By 1978 the commercial and creative heydays of the Poliziotesschi were unmistakably over, but naturally several directors and lead stars attempted to further cash in on the once successful formula. "Deadly Chase" is a clear example of an overdue Poliziotesschi, and even somewhat resembles a film-noir since that genre was also going through a modest cinematic revival at the time. Genre icon Luc Merenda depicts his favorite and most familiar protagonist role: a police commissioner desired by many women for his good looks, although his personal devotion solely goes out to his pet cat and gambling. He gets approached by a beautiful artist who solidly claims that the alleged suicide of her brother was, in fact, murder. She accuses her brother's stunningly beautiful (and much younger) wife, because she inherited all his money and remarried only a month later. Commissioner Verrazzano investigates the case, on duty as well as off duty, and quickly becomes entangled in a web of deceit, betrayal, loan sharks and additional murders. "Deadly Chase" isn't what you'd call a recommendable thriller/film-noir. The script is too talkative, the plot twists are predictable and the denouement is derivative. There are a handful of adequate action sequences, like car chases and shootouts, but it's all quite tame and unexciting in comparison of earlier Poliziotesschi classics. The four main reasons to nonetheless check out this film are the actresses in the supportive cast, as they are all stunning beauties. There's the lovely Swedish born Janet Agren, and the lesser known but equally attractive Patrizia Gori and Mariá Baxa. Last but not least, the film marks the very last appearance of the breath-taking Luciana Paluzzi, mostly known for her role as relentless killer in "Thunderball" and one of the most shamefully underrated actresses of all times.
