Milano rovente (1973)

Director:

Umberto Lenzi

Writers:

Franco Enna (screenplay)
Ombretta Lanza (story)
(more)

Release Date:

21 February 1973 (Italy)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Plot:

A Milan produce vendor, whom moonlights as a pimp, faces off against a ruthless and greedy French gangster whom wants to unite the organized crime ring of Italy.

Plot Keywords:

Gangster | Italy | Pimp | Shooting | Poliziottesco

Cast

Antonio Sabato	...	Salvatore "Toto" Cangemi
Philippe Leroy	...	Roger Daverty
Antonio Casagrande	...	Lino Caruso
Carla Romanelli	...	Virginia
Alessandro Sperli	...	Billy Barone
Franco Fantasia	...	Chief Inspector Contalvi
Tano Cimarosa	...	Nino Balsamo
Marisa Mell	...	Jasmina Sanders
Piero Corbetta	...	Doctor
Vittorio Pinelli	...	Orso
Tony Raccosta	...	Lupo (as Domenico Raccosta)
Claudio Sforzini	...	Ricciolino
Carla Mancini	...	Gabriella
Luigi Antonio Guerra	...	Policeman
Vittorio Sancisi	...	Daverty Henchman
Vittorio Joderi	...	Giorgio
Naiba Pedersoli	...	Carmela, Salvatore's houskeeper
Lucio Como	...	Martin
Riccardo De Stefanis
Ottavio Fanfani	...	Avv. Samperi
Idris Josuf
Marta Fabiani	...	Vicky - la studentessa
Elsa Boni	...	Francesca
Giancarlo Busi
Ugo Bologna	...	Judge
Filippo La Neve	...	Gangster
Elena Pantano	...	Salvatore's Mother
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Achille Grioni	...	Policeman lieutenant (uncredited)
Gabriella Lepori	...	Vanessa (uncredited)

Directed by
Umberto Lenzi

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Franco Enna		screenplay
Ombretta Lanza		story
Umberto Lenzi		screenplay

Produced by
Giuseppe Tortorella	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Carlo Rustichelli

Cinematography by
Lamberto Caimi

Film Editing by
Jolanda Benvenuti

Art Direction by
Sergio Palmieri

Costume Design by
Silvio Laurenzi

Makeup Department
Sergio Angeloni	....	makeup artist
Wanda Belini	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Gino Soldi	....	production manager

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

Sound Department
Renato Marinelli	....	sound effects editor
Domenico Pasquadibisceglie	....	sound (as Dino Pasquadibisceglie)

Special Effects by
Celeste Battistelli	....	special effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Taddeo Bontempelli	....	still photographer
Sergio Martinelli	....	camera operator
Roberto Seveso	....	camera operator

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Adriana Manici	....	wardrobe

Editorial Department
Elisa Nardelli	....	assistant editor

Other crew
Carmine Del Monaco	....	production assistant
Lucia Grazzi	....	script supervisor

Production Companies

• Telemondial

Also Known As:

Burning City (Europe: English title)
Gang War in Milan (International: English title)

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:R | Italy:VM18 | France:-16

Filming Locations:

Milan, Lombardia, Italy

Company:

Telemondial

Mafia guys … Why can't they just get along?

"Gang Wars in Milan" is Umberto Lenzi's worthwhile and compelling imitation of "The Godfather" – in Italy during the 1970's this type of films got labeled as the "Poliziottesco" – about the rivalry and battle between Sicilian pimps and French drug dealers. The drug barons are putting severe pressure on the sly and sleazy Salvatore "Toto" Cangemi, who practically has a monopoly over the prostitution network in Milan, to have his hookers sell heroin. The greedy French wolves also demand 70% of the profit, so you can image Toto refuses. The "negotiations" rapidly run out of hand, with some car-bombs left, some drug labs getting destroyed right and a handful of prostitutes being mutilated center, and gradually escalate into a devastating gang war. So, basically, what I've learned from this film is the actual definition of a mafia partnership: they start a war over 20% and when they finally do reach an agreement, all they do is double-crossing each other! "Milano Rovente" isn't the most spectacular of Italian crime epics of the 70's, as there are reasonably few car chases and violent shootouts on display, but it's nevertheless a solidly scripted and professionally acted atmosphere-driven thriller. There are some excellent plot twists to keep you interested throughout and the bit of cruelty (especially towards women) are quite hard to stomach. The film may lack some essential Poliziottesco aspects, like a dazzling soundtrack and ultra-psychopathic characters, but it was definitely a terrific predecessor to Umberto Lenzi's ultimate crime masterpiece "Almost Human".