unbrokenmetal

Venice during the renaissance period. A masked man with black gloves kills several influential noble-men at night and escapes every time by a gondola across the canals. The crime investigation story is handled in good balance with a love story between a poor girl and a rich boy, not suitable for their status.

Well staged in this beautiful city with splendid costumes, even if shot most likely on a modest budget, just a year after the war. Although it's a historical drama on the surface, you might as well call this a pre-Giallo because it introduces some elements that would later become typical for the Giallo genre. Interesting and surely worth a look.

This comedy 'Ciao nemico' ('Hello, Enemy!') was directed by Enzo Barboni, who also directed several films featuring Bud Spencer and Terence Hill. Such a top level is not reached here. With a running time of 112 minutes, the film is definitely half an hour too long; a comedy should have more pace, not let you wait for something funny to happen. Instead of gags, it relies more on its bizarre characters. Giuliano Gemma as an American lieutenant and his Italian counterpart (Johnny Dorelli) face each other in 1943 at an old Roman bridge in Sicily and have to choose between fighting to the last drop of blood or retreating - and consider retreat to be the better, above all: healthier idea. But they first have to convince their superiors, who tend more towards a glorious battle... Not as abysmal as some reviews made me expect, but not a must-see either.

In search of emeralds, gangsters have to shoot a lot of hungry giant beetles in abandoned mine tunnels. Meanwhile, their guide, who has been unsuspectingly lured into the adventure, has to fear for his family, who are being held hostage by the baddies. He needn't worry, for Mum likes to grab the big shotgun and clean this place up.

Cheaply produced, but halfway exciting TV action that is watchable compared to the competitors from the same factory line, I've had worse. Fun fact: in the German dubbed version, the flick was called "Deep Threat" which is either innocent or mischievous. With Christopher Atkins, Colm Meaney (DS9) and Angela Featherstone (Dark Angel).