The Italian Connection (1972)

Director: Fernando Di Leo

Starring: Mario Adorf, Henry Silva, Woody Strode, Adolfo Celi, Luciana Paluzzi

More info: IMDb

Tagline: When Godfather signs your contract...there's no place in the world you can hide!

Plot: When a shipment of heroin disappears between Italy and New York, a small-time pimp in Milan is framed for the theft. Two professional hitmen are dispatched from New York to find him, but the real thieves want to get rid of him before the New York killers get to him to eliminate any chance of them finding out he's the wrong man. When the pimp's wife and daughter are murdered in the course of the "manhunt", he swears revenge on everyone who had anything to do with it.

My rating: 8/10

Will I watch it again? Yup.

This is one of the Italian crime greats. With the exception of MILANO CALIBRO 9 (1972), I don't think there's a better one. Let me know if there is 'cause I needs ta see it. This is Fernando Di Leo's baby all the way. His use of the camera, the quick pacing (this picture is never dull for a moment), the performances (ESPECIALLY Adorf), Armando Trovajoli's funky score, the great car chase halfway through the picture, the massive amounts of bodies that pile up courtesy of Luca Canali, gratuitous shots of J&B bottles all over the place, everything. It all comes together in a very exciting and fun, violent flick. Besides, this might be the only film that gave the world a Henry Silva upskirt. Enjoy!