Search - Colt 38 Special Squad on DVD

Colt 38 Awsome Film

C. Dunn | New Albany, IN | 06/17/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a great example of a Euro crime film. It stars Marcel Bozzuffi (best known for his role as an [....] in the film French Connection ie he is the one who is on the poster for the film being shot in back by Gene Hackman). Anyway, this film was heavily influenced by the best of the Dirty Harry sequels "Magnum Force". However, these cops are not vigilantes.

Great action, lots of violence and is very fast paced. No shame films has done a fantastic job on bringing this film/dvd to North America. The liner notes are great and each film that No shame releases gives you a brief history lesson of turmoil in Italy during the 1960's and 1970's.

Needless to say, this film is highly recommended"

A spectacular crime-thriller, with an entire city held for r

Pork Chop | Lisbon, Portugal | 04/18/2009

(2 out of 5 stars)

""Quelli della calibro 38" or Colt 38 Special Squad (1976) from

Massimo Dallamano, is an Italian language crime-thriller, that

actually explains how law enforcement approaches a a hostage

situation involving the entire population of Turin, in exchange

for money, gems, and more under the threat of 70 kg in dynamite

being detonated in the city.



With over 30 years since the release date having passed, the

strength of the overall work, is its wide-screen release,

extraordinarily sharp and colorful images, spectacular street

chases involving cars in actual downtown city areas, and dirt

bike chases in the woods, on mud trails and country side. It also

has a tight editing of scenes, and a convincing argument, showing

thrills, suspense along the way, while the special effects are

fine, in both quality and in number.



The action explores, amazingly, the entire gamut of criminal

behavior, such as kidnappings, shootings, gun firefights, bank

stick ups, escape cars, payback on innocents when the law is

applied, hostage situations, motorcycle and automobile stunts,

(including one showing a car driving forward on a moving flat bed

train), car crashes, dangerous street chases, confidential

informants on underworld events, bribes, interrogations, cop car

frequency band snooping, underworld gambling operations, booby

trapped cars with radio detonators, ransoms, car and motorcycle

jackings, impersonation of officers, joy riders, rifle sniping.



From such a large number of underworld aspects, it would appear

that a check-list was almost prepared ahead of time, to cover all

the bases and of what could happen with a gang on the loose.



The story is also about ego's, and the need for people, in this

case, the detective, to save the population from destruction

through his own personal talents, efforts and skills (in a Walter

Mitty sense.) It also underlines that in a crisis, the population

may be kept in the dark, from the need in avoiding creating a

panic, that itself could cause havoc.



From a cultural point of view, the film is a time-capsule, as all

the vehicles from that era are shown, Renault 5, Citroen, Fiat

125, 127, and other models, with the European quality of the time

...real wood steering wheels, sculpted wood coat stands, lira

currency, expensive clothing, trendy night clubs and more. This

would suggest an upper-middle to wealthy class of individuals

in this action.



Conversely, the weak spot is a total absence of humor in the

movie, coupled with a dated soundtrack, showing a 70's style.



Another aspect is the surreal demonized behavior of many law

breakers, suggesting all bad guys, have no feeling, no humanity,

when in reality, the assumption may not be the case.



In sum, the technical elements are outstanding, but an excess

litany of underworld behaviors suggest a somewhat lack if realism

making it somewhat too didactic."