I cinque del Condor (1985)

User Rating:

4.9/10   

Director:

Umberto Lenzi

Writer:

Roberto Leoni (writer)

Release Date:

7 November 1985 (West Germany)

Genre:

War | Action

Tagline:

Call it bravery...Call it courage...Call it guts - Whatever you call it - They've got it!

Plot:

A South American rebel leader in exile in Miami is given one last chance to overthrow his successor, a brutal dictator, by a multi-national mining group out to exploit his countries' mineral resources.

Plot Keywords:

Thunder Squad

Cast

Antonio Sabato
Ivan Rassimov
Werner Pochath
Sal Borgese
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Andrea Aureli	...	Emiliano
Geoffrey Copleston	...	Harker
Duccio Dugoni
Franco Fantasia	...	Cordura
Dante Fioretti
Giovanni Gargano
Pierluigi Ghezzi
Gabriella Giorgelli	...	Psychic Medium
Gory Ford Joan
Julia Kent		(as Julya Kent)
Gustavo Adolfo Matos	...	Diego
Manfred Seipold
Alex Serra
Diego Verdegiglio

Directed by
Umberto Lenzi

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Roberto Leoni		writer

Produced by
Maurizio Mattei	....	executive producer
Enzo Rispoli	....	producer

Original Music by
Stelvio Cipriani

Cinematography by
Giancarlo Ferrando

Film Editing by
Eugenio Alabiso

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Franco Fantasia	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Nick Alexander	....	dubbing editor

Also Known As:

Squadra selvaggia (Italy)
Thunder Squad (International: English title) (DVD title)
Wild Team (USA)

Runtime:

USA:90 min (approx)

Country:

Italy | USA

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

UK:15 | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Miami, Florida, USA

Nice action/jungle/war hybrid from director Umberto Lenzi.

On the tropical island of Manioca, during a MardiGras-like festival, the child of the former president is kidnapped by the thugs of a communistic dictator. A large corporation in Miami finances an expedition to recover the child, and thus hopes to put the democratic nominee back in power. To this end, they send four mercenaries into the jungle, all of whom are masters of warfare. However, while the four mercenaries are fighting their way through the green inferno, new developments are occurring back in Miami. It seems that the corporation has changed its stance, and is now trying to work out a deal with the communistic dictator. This is sadly one of Umberto Lenzi's most neglected films--and for no good reason at all. Perhaps the lack of distribution has contributed to the obscurity of this gem; but, for all serious fans, it remains to be rediscovered. This film is not remarkable insofar as it is extraordinary, but that it so keenly represents the ending of an era. Never again will we see the likes of Antonio Sabato, Ivan Rassimov, Werner Pochath, and Franco Fantasia, all teaming up together in one great film such as this. Besides being well-directed, this movie is augmented by a very nice soundtrack by Stelvio Cipriani, as well as a surpise appearance by Andrea Aureli. Of course, it has its drawbacks as well. For instance, Ivan Rassimov's character is killed off much too soon (the same fate he suffered in Ruggero Deodato's "Atlantis Interceptors"). However, this movie contains some genuinely wonderful scenes that recall all the glory of Lenzi's earlier films. Highly recommended!