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Film
Reviews
1969 - (Uncredited) Un Detective (Italy), a.k.a. -
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Detective Belli (1969) (USA)
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Macchie di belletto (1972) (Italy: reissue title)
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Ring of Death (1969)
Romolo Guerrieri (director); Massimo D'Avak,
Alberto Silvestri, Ludovico Dentice, and Franco Verucci (writers, based on
the novel Macchie di belletto
by Ludovico Dentice); Mario Cecchi Gori (producer); with Franco Nero,
Florinda Bolkan, Adolfo Celi, Delia Boccardo, Susanna Martinková, Renzo
Palmer, Roberto Bisacco, Maurizio Bonuglia, Mino Fontana, Silvia Dionisio,
and Marino Masé (likewise uncredited) [crime].
Review by Richard Taylor
rtaylor@roadrunner.nf.net:
Late sixties Italian crime drama did not impress me
a whole lot. Having developed a taste for a number of veteran actor Franco
Nero’s movies this one left quite a bitter taste in my mouth. Nero stars in
countless films and whether he’s dubbed (with the case of Django and Cry
Onion) or speaking with his thick Italian accent, the actor has a strong on
screen presence. Some of his better work includes Hitch-hike, Keoma, and
Django, don’t get me started on his great 5 minute role in Die Hard 2.
Ring of Death is a boring array of detective work
and questioning sessions while Nero tries to uncover a web (or ring if you
prefer) of deception, blackmail and yes, death. When he’s not questioning
suspects he’s slapping around women and going to bed with them. After many
questions and loud outbursts later Nero decides to take a young lady for a
round of “Russian Roulette” using a car as the gun and the other traffic as
bullets. Nero is quoted as saying “Should we go another round my dear?”
Nero’s character is dull, all of what you would
except of an actual detective so the movie is in tune with realism you could
say.
Ring Of Death is the obvious tacked on American title and the movie is
pretty old, I was thinking early 70's but its late sixties so I’m impressed.
Too bad it wasn’t better, by the time the conclusion came around I was just
glad with the fact it was finally over and done with. Viewers may notice
familiar actress Florinda Bolkan in the movie who also starred in the late
Lucio Fulci’s
Don’t Torture A Duckling and A Lizard In Woman’s Skin.
***
Dal romanzo Macchie di belletto di Ludovico
Dentice. Commissario indaga su casa discografica e incappa in cadaveri. Il
suo comportamento apparentemente ambiguo insospettisce la polizia.
Macchinoso poliziesco con noiose, inutili e pesanti divagazioni e verbosità.
Il personaggio del protagonista non è approfondito.
Sources:
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