Maurizio Merli Poliziotteschi Quadruple FeatureRome Armed to the Teeth a.k.a.
Roma a Mano Armata (First viewing) – 6.5/10
A tough uncompromising cop (Merli) goes his own way to arrest an organized gang of armed bank robbers led by a hunchback (Tomas Milian).
Quite entertaining Eurocrime action thriller with a superbly catchy score by Franco Micalizzi!
Umberto Lenzi directs. Not on BD.
From Corleone to Brooklyn a.k.a.
Da Corleone A Brooklyn (First viewing, YouTube) – 6.5/10
An Italian cop (Merli) goes to Brooklyn escorting an assassin, and prime witness, to testify against an elusive Italian mobster who had his rival gunned down in Corleone. What seems like a simple task of extradition becomes a real nightmare for the cop as the mobster has set up traps along the way to eliminate him.
Quite entertaining Eurocrime action drama with another good original score by Franco Micalizzi.
Umberto Lenzi directs. Not on English-friendly DVD and not on BD.
Violent Rome a.k.a.
Roma Violenta (First viewing, YouTube) – 7/10
Fed up by the failing criminal justice system that governs the city of Rome, a police commissioner (Merli) is forced to resign from the police after intentionally killing, instead of arresting, a cornered robber on site. Now a trained civilian, Commissioner Betti joins a group of vigilantes to cleanse the streets of Rome plagued by crime.
Entertaining, fast-paced Eurocrime action thriller. The first of the Commissioner Betti trilogy.
Richard Conte (
The Boss) and Ray Lovelock (
Meet Him and Die, Live Like A Cop Die Like A Man) co star.
Not on BD.
Violent Naples a.k.a.
Napoli Violenta (First viewing) – 7.5/10
Commissioner Betti returns to the force and is transferred to Naples. This time he confronts the General, a powerful mobster who runs a protection racket in the city.
Exciting Eurocrime action thriller with a catchy score by Franco Micalizzi! The second of the Commissioner Betti trilogy.
Special Cop in Action a.k.a.
Italia a Mano Armata is the final chapter, and is as good as the second one.
John Saxon and Barry Sullivan co-star. Umberto Lenzi directs.
Not on BD.
Genre: Action, Drama, Eurocrime, Thriller
Worth watching? Yes, especially
Violent Rome and
Violent Naples.
Worth re-watching?
Violent Rome and
Violent NaplesBottom-line? For fans of Maurizio Merli and the
Poliziotteschi subgenre.