alternative Titles: Highway Racer (International), Highway Racer -
vauhtipaholainen veressä (Finland), SOS jaguar, opération
cases gueule (France), Stan's snabbaste Snut! (Sweden), a Venganza de
Policía (Argentina), Volida stin asphalt, assos'm GUNS! (Greece)
Year: 1977
Country: Italy
Directed by: Stelvio Massi
Starring: Maurizio Merli, Angelo Infanti, Giancarlo Sbragia, Glauco Onorato, Lilli Carati, Orazio Orlando
Duration:
