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The Salamander

  • 19811981
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 43m
IMDb RATING
5.5/10
1K
YOUR RATING
The Salamander (1981)
An Italian policeman investigates a series of murders involving people in prominent positions. Left behind at each murder scene is a drawing of a salamander.
Play trailer2:20
1 Video
43 Photos
Thriller
An Italian policeman investigates a series of murders involving people in prominent positions. Left behind at each murder scene is a drawing of a salamander. The policeman begins to suspect ... Read allAn Italian policeman investigates a series of murders involving people in prominent positions. Left behind at each murder scene is a drawing of a salamander. The policeman begins to suspect these murders are linked to a plot to seize control of the government.An Italian policeman investigates a series of murders involving people in prominent positions. Left behind at each murder scene is a drawing of a salamander. The policeman begins to suspect these murders are linked to a plot to seize control of the government.
IMDb RATING
5.5/10
1K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Peter Zinner
  • Writers
    • Robert Katz(screenplay)
    • Rod Serling(adaptation)
    • Morris West(novel)
  • Stars
    • Franco Nero
    • Anthony Quinn
    • Martin Balsam
  • Director
    • Peter Zinner
  • Writers
    • Robert Katz(screenplay)
    • Rod Serling(adaptation)
    • Morris West(novel)
  • Stars
    • Franco Nero
    • Anthony Quinn
    • Martin Balsam
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 15User reviews
    • 6Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 wins

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 2:20
    Watch Trailer

    Photos43

    Franco Nero in The Salamander (1981)
    Anthony Quinn, Sybil Danning, Christopher Lee, Claudia Cardinale, Franco Nero, and Eli Wallach in The Salamander (1981)
    The Salamander (1981)
    The Salamander (1981)
    The Salamander (1981)
    Anthony Quinn in The Salamander (1981)
    The Salamander (1981)
    The Salamander (1981)
    The Salamander (1981)
    The Salamander (1981)
    The Salamander (1981)
    The Salamander (1981)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Franco Nero
    Franco Nero
    • Carabinieri Colonel Dante Matucci
    Anthony Quinn
    Anthony Quinn
    • Bruno Manzini
    Martin Balsam
    Martin Balsam
    • Captain Steffanelli
    Sybil Danning
    Sybil Danning
    • Lili Anders
    Christopher Lee
    Christopher Lee
    • Prince Baldasar, the Director of Counterintelligence
    Cleavon Little
    Cleavon Little
    • Major Carl Malinowski, USMC
    Paul L. Smith
    Paul L. Smith
    • The Surgeon
    • (as Paul Smith)
    John Steiner
    John Steiner
    • Captain Roditi
    Claudia Cardinale
    Claudia Cardinale
    • Elena Leporello
    Eli Wallach
    Eli Wallach
    • General Leporello
    Renzo Palmer
    Renzo Palmer
    • Carabinieri Major Giorgione
    Anita Strindberg
    Anita Strindberg
    • Princess Faubiani
    Marino Masé
    Marino Masé
    • Captain Rigoli
    Jacques Herlin
    Jacques Herlin
    • Woodpecker
    Fortunato Arena
    • General Pantaleone
    John Stacy
    John Stacy
    • Concierge
    Andrea Esterhazy
    Andrea Esterhazy
    • Minister of Defence
    Massimo Ciprari
    • Assassin
    • Director
      • Peter Zinner
    • Writers
      • Robert Katz(screenplay)
      • Rod Serling(adaptation)
      • Morris West(novel)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The first and only film directed by Peter Zinner, who won an Oscar for his editing on The Deer Hunter (1978).
    • Connections
      Referenced in O aftakias (1982)

    User reviews15

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    4/10
    Far below what you'd expect from this cast
    How did it go so wrong? How can a film with such an impressive cast (Franco Nero, Christopher Lee, Eli Wallach, Sybil Danning, Claudia Cardinale, Martin Balsam, Paul Smith - the torturer in "Midnight Express" - as, you guessed it, a torturer, etc.) and such colorful location filming around Italy (Rome, Milan, Venice, etc.) be such a bore? Probably because the story is slow-moving and unengaging, and has no real climax. Another obstacle for the viewer is the difficulty to buy people like Lee and Balsam as Italians. Nero is always likable, and Danning is stunning (even if she's in completely "unrevealing" mode here), but these two are barely enough to keep you focused on what was excellently described by another reviewer as "a political thriller without thrills". (*1/2)
    helpful•18
    3
    • gridoon
    • May 2, 2007

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 23, 1983 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • Italy
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Kennwort: Salamander
    • Filming locations
      • Rome, Lazio, Italy
    • Production companies
      • Incorporated Television Company (ITC)
      • Opera Film Produzione
      • Orbi S.A.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 43 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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