Main Cast: Woody Strode, Cyril Cusack, Henry Silva, Mario Adorf
Release Year: 1972
Country: IT/US/WG
Run Time: 87 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
This Italian action film focuses on a crook, framed as a drug kingpin, whose wife is killed by the mob as a result. He must take matters into his own hands to have revenge. Manhunt was also re-titled The Italian Connection to steal thunder from its French counterpart. ~ John Bush, All Movie Guide
Fernando di Leo - Director, Amedeo Giomini - Editor, Armando Trovajoli - Composer (Music Score), Franco Villa - Cinematographer, Francesco Cuppini - Set Designer, Fernando di Leo - Screenwriter, Augusto Finocchi - Screenwriter, Ingo Hermann - Screenwriter
La mala ordina or Manhunt is a poliziottesco film written and directed by the Italian crime film specialist Fernando Di Leo in 1972. It is the second part of Di Leo's Milieu Trilogy, starting with Milano calibro 9 in 1972 and ending with Il Boss (The Boss) in 1973. It had been released under a number of titles including The Italian Connection, Hired to Kill and Black Kingpin.
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.[1]
