Poliziotteschi (; singular ''poliziottesco'') constitute a subgenre of

crime In ordinary language, a crime is an unlawful act punishable by a State (polity), state or other authority. The term ''crime'' does not, in modern criminal law, have any simple and universally accepted definition,Farmer, Lindsay: "Crime, definit ...

and

action film Action film is a film genre in which the protagonist is thrust into a series of events that typically involve violence and physical feats. The genre tends to feature a mostly resourceful hero struggling against incredible odds, which include life ...

s that emerged in Italy in the late 1960s and reached the height of their popularity in the 1970s. They are also known as ''polizieschi all'italiana'', ''Euro-crime'', ''Italo-crime'', ''spaghetti crime films'', or simply ''Italian crime films''. Influenced by both 1970s

French crime films French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with France ...

and gritty 1960s and 1970s American cop films and

vigilante film The vigilante film is a film genre in which the protagonist or protagonists engage in vigilante behavior, taking the law into their own hands. Vigilante films are usually revenge films in which the legal system fails protagonists, leading them ...

s, poliziotteschi films were made amidst an atmosphere of socio-political turmoil in Italy known as Years of Lead and increasing Italian crime rates. The films generally featured graphic and brutal violence, organized crime,

car chase A car chase or vehicle pursuit is the vehicular overland chase of one party by another, involving at least one automobile or other wheeled motor vehicle in pursuit, commonly hot pursuit of suspects by law enforcement. The rise of the automotive ...

s, vigilantism, heists, gunfights, and corruption up to the highest levels. The protagonists were generally tough

working class The working class (or labouring class) comprises those engaged in manual-labour occupations or industrial work, who are remunerated via waged or salaried contracts. Working-class occupations (see also " Designation of workers by collar colou ...

loners, willing to act outside a corrupt or overly bureaucratic system.

Etymology of the noun

In Italian, ''poliziesco'' is the grammatically correct Italian adjective (resulting from the fusion of the noun ''polizia'' "police" and the

desinence In linguistics, a suffix is an affix which is placed after the stem of a word. Common examples are case endings, which indicate the grammatical case of nouns, adjectives, and verb endings, which form the conjugation of verbs. Suffixes can carry gr ...

''-esco'' "related to", akin to the English "-esque") for police-related dramas, ranging from

Ed McBain Evan Hunter, born Salvatore Albert Lombino,(October 15, 1926 – July 6, 2005) was an American author and screenwriter best known for his 87th Precinct novels, written under his Ed McBain pen name, and the novel upon which the film ''Blackbo ...

police procedural The police show, or police crime drama, is a subgenre of procedural drama and detective fiction that emphasizes the investigative procedure of a police officer or department as the protagonist(s), as contrasted with other genres that focus on eith ...

novels to

forensic science Forensic science, also known as criminalistics, is the application of science to criminal and civil laws, mainly—on the criminal side—during criminal investigation, as governed by the legal standards of admissible evidence and criminal ...

investigations. ''Poliziesco'' is used generally to indicate every

detective fiction Detective fiction is a subgenre of crime fiction and mystery fiction in which an investigator or a detective—whether professional, amateur or retired—investigates a crime, often murder. The detective genre began around the same time as s ...

production where police forces (Italian or foreign) are the main protagonists. Instead the term ''poliziottesco'', a fusion of the words ''poliziotto'' ("policeman") and the same ''-esco'' desinence, has prevailed (over the more syntactically-correct ''Poliziesco all'Italiana'') to indicate 1970s-era Italian-produced "tough cop" and crime movies. The prevalence of ''Poliziottesco'' over ''Poliziesco all'Italiana'' closely follows the success of the term ''Spaghetti Western'' over ''Western all'Italiana'', being shorter and more vivid – though in both instances the term that has come to be used more frequently by English-speaking fans of the genre (poliziotteschi, Spaghetti Westerns) was originally used pejoratively by critics, to denigrate the films themselves and their makers.

History

Although the subgenre has its roots in Italian

heist film The heist film or caper film is a subgenre of crime film focused on the planning, execution, and aftermath of a significant robbery. One of the early defining heist films was ''The Asphalt Jungle'' (1950), which ''Film Genre 2000'' wrote "almo ...

s of the late 1960s, such as ''

Bandits in Milan ''Bandits in Milan'' ( it, Banditi a Milano; also known as ''The Violent Four'') is a 1968 Italian crime film directed by Carlo Lizzani. It was listed to compete at the 1968 Cannes Film Festival, but the festival was cancelled due to the events ...

'' (''Banditi a Milano'', 1968) by

Carlo Lizzani Carlo Lizzani (3 April 1922 – 5 October 2013) was an Italian film director, screenwriter and critic. Biography Born in Rome, before World War II Lizzani worked as a scenarist on such films as Roberto Rossellini's '' Germany Year Zero' ...

, it was also strongly influenced by such rough-edged American police thrillers of the late 1960s and early 1970s as ''

Bullitt ''Bullitt'' is a 1968 American neo-noir action thriller film directed by Peter Yates and produced by Philip D'Antoni. The picture stars Steve McQueen, Robert Vaughn, and Jacqueline Bisset. The screenplay by Alan R. Trustman and Harry Kleine ...

'', ''

Dirty Harry ''Dirty Harry'' is a 1971 American neo-noir Neo-noir is a revival of film noir, a genre that had originally flourished during the post-World War II era in the United Statesroughly from 1940 to 1960. The French term, ''film noir'', translates ...

'', '' The French Connection'', ''

Magnum Force ''Magnum Force'' is a 1973 American neo-noir vigilante action thriller film and the second to feature Clint Eastwood as maverick cop Harry Callahan after the 1971 film ''Dirty Harry''. Ted Post, who had previously worked with Eastwood on '' Ra ...

'', and ''

Serpico ''Serpico'' is a 1973 American neo-noir biographical crime drama film directed by Sidney Lumet and starring Al Pacino in the title role. The screenplay was adapted by Waldo Salt and Norman Wexler from the book of the same name written by Peter ...

''; the 1970s wave of American

s, including 1974's '' Death Wish''; the increase of cynicism and violence in French crime films; the resurgence of

mob film Mafia films—a version of gangster films—are a subgenre of crime films dealing with organized crime, often specifically with Mafia organizations. Especially in early mob films, there is considerable overlap with ''film noir''. Popular regional ...

s in the wake of ''

The Godfather ''The Godfather'' is a 1972 American crime film directed by Francis Ford Coppola, who co-wrote the screenplay with Mario Puzo, based on Puzo's best-selling 1969 novel of the same title. The film stars Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, ...

''; French and American noir and

neo-noir Neo-noir is a revival of film noir, a genre that had originally flourished during the post-World War II era in the United Statesroughly from 1940 to 1960. The French term, ''film noir'', translates literally to English as "black film", indicating ...

films; and the rise of

exploitation films An exploitation film is a film that tries to succeed financially by exploiting current trends, niche genres, or lurid content. Exploitation films are generally low-quality "B movies", though some set trends, attract critical attention, become hi ...

in the late 1960s and 1970s. More generally, the genre was also heavily influenced by real-life crime and unrest in 1970s Italy during the period known as the ''anni di piombo'' (political violence, kidnappings, assassinations, bank robberies, political militant terrorism, impending oil crisis, political corruption, organized crime-related violence, and recession). Just as American police films, American crime thrillers, and American vigilante films of the time focused on the crime waves and urban decline in the United States of the 1960s and 1970s, ''poliziotteschi'' were set in the context of, or directly addressed, the sociopolitical tumult and violence of Italy's ''

anni di piombo , partof = the Cold War , image = Stragedibologna-2.jpg , image_size = 300px , caption = Aftermath of the bombing at the Bologna railway station in August 1980 which killed 85 people, the deadliest ev ...

'', or the "Years of Lead", a period of widespread social unrest, political upheaval, labor unrest, rising crime, political violence, and political terrorism from the 1960s to 1980s. During this period, paramilitary and militant political terrorist groups, both on the far left (e.g. the

Red Brigades The Red Brigades ( it, Brigate Rosse , often abbreviated BR) was a far-left Marxist–Leninist armed organization operating as a terrorist and guerrilla group based in Italy responsible for numerous violent incidents, including the abduction ...

) and far right (e.g. the

neo-fascist Neo-fascism is a post-World War II far-right ideology that includes significant elements of fascism. Neo-fascism usually includes ultranationalism, racial supremacy, populism, authoritarianism, nativism, xenophobia, and anti-immigration sent ...

Nuclei Armati Rivoluzionari The Nuclei Armati Rivoluzionari ( en, Armed Revolutionary Nuclei), abbreviated NAR, was an Italian terrorist neo-fascist militant organization active during the Years of Lead from 1977 to November 1981. It committed 33 murders in four years, an ...

) engaged in kidnappings, assassinations, and bombings (such as the

Piazza Fontana bombing The Piazza Fontana bombing ( it, Strage di Piazza Fontana) was a terrorist attack that occurred on 12 December 1969 when a bomb exploded at the headquarters of Banca Nazionale dell'Agricoltura (the National Agricultural Bank) in Piazza Fontana ...

and 1980 Bologna train station bombing). At the same time, there was a period of especially violent conflict and disorder within the

Sicilian Mafia The Sicilian Mafia, also simply known as the Mafia and frequently referred to as Cosa nostra (, ; "our thing") by its members, is an Italian Mafia-terrorist-type organized crime syndicate and criminal society originating in the region of Sicily a ...

, kicked off with the "

First Mafia War The Ciaculli massacre on 30 June 1963 was caused by a car bomb that exploded in Ciaculli, an outlying suburb of Palermo, killing seven police and military officers sent to defuse it after an anonymous phone call. The bomb was intended for Salvat ...

" of the 1960s and culminating in the " Second Mafia War" of the early 1980s. Italian organized crime groups such as the Sicilian Mafia, the Camorra, and especially the Roman

Banda della Magliana The Banda della Magliana (, ''Magliana Gang'') is an Italian criminal organization based in Rome. It was founded in 1975. Given by the media, the name refers to the original neighborhood, the Magliana, of some of its members. The ''Banda della ...

were actively involved in both criminal and political activities during this time, carrying out bombings and kidnappings, making deals with corrupt politicians, and forming strong ties to extreme far right groups and neo-fascist terrorist organizations. Accordingly, ''poliziotteschi'' films such as ''

Execution Squad ''Execution Squad'' ( it, La polizia ringrazia) is a 1972 crime film directed by Steno and starring Enrico Maria Salerno. Set during Italy's tumultuous '' anni di piombo'' ("Years of Lead"), the film obtained a great commercial success. Cast * ...

'' (1972) often featured political extremists and paramilitary or terrorist groups alongside or in addition to the more commonly featured apolitical ''

mafiosi A gangster is a criminal who is a member of a gang. Most gangs are considered to be part of organized crime. Gangsters are also called mobsters, a term derived from ''mob'' and the suffix '' -ster''. Gangs provide a level of organization and ...

'' and

gangster A gangster is a criminal who is a member of a gang. Most gangs are considered to be part of organized crime. Gangsters are also called mobsters, a term derived from ''mob'' and the suffix '' -ster''. Gangs provide a level of organization and ...

criminal elements found in Italian crime films. Romano puppo

Due in part to the genre's often ostensibly negative portrayal of political activists and militants, especially leftist militants, and its seeming endorsement of

vigilantism Vigilantism () is the act of preventing, investigating and punishing perceived offenses and crimes without Right, legal authority. A vigilante (from Spanish, Italian and Portuguese “vigilante”, which means "sentinel" or "watcher") is a pers ...

and "tough-on-crime" or "

law and order In modern politics, law and order is the approach focusing on harsher enforcement and penalties as ways to reduce crime. Penalties for perpetrators of disorder may include longer terms of imprisonment, mandatory sentencing, three-strikes laws a ...

" stances, some ''poliziotteschi'' films (such as 1976's ''

The Big Racket ''The Big Racket'' ( it, Il grande racket) is a 1976 Italian ''poliziottesco'' film directed by Enzo G. Castellari. Fabio Testi stars as a police inspector who takes on a gang of hoodlums who terrorise an Italian city by extorting cash from loca ...

'') were criticized by then-contemporaneous critics and accused of exploiting

conservative Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy that seeks to promote and to preserve traditional institutions, practices, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civilization i ...

fears of rising crime and political upheaval while containing

reactionary In political science, a reactionary or a reactionist is a person who holds political views that favor a return to the ''status quo ante'', the previous political state of society, which that person believes possessed positive characteristics abse ...

, pro-violence, or even quasi-

Fascist Fascism is a far-right, Authoritarianism, authoritarian, ultranationalism, ultra-nationalist political Political ideology, ideology and Political movement, movement,: "extreme militaristic nationalism, contempt for electoral democracy and pol ...

ideological elements in their overarching message. These critiques were similar to those leveled at the 1970s American "

s" of the same period, such as 1974's '' Death Wish'', films by which the ''poliziotteschi'' genre were considerably influenced. In retrospect, despite contemporaneous claims in the 1970s of overly conservative or reactionary themes within the genre, film historians such as Louis Bayman and Peter Bondarella contend that, in fact, ''poliziotteschi'' films generally presented a more multi-faceted, complex outlook on the political turmoil and crime waves of the time, as well as violence in general, with Bayman and author Roberto Curti in particular arguing that the genre generally used political conflicts and violence for largely

apolitical Apoliticism is apathy or antipathy towards all political affiliations. A person may be described as apolitical if they are uninterested or uninvolved in politics. Being apolitical can also refer to situations in which people take an unbiased po ...

tension-building and

cathartic In medicine, a cathartic is a substance that ''accelerates'' defecation. This is similar to a laxative, which is a substance that ''eases'' defecation, usually by softening feces. It is possible for a substance to be both a laxative and a catha ...

or emotional purposes rather than to promote any particular political agendas. Curti notes that the genre's protagonists often simultaneously displayed both right-wing and left-wing views, and protagonists were often

while villains were often wealthy right-wing conservatives. The film ''

Caliber 9 ''Caliber 9'' ( it, Milano calibro 9, lit=Milan caliber 9; also released as ''The Contract'') is a 1972 Italian noir-poliziottesco film written and directed by Fernando Di Leo and starring Gastone Moschin, Mario Adorf, Barbara Bouchet, Philippe L ...

'' (1972), for instance, features protagonists of both right-wing and leftist ideologies and offers differing views on the causes of crime and the true antagonists of law-abiding Italian society, while ''Execution Squad'' reveals the actual antagonists of the film to be right-wing reactionary, "tough-on-crime" ex-police officers and vigilantes rather than the initially suspected leftist militants. Rather than explicitly supporting violence or vigilantism, the genre just as often displayed a morally ambiguous or aloof position on these themes, or even presented vigilantism and violence as a ''

no-win situation A no-win situation, also called a lose-lose situation, is one where a person has choices, but no choice leads to a net gain. For example, if an executioner offers the condemned the choice of death by being hanged, shot, or poisoned, all choices lea ...

.'' Though ''poliziotteschi'' films have been viewed by some critics as condemning a "liberal" or "weak" judiciary system as ineffectual in its treatment of criminals, the genre also suggests a more general distrust of authority, whether left-wing or right-wing, by portraying right-wing law enforcement, politicians and businessmen as hopelessly corrupt and manipulative. According to Bondarella, the "classic" ''poliziotteschi'' film reveals "almost universal suspicion of the very social institutions charged with protecting Italian society from criminal violence." La polizia chiede aiuto

With directors such as

Fernando Di Leo Fernando Di Leo (11 January 1932 – 2 December 2003) was an Italian film director and screenwriter, script writer. He made 17 films as a director and about 50 scripts from 1964 to 1985. Biography Fernando Di Leo was born on 11 January 1932 in ...

and

Umberto Lenzi Umberto Lenzi (6 August 1931 – 19 October 2017) was an Italian film director, screenwriter, and novelist. A fan of film since young age, Lenzi studied at the Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia and made his first film in 1958 which went unr ...

and actors such as

Maurizio Merli Maurizio Merli (February 8, 1940 – March 10, 1989) was an Italian film actor and a star of many Italian police thrillers. Career After a decade of minor film roles, 1974 saw a breakthrough for Merli with his first starring role in a rema ...

and

Tomas Milian Tomas Milian (born Tomás Quintín Rodríguez-Varona Milián Salinas de la Fé y Álvarez de la Campa; 3 March 1933 – 22 March 2017) was a Cuban-born actor and singer with American and Italian citizenship, known for the emotional intensity and ...

, ''poliziotteschi'' films became popular in the mid-1970s after the decline of

Spaghetti Western The Spaghetti Western is a broad subgenre of Western films produced in Europe. It emerged in the mid-1960s in the wake of Sergio Leone's film-making style and international box-office success. The term was used by foreign critics because most o ...

s and

Eurospy Eurospy film, or Spaghetti spy film (when referring to Italian-produced films in the genre), is a genre of spy films produced in Europe, especially in Italy, France, and Spain, that either sincerely imitated or else parodied the British James Bo ...

genres. The subgenre lost its mainstream popularity in the late 1970s as Italian erotic comedy and horror films started topping the Italian box office. Although based around crime and detective work, ''poliziotteschi'' should not be confused with the other popular Italian crime genre of the 1970s, the ''

giallo In Italian cinema, ''Giallo'' (; plural ''gialli'', from ''giallo'', Italian for yellow) is a genre of mystery fiction and thrillers that often contains slasher, crime fiction, psychological thriller, psychological horror, sexploitation, and, ...

'', which, to English-speaking and non-Italian audiences, refers to a genre of violent Italian murder-mystery thriller-horror films. Directors and stars often moved between both forms, and some films could be considered under either banner, such as

Massimo Dallamano Massimo Dallamano (17 April 1917 – 4 November 1976), sometimes credited as Max Dillman, Max Dillmann or Jack Dalmas, was an Italian director and director of photography. Life and career Born in Milan, Dallamano began in the 1940s as camera ...

's ''

What Have They Done to Your Daughters? ''What Have They Done to Your Daughters?'' ( it, La polizia chiede aiuto , lit=The police ask for help) is a 1974 Italian ''giallo'' and ''poliziotteschi'' film directed by Massimo Dallamano. Plot Police officers investigated the death of 14-yea ...

'' (1974). The ''poliziottesco'' subgenre gradually declined in popularity during the late 1970s. Screenwriter

Dardano Sacchetti Dardano Sacchetti (born 1944 ) is an Italian screenwriter who often worked with Italian directors Lamberto Bava and Lucio Fulci. Screenwriting Sacchetti was born in 1944,in Italy. His first screen credit was for Dario Argento's film ''The Cat o' Ni ...

, who was unhappy with what he deemed the genre's "fascistic" undertones, credits himself for "destroying it from the inside", by making it evolve into self-

parody A parody, also known as a spoof, a satire, a send-up, a take-off, a lampoon, a play on (something), or a caricature, is a creative work designed to imitate, comment on, and/or mock its subject by means of satiric or ironic imitation. Often its subj ...

. By the end of the decade, the most successful films associated with the genre were

comedy Comedy is a genre of fiction that consists of discourses or works intended to be humorous or amusing by inducing laughter, especially in theatre, film, stand-up comedy, television, radio, books, or any other entertainment medium. The term o ...

pictures, which gradually evolved towards pure comedy.

Directors include

Mario Bianchi Mario Bianchi (7 January 1939 – April 2022) was an Italian film director and screenwriter. Bianchi directed several features including sexploitation and pornographic films Pornographic films (pornos), erotic films, sex films, and 18+ ...

Alfonso Brescia Alfonso Brescia (6 January 1930 – 6 June 2001) was an Italian film director. Brescia began working in film against his father's wishes, and eventually directed his first film '' Revolt of the Praetorians'' in 1964. Brescia worked in several gen ...

* Enzo G. Castellari *

Bruno Corbucci Bruno Corbucci (23 October 1931 – 7 September 1996) was an Italian screenwriter and film director. He was the younger brother of Sergio Corbucci, and wrote many of his films. He was born in Rome, where he also died. The vast majority o ...

Damiano Damiani Damiano Damiani (23 July 1922 – 7 March 2013) was an Italian screenwriter, film director, actor and writer. Poet and director Pier Paolo Pasolini referred to him as "a bitter moralist hungry for old purity", while film critic Paolo Mere ...

Alberto De Martino Alberto De Martino (12 June 1929 – 2 June 2015) was an Italian film director and screenwriter. Born in Rome, De Martino started as a child actor and later returned to the cinema where worked as a screenwriter, director and dubbing supervis ...

Ruggero Deodato Ruggero Deodato (born 7 May 1939) is an Italian film director, screenwriter, and sometime actor. His career has spanned a wide-range of genres including peplum, comedy, drama, poliziottesco and science fiction, yet he is perhaps best known f ...

Lucio Fulci Lucio Fulci (; 17 June 1927 – 13 March 1996) was an Italian film director, screenwriter, and actor. Although he worked in a wide array of genres through a career spanning nearly five decades, including comedies and Spaghetti Westerns, he garn ...

Mario Caiano Mario Caiano (February 13, 1933 – September 20, 2015) was an Italian film director, screenwriter, producer, art director and second unit director. Career Born in Rome, he directed nearly 50 films between 1961 and 2001 and wrote some 27 ...

Marino Girolami Marino Girolami (1 February 1914 – 20 February 1994) was an Italian film director and actor. Biography Marino Giorlami was born on 1 February 1914 in Rome, Italy. Formally a Professional boxer, Girolami ended his boxing career when he was 20. ...

Romolo Girolami Romolo Guerrieri, aka ''Romolo Girolami'' (born 5 December 1931) is an Italian film director and screenwriter. He directed 17 films between 1961 and 1992. Selected filmography ;Director * ''Ten Thousand Dollars for a Massacre'' (1966) * ''John ...

Sergio Martino Sergio Martino (born 19 July 1938) is an Italian film director and producer, notable for his contributions to the giallo genre. Martino is the brother of the late producer Luciano Martino (who died in 2013). They collaborated frequently in their ...

* Stelvio Massi *

Giuliano Montaldo Giuliano Montaldo (born 22 February 1930) is an Italian film director. Biography While he was still a young student, Montaldo was recruited by the director Carlo Lizzani for the role of leading actor in the film ''Achtung! Banditi!'' (1951). ...

Elio Petri Eraclio Petri (29 January 1929 – 10 November 1982), commonly known as Elio Petri, was an Italian film director, screenwriter, theatre director, and critic associated with the political cinema in the 1960s and '70s. His film ''Investigation ...

Sergio Sollima Sergio Sollima (17 April 1921 – 1 July 2015) was an Italian film director and script writer. Biography Sollima graduated from the Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia in 1935. During World War II he was in the Italian Resistance. After the ...

Duccio Tessari Duccio Tessari (11 October 1926 – 6 September 1994) was an Italian director, screenwriter and actor, considered one of the fathers of Spaghetti Westerns. Born in Genoa, Tessari started in the fifties as documentarist and as screenwriter of pe ...

Actors include

Mario Adorf Mario Adorf (; born 8 September 1930) is a German actor, considered to be one of the great veteran character actors of European cinema. Since 1954, he has played both leading and supporting roles in over 200 film and television productions, am ...

Ursula Andress Ursula Andress (born 19 March 1936) is a Swiss-German actress, former model and sex symbol who has appeared in American, British and Italian films. Her breakthrough role was as Bond girl Honey Ryder in the first James Bond film, '' Dr. No'' (1962 ...

Carroll Baker Carroll Baker (born May 28, 1931) is an American former actress. After studying under Lee Strasberg at the Actors Studio, Baker began performing on Broadway in 1954. From there, she was recruited by director Elia Kazan to play the lead in t ...

Martin Balsam Martin Henry Balsam (November 4, 1919 – February 13, 1996) was an American actor. He had a prolific career in character roles in film, in theatre, and on television. An early member of the Actors Studio, he began his career on the New ...

Helmut Berger Helmut Berger (; born Helmut Steinberger; 29 May 1944) is an Austrian actor, known for his portrayal of narcissistic and sexually-ambiguous characters. He was one of the stars of the European cinema in the late 1960s and 1970s, and is regarded a ...

Barbara Bouchet Barbara Bouchet (born Bärbel Gutscher; 15 August 1943)
glamourgirlsofthesilverscreen.com; ...

Sal Borgese Sal Borgese (born 5 March 1937, in Rome) is an Italian film actor. He is sometimes credited as Salvatore Borghese or Mark Trevor. He is noted for extensive work in the Italian film industry from the 1960s to present day, and for his work as a s ...

Marcel Bozzuffi Marcel Bozzuffi (28 October 19291 February 1988) was a French film actor. He appeared as a hitman in the Oscar-winning American film '' The French Connection''. In 1963, he married French actress Françoise Fabian. Selected filmography *1955: ...

Charles Bronson Charles Bronson (born Charles Dennis Buchinsky; November 3, 1921 – August 30, 2003) was an American actor. Known for his "granite features and brawny physique," he gained international fame for his starring roles in action, Western, and war ...

Luciano Catenacci Luciano Catenacci (13 April 1933 – 4 October 1990) was an Italian actor and production manager who worked on mainly Italian produced films during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. Life and career Born in Rome, Catenacci started his career as ...

Adolfo Celi Adolfo Celi (; 27 July 1922 – 19 February 1986) was an Italian film actor and director. Born in Curcuraci, Messina, Sicily, Celi appeared in nearly 100 films, specialising in international villains. Although a prominent actor in Italian ...

Giovanni Cianfriglia Giovanni Cianfriglia (born 5 April 1935) is an Italian film actor. He has appeared in more than 100 films since 1958. Born in Anzio, Cianfriglia debuted as the body double of Steve Reeves in ''Hercules'', then he started appearing, often unc ...

Joan Collins Dame Joan Henrietta Collins (born 23 May 1933) is an English actress, author and columnist. Collins is the recipient of several accolades, including a Golden Globe Award, a People's Choice Award, two Soap Opera Digest Awards and a Primetime ...

Richard Conte Nicholas Peter Conte (March 24, 1910 – April 15, 1975), known professionally as Richard Conte, was an American actor. He appeared in more than 100 films from the 1940s through 1970s, including '' I'll Cry Tomorrow'', ''Ocean's 11'', and ''Th ...

Joseph Cotten Joseph Cheshire Cotten Jr. (May 15, 1905 – February 6, 1994) was an American film, stage, radio and television actor. Cotten achieved prominence on Broadway, starring in the original stage productions of '' The Philadelphia Story'' and ''Sabr ...

Alain Delon Alain Fabien Maurice Marcel Delon (; born 8 November 1935) is a French actor and filmmaker. He was one of Europe's most prominent actors and screen sex symbols in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. In 1985, he won the César Award for Best Actor for h ...

George Eastman George Eastman (July 12, 1854March 14, 1932) was an American entrepreneur who founded the Kodak, Eastman Kodak Company and helped to bring the photographic use of roll film into the mainstream. He was a major philanthropist, establishing the ...

Mel Ferrer Melchor Gastón Ferrer (August 25, 1917 – June 2, 2008) was an American actor, director, producer and screenwriter. He achieved prominence on Broadway before scoring notable film hits with ''Scaramouche'', ''Lili'' and ''Knights of the Round ...

Klaus Kinski Klaus Kinski (, born Klaus Günter Karl Nakszynski 18 October 1926 – 23 November 1991) was a German actor, equally renowned for his intense performance style and notorious for his volatile personality. He appeared in over 130 film roles in a c ...

Angelo Infanti Angelo Infanti (; 16 February 1939 – 12 October 2010) was an Italian film actor. He appeared in more than 90 films between 1961 and 2010. He was born on 16 February 1939 in Zagarolo, Italy. He died on 12 October 2010 in Tivoli, Italy due t ...

Leonard Mann Leonard Mann (15 November 1895 – 29 April 1981) was an Australian poet, and novelist. Life He served in the Australian Imperial Force during World War I, and with the Department of Aircraft Production in World War II. He was, in Septembe ...

Luc Merenda Luc Charles Olivier Merenda (born 3 September 1943) is a French film actor. He was one of the most prominent actors of the Italian poliziotteschi genre, working several times with Sergio Martino and Fernando Di Leo. He is of Italian origin thr ...

* Mario Merola *

Gordon Mitchell Gordon Mitchell (born Charles Allen Pendleton; July 29, 1923 – September 20, 2003) was an American actor and bodybuilder who made about 200 B movies. Biography Charles Allen Pendleton was born in Denver, Colorado, and began working out in ...

Gastone Moschin Gastone Moschin (8 June 1929 – 4 September 2017) was an Italian stage, television and film actor. Career Born in San Giovanni Lupatoto (Veneto), Moschin graduated from the Accademia Nazionale di Arte Drammatica Silvio D'Amico and then began hi ...

Franco Nero Francesco Clemente Giuseppe Sparanero (born 23 November 1941), known professionally as Franco Nero, is an Italian actor, producer, and director. His breakthrough role was as the title character in the Spaghetti Western film '' Django'' (1966), ...

Jack Palance Jack Palance ( ; born Volodymyr Palahniuk ( uk, Володимир Палагню́к); February 18, 1919 – November 10, 2006) was an American actor known for playing tough guys and villains. He was nominated for three Academy Awards, all fo ...

Oliver Reed Robert Oliver Reed (13 February 1938 – 2 May 1999) was an English actor known for his well-to-do, macho image and "hellraiser" lifestyle. After making his first significant screen appearances in Hammer Horror films in the early 1960s, his ...

* Fernando Rey * Edward G. Robinson *

Luciano Rossi Luciano Rossi (28 November 1934 – 29 May 2005) was an Italian film actor. He appeared in 67 films between 1966 and 1987. He was born and died in Rome, Italy. Partial filmography * ''Ten Italians for One German'' (1962) - German Soldier ...

* Antonio Sabàto Sr. *

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* Massimo Vanni *

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Selected films

* ''

''(''Banditi a Milano'', 1968) * ''

Detective Belli ''Detective Belli'' ( it, Un Detective) is a 1969 Italian ''poliziotteschi'' directed by Romolo Guerrieri and starring Franco Nero. It is based on the novel ''Macchie di belletto'' by Ludovico Dentice. Plot The rude Commissioner Belli (Franco ...

''(''Un Detective'', 1969) * ''

Violent City ''Violent City'' ( it, Città violenta, also released as ''The Family'') is a 1970 crime thriller film directed by Sergio Sollima from a screenplay co-written with Lina Wertmüller, starring Charles Bronson, Jill Ireland, and Telly Savalas. Bro ...

'' (''Città violenta'', 1970) * ''

Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion ''Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion'' ( it, Indagine su un cittadino al di sopra di ogni sospetto) is a 1970 Italian crime drama film directed by Elio Petri, starring Gian Maria Volonté and Florinda Bolkan. It is a psychological, bla ...

'' (''Indagine su un cittadino al di sopra di ogni sospetto'', 1970) * ''

'' (''La polizia ringrazia'', 1972) * ''

''(''Milano calibro 9'', 1972) * ''

Manhunt Manhunt may refer to: Search processes * Manhunt (law enforcement), a search for a dangerous fugitive * Manhunt (military), a search for a high-value target by special operations forces or intelligence agencies Social organisations * Manhun ...

'' (''La mala ordina'', 1972) * ''

Tony Arzenta ''Tony Arzenta'' (internationally released as ''Big Guns'' and ''No Way Out'') is a 1973 Italian noir film directed by Duccio Tessari. The film was commercially successful. Plot When the Milan based mafia hitman Tony Arzenta asks to get out of ...

''(1973) * ''

High Crime ''High Crime'' ( it, La polizia incrimina la legge assolve, es, La policía detiene, la ley juzga) is a 1973 Italian-Spanish ''poliziottesco'' film directed by Enzo G. Castellari. The film stars Franco Nero, James Whitmore, Delia Boccardo and ...

'' (''La polizia incrimina la legge assolve'', 1973) * ''

The Violent Professionals ''The Violent Professionals'' (Italian: ''Milano trema: la polizia vuole giustizia'') is a 1973 Italian Poliziotteschi gangster film directed by Sergio Martino. The film stars Luc Merenda (Giorgio Caneparo) who goes undercover as a getaway driver ...

'' (''Milano trema – la polizia vuole giustizia'', 1973) * ''

Revolver A revolver (also called a wheel gun) is a repeating handgun that has at least one barrel and uses a revolving cylinder containing multiple chambers (each holding a single cartridge) for firing. Because most revolver models hold up to six roun ...

''(1973) * ''

The Great Kidnapping ''The Great Kidnapping'' ( it, La polizia sta a guardare, also known as ''The Police Look On'' and ''Ransom! Police Is Watching'') is a 1973 Italian poliziottesco film directed by Roberto Infascelli. Cast * Enrico Maria Salerno: Quaestor Cardo ...

'' (''La polizia sta a guardare'', 1973) * '' The Boss'' (''Il Boss'', 1973) * '' Flatfoot'' (''Piedone lo sbirro'', 1973) * ''

Gang War in Milan ''Gang War in Milan'' ( it, Milano rovente, lit=Scorching Hot Milan) is a 1973 Italian ''Poliziotteschi, poliziottesco'' film directed by Umberto Lenzi. Cast * Antonio Sabàto, Sr., Antonio Sabàto: Salvatore Cangemi * Philippe Leroy (actor), P ...

''(''Milano rovente'', 1973) * '' The Police Serve the Citizens?'' (''La polizia è al servizio del cittadino?'', 1973) * '' Emergency Squad'' (''Squadra volante'', 1974) * '' Street Law'' (''Il cittadino si ribella'', 1974) * '' Almost Human'' (''Milano odia: la polizia non può sparare'', 1974) * ''

'' (''La polizia chiede aiuto'', 1974) * ''

Kidnap In criminal law, kidnapping is the unlawful confinement of a person against their will, often including transportation/asportation. The asportation and abduction element is typically but not necessarily conducted by means of force or fear: the p ...

'' (''Fatevi vivi, la polizia non interverrà'', 1974) * ''

The Last Desperate Hours ''The Last Desperate Hours'' ( it, Milano: il clan dei calabresi) is a 1974 Italian poliziottesco (Italian crime genre) Mafia film directed by Giorgio Stegani. Plot Cast * Antonio Sabàto: Paolo Mancuso * Silvia Monti: Laura Monachesi *Pier ...

'' (''Milano: il clan dei calabresi'', 1974) * ''

Shoot First, Die Later ''Shoot First, Die Later'' ( it, Il poliziotto è marcio) is a 1974 Italian poliziottesco-noir film directed by Fernando Di Leo. Di Leo reprises some elements of the novel ''Rogue Cop'' by William P. McGivern. Luc Merenda later starred in two o ...

'' (''Il poliziotto è marcio'', 1974) * ''

Killer Cop ''Killer Cop'' ( it, La polizia ha le mani legate) is a 1975 Italian poliziottesco- crime film directed in 1975 by Luciano Ercoli. The film's plot reprises the Piazza Fontana bombing which happened in Milan in 1969. The gun in the umbrella used i ...

'' (''La polizia ha le mani legate'', 1975) * ''

Manhunt in the City ''Manhunt in the City'' ( it, L'uomo della strada fa giustizia, lit=The Average Man Gets Justice ), also known as ''The Manhunt'', is a 1975 Italian poliziottesco film directed by Umberto Lenzi. It was co-written by Dardano Sacchetti and has a sco ...

'' (''L'uomo della strada fa giustizia'', 1975) * ''

Mark of the Cop ''Mark il poliziotto'' (internationally released as ''Mark of the Cop'', ''Blood, Sweat and Fear'' and ''Mark the Narc'') is an Italian poliziottesco film directed in 1975 by Stelvio Massi. This film obtained a great commercial success and gener ...

'' (''Mark il poliziotto'', 1975) * '' Mark Shoots First'' (''Mark il poliziotto spara per primo'', 1975) * ''

Gambling City ''Gambling City'' ( it, La città gioca d'azzardo) is a 1975 Italian ''poliziotteschi'' film by Sergio Martino. It stars Luc Merenda, Enrico Maria Salerno, Dayle Haddon and Corrado Pani. ''Gambling City'' is one of several European heist film ...

''(''La città gioca d'azzardo'', 1975) * ''

Kidnap Syndicate ''Kidnap Syndicate'' ( it, La città sconvolta: caccia spietata ai rapitori, lit=The City is Shaken: Ruthless Pursuit of the Kidnappers) is a 1975 Italian ''poliziottesco'' film directed by Fernando Di Leo. Even being a minor work in the Di Leo's ...

'' (''La città sconvolta: caccia spietata ai rapitori'', 1975) * ''

Silent Action ''Silent Action'' ( it, La polizia accusa: il Servizio Segreto uccide, lit=The Police Accuse... The Secret Service Kills) is a 1975 Italian ''poliziottesco'' film directed by Sergio Martino. The film's plot alludes to the Golpe Borghese, a failed ...

'' (''La polizia accusa: il Servizio Segreto uccide'', 1975) * '' Syndicate Sadists'' (''Il giustiziere sfida la città'', 1975) * ''

Violent Rome ''Violent Rome'' ( it, Roma violenta) is an Italian 1975 ''poliziottesco'' film directed by Marino Girolami It obtained a great commercial success and launched the career of Maurizio Merli. The film has two sequels, '' Violent Naples'' and '' A Spe ...

''(''Roma violenta'', 1975) * ''

Violent Naples ''Violent Naples'' ( it, Napoli violenta) is a 1976 ''poliziottesco'' film directed by Umberto Lenzi. It starred Maurizio Merli, John Saxon and Barry Sullivan, and was the first sequel to ''Violent Rome''. Saxon appeared in several such movies. Pl ...

''(''Napoli violenta'', 1976) * ''

A Special Cop in Action ''Special Cop in Action'' ( it, Italia a mano armata, lit=Italy at gunpoint) is a 1976 Italian ''poliziottesco'' film directed by Marino Girolami, here credited as Franco Martinelli. The film is the final chapter in the Girolami's Commissioner Bet ...

'' (''Italia a mano armata'', 1976) * ''

Mister Scarface ''Mister Scarface'' ( it, I padroni della città) is a 1976 '' noir'' -''action'' film directed by Fernando Di Leo and starring Jack Palance. Plot Tony (Harry Baer) is a mob loan collector who is unsatisfied with his position in life, and con ...

'' (''l Padroni della città'', 1976) * '' The Cop in Blue Jeans ''(''Squadra antiscippo'', 1976) * ''

Fear in the City Fear is an intensely unpleasant emotion in response to perceiving or recognizing a danger or threat. Fear causes physiological changes that may produce behavioral reactions such as mounting an aggressive response or fleeing the threat. Fear i ...

'' (''Paura in città'', 1976) * ''

''(''Il grande racket'', 1976) * ''

Strange Shadows in an Empty Room ''Strange Shadows in an Empty Room'' ( it, Una magnum special per Tony Saitta) is a 1976 film starring Stuart Whitman as a tough ''Dirty Harry'' type who sets out to discover his sister's killer. Plot A tough cop learns that his sister was poisone ...

'' also known as ''Blazing Magnum'' (''Una magnum special per Tony Saitta'', 1976) * ''

Live Like a Cop, Die Like a Man ''Live Like a Cop, Die Like a Man'' ( it, Uomini si nasce poliziotti si muore) is a 1976 Italian poliziotteschi crime film, directed by Ruggero Deodato and starring Marc Porel and Ray Lovelock. Cast * Marc Porel as Fred * Ray Lovelock as Tony ...

'' (''Uomini si nasce poliziotti si muore'', 1976) * ''

The Tough Ones ''The Tough Ones'' () is a 1999 Finnish film directed by Aleksi Mäkelä. It was Finland's official Best Foreign Language Film submission at the 72nd Academy Awards, but did not manage to receive a nomination.* Plot The film starts when Jussi ...

'' (''Roma a mano armata'', 1976) * ''

Free Hand for a Tough Cop ''Free Hand for a Tough Cop'' ( it, Il trucido e lo sbirro / The Numbskull and the Cop), also known as ''Tough Cop'', is an Italian poliziottesco-action film directed in 1976 by Umberto Lenzi and the second entry into the Tanzi/Moretto/Monnezza sh ...

'' (''Il trucido e lo sbirro'', 1976) * ''

Colt 38 Special Squad ''Colt 38 Special Squad'' ( it, Quelli della Calibro 38) is a 1976 Italian ''poliziottesco'' film. This film, by Massimo Dallamano, stars Ivan Rassimov and Marcel Bozzuffi. Plot Turin, Italy mid-1970s. When his wife becomes the latest innocent vi ...

''(''Quelli della Calibro 38'', 1976) * '' The Cynic, the Rat & the Fist ''(''Il cinico, l'infame, il violento'', 1977) * ''

Weapons of Death ''Weapons of Death'' ( it, Napoli spara!, also known as ''Naples Shoots'') is a ''poliziottesco'' film directed by Mario Caiano in 1977. It is spin-off from the ''Commissioner Betti'' Trilogy as the character of Gennarino (still played by Massimo ...

'' (''Napoli spara!'', 1977) * ''

The Heroin Busters ''The Heroin Busters'' ( it, La via della droga) is a 1977 Italian crime film directed by Enzo G. Castellari and starring Fabio Testi, David Hemmings and Sherry Buchanan. Production ''The Heroin Busters'' was director Enzo G. Castellari's l ...

''(''La via della droga'', 1977) * '' The Criminals Attack, The Police Respond'' (''La malavita attacca, la polizia risponde!'', 1977) * ''

A Man Called Magnum ''A Man Called Magnum'' (in original Italian ''Napoli si ribella'') is a 1977 ''poliziotteschi'' film. This film by Michele Massimo Tarantini stars Luc Merenda. Plot Cast * Luc Merenda: commissario Dario Mauri *Enzo Cannavale: maresciallo Nic ...

'' (''Napoli si ribella'', 1977) * ''

Double Game ''Double Game'', also known as ''Violent Turin'' (in original Italian, ''Torino violenta''), is a 1977 ''poliziotteschi'' film. The film is directed by Carlo Ausino and stars George Hilton.NoShame DVD Case, 2005. Last accessed: September 2008. ...

'' (''Torino violenta'', 1977) * ''

Beast with a Gun ''Beast with a Gun'' ( it, La belva col mitra) is a 1977 Italian noir- poliziotteschi crime film written and directed by Sergio Grieco. The film would be Grieco's final film, as he died in 1982. The main character of the film, Nanni Vitali, wa ...

'' (''La belva con mitra'', 1977) * ''

Convoy Busters ''Convoy Busters'' ( it, Un poliziotto scomodo) is a 1978 ''poliziotteschi'' film directed by Stelvio Massi and starring Maurizio Merli. Cast *Maurizio Merli: Inspector Francesco Olmi *Olga Karlatos: Anna *Massimo Serato: Degan Sr. *Mario Fel ...

'' (''Un poliziotto scomodo'', 1978) * '' Brothers Till We Die'' (''La banda del gobbo'', 1978) * ''

The Iron Commissioner '' Il commissario di ferro'' ( is a 1978 Italian ''poliziottesco'' film directed by Stelvio Massi. Plot Commissioner Mauro Mariani is known for his severity towards criminals and for his habit of acting on his own, which cost him the transition ...

'' (''Il commissario di ferro'', 1978) * ''

Blood and Diamonds ''Blood and Diamonds'' ( it, Diamanti sporchi di sangue) is a 1978 Italian noir-poliziottesco film directed by Fernando di Leo. Cast *Claudio Cassinelli: Guido Mauri *Martin Balsam: Rizzo *Barbara Bouchet: Lisa *Pier Paolo Capponi: Tony *Ol ...

'' (''Diamanti sporchi di sangue'', 1978) * ''

From Corleone to Brooklyn ''From Corleone to Brooklyn'' (original title: ''Da Corleone a Brooklyn'') is an Italian ''poliziotteschi'' film directed by Umberto Lenzi. The film was released in Italy on 13 April 1979 and stars Maurizio Merli, Mario Merola (singer), Mario Mero ...

'' (''Da Corleone a Brooklyn'', 1979) * ''

Hunted City ''Hunted City'' ( it, Sbirro, la tua legge è lenta... la mia no! ) is a 1979 Italian poliziottesco film directed by Stelvio Massi. It represents one of the few negative roles for Merola. Production ''Hunted City'' was the fifth collaboration bet ...

'' (''Sbirro, la tua legge è lenta... la mia no!, 1979) * '' The Rebel ''(''Poliziotto, solitudine e rabbia'', 1980) * ''

Contraband Contraband (from Medieval French ''contrebande'' "smuggling") refers to any item that, relating to its nature, is illegal to be possessed or sold. It is used for goods that by their nature are considered too dangerous or offensive in the eyes o ...

''(''Luca il contrabbandiere'', 1980) The Best Cop Movies You’ve Never Heard Of: ‘Poliziotteschi’ Films Get Their Due, IndieWire
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References

External links

Poliziotteschi – The Final Take
at

Allmovie AllMovie (previously All Movie Guide) is an online database with information about films, television programs, and screen actors. , AllMovie.com and the AllMovie consumer brand are owned by RhythmOne. History AllMovie was founded by popular-cult ...

Pollanet Squad
– Poliziotteschi data base

{{film genres * Italian films by genre Film genres 1970s in film 1980s in Italian cinema