I padroni della città

Writer/director Fernando Di Leo chronologically made three of the most stupendously amazing "Poliziottesco" (hardcore Italian cop/gangster thrillers) milestones with "Milano Caliber .9", "La Mala Ordina" and "Il Boss". I respectively granted those films with rating 10/10, 9/10 and 9/10 … just to indicate how powerful and overwhelming they are. Di Leo honestly was a brilliant but sadly underrated director who really knew how to make hardcore-to-the bone action movies. There are no good or loyal characters in Fernando Di Leo's depiction of the Italian mafia… There are only vicious and emotionless gangsters that would butcher their own parents in order to climb one small step up the ladder of power & influence. Although nearly not as brilliant as the aforementioned trio, Di Leo's later films keep featuring the same story elements. "Rulers of the City" – the literally translated title which I vastly prefer over "Mister Scarface" – is another mafia flick full of ultra-sadistic characters, nasty double-crossings, merciless executions, brutal bare-knuckle fistfights and explosive vendettas.

Tony is a smooth and handsome but insignificant guy who works as a debt collector for Luigi Cherico; the number #2 gangster boss of Naples. He wants to make an impression on his boss and ingeniously plunders 10 million Lire from the absolute biggest crime lord in town, the feared and relentless Scarface. Tony unwillingly evokes a mafia war in Naples and finds himself in between the two camps. Luckily he receives help from an elderly Mafiosi and a mysterious blond shooting expert with an old personal vengeance to settle. "Rulers of the City" has a well- written and fast-paced script, and all the fistfight battles and shootout sequences are exhilarating and brute. The film also benefices from neat camera-work and a terrific score provided by Di Leo's regular composer Luis Bacalov. Still, "Rulers of the City" suffers from two serious defaults that simply cannot be neglected. First of all, everything is done to make it seems like the entire film orbits around Jack Palance and his character Mr. Scarface, but his role honestly isn't that extended or fundamental. The DVD-cover image that I own illustrates Jack Palance looking bewildered and firing off a machine gun, but never at one point during this movie he takes the effort of even picking up a weapon. Secondly, what's with the homo-erotic undertones in this film? It isn't too abnormal that there generally aren't many female lead roles in Italian gangster movies, but this one exaggerates! The only women in this film are secretaries, prostitutes and walking eye-candy on the sidewalk. Furthermore the hints at homosexuality are downright bizarre and misplaced. The older Mafiosi Vincenzo Napoli is obviously gay, with his pink scarves and feminine gestures the entire time, but even the two lead actors could easily pass for a cute couple. Whenever they're driving around the city in Tony's flamboyant buggy, they look like an advertisement campaign for coming out of the closet and the only thing missing is a slogan on the bottom of the screen saying "it's okay to be gay".

I have to admit that I collected this one because it had Fernando di Leo writing and directing, but got around to watching it because I just couldn't fathom the way the reviews are love it/hate it. I still don't get that. My best WAG is that the Italian and American releases are *very* different. I watched the original Italian release with English subtitles.

There are better ones in the genre, but only a bit so. It never failed in any important way, imho. Elements were really, really great. The location shots were divine. Sitting there with some venison bolognese and a glass of red wine, you could just *wallow* in some of the location scenery. For those with marginal Italian, it was one of the easiest to understand I've ever watched. Barely needed the subtitles. That's a good comment on it, compared with other Italian crime flicks. It's very straight ahead. Not so predictable as to be boring, but what you see is what you get and that's quite satisfying.

I thought the humor was well done, never over the top or distracting. And, unlike a lot of token crime film humor...it was funny. Every now and then you say, "Wait...how?...oh", but rather than being a continuity problem I thought that gave it a real-life kind of feel. Bits that would have been dragged out forever in most any movie, boom!, just happen, again giving it a real life effect. Other bits are drawn out. Well balanced, on balance, I thought.

So, I just don't understand the negative reviews on this one. It has to be that the American release is very different and really crap. Most the negative reviews I've seen have been in connection with the "Fernando di Leo Crime Collection" DVD. I collected all the ones on that release from the original Italian ones, so I don't know anything about it, but I'm thinking it could be a poor release of this movie. I'll stand by my opinion that there is nothing in the world wrong or not to like about the Italian release of this one. Light hearted at times, it's not lightweight by any stretch.

"Rulers of the City" is enjoyable for fans of the Italian crime flick, with a fast moving story and a sense of humour to let you know that it's never taking itself too seriously. The actors are all good and the film is effectively violent without ever getting very bloody. True enough that it may not be all that believable, but it *is* entertaining, if not memorable in the end. Director Fernando Di Leo was prolific in this genre and the viewer may want to check out his other works; they're available in DVD and Blu-ray box sets from Raro Video.

The amiable Harry Baer stars as Tony, a young debt collector who's tired of his go-nowhere job. So he hatches a scheme with aging mobster Napoli (Vittorio Caprioli) and his new friend Rick (Al Cliver of "Zombi 2") to con big time hood Manzari (Jack Palance) out of several million. Naturally, things don't work out the way that they want and they end up having to make a stand against Manzari and his goons.

It's enjoyable to see this international, familiar cast at work. Palance is convincing as the bad guy, the engaging Caprioli supplies a good deal of the comedy relief, Edmund Purdom (the dean in "Pieces") has a welcome presence as mafioso Luigi Cherico, the lovely Gisela Hahn provides the eye candy (and also sings some tunes), and Enzo Pulcrano is amusing as volatile jerk Peppi, who's out to get Tony. Co-scriptwriter Peter Berling also plays the role of Valentino in the film.

All in all, this is pleasant to watch, with a reasonably rousing action climax and an eclectic score by Luis Bacalov.

Seven out of 10.

Charming movie. Fun and entertaining poliziottesco that doesn't take itself too serious. The Italian DVD is wide screen and includes the superior Italian dub (with English subtitles); don't see the American crappy DVD's that are out there. It also has nice extra's and even those are subtitled. Hail to Raro Video. The soundtrack is strange and original. And it works quite well. I wonder if it is out there on CD. The big name is of course Jack Palance, but my favorite character in the movie is Napoli, played by Vittorio Caprioli. Perhaps not one of Fernando Di Leo's best, but very entertaining indeed. Underrated by the IMDb-users, probably because of the horrible American DVD's.

Italian gangster film from cult director Fernando Di Leo

This film, which is well worth seeing and is also known as "I padroni della citta" or "Mister Scarface", was released in Italian cinemas on December 3rd, 1976 and in West German cinemas on December 9th, 1977. "ZWEI SUPERTYPEN RÄUMEN AUF / Two Super Guys Clean Up" is the last film from the very innovative production company Daunia 80, which, with director Fernando Di Leo, produced such classics of the Italian gangster film (poliziotteschi) as "Milano Caliber 9" (1972), "La mala ordina / The Mafia Boss - They Kill Like Jackals " (1972) - by the way, both with a magnificent and uninhibited EUROPEAN FILM AWARD nominee Mario Adorf - and of course "Il Boss / Der Teufel führt Regie" (1973) brought to the cinema.

This film is about Tony (Harry Baer), a young mafia money collector who, although he can casually cruise around Rome in his buggy, is not satisfied with his position in the mafia hierarchy. The likeable and actually rather slight rascal is such a sophisticated pugilist that he can beat any opponent to the ground, which can also be seen in detail. One day the opportunity arises to get one over on one of the big names in the underworld (delightfully nasty: the future Oscar winner Jack Palance as Manzari or Mister Scarface). Tony promptly gets caught up in the conflict between various gangs, which he tries to outsmart together with the experienced underworld agent Vincenzo Napoli (Vittorio Caprioli). They get support from another cool kid named Ric (Al Cliver), who isn't particularly into beatings, but can shoot remarkably well and still has a mysterious score to settle from the past. The beautiful Clara plays a smaller role (played by the enchanting Gisela Hahn, who also gets to sing a song herself here - probably T'amo lo stesso), who is good friends with both guys. What's worth noting is that Tony and Ric could also pass as a couple. Slight homoerotic undertones can definitely be heard. Edmund Purdom and Peter Berling, who also co-wrote the script, can also be seen in other roles.

This film is really fun! Great atmosphere, lots of action, hearty fights and a sophisticated villain! Not quite as strong as Di Leo's three masterpieces mentioned above, but definitely worth seeing!

An astonishing discovery is the German actor Harry Baer in one of the main roles, who fights his way through the underworld in a cool and charming way that you can't help but be amazed by. Born in 1947, Baer worked a lot at the beginning of his career with successful director Rainer Werner Fassbinder (e.g. "Götter der Pest" (1970) and many others), but is still present and has also appeared in "Feuchtgebiete" (2012 ) played along.

The beautiful Gisela Hahn (born 1943) is known for her appearances alongside Brad Harris (KOMMISSAR X / SIE NANNTEN IHN ZAMBO).

Peter Berling (1934-2017) could also be seen alongside the powerful Giancarlo Prete in the beating suit "Alle für einen - Prügel für alle" (1973), for which he also wrote the screenplay, and in the classics "The Marriage of Maria Braun" (1979), "The Name of the Rose" (1986) and "Homo Faber" (1991).