Le Conseiller

Alberto De Martino obviously doesn't play in the same league as Francis Ford Coppola, and Martin Balsam clearly isn't Marlon Brando. And yet, of all the dozens of mafia thrillers that came out in the early 70s to cash in on the tremendous success of "The Godfather", this "Counselor at Crime" is definitely the one I would recommend the most! The plot is convoluted, and the massive overload of supportive characters often makes it difficult to keep overview, but the atmosphere is so gripping, and every single sequence is incredibly compelling.

Thomas Accardo (Milian) is the legal attorney, and simultaneously godson, of mob boss Don Antonio; - born and raised in Sicily but reigning over San Francisco. After serving a prison sentence for keeping his shut, Thomas wants out. By accepting his resignation, Don Antonio unwarily incites a violent gang war, as his first lieutenant Garofalo has been waiting for an excuse to go against his "Don". Garofalo and his henchmen fight a very mean and merciless war, but Don Antonio has loyal allies everywhere, and following a dramatically failed attempt to kills his girlfriend, Thomas returns to the family as Don Antonio's "counselor".

"Counselor at Crime" isn't a non-stop spitfire of violent shootouts and exhilarating car chases, like the later movies starring Maurizio Merli, but more of a "full-package" mafia thriller/Poliziotesschi. But apart from the multifaceted plot and detailed character studies, there certainly are a lot of shocking and uncompromising sequences, like a chef getting shoved into his own burning pizza oven or a harrowing bomb attack that kills an innocent child. I simply also must mention the downright stupendous - as always - Riz Ortolani score, and the fantastic performance by Francisco Rabal as the stone-cold gangster.

Sure, the plot sails very close to the Godfather, but this is a great film nonetheless.

In San Francisco, a goon running a bowling alley has gone berserk and his arrest has made the Mafia very worried. This guy need taken out by Capo Martin Balsam wants it done clean and painlessly, and is annoyed to find that sidekick Francisco Rabal just hired a crooked cop to do it. This, and Balsam's decision to allow his godson Tomas Milian to leave the Mafia way of life, cause a gang war as Rabal goes rogue and starts his own gang.

Rabal goes too far and in trying to kill Milian (whom he still sees as a threat) he ends up killing a child instead. No child is ever safe in an Italian film, but at least Milian rejoins the Mafia to avenge her death. Girlfriend Dagmar Lassander isn't too happy about that though.

Balsam is an old school, respected mobster, so he has plenty of allies to help him out. Can he take back the business he's lost or will he and Milian have to go into exile? As Rabal says - no one walks away from that way of life...

The best thing about this film is Balsam's relationship with Milian - he genuinely seems to love the guy, showering him with affection and treating Lassander with laid back charm. Milian is more subdued as the godson but still makes his mark as the reluctant mobster.

This one is quite fast paced for an Alberto De Martino film, and he doesn't shy away from the violence either. The bittersweet ending made a mark on me too, and once again Martin Balsam proves that he was one of the true greats.

Martin Balsam, Tomas Milian, Francisco Rabal, three good actors, whom I have seen in many other movies, much better than this one. This is an incredible story with mobsters killing each other. Riz Ortolani's music, always of superior quality, is better than the movie.

Il Consigliori is a poliziotti film from 1973. Martin Balsam, a regular of these types of films plays Don Maggadino, a powerful San Francisco mob boss. His consigliori (lawyer) played by Tomas Milian, another familiar face in Italian films has just gotten out of jail. He is happy to see his Don once again but wants to go straight. Maggadino is not too happy but allows him to go his own way. Once this happens, Garafolo played by Francisco Rabal becomes unhappy and wants to branch off into his own family. Thus begins a war between the rival factions. The consigiliori cannot bear to see his don go down and joins him once again. This movie is fantastic. It has all the elements of an action movie plus many values of the Mafia system. There are great sit-down meetings in restaurants, numerous shoot-outs, two nice car chases, and a great story. The relationship between the always excellent Balsam and Milian in a more subdued role here is very special. There are great visuals of urban San Francisco and rural Sicily for the finale. Riz Ortolani provides a great soundtrack and Albert De Martino's (Blazing Magnum) direction provides a good flow. A must for Mob film and Italian action film fans.

Not my cup of tea at all, this Godfather clone. Milian is wasted in the role of the 'will he won't he' role as the reluctant son. reluctant that is after a prison sentence to return to the turgid business of defending the 'family', 'honour' and all that toss. Wasted also was the lovely Dagmar Lassander who does just about nothing, but then this is a little boys film so no place for women.

To be fair although I found all the stuff in San Francisco predictable and tedious (as well as silly and sentimental) when we switch to Sicily things do improve enormously. Whether its the streets and local colour or just tighter direction I'm not sure but I went from beginning to dose off to full attention. But just because the last 15 minutes or so is fine cannot salvage what was for me a very disappointing movie.