Bezenby Beatings, car chases, shoot-outs, tarts with hearts - yep, it's another Italian crime movie.This one stars Maurizio Merli, a kind of brawnier Franco Nero, who, like most guys in these films, plays a cop with a brutal approach to criminals. After our usual ultra violent beginning Merli is recalled back into duty to track down a gang of criminals who have escaped from jail, taking with them an old convict who only had 40 days of his sentence to serve - but why? Merli and his two companions hone in on the gang through the old man's niece (who also provides the love interest). On the way, they foil bank robberies, waste criminals, and do a little investigation around high class brothels (dig that prozzy catalogue!).On the other hand - the gang get fed up with Merli's interference and try to have him killed. This leads to a particularly good shoot out in a graveyard, and eventually on to a showdown in a roma railyard.There's not much of a story here but things are pretty streamlined and it's great to watch this guy in action. Check out the scene where a girl strips for him as he sits non-chalantly smoking a fag and drinking whisky, fully clothed.Fear in the City, as usual for these movies, is a good yarn. Plenty of action, nudity, daftness (Nick Alexander's dubbing is almost nonsensical), plus the most blatant product placement ever in a movie. If you can't figure out that Fernet Branca sponsor this film from all the posters, bottles, ashtrays and stickers, then you're crazy or maybe even don't really care about such things.23rd Century's DVD is pretty clean for a change, although it is not widescreen. Love those liner notes where they repeat the same sentence twice. Get it for a pound.

lazarillo Italian police thrillers were partly inspired by 70's American films like "Dirty Harry", "The French Connection", and "Serpico", so they have a kind of indirect film noir sensibility to them, but one updated to the gritty urban decay of the 1970's. They were also, of course, inspired by the Spaghetti Westerns, a popular Italian genre which they would essentially replace. The Spaghetti Westerns had taken the white-hatted American John Wayne type heroes and substituted much more morally ambiguous anti-heroes, often ruthless and violence prone and pursuing only their own self-interest. These kind of ambiguous anti-heroes carried on into the police thrillers, and that mixed with noir elements and the social turbulence of 70's led to a cynical, downbeat, and extremely morally ambiguous genre that was nevertheless entertaining as hell. The problem is though in the hands of hacks these films could very easily turn into the most trite right-wing fantasies imaginable.Actor Maurizio Merlino was one of those hacks. Basically, he was Franco Nero with a fraction of the talent. Still, he was OK in some of the films he made with Umberto Lenzi and other relatively talented directors. Unfortunately, director Guiseppe Rossi was an even bigger hack, responsible for such nonsense as the dim-witted giallo "The Perfect Crime". As a result, this movie has no intelligence, no depth, and no irony (not even the over-the-top fascist excesses of something like Ruggiero Deodata's "Live Like a Cop, Die Like a Man"). It's just the typical ho-hum story of a vigilante cop who defies his superiors and refuses to go "by the book" as he fights crime--in this case a dozen ruthless gangsters who have broken out of prison and are out to settle the score with everyone that put them there. This is the kind of thing Hollywood crapped out about a thousand times in the 80's, usually with Sylvester Stallone or some other meat-head in the lead role. There's not even a memorable villain like Thomas Milan or Henry Silva on hand.On the plus side, the music is pretty good and visual style is serviceable. Silvia Dionisio turns up as Merlino's love interest and she has her usual highly gratuitous (but highly enjoyable) nude scenes. James Mason is also in this, and even though he is obviously slumming and his role is pretty perfunctory, an actor of his caliber can't help but add a little gravitas to the proceedings. Still,this is generally a weak entry into the Italian cop genre.

gareth633 If you are a fan of the Euro-crime type films then this a typical violent outing that delivers a lot in 90ish minutes running time. Merli plays the usual tough cop Dirty Harry type role, and gets a decent motorbike chase that is a highlight. I certainly disagree with comments that the film is dull as there's plenty of great action sequences. There is less plot than say 'The Marseille Connection' (High Crimes) or other similar films though. Merli is good in this film, though naturally dubbed. He's great in the action scenes especially the fights! It's more than can be said for an clearly ill at ease James Mason, who acts like he'd rather be somewhere else.Its a shame this genre of films is difficult to come by (certainly in the UK) and the copy i've watched is the grainy '23rd Century' release which i gather is missing footage at the start. Even so it's definitely worth a watch if you can track it down.Recommended.

ckyjackson Maurizio Merli turns in his standard hard-nosed/violent cop routine in this one. The score is solid, story is easy to follow and there's a fantastic motorcycle chase toward the end. It's not quite as good as Convoy Busters or High Crimes but you're better off watching this than something like Cannibal Holocaust.Merli is no Franco Nero but his not-so-subtle acting is more than made up with his charm and delightful mustache. Not sure if this is part of the 'A Mano Armata' series but it certainly could be.If you're a fan of the Polizio genre this one should sate your appetite.