CRIME & SPY FILMS ON DVD

Crime films seem to be emerging on DVD - not enough of them, though. As for spy films, come on guys: start releasing this stuff (Slalom and Marie Chantal Contro Dr Kha being the first, please)

Beast With A Gun
Controversial crime opus from Sergio Grieco, the man who made all of those Ken Clark spy films in the 60s. This has Helmut Berger as the prettyboy head of a bunch of psychos, who are tracked down by toughnut cop Richard Harrison.

Bianco, Uno
NoShame are consistently the most eclectic Euro-focused DVD company at the moment, witness this release of Michele Soavi's TV crime film starring Kim Rossi Stuart. Packed with interviews, behind the scenes footage and, err, a 'make your own car' model kit (?!?)

Big Racket, The
More Castellari crime, this time with Fabio Testi and Vincent Gardenia starring keeping afloat among the assorted street scum. A lovely print and a Castellari commentary make this well worth the money.

Colt .38 Special Squad
Hardboiled cop Marcel Bozzufi forms a squad of rogue detectives dedicated to cleaning all of the riffraff from the streets. Excellent Italo-crime fun from Massimo Dallamano, lovely print, loads of extras. Also includes the ultra rare Ercoli film La Bidonata.

Convoy Busters
Maurizio Merli is a cop tracking down the killers of a young girl who uncovers corruption at the highest levels of power. Another decent crime flick from Stelvio Massi, also with Olga Karlatos and Massimo Serato. Includes interviews with Ruggero Deodato and Enzo Castellari.

Double Game
Ok, I'm going to be brutally honest here: Double Game isn't a great film. It's not even a good film. But hey, look at the extras on this DVD: interviews with and short films by director Carlo Ausino as well as the first ever English language release of the unltro obscure Tony: Another Double Game. All of which makes this the release of the year to date. All power to NoShame.

Du rififi à Paname
A French spy film with caper overtones, this tells the story of a CIA agent infiltrating a gang of gold smugglers. What a cast: as well as international stars such as Gert Frobe, Jean Gabin and Claudio Brook, you can also find spaghetti western regulars like Franco Ressel and Benito Stefanelli lurking around in the background. One of the best examples of it's type, this is a French DVD, but there's an English audio track. Cost is c£14 / $22.

Emergency Squad
Decent Stelvio Massi crime flick with a wonderful cast (Gaston Moschin, Tomas Milian, Ray Lovelock). As always, this gets the top notch NoShame treatment, including interviews with Massi, Milian and so on.

Fantomas 3-DVD Box Set
(French only). Unfortunately there isn't an English Language audio track (or any subs), but the Fantomas films were classics of the time. Andre Hunebelle, who made most of the OSS117 films, directed Jean Marais as a DIABOLIK-type mastercriminal (for whom the audience root, of course). It's all very colourful and entertaining. The cost translates as about £27 / $43, and it's a beautiful box set with hilarious artwork.

Fantômas
(French only). First of the FANTOMAS series, aka FANTOMAS 70. Jean Marais is the title character, a criminal mastermind and whizz at disguise, who takes umbrage at a reporter (also Marais) who has written belittling comments about him. He sets about framing the journalist for a series of dazzling crimes. Pop-art classic.

Fantômas se déchaîne
(French only). Second of the trilogy, and quite probably the best. Marais is back as Fantomas (and his nemesis, Fandor) as is Lousi De Funes as the bumbling Commissioner Juve.

Fantômas contre Scotland Yard
(French only). Bizarre climax to the FANTOMAS series, with the anti-hero attempting to blackmail a bunch of Scottish lairds (!) Very entertaining stuff, again starring Marais, De Funes and Mylene Demongeot.

Grand Slam
One of the first caper films to make it's way onto DVD, and one of the best as well. This has a great cast (Edward Robinson, Robert Hoffman, Jorge Rigaud etc etc) and solid direction. Beautiful looking print as well.

Heroin Busters
And the Italo-crime keeps on coming... more Castellari, more Fabio testi and this one also has David Hemmings for some reason or other. It's a good film, a good print, and has another commentary from the director.

Hitch Hike
This is an excellent, mean-spirited thriller from Pasquale Festa Campanile, who more regularly made inoffensive comedies. Franco Nero plays a drunken jurnalist (for about the eigth time), who runs into nutter David Hess whilst on a caravanning holiday.

How to Kill a Judge
The latest release from Blue Underground is this excellent italo-crime film from Damiano Damiani (Confessions of a Police Captain). Great print, italian audio and English subs, also including interviews with Damiani and star Franco Nero. Unmissable.

Killer's Carnival
(German only). One of very few spy films to have emerged onto DVD as yet, this is aka SPY AGAINST THE WORLD. It's basically a portmanteau film with segments directed by Alberto Cardone, Sheldon Reynolds and Robert Lynn. There's a great cast including Stewart Granger, Pierre Brice, Lex Barker, Margaret Lee and many many more...

Last Round
Another italo-crime film from NoShame, again featuring Luc Merenda. This time ex-boxer Carlos Monson co-stars and Stelvio Massi directs (this is possibly my favourite Massi film). Highly recommended, and also includes a DVD of crime film soundtrack covers. Groovy!

Man Called Magnum
Here's another diamond release from NoShame, Michele Massimo Tarantini's cop movie starring Luc merenda. It's not the best Italian thriller but the extras (audio commentary by the director, interview with the star) and print are fabulous.

Master Touch
Michele Lupo is one of the most underrated of Italian directors, and this is one of his best films. Kirk Douglas plays an ageing safecracker, coerced into doing one last job. Florinda Balkan is his long suffering girlfried, Giuliano Gemma his hot tempered assistant. Quality is serviceable, if not premium.

Milano Rovente
Not the best quality DVD I've ever seen but - hey! - this Umberto Lenzi crime flic has never been available in English before.

Open Letter to the Evening News
Italian political nuttiness from Francesco Maselli. In all honesty, this is only really recommended for the more avid Italian film fan, but well worth it for the intrepid. As always, this NoShame DVD is packed full of extras, interviews and other goodies

Revolver
This has been one of my top ten Italian crime films for a good while, and that's having only seen a grotty third gen dupe on cranky old VHS. Now that I've seen this DVD, it's one of my top three. Absolutely essential. Oliver Reed and Fabio Testi star, Sergio Sollima directs. Morricone supplies the super music.

Street Law
First of a trio of Enzo Castellari crime films released by Blue Underground. It's a lovely print and comes complete with a 'Making of' featurette and a commentary by Castellari. It's a much better than average crime film with Franco Nero and Giancarlo Prete. Highly recommended.

Syndicate Sadists
Umberto Lenzi's classic crime film is the latest release from Shriek Show. Includes 'making of documentary' and even a Lenzi commentary. Wow.

Violent City
As with REVOLVER, this is one of the very best italo-crime films, and well worth checking out. Charles Bronson plays a hitman out for revenge on his old boss, JIll Ireland plays his squeeze and Telly Savalas plays - well, Telly Savalas.

Violent Professionals
Top-notch crime film from Sergio Martino, starring Luc Merenda as your habitual lone cop beating shit out of all kinds of street scum. Nice print. This is the UK VIPCO DVD