An uncompromising cop gets transferred to Naples on account of this city's atrocious crime levels. His no-hold-barred police methods are considered to be the perfect antidote.An uncompromising cop gets transferred to Naples on account of this city's atrocious crime levels. His no-hold-barred police methods are considered to be the perfect antidote.An uncompromising cop gets transferred to Naples on account of this city's atrocious crime levels. His no-hold-barred police methods are considered to be the perfect antidote.
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Genre-star Maurizio Merli stars in the role of Comissario Betti for the third time (the first two Commissario Betti films were Marino Girolami's "Roma Violenta" of 1975 and "Italia A Mano Armata" of 1976, two priorities on my list of films that I haven't seen yet). Betti, who is known for his unorthodox methods hates criminals as much as he hates crime, and he has does not keep his beliefs a secret. When he comes to Naples, where he has worked earlier, the local criminal underworld, above all the Camorra, the Mafia of Naples, are already getting nervous, as they know that the Comissario, who has no mercy for criminals, is dedicated to clean up... Merli is once again great as the mustached and unorthodox copper Betti, who treats criminals in a way that makes Dirty Harry look like a social worker. The cast also includes the great John Saxon, and Barry Sullivan in the role of a Mafia-boss called "Comandante". The supporting cast furthermore includes many familiar faces for Italian genre fans, such as Guido Alberti as the chief of police, or the butt-ugly Luciano Rossi as a sadistic mugger. The score by Franco Micalizzi, who also delivered the score to "Roma A Mano Armata", is once again very good, and the camera work is fast-paced and great. "Napoli Violenta" is generally a violent film, and it has several moments of outrageous brutality. I will not give away more, but I am sure that most of my fellow Poliziotteschi fans will enjoy the film as much as I did. Brutal, gripping and breathtaking, "Napoli Violenta" is a film that fans of Italian Crime/Police films can not afford to miss!
Needless to say with thrill-master general, Umberto Lenzi behind the wildly-spinning wheels of this rampaging Poliziotteschi juggernaut, Lenzi's brutal fistful of molars, 'Violent Naples' excitingly escalates to a fever pitch of tumultuously unexpurgated thug trashing, Berretta blasting mayhem! The stolid performances of craggy-looking, Barry Sullivan, and devilishly handsome Euro-cult hero, Silvano Tranquilli offer a temporary reprieve from the hyper-masculinity of, John Saxon and Maurizio Merli! The musical icing on this spectacularly Moorish Euro-crime treat is capably provided by maestro, Franco Micalizzi, his electrifying crime-funk score robustly complements the wrathful modus operandi of commissioner Berti, going pell-mell after the scum and villainy like some incandescently vengeful, PCP-crazed, Dirtier-than-Harry cop! Berti's histrionic approach to justice evokes the catastrophic tableau of a blood-mad bull run amok within the genteel environs of a Fortnum & Mason tearoom!
"Naples" is the only part of the trilogy made by someone other than Marino Girolani: for this second entry it's the infamous Umberto Lenzi in the director's chair, a filmmaker better known for his boundary-pushing gore films like the widely-banned "Cannibal Ferox" and other such delights.
If nothing else, "Violent Naples" shows that Umberto Lenzi was a splendid action filmmaker. Car and motorcycle chase scenes in this movie are extraordinarily well done, with Lenzi employing point-of-view shots and creative camera angles for exhilarating results.
The movie has a few other notable moments, such as a scene where a crooked jeweler pretends to flush a ring down the toilet, and our hero shows that it was a trick with a little tray in the bowl (apparently a common trick as well? How many jewelers make a habit of taking their customers into the bathroom?) and another scene where a woman has her face smashed against the side of a speeding train.
Most of the fisticuffs in the movie - and there are a lot - look like people punching air, but there are other more violent moments apart from the above, such as a man being shot with a machine gun.
Unfortunately, the movie has the same problems "Violent Rome" had: as the protagonist, Maurizio Merli makes absolutely no impression, and the movie has very little plot to string the violence and chase scenes together.
As such it was kind of an endurance contest sitting this one out, waiting for the next awesome chase scene or interesting moment, but Lenzi's entry in this trilogy is still the best, simply by virtue of having these things in it, and making them worth waiting for.
Did you know
- TriviaSecond part of police commissioner Betti's trilogy, also including Rome violente (1975) and Flic en jean (1976).
- Quotes
'O' Generale: [detailing his "protection plan"] The small business man, he doesn't earn much, doesn't pay much. The big moneymakers, they pay big money. That's justice. And the tradesman has a guarantee he can operate in peace. That's keeping the public order. I'm like a government.
Francesco Capuano: Like the old saying: It's better to command than to fuck.
[both laugh]
- Alternate versionsThe video version released by Paragon Entertainment is shorn by a minute as many scenes are abbreviated to exclude most of the film's rampant profane language.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Ultimate Poliziotteschi Trailer Shoot-Out (2017)
- How long is Violent Naples?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- S.O.S jaguar: Opération casseurs
- Filming locations
- Napoli Centrale Train Station, Naples, Catania, Italy(Betti arrives in Naples)
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro