Il giorno del Cobra (1980)

An American narcotics agent is murdered in Italy. The head of the department decides to hire Larry Stanziani, 'The Cobra'. Larry, a former agent and now a third-rate private detective, uses... See full summary »

Director:

Enzo G. Castellari

Writers:

Aldo Lado (story and screenplay), Fabio Carpi (screenplay)

Stars:

Franco Nero, Sybil Danning, Mario Maranzana

Cast

Credited cast:
Franco Nero	...	Larry Stanziani
Sybil Danning	...	Brenda
Mario Maranzana	...	Davide
Licinia Lentini	...	Lola Alberti
Ennio Girolami	...	Martino (as Enio Girolami)
Mickey Knox	...	Raul Papasian
Massimo Vanni	...	Beltrame
Sasha D'Arc	...	Blonde Assassin
Romano Puppo	...	Silvestri
Angelo Ragusa	...	Kandinsky's Hitman
Carlo Gabriel Nero	...	Tim (as Carlo Gabriel Sparanero)
William Berger	...	Jack Goldsmith
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Rocco Lerro	...	Smith
Franco Ukmar	...	Hitman

Storyline

An American narcotics agent is murdered in Italy. The head of the department decides to hire Larry Stanziani, 'The Cobra'. Larry, a former agent and now a third-rate private detective, uses the opportunity to get even with an old enemy, but soon he finds out he's facing a relentless organization.

---

Plot Keywords:

psychotronic film | italian exploitation | exploitation | grindhouse film | agent | 

---

Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama

---

Details

Country:

Italy

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 September 1981 (Turkey)

Also Known As:

Day of the Cobra

Filming Locations:

Incir De Paolis, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company Credits

Production Co:

Laser

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Referenced in Video Nasties: Moral Panic, Censorship & Videotape (2010)

User Reviews

Castellari/Nero Team Up Again, For A Decent Latter-Day Poliziottesco

Being a Poliziotteschi-buff and a great fan both of director Enzo G. Castellari and leading man Franco Nero, I still only had mediocre expectations for "Il Giorno Del Cobra" aka. "Cobra Day" of 1980. And while "Cobra Day" is certainly no masterpiece of Italian Crime cinema I have to say that my expectations were slightly surpassed, as this is a very entertaining film. Unfortunately, I have not yet had the pleasure to see the two foregoing Poliziotteschi from the director/leading man team Castellari/Nero, "High Crime" (aka. "La Polizia incrimine la legge assolve") of 1973, and the supposedly excellent "Street Law" ("Il Cittadino Si Ribella"/"The Citizen Rebels") of 1974, but I sure intend to. When "Cobra Day" was made in 1980, the heyday of the Italian Poliziottesco was already over, and the film does indeed not bring up anything new. Yet Franco Nero makes up for the lack of originality, and everything is delivered with style, even if some of the 'twists' are more than a bit predictable. Nero plays Larry Stanziani, an Italian private eye in San Francisco, who is sent back to his hometown Genoa by his former employer - the head of the narcotics department. Stanziani, who is nicknamed the 'Cobra', is to detect a homosexual drug dealer and murderer named Kandinski. Not only is Kandinski a ruthless criminal, however, he is also responsible for what earned Stanziani a three-year stay in prison, which makes the whole thing personal... As said before, "Cobra Day" delivers little that is new, but the good old formula is delivered stylishly. Nero fits greatly in his role of the slightly scruffy but tough and super-cool private eye. Sexy Sybil Danning makes a great female lead, and the cast furthermore includes the great late William Berger as the head of the narcotics department. The action sequences and photography are well-done and the film has a very cool and catchy theme song that proclaims: "I don't give a damn I am the Cobra". The teaming of Nero and Castellari sure has brought better films than this one (the awesome Spaghetti Western "Keoma" is just one of them), but this is not to say that "Cobra Day" is not an entertaining film itself. In case the expectations are not too high, this is a worthwhile and entertaining film, which I recommend to my fellow fans of Italian Crime flicks.