Bezenby Guido and Maurizio De Angelis Soundtrack!Notable actors: Fabio Testi! Renzo Palmer! Orso Maria Guierrini! Romano Puppo! Sal Borghese! Joshua Sinclair! Massimo Vanni! Stefania Girolami! Enzo G Castellari!Enzo Castellari stands out in an overcrowded market by showing everyone how it should be done - a full on Poliziotesschi, brutal and action packed, but also delivered with that pure Castellari style. This is the ideal starting place for anyone because if you don't like this, the genre probably isn't for you. A new breed of criminal are moving in on Rome's protection rackets. Fearless, violent and ambitious, they go from shop to shop in the Piazza Navona threatening the patroni but unaware that they are being tailed by cop Nico (Fabio Testi) and his sidekick Sal Borghese. Their smartly dressed boss Rudy (Joshua Sinclair) does notice, however, and the result is Testi having his car rolled off a cliff. With him inside it. Castellari of course introduces Rudy with a serious of quirky edits set to a drum beat and films Nico from inside the car in slow motion while he rolls about in a blizzard of glass. This is in the first ten minutes. Basically this new gang have the populace terrified and Nico is struggling to find someone brave enough to come forward as a witness. One restaurant owner does (Renzo Palmer) and the result is his daughter getting kidnapped and raped by the gang. Palmer then becomes insane and starts killing any criminals he can get his hands on. This of course lands Nico in trouble with his boss.A gang this ruthless make a lot of enemies and eventually it's from this pool of bereaved husbands, vengeful fathers, double-crossed gangsters and petty criminals that Nico has to gather a small army to take on the gang, resulting in a gun battle that isn't so much a shoot out as full on warfare that decimates the populace of Rome and leaves it a smoking ruin littered with corpses and burning cars. There's a lot to recommend this one. Fabio Testi's frustration as the gang constantly wipe out anyone who stands up to them is something to behold. Massimo Vanni as the cocky gangster and his rape-happy mates stand out as they beat shopowners, incite riots and kill without thinking. Vincent Gardenia adds a bit of humanity as the old pickpocket who helps Testi and gets his nephew killed in the process. Enzo does his usual tricks, from slow motion to unusual camera angles to quick edits, and you've got the usual funky soundtrack by Guido and Maurizio De Angelis. This is one of the best of 1976 and the genre, and although it's the only Eurocrime film Castellari made in 1976, he would also make Keoma the same year, and that's one of the best Spaghetti Westerns ever made. What a guy.I must however point out that some moron who did the English dubbing decided to sanitise all the swearing, which marrs the film slightly. They all literally sound like Ned Flanders, talking about being in "deep diddly", or "that lousy basket" or "you mucker." Thankfully it doesn't ruin the film.

Scott LeBrun Ever studly Fabio Testi stars as dedicated police detective Nico Palmieri in this Eurocrime action picture. Nico is determined to bust the pesky thugs running an aggressive protection racket. Soon, these creeps are moving on to other crimes like drug running, rape, and murder. Nico will let nothing stop him from attaining his goal.In the later portions of "The Big Racket", the story turns into the always appealing scenario in which one or more characters assemble a group of specialists for a mission. Among those recruited by Nico are men who've been impacted personally by the activities of the bad guys.Director Enzo G. Castellari could always move from genre to genre with ease, and here he creates a stylish - if somewhat overlong - movie that benefits the most from some enthusiastic performances by the actors playing the antagonists. One of them is a gleeful young woman who enjoys dispensing punishment just as much as her male counterparts.There's an engaging, meaty role for American actor Vincent Gardenia, as ageing criminal Pepe. While it's always a treat to see him in anything, it's not terribly satisfying to hear someone elses' voice coming out of his mouth. Although he was fluent in Italian, he was dubbed for both the Italian and English language versions. Renzo Palmer is likewise effective as store owner Giulti, who seeks vengeance on behalf of his daughter. Italian genre cinema buffs will also recognize Joshua Sinclair and Romano Puppo.Noteworthy for a sometimes very sleazy approach (more than one female gets raped), a respectable amount of squib use and violence, well executed action, and an atmospheric score by Guido & Maurizio De Angelis.Well worth a look for Eurocrime fans.Seven out of 10.

Coventry Very, VERY few movies out there are so damn perfect that they deserve an impeccable 10/10 rating… Pretty much all movies have at least one or two minor flaws, and so does Enzo G. Castellari's "The Big Racket", whether it's the horrendous English dubbing or the rough-around-the-edges editing. But what the heck, whenever a film provides me with this much adrenalin kicks and excitement, I simply must overlook the little shortcomings and reward it with a well-deserved 10! Castellari made a lot of magnificent movies, including the unforgettable western "Keoma" and the legendary war-adventure "The Inglorious Bastards", but this mixture between the so-called Poliziottesco and vigilante thriller ranks high among his best work, and should be experienced by every self-respecting fan of '70s grindhouse/euro- exploitation cinema. In the Italian crime thrillers of the seventies, the coppers are unorthodox and as good as lawless, but rightly so because the thugs they are battling are ultimately vicious and relentless. In "The Big Racket", all merchants of a middle-sized city are forced to pay incredible large sums for protection, and if they don't pay they see their life-work burned to the ground and their loved ones raped and butchered in front of their eyes. Police inspector Nico Palmieri risks his life every day (and you make that very literally) to put a stop to this mafia crime network, but he gets blocked by standard police procedures, corrupt superiors and sleazebag lawyers. When all his regular attempts fail, like infiltrating in the crime racket or setting up an ambush at the train station, Pamieri is dishonorably discharged. Not a bad thing, though, as now he can assemble a vigilante team of which each separate member has a very personal reason for blood vengeance. I'm a tremendous fan of the "Poliziottesco" genre and I truly love how the best films of such directors like Umberto Lenzi, Fernando Di Leo, Stelvio Massi and – of course – Enzo G. Castellari overwhelm the viewer with non-stop action, raw character portraits, brutality and spectacular stunts. "The Big Racket" hardly grants you the opportunity to breathe as you're constantly on the edge of your seat with suspense. The main villains in this film, including even a young female, are particularly hateful since they clearly also take pleasure in raping defenseless women and executing police officers. The victims, on the other hand, also noticeably suffer emotionally and physically (like, for instance, the restaurant owner and the Olympic champion skeet shooter). The phenomenally illustrated contrast between good and evil makes "The Big Racket" one of the most realistic films of its kind and sometimes even genuinely difficult to watch. When the thugs eventually get what they deserve, your first reflection immediately is that they still haven't suffered enough for what they've done; that's how engaging "The Big Racket" is, in fact! Needless to state that, with its graphic and uncompromisingly shown violence, the film is not suitable for people with a weak stomach or sensitive nerve system. Most of the stunts are also incredibly well-handled, like the sequence in which Palmieri's car is tumbling down from a cliff with him still in it! Fabio Testi gives a powerful performance. The best I've seen so far of his, although I have yet "Revolver" waiting on my must-see list and I'm also expecting a lot from that. The supportive cast is splendid as well and, as often the case in Poliziottesco gems as well, the soundtrack contributes a great deal to the grim atmosphere as well. 10 out of 10, without the slightest form of doubt or hesitation!

Witchfinder General 666 Enzo G. Castellari has enriched Italian cult-cinema in various genres, and "Il Grande Racket" of 1976 is arguably the coolest of them all. At least this breathtaking, ultraviolent and supremely nasty Poliziottesco has surpassed "Keoma" and the original "Inglorious Bastards" of 1978 on my list of favorite Castellari flicks. "Racket" delivers gritty, rough and brutal Italo-Crime excitement in its purest form and proudly stands up there with the works of Fernando Di Leo and Umberto Lenzi among the true highlights of 70s Italian Crime Cinema. The vast majority of Italian crime flicks from the time are about unorthodox cops hunting sadistic criminals (inspired by "Dirty Harry"); some, such as Castellari's own "Il Cittadino Si Ribbela" ("The Citizen Rebels",1974, which I regretfully haven't yet seen) are about enraged citizens, who, after being tormented by thugs for too long, take the law in their own hands. This wonderfully gritty gem actually serves both premises! Cult-star Fabio Testi plays Rome police Inspector Nico Palmieri, who leads a hopeless battle against a protection racket of hoodlums who terrorize and torment a whole neighborhood of innocent people. Palmitieri's rough but legal methods always seem to fail, as the gangsters' surviving victims are too intimidated to talk, which is why a sleazy lawyer always gets his scumbag clients out. When all legal methods fail, the rough-and-ready copper is not afraid to bend the law in order to provide justice...Fabio Testi, a regular leading man in Italian genre-cinema, delivers another great performance in his role here. Of all the films I've seen him in, I would say that this is Testi's second-best (the unmatched No 1. being Massimo Dallamano's 1972 Giallo-masterpiece "Cosa Avete Fatto A Solange"). The rest of the cast includes several familiar faces for fans of Italian cinema, such as Castellari-regulars Joshua Sinclair and Orso Maria Guerrini (who played Franco Nero's malicious brothers in "Keoma"), Salvatore Borghese (who was in many Bud Spencer & Terence Hill Comedies, as well as many Spaghetti Westerns) and others. It is notable that the gang of sadistic thugs in this film includes a particularly sadistic female (played by Marcella Michelangeli)."Racket" brings the whole spectrum of genre-typical nastiness: Loads of bloody violence, rape, sadistic murders, brutal torture - there's plenty of it all here. The film is action packed, and, the action sequences are very well-done. The film si full of violent shootouts, car chases, fistfights etc., and, as usual Castellari provides some spectacular effects (such as a car rolling spinning over down a hill from the inside). The cinematography is very well-done, and the score is genre-typically great and underlines the adrenaline-driven atmosphere. All things considered, "Racket" is a spectacular example for Italian Crime Cinema, which ranges among the highlights of both director Castellari's and leading-man Testi's careers. A fan of Poliziotteschi in particular and Italian Cult Cineama in general should make sure not to miss this brutal, action-packed and remarkably gritty gem. Highly recommended!