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[Il Commissario]

MANHUNT- 1972 aka LA MALA ORDINA

Mario Adorf, Henry Silva, Woody Strode, Luciana Paluzzi

Two hitmen from NY are sent to Milan to take out Luca Canalli, a small time pimp. Only he doesn't know why the Mob wants him dead. The truth comes out late in the film and the finale between Canalli and the hitmen in a junk yard brings the proceedings to a close.

The sequel to MILAN CALIBRE 9 is just about as good as its predecessor. It doesn't miss it by much though. There is lots to like here. Silva (Dave) and his partner Frank (Strode) work very well together. At first it seems Dave has forgotten the mission as he spends his first few scenes trying to bed down various Italian women including Paluzzi, their guide. Later on, Dave becomes even more vicious than his partner. Make no mistake, Silva and Strode are the villains here in addition to the various mob characters.

Silva gets some great lines and Strode is damn HUGE here looking like a black terminator. This movie was marketed as a blaxploitation film in some markets back in the 70s.

Mario Adorf is really a very versatile actor. Having done a few westerns then his memorable turn as the sadistic mafia cronie in MILAN CALIBRE 9. Here, although he runs prostitutes, he takes care of his family. He is a rather interesting character. When he becomes embroiled in some dirty deals with the mob, he reacts about the way anybody else would in the situation especially when his family is threatened. You never find out just why he's wanted by both the Italian and the NY branch of the Mafia until near the end.

Adorf even did his own stunts. One especially dangerous car chase that ends up with Adorf first hanging from the door of the car then onto the front while it speeds down a narrow alleyway and the street. The violence is upped just a bit from last time as well. There's also a touching bit at the end in the junkyard when the hitmen are searching for Canalli and a small kitten he was petting keeps following him around.

There's also an unusually high amount of nudity on display although Paluzzi never gets undressed. Future wife of Ruggero Deodato Sylvia Dionisio plays Adorf's wife here in a small role. This is probably the only movie I've seen with her where she also kept her clothes on.

Another exciting De Leo movie gets a great presentation from Raro of Italy. There's a documentary on the film but no english subs. The biography and filmography has both italian and english text.

I watched a bit of the third film entitled THE BOSS with Silva, Richard Conte and Gianni Garko. It starts off quite violently with SIlva blowing up a theater full of mobsters watching porn movies using rockets. Garko is the commissioner assigned to the case.

One thing I've noticed about De Leo's crime movies or at least this series, is that they are about the mob itself as opposed to just criminals or crime bosses as in numerous other polizios.

[Lanzetta]

I've just finished watching MANHUNT and as good as Di Leo's movies are it was great for once to be able to watch this one through without having to keep pausing and rewinding(i'm gonna watch MILAN CALIBRE 9 through again before commenting).

Yes Mario Adorf (as Canalli) seems like a very unlikely hero/leading man  and at the start of the movie he comes across as this despicable slimeball pimp,and initially  i found myself hoping that Dave(Silva) and Frank(Strode) manage to nail him.But as it transpires that Canalli has been set up,loses his wife and kid and spends the whole movie frantically fighting for his survival whilst not knowing why he's a marked man,i found myself rooting for him in the end.

Dave and Frank are undoubtably the cool characters in this movie but unfortunately only really feature heavily during the beginning and finale.Adolfo Celi(Largo in THUNDERBALL) with dyed brown hair is excellent as the obnoxious Milan mafia Don who'll ruthlessly gun down his own men on a whim.

Out of the trilogy i'd say this is probably the least remarkable,though not to say its not excellent and its definitely contains the most action and of course includes all that extra lovely nude tooty. The other two are considerably more talky with MILAN CALIBRE 9 possibly too much so.

Very highly recommended.

[Jonny]

I really, really like this film. Can't really add anything that hasn't already been said, love the car chase with Adorf hanging off the front of the car and headbutting his way through the windscreen. His charcter is tough as nails isn't he? The falling cars in the scrap yard finale literally bounce of him! Haven't watched this in a few years, I think I'll dig it out and revisit it this week.

BTW Commissario, Sylvia Koschina was never married to Ruggero Deodato, he married Sylvia Dionisio.

[Paul]

I think this is a great, great film and my second di Leo flick after CALIBRE NIE, though it's a close call. Adorf is tough as fuck in this and does a great job of conveying the mixed emotions the material requires. How can anyone not dig a film where it's so pumped, even the kitten gets it!

[Kevin Coed]

A great film. Was expecting it to be quite different from what it was. Expected it to end somewhat differently too.

[Il Commissario]

I really, really like this film. Can't really add anything that hasn't already been said, love the car chase with Adorf hanging off the front of the car and headbutting his way through the windscreen. His charcter is tough as nails isn't he? The falling cars in the scrap yard finale literally bounce of him! Haven't watched this in a few years, I think I'll dig it out and revisit it this week.

BTW Commissario, Sylvia Koschina was never married to Ruggero Deodato, he married Sylvia Dionisio.

Yes, I know. Where did I make this typo at? Speaking of Koschina, did she ever get naked or even as often as Dionisio?

[Jonny]

BTW Commissario, Sylvia Koschina was never married to Ruggero Deodato, he married Sylvia Dionisio.

Yes, I know. Where did I make this typo at? Speaking of Koschina, did she ever get naked or even as often as Dionisio?

It's in your first post in this thread mate.

"Future wife of Ruggero Deodato Sylvia Koschina plays Adorf's wife here in a small role."

Not sure of any Koschina nakedness though...

[Il Commissario]

  Thanks! I'll fix it. I wonder if I've done that elsewhere? I'll check my review for LIVE LIKE A COP...

[Jonny]

Thanks! I'll fix it. I wonder if I've done that elsewhere? I'll check my review for LIVE LIKE A COP...

  No probs, I do the same thing all the time  :'(

[Kalibre38]

I could watch this film everyday and never get tired. This is one of the greatest in my book. It has a great cast, keeps you entertained and Luca Canali is GOD. Not to mention Henry Silva stars as well. This movie has plenty of action, some violence and some sleaze. I highly recommend this movie if you have not seen it and are a fan of Italian Crime films.





As for Sylvia Koscina starring in any movies nude? I don't believe there were any. I am sure you already know she was nude in playboy in her later years.

[Il Commissario]

Yes, I remember her mostly from the first two HERCULES movies with Steve Reeves.

[Fray G]

Just another vote for this amazing film, i'd say it's got to be my top italian crime flick, not that i've seen anywhere near them all.

Mario Adorf is great, he delivers some really good gritty dialogue, the scene in the bedroom with Femi Benussi is what i'm thinking of. Italian movie dialogue can sometimes feel a bit under-written but i thought this was realistic and would'nt be out of place in more "worthy" american films like Mean Streets. Femi's writhing as she speaks was'nt all that realistic though, but i'm not complaining

[vigilanteforce]

and Luca Canali is GOD.

Of course he is GOD! Definitely one of my favorite Italian crime film characters!

[Stephen Grimes]

Has anyone got the 2 disc edition of this or was it just a promo that went unreleased?Noticed the cover in a few places awhile back and saw it again today in the Blazing Magnums book.

[Inspector Tanzi]

Has anyone got the 2 disc edition of this or was it just a promo that went unreleased?Noticed the cover in a few places awhile back and saw it again today in the Blazing Magnums book.

It was a mistake, it's says 2 disc on the cover but it's just one.

Have you got a Raro one Stephen, take a look