Tödlicher Hass

The Eurocrime subgenre was quite popular in the late 60s & early 70s. But in all honesty most of them are cheap and badly made films. Tony Arzenta (Big Guns) is, despite its terrible title, a positive exception. And that is for three reasons: a cool Delon performance, a superb soundtrack and a great 70s atmosphere. The action is not bad, the story is the most standard story out there (former hitman takes revenge on his old employers for killing his family) and the acting is wooden at its best. But there is something about this film that makes it better than most of its fellow Eurocrime flicks.

as many others. at the first sigh. different not only for the experience of director in the genre but for Alain Delon. who gives the impeccable performance from many others roles of his career. Tony Arzenta is a film about Mafia but different by expectations. for the small details. for the way of revenge. for atmosphere. sure, for the end. the flavor of Scily story, old, patriarchal, deeply defined by tradition, only a nuance but one real important is the piece who defines this seductive thriller about a man looking his definition of justice. short, a film who must see. for story. and, more important, for interesting science to explore old clichés of genre in the inspired manner. a beautiful film.

.. Delon? That's something that I reckon is more true of other movies, but since he is involved in this one too, let's just say it for this too. You may know him from other bigger roles and movies, but this little movie that can is also one to watch out for.

There is nudity and a lot of violence. Some you may feel is too much (especially when it comes to hurting females), but you always have to see this as a movie of the time. While certain things are being hinted at and you may disagree with priorities the hero sets out ... it is what it is. He still is a "good" one ...

The explosive, sharp-shooting underworld thriller, 'Tony Arzenta' remains an absorbingly gritty Euro-crime classic from expert genre director, Duccio 'Puzzle' Tessari. There's simply no earthly good reason why this uncommonly adrenalizing 70s revenger shouldn't be mentioned in the very same J&B bated breath as cult favourites, 'High Crime', 'Violent Professionals', or 'Violent Rome' as,'Big Guns' high caliber poliziotteschi, and in some specifically groovy sequences, Duccio Tessari's Teflon tuff, well oiled shoot' em up teasingly usurps them!

Employing the reserved, Martini-cool Gallic master of Alpha understatement, Alain Delon as grieving, pitilessly vengeful, Tony is a casting coup; the frosty-eyed, whippet-lean, enigmatic arbiter of righteous retribution, blazes his balletic trail of brutal revenge deep into the ruinous underbelly of the Cosa Nostra remains a gloriously cathartic experience! I readily admit that the unspectacular premise of a weary hit man striving to break free from the mafia's mercenary clutches is a well-thumbed conceit; but when said coda is so rigorously reinterpreted by the uncommonly talented duo of Delon/Tessari, and throbbingly propelled by a truly lovely, heart-skippingly sexy score from gifted sound-wrangler, Gianni Ferrio, any hint of formula is resolutely quashed beneath Big Gun's stylish torrent of cinematic savvy, and the electrifying charisma of the polo necked prince of retro killer chic, Alain Delon, makes resistance nigh on useless!

Poliziottesco in a class of its own with Alain Delon and Richard Conte

A few years after "Gli bastardi" with Giuliano Gemma and Klaus Kinski and a year before "Uomo senza memoria" with Senta Berger and Luc Merenda, Duccio Tessari directed this mercilessly straightforward crime film that cools down the Italian mafia landscape with a few ice cubes of French existentialism . Excellently produced by Luciano Martino, the film grossed ITL 1.945 billion at the Italian box office.

Tony Arzenta (Alain Delon) lives as a contract killer in Milan and wants to retire to have more time for his wife (Nicoletta Macchiavelli) and child. The bosses aren't having it and are trying to snuff out Tony's life. This is going wrong! Instead, his wife and son die cruelly. Now Tony goes into hiding and takes cruel revenge on all bosses and accomplices. Really beautiful in the Ice Cold Angel style! This also goes to Germany and Denmark. At some point, Tony, who is supported by his friend Domenico Maggio (Marc Porel), gets fed up with murder. He wants to find peace in his home in Sicily. Then final boss Nick Gusto (Richard Conte) makes him a tempting offer...

This film features an array of stars from Italian genre cinema: Carla Gravina, Roger Hanin, Anton Diffring, Umberto Orsini, Silvano Tranquilli, Corrado Gaipa, Erika Blanc, Rosalba Neri, Ettore Manni and Loredana Nusciak are part of the cast. In addition to the Italian ambience, a touch of French touch is undeniable, but that also makes this film something special. Things are a little quieter, with long looks rather than fast car chases.

And then Golden Globe candidate (nominated in 1964 for "Il gattopardo") Alain Delon is simply in a class of his own. Seeing him in a Poliziottesco is simply worth a sighting.