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Arrow Films
The 1970s were a time of intense uncertainty and instability in Italy. Political corruption and widespread acts of left and right-wing terrorism, alongside a breakdown in social cohesion and a loss of trust in public institutions such as the government and police, created a febrile atmosphere of cynicism, paranoia and unexploded rage. Throughout this period, these sentiments found expression in a series of brutal, often morally ambiguous crime thrillers which tapped into the atmosphere of violence and instability that defined the so-called Years of Lead.
This box set gathers five films from the heyday of the "poliziotteschi" – the umbrella term used to describe this diverse body of films. In Vittorio Salerno's Savage Three (1975) and Mario Imperoli's Like Rabid Dogs (1976), random acts of violence committed by vicious young sociopaths threaten the fragile fabric of respectable society. In Massimo Dallamano's Colt 38 Special Squad (1976) and Stelvio Massi's Highway Racer (1977), renegade cops battling against red tape and political corruption turn to new and morally dubious methods to dispense justice. Finally, class dynamics are explored in Salerno's No, the Case is Happily Resolved (1973) as an innocent man finds himself under suspicion for a savage crime committed by a highly respected member of society.
Decried by critics for their supposedly fascistic overtones, the poliziotteschi were in fact more ideologically varied and often considerably more nuanced than such superficial readings would suggest, and proved a huge hit with theatregoers, who responded to their articulation of present day social concerns. Featuring an impressive line-up of Euro-cult stars, including Joe Dallesandro (The Climber), Ivan Rassimov (Your Vice Is a Locked Room and Only I Have the Key), Maurizio Merli (Violent City) and Enrico Maria Salerno (The Bird with the Crystal Plumage), this collection of stylish, hard-hitting Euro-crime thrillers showcases the range and breadth of the genre and is a must-have for newcomers and grizzled veterans alike.
Special Contents
- High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentations of all five films, restored from the original camera negatives
- Original lossless mono Italian audio on all five films
- Original lossless mono English audio on Colt 38 Special Squad and Savage Three
- English subtitles for the Italian soundtracks
- Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing for the English soundtrack on Colt 38 Special Squad and Savage Three
- Poliziotteschi: Violence and Justice in the Years of Lead, a visual essay by critic Will Webb exploring the recurring traits and themes of the genre
- Rat Eat Rat, an interview with writer/director Vittorio Salerno and actress Martine Brochard on Savage Three
- The Savage One, an interview with actor Joe Dallesandro on Savage Three
- When a Murderer Dies, an interview with cinematographer Romano Albani and film historian Fabio Melelli on Like Rabid Dogs
- It's Not a Time for Tears, an interview with assistant director Claudio Bernabei on Like Rabid Dogs
- Music sampler for Like Rabid Dogs
- Always the Same Ol' 7 Notes, an interview with composer Stelvio Cipriani on Colt 38 Special Squad
- A Tough Guy, an interview with editor Antonio Siciliano on Colt 38 Special Squad
- Archival introduction to Colt 38 Special Squad by Stelvio Cipriani
- Faster Than a Bullet, an interview with film historian Roberto Curti on Highway Racer
- Mother Justice, an interview with writer/director Vittorio Salerno on No, the Case is Happily Resolved
- Alternate ending to No, the Case is Happily Resolved
- Original trailers for Like Rabid Dogs, Colt 38 Special Squad and No, the Case is Happily Resolved
- Poster galleries
- Reversible sleeves featuring original artwork for all five films
- Arrow Video
- 486 mins approx
- Vittorio Salerno
- 18
- Joe Dallesandro
- Enrico Maria Salerno
- Cesare Barro
- Annarita Grapputo
- Jean-Pierre Sabagh
- Ivan Rassimov
- Marcel Bozzuffi
- Maurizio Merli
- Angelo Infanti
- Enzo Cerusico
- Riccardo Cucciolla
- Martine Brochard
English & English SDH
- 1973
- Italian
- English
- 3
- B
Years Of Lead | Five Classic Italian Crime Thrillers 1973–1977 | Blu-ray
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Arrow Films
The 1970s were a time of intense uncertainty and instability in Italy. Political corruption and widespread acts of left and right-wing terrorism, alongside a breakdown in social cohesion and a loss of trust in public institutions such as the government and police, created a febrile atmosphere of cynicism, paranoia and unexploded rage. Throughout this period, these sentiments found expression in a series of brutal, often morally ambiguous crime thrillers which tapped into the atmosphere of violence and instability that defined the so-called Years of Lead.
This box set gathers five films from the heyday of the "poliziotteschi" – the umbrella term used to describe this diverse body of films. In Vittorio Salerno's Savage Three (1975) and Mario Imperoli's Like Rabid Dogs (1976), random acts of violence committed by vicious young sociopaths threaten the fragile fabric of respectable society. In Massimo Dallamano's Colt 38 Special Squad (1976) and Stelvio Massi's Highway Racer (1977), renegade cops battling against red tape and political corruption turn to new and morally dubious methods to dispense justice. Finally, class dynamics are explored in Salerno's No, the Case is Happily Resolved (1973) as an innocent man finds himself under suspicion for a savage crime committed by a highly respected member of society.
Decried by critics for their supposedly fascistic overtones, the poliziotteschi were in fact more ideologically varied and often considerably more nuanced than such superficial readings would suggest, and proved a huge hit with theatregoers, who responded to their articulation of present day social concerns. Featuring an impressive line-up of Euro-cult stars, including Joe Dallesandro (The Climber), Ivan Rassimov (Your Vice Is a Locked Room and Only I Have the Key), Maurizio Merli (Violent City) and Enrico Maria Salerno (The Bird with the Crystal Plumage), this collection of stylish, hard-hitting Euro-crime thrillers showcases the range and breadth of the genre and is a must-have for newcomers and grizzled veterans alike.
Special Contents
- High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentations of all five films, restored from the original camera negatives
- Original lossless mono Italian audio on all five films
- Original lossless mono English audio on Colt 38 Special Squad and Savage Three
- English subtitles for the Italian soundtracks
- Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing for the English soundtrack on Colt 38 Special Squad and Savage Three
- Poliziotteschi: Violence and Justice in the Years of Lead, a visual essay by critic Will Webb exploring the recurring traits and themes of the genre
- Rat Eat Rat, an interview with writer/director Vittorio Salerno and actress Martine Brochard on Savage Three
- The Savage One, an interview with actor Joe Dallesandro on Savage Three
- When a Murderer Dies, an interview with cinematographer Romano Albani and film historian Fabio Melelli on Like Rabid Dogs
- It's Not a Time for Tears, an interview with assistant director Claudio Bernabei on Like Rabid Dogs
- Music sampler for Like Rabid Dogs
- Always the Same Ol' 7 Notes, an interview with composer Stelvio Cipriani on Colt 38 Special Squad
- A Tough Guy, an interview with editor Antonio Siciliano on Colt 38 Special Squad
- Archival introduction to Colt 38 Special Squad by Stelvio Cipriani
- Faster Than a Bullet, an interview with film historian Roberto Curti on Highway Racer
- Mother Justice, an interview with writer/director Vittorio Salerno on No, the Case is Happily Resolved
- Alternate ending to No, the Case is Happily Resolved
- Original trailers for Like Rabid Dogs, Colt 38 Special Squad and No, the Case is Happily Resolved
- Poster galleries
- Reversible sleeves featuring original artwork for all five films
- Arrow Video
- 486 mins approx
- Vittorio Salerno
- 18
- Joe Dallesandro
- Enrico Maria Salerno
- Cesare Barro
- Annarita Grapputo
- Jean-Pierre Sabagh
- Ivan Rassimov
- Marcel Bozzuffi
- Maurizio Merli
- Angelo Infanti
- Enzo Cerusico
- Riccardo Cucciolla
- Martine Brochard
English & English SDH
- 1973
- Italian
- English
- 3
- B
Customer Reviews
Top Customer Reviews
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Great set
Top notch 2K transfers, fun (though politically dubious) flicks, some nice extras and a beautiful box to hold them : good job, Arrow !
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Great presentation but with one flaw by arrow.
No, the Case is Happily Resolved unfortunately put the films original ending as a special feature, not allowing the viewer to make the choice to see that version of the film. I can't see why they wouldn't let the viewer choose to see that version by seamless branching. Highway racer is the most niche car chase film I know of, very unique and fun.
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Great cross section
I was happy to get this box. I have always been intrested from polizioteschi movies and this was more than excellent to introduce the genre. Picture quality was good as the sound. The essays from the subject and the movies helped to understand the historia behind these. Can recommend this and box and the movies for everyone despite are you a fan of polizioteschi or becoming one.
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