The Italian Connection (1972) La mala ordina (original title)

Director:

Fernando Di Leo

Writers:

Fernando Di Leo (story)
Fernando Di Leo (dialogue)
(more)

Release Date:

2 September 1972 (Italy)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Thriller

Tagline:

The Godfather wants revenge! The contracts are out... The hit men gather. All hell explodes in the underworld!

Plot:

When a shipment of heroin disappears between Italy and New York, a small-time pimp in Milan is framed for the theft...

Plot Keywords:

Pimp | Revenge | Heroin | Italy | Whiskey

Cast

Mario Adorf	...	Luca Canali
Henry Silva	...	Dave Catania
Woody Strode	...	Frank Webster
Adolfo Celi	...	Don Vito Tressoldi
Luciana Paluzzi	...	Eva Lalli
Franco Fabrizi	...	Enrico Moroni
Femi Benussi	...	Nana
Gianni Macchia	...	Nicolo
Peter Berling	...	Damiano
Francesca Romana Coluzzi	...	Trini
Cyril Cusack	...	Corso
Sylva Koscina	...	Lucia Canali
Jessica Dublin	...	Miss Kenneth
Omero Capanna	...	Vito's Goon
Giuseppe Castellano	...	Garagaz
Giulio Baraghini	...	Gustovino
Andrea Scotti	...	Garo
Imelde Marani	...	Cloakroom attendant
Gilberto Galimberti	...	Vito's Goon
Franca Sciutto	...	Dancer
Ulli Lommel	...	Dancer (as Ulrich Lommel)
Vittorio Fanfoni	...	Vito's Goon
Giuliano Petrelli	...	Vito's Goon
Pietro Ceccarelli	...	Vito's Goon
Pasquale Fasciano	...	Vito's Goon
Alberto Fogliani	...	Pinocho
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Empedocle Buzzanca	...	Don Vito Henchman (uncredited)
Enrico Chiappafreddo	...	Don Vito Henchman (uncredited)
Domenico Cianfriglia	...	Milkman (uncredited)
Giovanni Cianfriglia	...	Peppiniello (uncredited)
Guerrino Crivello	...	Hotel Bartender (uncredited)
Fernando Di Leo	...	Passerby in Blue Shirt (uncredited)
Lina Franchi	...	Prostitute in the Park (uncredited)
Ettore Geri	...	Disco Barman (uncredited)
Lara Wendel	...	Rita Canali (uncredited)
Renato Zero	...	Friend of Triny (uncredited)

Directed by
Fernando Di Leo

Writing credits
Fernando Di Leo		(story)
Fernando Di Leo		(dialogue)
Fernando Di Leo		(screenplay) and
Augusto Finocchi		(screenplay) &
Ingo Hermes		(screenplay)
Giorgio Scerbanenco		(short story) uncredited

Produced by
Armando Novelli	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Armando Trovajoli		(as Armando Trovaioli)

Cinematography by
Franco Villa

Film Editing by
Amedeo Giomini

Production Design by
Francesco Cuppini

Costume Design by
Francesco Cuppini

Makeup Department
Antonio Mura	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Luciano Appignani	....	unit production manager
Pietro Ceccarelli	....	production manager (as Lanfranco Ceccarelli)
Armando Novelli	....	unit production manager
Vincenzo Salviani	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Franco Lo Cascio	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Goffredo Salvatori	....	sound

Special Effects by
Basilio Patrizi	....	special effects

Stunts
Sergio Mioni	....	stunt driver (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Enrico Biribicchi	....	assistant camera
Claudio Morabito	....	camera operator

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Alain Reynaud	....	wardrobe: Luciana Paluzzi

Editorial Department
Ornella Chistolini	....	assistant editor

Other crew
Gilberto Galimberti	....	master at arms
Augusto Petrone	....	production assistant
Vivalda Vigorelli	....	continuity
David Sheldon	....	production executive (uncredited)
Sormani	....	tapestry (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Cineproduzioni Daunia 70
• Dear Film Produzione
• Hermes Synchron

Distributors

• American International Pictures (AIP) (1973) (USA) (theatrical) (dubbed)
• Astral Films (1973) (Canada) (theatrical) (as "The Italian Connection") (dubbed)
• Media Home Entertainment (1985) (USA) (VHS) (as "Manhunt")
• Xenon Entertainment Group (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• Raro Video/Nocturno (2004) (Italy) (DVD)
• Starmedia Home Entertainment (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
• Videoasia (2009) (USA) (DVD)
• Raro Video (2011) (USA) (DVD) (box set)
• Cinefear (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Memory Video Production (1987) (Greece) (VHS)
• Synergy Entertainment (????) (USA) (DVD) (as "Manhunt")
• Video Media (????) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Video for Pleasure (VFP) (19??) (Netherlands) (VHS) (rental) (as 'Man Hunt')

Other Companies

• Gruppo Acrobatica Saci  stunts
• Sormani  furnishing

Also Known As:

"La mala ordina" - Italy (original title)
"Black Kingpin" - USA (video title)
"Hired to Kill" - International (English title)
"Hit Men" - USA (video title)
"Hitmen" - USA (video title)
"Man Hunt" - USA (video title)
"Manhunt" - USA (video title)
"Manhunt in the City" - International (English title)
"Vengeance of the Godfather" - Hong Kong (English title) (premiere title)

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

Italy | West Germany

Language:

Italian

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Norway:18 | USA:R | West Germany:18 | Italy:VM18 | Iceland:16

Filming Locations:

Milan, Lombardia, Italy

Company:

Cineproduzioni Daunia 70

Trivia:

Second part of Fernando Di Leo's "Milieu Trilogy" also including Caliber 9 (1972) and The Boss (1973).

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Ban the Sadist Videos! (2005) (V)

Strongly recommended for beginners in Italian police films

I spent much time in studying Italian police films of this era - and this one sticks out as one of the best. Unlike other Di Leo flicks - this one has a decent story, features B+ actors like Mario Adorf and Adolfo Celli (Mr. Largo in OO7's Thunderball), the editing is fast and rhythmic and it contains only one car chase but this one has it. The films owes its quality largely to the German-Italian actor Mario Adorf (already playing in one other Di Leo Film "Milano Calibro 9") - Adorf is witty, has a face with a thousand expressions and perfectly impersonates the change of small-town-pimp into a revenge-driven killing machine - without overdoing it. Unlike other films of this genre this one is tightly bound by a reasonable script, logical development of the characters and a rough, greasy camera-style. Editing is superb in timing, no frame is wasted for stupid dialogues or the typical 70ies mood shots (you see a scenery with someone walking and nothing happens). This film is perfect for exploring this genre.