Movie Type: Political Thriller, Police Detective Film
Themes: Murder Investigations, Political Corruption
Main Cast: Anthony Quinn, Martin Balsam, Sybil Danning
Release Year: 1981
Country: US/IT/UK
Run Time: 101 minutes
Plot
Dante Matucci (Franco Nero), a counter-intelligence officer, uncovers a fascist plot to overthrow the Italian government, and as he begins to investigate, he has an ally in Bruno Manzini (Anthony Quinn), a man dedicated to hunting down war criminals. Bruno and other operatives, including the beautiful and frosty Lili Anders (Sybil Danning) report to Matucci as he coordinates their work. Most of the drama (not all) takes place off-screen, and Matucci essentially narrates the story -- making this one of the least exciting spy dramas around -- even the affair between Matucci and Anders is several degrees cooler than the norm. The inertia of the film continues through to the end, as the final denouement has all the suspects herded into one room (à la Agatha Christie or Dashiell Hammett) while Matucci and Manzini discuss the case. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
Eli Wallach - Leporello; Claudia Cardinale - Elena; Paul L. Smith - The Surgeon; John Steiner - Roditi; Renzo Palmer - Girgione; Anita Strindberg - Princess; Marino Masé - Capt.Rigoli; Jacques Herlin - Woodpecker; Gita Lee; Massimo Ciprari - Assassin; Andre Eszterhazy - Minister of Defence; Christopher Lee - Director Baldassare; Cleavon Little - Maj. Carl Malinowsky; Franco Nero - Col. Dante Matucci; John Stacy - Concierge; Fortunato Arena - Major General Pantaleone
Credit
Giantito Burchiellaro - Art Director, Fabrizio Caracciolo - Costume Designer, Peter Zinner - Director, Claudio M. Cutry - Editor, Jerry Goldsmith - Composer (Music Score), Marcello Gatti - Cinematographer, Paul Maslansky - Producer, Robert Katz - Screenwriter, Morris West - Book Author
