La mala ordina
| The Italian Connection | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Fernando Di Leo |
| Produced by | Armando Novelli |
| Written by | Fernando Di Leo, Augusto Finocchi and Ingo Hermes |
| Starring |
Mario Adorf Henry Silva Woody Strode Adolfo Celi |
| Music by | Armando Trovajoli |
| Cinematography | Franco Villa |
Release dates | September 1, 1972 |
Running time | 95 min. |
| Country | Italy |
| Language | Italian |
La mala ordina (aka The Italian Connection) is a poliziottesco film written and directed by the Italian crime film specialist Fernando Di Leo in 1972. It is the second part of Di Leo's Milieu Trilogy, starting with Milano calibro 9 in 1972 and ending with Il Boss (The Boss) in 1973. It had also been released under a number of titles including The Italian Connection, Manhunt in Milan, Manhunt, Hired to Kill and Black Kingpin.
Plot
Small-time pimp Luca Canali (Mario Adorf) is hunted by both local mobsters and two killers (Henry Silva and Woody Strode) sent by the New York mafia after a shipment of heroin fails to arrive. But it becomes apparent he is not as soft as he appears as a deadly cat-and-mouse game is played out on the streets of Milan. The film contains a dramatic chase scene where Canali pursues an assassin both on car and on foot.
The two American hitmen have contrasting personalities. Dave (Silva) is something of a playboy and loudmouth, while Frank (Strode) is quiet and professional. The concept of two hitmen teamed up, one black and one white, appears to have been a likely inspiration for the characters played by John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson in Pulp Fiction.[1]
Cast
- Mario Adorf - Luca Canali
- Henry Silva - Dave Catania
- Woody Strode - Frank Webster
- Adolfo Celi - Don Vito Tressoldi
- Luciana Paluzzi - Eva Lalli
- Franco Fabrizi - Enrico Moroni
- Femi Benussi - Nana
- Gianni Macchia - Nicolo
- Peter Berling - Damiano
- Francesca Romana Coluzzi - Trini
- Cyril Cusack - Corso
- Sylva Koscina - Lucia Canali
- Jessica Dublin - Miss Kenneth
- Omero Capanna - Vito's Goon
- Giuseppe Castellano - Garagaz
- Lara Wendel - Rita