Ultra-nasty gangster film from Italy with Christopher Mitchum and Barbara Bouchet
After his release from prison, young Ricco Aversi (Christopher Mitchum) has to cross a symbolically long highway bridge to get to his family's run-down gas station. There isn't much left for the Aversis since their father Gaspare (Luis Induni) was treacherously murdered by his competitor Don Vito (delightfully evil: the five-time ACADEMY AWARD nominee Arthur Kennedy). Ricco's sister Conchetta (Paola Senatore) and brother-in-law (Luigi Antonio Guerra) don't get to see much of anything other than the intensive mattress sports they do together. Due to their constant obsession with orgasm, they completely neglect the small gas station. It's only understandable that the wheelchair-bound mother (Rina Franchetti) puts her last hopes on Ricco. He should finally avenge Don Vito for his father's murder. But the long-haired milky face has other plans. Then, during a visit to downtown Turin, he meets the beautiful fraudster Scilla (Barbara Bouchet), who, in a breathtaking pants suit (only the fantastic Bouchet could wear that!!!), sells her uncle's (Angel Alvarez) counterfeit money to drooling guys. Ricco learns from the two that Don Vito also picked up his former bride Rosa (Malisa Longo). Although Ricco realizes that, despite her dislike for Don Vito, she has already adapted too much to the monster's behavior, he can't help but screw Don Vito in his business with the help of Scilla and the rogue Cirano (Eduardo Fajardo). To spit. The situation escalates when Don Vito catches his wife Rosa in bed with his hunky bodyguard Tony (Manolo Zarzo). Don Vito's anger no longer knows any bounds, and Ricco and his family will soon feel this too...
What a tough police officer! Tulio Demicheli's film is really a trip into human depths. Arthur Kennedy (1914-1990), the "nice" Dr. Quimper from the Miss Marple classic "4:50 p.m. From Paddington" (1961), convinces as a super nasty mafia boss. In the 1950s, the actor was nominated for an Oscar five times. The scene in which he cuts off a rival's best piece (close-up!!!) has long since become a cult! As a soap manufacturer, he can elegantly dispose of the remains in hot soapy water (made in the WELLA factory in Madrid). Scary! Barbara Bouchet (born in 1943 in the Sudetenland) is great as always! Her striptease on the hood is worth a viewing alone. Her fantastic pants suit has already been appreciated. The wonderful actress Barbara Bouchet can wear anything, but also play anything. The film's big flaw is Robert Mitchum's son Christopher in the lead role. He just seems too limp and too soft to be convincing in his role. Luc Merenda or Antonio Sabato would certainly have been too old for the role, but Marc Porel or Ray Lovelock would have fit the film much better.
In any case, this film, which is also extensively acknowledged in the "EuroCrime" documentary (2012), is a true exploitation classic among Italian gangster films. But beware! Some scenes could be extremely shocking!
