The Italian Connection
| The Italian Connection | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Fernando di Leo |
| Produced by | Armando Novelli[1] |
| Screenplay by |
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| Story by | Fernando di Leo[1] |
| Starring | |
| Music by | Armando Trovajoli[1] |
| Cinematography | Franco Villa[1] |
| Edited by | Amedeo Giomini[1] |
Production company |
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| Distributed by | Alpherat |
Release date |
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Running time | 100 minutes[2] |
| Country |
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| Box office | ₤852.404 million |
The Italian Connection (Italian: La mala ordina, lit. "The mob orders") is a 1972 poliziotteschi film directed by Fernando Di Leo.
Plot
Small-time pimp Luca Canali (Mario Adorf) is hunted by both local mobsters and two killers (Henry Silva and Woody Strode) sent by the New York mafia after a shipment of heroin fails to arrive. But it becomes apparent he is not as soft as he appears as a deadly cat-and-mouse game is played out on the streets of Milan. The film contains a dramatic chase scene where Canali pursues an assassin both on car and on foot.
The two American hitmen have contrasting personalities. Dave (Silva) is something of a playboy and loudmouth, while Frank (Strode) is quiet and professional. The concept of two hitmen teamed up, one black and one white, appears to have been a likely inspiration for the characters played by John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson in Pulp Fiction.[3]
Cast
- Mario Adorf - Luca Canali
- Henry Silva - Dave Catania
- Woody Strode - Frank Webster
- Adolfo Celi - Don Vito Tressoldi
- Luciana Paluzzi - Eva Lalli
- Franco Fabrizi - Enrico Moroni
- Femi Benussi - Nana
- Gianni Macchia - Nicolo
- Peter Berling - Damiano
- Francesca Romana Coluzzi - Trini
- Cyril Cusack - Corso
- Sylva Koscina - Lucia Canali
- Jessica Dublin - Miss Kenneth
- Omero Capanna - Vito's Goon
- Giuseppe Castellano - Garagaz
- Lara Wendel - Rita
Production
Di Leo's original title for The Italian Connection was Ordini da un altro mondo (Orders form Another World).[4] It was filmed at Dear Studios in Rome and on location in Milan.[1]
Release
The Italian Connection was released theatrically in Italy on 2 September 1972 where it was distributed by Alpherat.[1] The film grossed 852.404 million Italian lira on its theatrical run in Italy.[1] It was released in West Germany on 1 December 1972 under the title Der Mafia-Boss-Sie toten wie Schakale.[1] The film received a release in the United States as The Italian Connection in 1973 with a 87 minute running time.[1] The film has since been released under the titles Hired to Kill, Black Kingpin, Hitmen, and Hit Men on American home video releases.[1]
The film was released by Raro on DVD an blu-ray in the United States.[1]
References
Footnotes
Sources
- Curti, Roberto (2013). Italian Crime Filmography, 1968-1980. McFarland. ISBN 0786469765.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to The Italian Connection. |